Location: Abiquiu, New Mexico, USA (Just south of Abiquiu, 45 min. from Santa Fe) View Map
Accommodations: House, 2 Bedrooms + Den, 2 Baths (Sleeps 6)
Keywords: House
Just south of Abiquiu: A wonderful, large, airy pueblo style single family home filled with desert light in the daytime and at night carefully illuminated with dimmers to create every mood and comfort. The house is saltillo tiled with radiant heat.
The living room with a kiva fireplace offers cozy down filled Shabby Chic sofas in white denim, handcrafted walnut coffee tables and designer stools. Great light-filled southern exposure.
The dining area offers a hand crafted walnut table and chairs and seats up to 10 people.
Two full bedrooms (king and queen beds) and baths (the master bathtub with a stunning view), a day bed for 2 extra persons in the den.
A fully equipped gourmet kitchen. Pantry. A large east facing portal has a spectacular view of the mountains of the Sangre de Cristo and the Santa Fe National Forest. There is a separate bathhouse with sauna and serene resting room.
This home is located on 20 private acres bordering state land. Indian ruins are within walking distance. Do not forget to hike along the ancient arroyo to the Chama River.
Wildlife can be seen from the huge windows, which lend this home passive solar heat. Built on several levels this architectural home has beautiful fenestration which encompasses views from every angle.
Close by are the old Abiquiu pueblo, the non-excavated ruins of Poshuouinge, plus San Juan, Santa Clara and San Ildelfonso Pueblos.
Not to be missed are Ghost Ranch where Georgia O'Keeffe had her studio, Christ in the Desert Monastery, Abiquiu Lake, the Piedra Lumbre basin.
Colorful mesas give way to high mountains with Alpine meadows.
From late March through November the Georgia O'Keeffe house in Abiquiu is open for guided tours. Santa Fe and Taos are nearby for day trips. So are Chaco Canyon, Chama, Pagosa Springs, CO, Los Alamos and the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs.
You might want to come out when the cottonwood trees are yellow and orange during the annual Abiquiu Studio Tour (Columbus Day weekend) in October, or one week later for the El Rito Studio Tour.
All seasons in Northern New Mexico are sensational.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Garage
- Off Street Parking
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer
- Wood Fireplace (3) : The Great Room and the master bedroom have kiva fireplaces. The Eastern Portale has an outdoor fireplace/BBQ. Firewood is provided.
- Beds
- King Bed : The King size master bedroom has down quilts and handmade patchwork comforters. Mesquite flooring, kiva fireplace and walk in closet. There is an ensuite bath with built in tub with spectacular views of the land preserve, two sinks on a handcrafted table, a walk in shower all tiled in travatine marble containing fossils. French doors lead to the eastern portale with views of the mountains.
- Queen Bed : The GUEST BEDROOM offers a queen size bed, a full closet, a desk, ensuite bath room with shower and a washer/dryer.
- Convertible Bed : In the DEN you'll find an extra day bed that sleeps two, a down filled sofa, a flat screen TV with basic satellite stations, Wifi, Skype, and books, guides for the area and board games.
- Entertainment
- Sauna : A separate bath house contains a beautifully handcrafted sauna, with a serene sitting room with shower. A door leads to a second portale which enjoys a warm southern exposure all year round.
- Cable/Satellite TV : A flat screen TV with basic satellite stations.
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : The open floor plan of the great room contains the gourmet kitchen which is complete with a Viking range, an Asko dishwasher, country sink and butcher block counters. There is a separate pantry with microwave and fridge and all necessary kitchen utensils. All pine cabinets and doors are handcrafted by local artisans.
- Cooking Utensils Provided : All you'll need is available in this fully equipped kitchen and pantry as well as tableclothes and napkins for entertaining.
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher : the energy efficient Asko dishwasher saves water and is extremely quiet.
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill : A handcrafted fireplace/bbq can be used with either charcoal or wood and can warm the outdoor portale on cold nights.
