The beach is always an unbeatable setting for any getaway, and even more so for a girls’ getaway.

My Hash House Harriers friend, Mark, invited my girlfriends and I to keep him company at his beachfront home while his husband, Oke, was away on business. With promises of relaxation, tasty refreshments, an incredible view and good company — it was a generous offer we couldn’t refuse. So on a long July weekend, Nora, Katy and April and I boarded the hour and a half bus to El Quisco for an overnight escape to a Chilean coastal paradise.  

A snapshot of El Quisco, Chile: Blue-grey waters crash into mossy boulders along a coastline of grassy hills. Skinny tree trunks in perfect narrow rows shoot up so tall their tops are only seen by the squawking birds above. Other trees stand in a tangled twist of make-shift bridges and jungle-gyms for children … and the young at-heart. It’s resort-town scenery in a dirt road-paced life. Dogs wander streets lined with butchers and mom-and-pop shops. Fresh cut meat sizzles on barbecues during an ocean sunset in 60 shades of red.

The Chilean Pacific coastline.

You haven’t been dog-walking until you’ve been dog-walking with six pooches! Six! Mark and Oke are the proud parents to five Spanish-barkers who followed them and their first dog home from the beach. A trip to the beach is now a routine route to let the dogs run around their old stomping ground. We helped in the dramatic process of leashing up the more aggressive males: Rio, Bo and Lucky, and leading the rest of the pack: Sadie, Samantha and Goldie. Leashes tangling with each other, Bo wiggling out of his collar, territorial barking wars with the neighborhood dog bullies, Lucky stealing food from dishes on other people’s porches. I feel like someone could make a whole movie about walking this canine crew. I’m still in disbelief at how Mark manages the twice-a-day walk on his own.

Craziness aside, the six dogs led us on a beautiful trail through a woodsy area that opened up to the Pacific coastline stretching along green rolling hills. We climbed over mossy rocks to hunt for sea creatures. The dogs splashed in the ocean. Penguins and sea lions sunbathed on an island of boulders in the distance.

Mark, the dog whisperer, and his pooches.

Nora, April, me and Katy. (and Samantha hiding behind us)

Nora and Katy tiptoeing across a twisted trunk.

And the woodsy forest leads to this. Beautiful.

Mossy rock climbing.

Katy on top of the world.

April and Nora with our wonderful host, Mark.

The girls.

There are few things better in life than sleeping in and waking up simply to mosey to a beachfront balcony for toffee pisco coffee with your girlfriends.

It was the perfect morning — one that truly makes me reconsider wanting to forever be a city girl. The afternoon rolled by in the same relaxing fashion, sweeping away all remnants of everyday stresses.

Mark baked us a brunch casserole with everything in it but the kitchen sink … and it was a surprisingly tasty treat! We played card games, swapped stories and sang Hash songs for the day I’m sure we all wish could be an everyday reality.

The mini-getaway was a wonderful trip for us girls, and a good send-off for our smiley, spunky April who moved back to New York City the following week. I already miss the crazy facial expressions, bubbly spirit and optimism she brought to Santiago. But “this is her year” and we all wish her the best of luck on her next adventure!

A perfect morning.

El Quisco’s “tropical” beach.

Katy, April, Nora and me. <3

—JDF