- Deck/Patio (3) : The large east facing portale has a built in fireplace for BBQ and handcrafted bench and table and chairs for outdoor dining with spectacular sunrise and moonrise views.
- Lanai (3) : There are three portales in the house, northern, eastern and southern views, enjoyable in all seasons.
- View/Location
- Mountain View : Mountain views from all of the 3 outdoor spaces surrounding the house. The north facing portale is also a landscaped courtyard. The east facing portale contains a built in fireplace and the south facing terrace adjacent to the bath house is covered by an arbor. To the south of the house there is a view of the cottonwoods along the Chama River.
- Communications
- Telephone : Telephones throughout the house. Please use a calling card for long distance calls.
- Cell Phone : Your cell phone DOES work here, up on the mesa!
- WiFi (Wireless Internet) : Wireless high speed internet is available.
- Other Amenities
- The adobe styled home has extra high ceilings, creating a feeling of space and light. The fenestration has been carefully planned by a local architect to make the most of the beautiful views. Many of the furnishings are hand crafted by local artisans out walnut, alder and pine. Local artists paintings and pottery fill the walls. All the couches have also been handcrafted and filled with down for cozy comfort. There is a full and interesting library of books about local culture and traditions. The garden has been carefully planned to save water and to show off the beauty of desert flowers and plants. The house is an energy efficient, poured pumice house specially built to be warm in the winter and cool in the desert summers. There are paths that lead from the house to a beautiful arroyo down to the Chama River, past Indian ruins. The birds are using the solid rafters of the portales to build their nests in the spring. A peaceful and beautiful retreat at all times of the year.
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly : Your pet is welcome in our home. We do charge $ 10/day for for extra cleaning.
- Handicapped Accessible (may have limitations)
- Wheelchair Accessible (may have limitations)
- Kid Friendly
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Boating
- Swimming
- Mountain Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Downhill/Alpine Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Horseback Riding
- Rafting
- Hiking
- Rock Climbing
- Restaurants
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Other Activities
- The Medanales Mesa Retreat Home is thirty two miles from Santa Fe, 15 minutes from Abiquiu and its lake for swimming and boating, and for visiting Georgia O'Keefe Country (her home in Abiquiu and the Ghost Ranch which has many educational programs for visitors). It is a half an hour from Christ in the Desert a Benedictine monastery, the Abiquiu Mosque and other beautiful and peaceful sights. We are near the hot springs in Ojo Caliente, an hour from Taos, and the white water rafting on the Rio Grande.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Rate for 2 persons, minimum of 2 nights:
$200/night.
$1200/week.
$3600/month.
Extra persons .. $35/night .. $200/week.
Kids 7-18 ...... $15/night.
No cleaning charges.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Map & Owner's Profile
Property Photos
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- Medanales Mesa Retreat - Abiquiu, New Mexico Vacation Rental
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- Eastern Portale View - Abiquiu, New Mexico Vacation Rental
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- Great Room with panoramic southern view and kiva fireplace - Abiquiu, New Mexico Vacation Rental
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- Gourmet Kitchen
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- Portale dining with open fireplace and grill
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- Master bedroom w/king size bed and ensuite full bathroom
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- The den w/daybed for 2 extra guests
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- Guest bedroom with queen size bed and ensuite bathroom
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- Eastern Portale view
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- Sunset at Medanales Mesa Retreat
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- Northern Courtyard in winter
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- Kiva Fireplace Living Room
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- The Rainbow
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- Mesa Medanales Retreat south side
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- Sauna Portale looking South
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- Sage on the eastern portale
Traveler Reviews (18)
Touch the Stars
Guest: alice
(albuquerque NM)
Date of Stay: 11/18/11
Review Submitted: 12/05/11
We arrived at the home on a wintery evening after a long car ride. The trip had been eventfull with a good stop at a fantastic mexican restaurant in espanola that serves the best local lamb dishes.When we got to the end of the dirt road and saw the welcoming lights and got out of the car,we became aware of an intense silence, a deafening kind of quiet, that most of us city dwellers have completely forgotten.As we walked towards the entry, my husband whispered: Look up, look! and above us spread out from horizon to horizon the most magnificent milky way ever seen,stars so bright and cold ,it seems one could touch them. Those were our strongest and most memorable experiences about this house, and of course, all the ameneties and comforts we experienced were all there. The cozy fireplace, the simple but highly elegant furniture, the comfortable bedding. Those brief moments of touching eternity will always be with us.
Owner response:It is the reason that they have named our beautiful state the land of enchantment. Its huge open heavens filled with stars has enchanted even the most hardened city dwellers. And the skies change so often with snow clouds and sun and rainbows. Our home has 62 windows to let it all in! Our simple restaurants have excellent New Mexican food--Angelinas in Espanola has wonderful food and Favios special is not to be missed. And the classic El Paragua has a wonderful atmosphere and sometimes live music. Comfort and beauty and spiritual awakenings await you at our home we like to call a 'retreat' or sometimes 'Rancho Romantico'! (ask the couples who have fallen in love there)
Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.
far views, privacy, pleasant home, well appointed
Guest: M & R
(Europe)
Date of Stay: 04/12/11
Review Submitted: 12/03/11
My husband and I stayed for a week in April 2011. We very much enjoyed dining under the covered terrace overlooking the mesa with in the evening a family of scaled quails paying us a visit. The house is very spacious and brings in the views, it is ideal to relax, work, paint and a good base to explore the area as it is an easy drive to Sante Fe but also very close to sites like the Ghost ranch. The house is well appointed and clean. We would certainly recommend this place.
Owner response:This is one of our favorite spots in our home--the eastern portal with a view of the mountains also has an open fire place in case it gets nippy or you want to bbq. David ,our local cabinet maker, designed and made our outdoor furniture so we could our meals al fresco. Its wonderful in the morning watching the birds and the wildlife and in the evening watching the mountains turn red. We often go up north to Chama or Los Ojos (a wonderful weaving gallery there) past Ghost Ranch and sometimes to Cuba for a fabulous meal. And a 32 mile ride to Santa Fe is not a problem. Lots of guide books in the house to show you the way. Or wifi to look it all up for yourself!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+, families with young children.
Medanales Mesa- Great Location, beautiful property
Guest: deeppowder
(Telluride, Co)
Date of Stay: 10/14/11
Review Submitted: 10/25/11
I stayed four nights at the Medanales Mesa retreat with my mom this past October. We were very lucky with spectacular weather. We were slightly nervous as we pulled into Medanales, which is a less then spectacular group of homes right off the highway. Luckily the retreat is located on the mesa above. The property is very pretty with large expansive views in every direction. We spent most of the time outside on the eastern portal of the house. The home itself is very well appointed and very comfortable. There were just two of us but certainly the house could sleep 6. Day trips were made to the nearby national forest, hot springs, Taos and the ghost ranch(great hiking trails). The owner of the retreat was wonderful from her first email reply to making sure everything was going smoothly while at the retreat. I certainly hope I will get a chance to come back, enjoy more time relaxing, drinking a cold beer and watching the sun set over the magnificent New Mexico landscape.
Owner response:Our guests from more prosperous states are sometimes surprised by the differences in Northern New Mexico. There are cultural as well as financial differences from other states which don't have the same ethnic mix that makes us proud and which lends New Mexico its uniqueness. And we have learned a lot from the older inhabitants of the land (native Americans camped on our property around 800 years ago) including adobe building, cooking with green chiles, and living comfortably in an extreme climate. All seasons have something special to offer in the high desert and all the cultures have combined in a beautiful way to add spice and interest. And the sunsets, viewed from our portal over the Sangre de Cristo mountains is spectacular in every season!!!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
perfect getaway
Guest: jill
(norman,ok usa)
Date of Stay: 10/05/11
Review Submitted: 10/14/11
We arrived just in time to hike amoung the aspens above Santa Fe at their peak! Our last two days were spent hiking the mesas and northern mountain trails in snow. What a gift! The house was perfect. At the end of a day of hiking there is nothing better than returning to a sauna and relaxing before the fire after enjoying a georgeous sunset.We enjoyed a terrific meal at El Farolito in El Rito. Great food!
Owner response:We think that our sauna must be the most beautiful spot in northern New Mexico. It has hand plastered walls and all hand crafted furniture (by David of course who made most of the furniture in our house) a resting room with benches to sleep or talk or dream and a bright blue shower to cool down. We often sauna while our dinner cooks go back inside and make a fire and eat ! Seems as if Jill had it all figured out including El Farolito where we love to see if Dom has created any new paintings for our walls.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, age 55+.
A wonderful weekend in Medalanes
Guest: Robert V.
Date of Stay: 09/30/11
Review Submitted: 10/04/11
After stocking up at Trader Joe's in Santa Fe we arrived Friday afternoon at the house. What a wonderful surprise!. The late afternoon sun revealed the beauty of the house and surroundings nicely, we were stunned. We went on a hike to explore the mesa (climbed the fence near the nearby hill) and explored the dry river bed. Beautiful and soooo quiet!. We visited New Mexico with our visiting family from the Netherlands. The house is perfect for two couples as it provides privacy due to the placement of bedrooms, one on each side of the house. The adobe is absolutely gorgeous with an eye for detail. We cooked dinner at night and enjoyed in particular a clear starry night. In LA or in the Netherlands one cannot see this many stars anymore. We could clearly see the milky way. Fantastic. During our long weekend at the mesa we drove to Taos on Saturday and on Sunday we went to Santa Fe. My brother and sister in law visited the Taos Pueblo while we roamed the little streets of Taos. Unfortunately we had to leave this beautiful house and place behind on Monday late morning to catch our flights back to Burbank. We did not want to leave.... at all! We highly recommend this adobe to anyone who wants to leave urban craziness behind and enjoy the quiet life at the mesa. Lilyan, thanks for all the emails and interest in our trip. We felt at home! We will be back.
Owner response:We have often hosted visitors from other countries and they are very responsive to the beauty of the desert. The house is well planned for two couples which can have privacy because the ensuite bedrooms are divided by the great room. They can meet together in the great room to cook and share dinner cooked on our amazing Viking range. There are many soft couches to stretch out on at the end of the day (after long hikes on the mesa) and have a good read or a nap. We have left a supply of books in the house and hope that all guests can read them and will add to our small library.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, age 55+.
Idyllic, Peaceful and Private
Guest: Cathy & Max Sturdivant
(Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 09/18/11
Review Submitted: 10/03/11
If we could have designed our own perfect vacation home, this would be it. From the spectacular views from every side of the house to the beautiful architecture to the lovely personal touches throughout the inside of this home, it is indeed the perfect getaway. We wanted to "get away from it all" and this wonderful home was the ideal spot. There is nothing I would change at all. Our 2 standard poodles had a blast exploring, and we so much enjoyed the many places of interest with a short distance from the house. We hiked, we fly fished, we took hundreds of pictures, we visited friends in Taos, we saw history, we shopped! Honestly, it was better than expected, and we expected a lot. We have stayed in many VRBO homes before, and this one is by far the one we long to come back to. We are already imagining what it looks like in the different seasons.
Owner response:They had the keen eye of artists and we have hosted many such artists who appreciate the beautiful light in the desert, the spectacular sunsets, and the quiet to enjoy it all. We also always appreciated that our local architect framed each of the views from more than 60 of our windows so you you don't have to go outside to enjoy them! The house is carefully designed and beautifully hand crafted--from the hand plastered walls to the hand crafted furnishings of solid walnut we all tried to think of everything that matches the beauty of the landscape.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.
Mother and teenage son from Washington DC
Guest: DD
(Washington DC)
Date of Stay: 08/01/11
Review Submitted: 08/29/11
We spent a delightful four weeks in this wonderful house on a mesa with views that go for miles and change with the changing colors of the day. Sunsets and clouds in the distance are spectacular. It is very private at the end of a dirt road adjacent to BLM land. No houses are visible and the house has the benefit of being right next preserved land which is wonderful for hiking/walking. The owner could not have been more helpful with information before and during out stay. the house appears exactly as it does in the photographs, which is a simply appointed adobe style house of Northern New Mexico with a good kitchen. The house was clean with flowers, when we arrived and easy to maintain during a holiday. I would definitely recommend the house to friends and relatives and look forward to another stay.
Owner response:We think our home is a perfect spot for the artist that lurks in all of us. The moonrise over the Sangre de Cristo mountains which sometimes appropriately glow blood red at sunset has to be experienced from our beautiful eastern portale. Monsoons in August bring us rainbows (sometimes even two at a time). The Cottonwoods go golden in October all along the Chama River. The snow in December drifting slowly across the fields from the mountains. And this summer the trumpet vines were splendid calling loudly for all the hummingbirds on the mesa. Quiet and serene it is time to write your novel or perhaps just read a good book on the soft sofas from our ready supply. And who wouldn't like a turkey at thanksgiving from our Viking stove or perhaps to roast some Hatch chiles on the top? Forget your work, eat and enjoy the views on this beautiful mesa.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Beautiful and airy retreat
Guest: Jeff
(Lexington, KY)
Date of Stay: 06/01/11
Review Submitted: 08/03/11
My partner and I stayed in this beautiful property for the month of June, 2011. I can only add to the other glowing reviews on this website, but will try to add some more specific information for potential renters. Location: The property sits a mile or two off the highway between Santa Fe and Abiquiu on a mesa above the village of Medanales (which stretches along the river). The last half mile or so of the route is a gravel road leading up to the mesa and to the homes there. Medanales itself is largely an eclectic collection of homes and trailers with a tiny post office and a beautiful little adobe church. The mesa consists of less than a dozen upscale homes separated by large lots covered in sagebrush, cacti, and other desert plants. The Locals: The neighbors proved to be wonderful. The nearest neighbor is an artist who emigrated from Germany decades ago and knows the area well. The local organic gardener, another interesting and friendly local character, described our German artist as the "mayor of the mesa" and she was indeed a wealth of information and a pleasure to know. Marcie, the "lettuce lady", does gardening at the retreat house for the owner. She and her mother have a huge garden on the road through Medanales and sell their organic produce surplus to locals -including me while there. Emma Sue, the local post mistress, also is a friendly focal point for the outlying areas and added to the sense of small town community provided me and my partner by the locals. As with most places, the people of Medanales brought this beautiful and remote place alive to what living there year-round is like. The Owner: I cannot emphasize enough what a gracious host the owner Lilyan proved to be with her frequent and eloquent emails answering questions from where to find the wine glasses to what local restaurants she recommended. All her dining and shopping recommendations proved on target. We loved Angelina's in Espanola. The House: The house is large and airy. There is no a/c but even in late June we did not usually miss it with temps in the afternoon around 97 F. There are ceiling fans. The house wifi worked well, and we were able to get a cell phone signal well in certain parts of the house. We recommend hiking down into the arroyo and over to the river and ruins on the opposite mesa. The property is a wonderful place for people wishing to have a retreat in privacy amid NM's stark beauty.
Owner response:We did have a hard drought filled summer this year and I appreciated that our tiny flower garden was so thoughtfully tended by not only our gardener (who is so filled with wisdom about the desert) but by our generous guests--who understand the beauty of being able to water a desert garden at sunset. While watering we all happily watch the hummingbirds who love the trumpet vines, the bunnies hiding from the coyotes and the birds building nests in the rafters in the portale which faces the Sangre de Cristo mountains which go blood red at sunset. Our neighbors are an eclectic crew of hardy individuals who appreciate natures beauty and love to share their knowledge. And there are many local restaurants to try--all listed in the house book. Bodes chile cheese burgers, Gabriels perfect guackamole, Angelina's Favios special, and of course El Farolito for its atmosphere.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway.
Abiquiu Adventure
Guest: Travelers from Tennessee
(Nashville, Tennessee)
Date of Stay: 05/08/11
Review Submitted: 05/22/11
We had a great stay in Abiquiu. The house could not have been more perfect for the four of us. The setting was gorgeous! We took day trips each day in a different direction. We loved the tour of Georgia O’Keefe’s house in Abiquiu. After the tour, we visited her ‘white place’ which was nearby and really amazing. We probably would have missed that if our guide had not told us how to get there. Another favorite was the visit to Puye. I love the piece of black pottery that we bought in Santa Clara Pueblo.
Owner response:OH yes the shopping is great! especially as our neighborhood is chock full of artisans, artists and local craftspeople who make beautiful things to bring home. A visit to the pueblos is a must and most of them have community centers selling beautiful handcrafted items. And of course Santa Fe is bursting with beautiful things to buy. There are also weaving galleries (my favorite is in Los Ojos) and our neighborhood is perfect for the artist in all of us. Plaza Blanca, the Mosque, the Abiquiu Lake, Lake Heron, Ghost Ranch on and on and on-- all hold splendors for the painter poet photog in all of us. Book early for the tour of Georgia O'Keefe house so you can see how she saw our world in Northern New Mexico and was transfixed by its beauty.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, girls getaway, age 55+.
Are you prepared to rest, recharge and feel like you have gone to the planet Peaceful?
Guest: Dr.K
(la)
Date of Stay: 05/02/11
Review Submitted: 05/05/11
Then this is the place....I loved the look of the photos on this site and booked a week at this Authentic adobe retreat. I knew i needed to get out of the city and needed to change my pace. The Mendanales Mesa Retreat is on a mesa where the sky never stops...forget television, which they have, just sit on the patio and watch the sky like I did. Time stood still but not the sky. Clouds danced on the mountains and were both entertaining and sometimes comical. I went there ostensibly to finish a book I am writing..well that was just a little part of it....I love to cook..the kitchen is a dream and everything a picky cook could want is there. Top of the line.. When i didn't want to cook...just check the notebook of suggestions that these folks have prepared..first rate dinners within a short hop in the car away or as a treat a 40 minute jaunt to Santa Fe and the world of the gourmet is open to you whether you want to spent the big bucks or eat on a budget. Now about the air on the mesa...i realized i had forgotten what real clean air was like...amazing...when you are there be sure to use the sauna..I choose a sunset ritual before dinner...shower and a robe and i was good to go...dinner...then a good read and to bed in the most charming bedroom where i slept like a happy child... I had some guests i for dinner one night, picked up some local and amazing lamb down the road and the dinner, candle light and the fireplace made true magic.... And you have to drive up the road where the mountains and valleys are out of a painting that you would say couldn't be real..they are! I know know what re-treat means...a treat that repeats over and over... I WILL BE BACK....this place is magical, spiritual and a work of New Mexican art. Dr. K
Owner response:The air fragrant with pinon is also very thin! Remember to drink lots of our cold fresh well water when you hike down the old arroyo to the Chama River. We have landscape lovliness that is hard to believe, especially if once you can catch the full moon rising huge over the Sangre des Christo Mountains---which like their name sometimes turn bright red with the sunset. Yes and our local lamb can't be beat. In Los Ojos there is a beautiful sheep ranch run by the pueblo--they shear the sheep for the rugs they naturally dye and sometimes you can buy one of those unbelievably delicate lambs to roast. and our friend living below us has a farm now where in the summer you can buy fresh organic produce. what a life!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #125344
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