Spectacular 360 Degree Views of Abiquiu Lake and Ghost Ranch

• A gem of a place--if breathtaking views and all the amenities of home are your goals

  A gem of a place--if breathtaking views and all the amenities of home are your goals

  • Guest Kip
  • Date of stay 08/25/12
  • Review Submitted 09/02/12
  What can be added to the previous glowing reviews of this wonderful vacation place! After leaving the crowds and noise of the city, this was the perfect place to end our anniversary getaway. If you are looking for perfect solitude, sweeping vistas of mesas, distant mountain ranges, blue-green lakes, and nothing but the relaxing sounds of the breezes passing by, an occasional bird, and (during this time of year) the rumble of distant thunder in the afternoons, this is the place! We would have simply stayed here quite a bit longer but there were others coming after us of course... The owners of Vista de Lago were very helpful in providing us with a list of places to visit in the area, but after arriving here, we simply decided to make this our home for 3 days and take full advantage of everything it had to offer. There is a nice flat screen TV and Blu-Ray player, but why would one want to use any of these? Just look out the windows! The views are breathtaking, and each time of day, from dawn, through noon and evening time, presents an entirely different mood. There is really no reason to go anywhere else, if magnificent scenery, beautiful skies, ultra comfort and solitude is what you are seeking. If side trips are a must, I would suggest hiking over at Chost Ranch (which you can see nestled in the pink and red cliffs due north from Vista), as well as a tour through their nice museums, and a walk around the labyrinth. The 2 hour hike to the top of the Chimney Rock trail is worth the view and the workout--plan for early morning or later afternoon if it is hot. And of course the Abiquiu Inn for lunch, dinner, or just a refreshing glass of rosemary lemonade! Thanks to Larry and Laurie for sharing their beautiful site...we hope to return next year.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: Thanks for your kind words...we'd be happy to have you return anytime.

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• Neverland!

  Neverland!

  • Guest Enid & Arnie Schwartz
  • Date of stay 05/01/13
  • Review Submitted 05/09/13
  When I spoke with Larry, before booking this utterly amazing little paradise, he warned me that people always told him that the hardest part of staying there was leaving. He failed to tell me that when you do leave, you leave part of your heart there! This is more than a place...it is an emotional experience! So magnificent a spot, that you become one with the beauty that surrounds you. It is astonishing! Finding the place is a bit of adventure. You begin to feel that you are venturing into a no man's land as you follow the perfect directions that take you over the Chama River, where you get your first glimpse of Lake Abiquiu and continue on until Cerro Pedernal fills your sight with her majesty. You continue to follow the directions that take you onto a small road, that then leads you .."over the cattle grate and sharp turn till the mailboxes",and just when you are wondering "where on earth are we headed?"... you finally approach.. through the iron gates, where you are about to first see the beautiful Casita... sitting proudly on it's perch on top of a mesa. It is at this spot that you realize that something special is about to happen to you. Larry and Laurie are very thoughtful and really want you to enjoy your stay...and you cannot help but do that. When I told Larry that I had rented a small compact car, he urged me to get a small SUV. I was very grateful for that advice. We ventured to Plaza Blanca, Ghost Ranch, the road to the Monastery in the Desert and countless small dirt and back roads, as we explored the area. We searched for sites we remembered from the paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe, and visited her home in Abiquiu. The SUV made these adventures much easier and doable. The Casita itself is just lovely. It is thoughtfully designed to take advantage of it's wonderful site and curves around the views. The ceiling beams, the portal design, even the curve of the floor.. follow the vista. The night sky will be something you will not soon forget. The interior lovely..including a freestanding modern deep tub with a view that only needs a frame for it to hang in a museum. If you are lucky enough to find yourself headed in this direction and lucky enough to be able to book time in this little wonder..please go...you will be very glad you did. Thank you Larry and Laurie, we followed all your advice..even venturing to Cuba to eat in your favorite restaurant, El Bruno. You were right, Larry..just like the others before us...we did not want to leave!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: Enid...you are always welcome back to Vista de Lago. Your kind words are clearly heartfelt, and we now share between us that understanding of how difficult it is to leave our little slice of heaven once you're there. Be well ;-)

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• Mark M

  Mark M

  • Guest Mark M
  • Date of stay 04/25/13
  • Review Submitted 04/29/13
  If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is your place. My wife and I just spent 3 wonderful days at Vista de Lago and are already looking forward to our next visit. If possible, the owner's descriptions and pictures undersale the property. We could not have been more satisfied with the accommodations or the property condition. It is obvious the owners take great pride in this home. We spent most of a day at nearby Bandelier National Monument and would highly recommend if you are up for a little hiking. Hope to ride the train at Chama next trip. My only negative comment (not Larry or Laurie's fault) would be the casita has cell phone reception, but if you are lucky to have an off switch like mine, you can quickly fix that problem. We did eat at the restaurant recommended by the owners in Cuba and very much enjoyed our dinner. Very unexpected for such a small town. We also had pizza at a little place south( by little, I mean the entire space is smaller than a 2 car garage) of Abiquiu on the side of the road-Mamacita's Pizza. Very interesting character owner and only employee. Stop in Santa Fe, get plenty of wine, a bag of chips and sit on the covered porch and forget about your job, or your kids or whatever problems you may have and enjoy the solitude.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

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• staggeringly beautiful

  staggeringly beautiful

  • Guest Lynne
  • Date of stay 03/18/13
  • Review Submitted 04/19/13
  Abiquiu was one astonishment after another--we couldn't have envisioned a deeper or more enthralling experience. Thank you, Laurie and Larry, for the use of your beautiful house. The photos give only a hint of the magnificence. We took several area trips--don't miss Plaza Blanca--which were wonderful, but had perhaps the most meaningful explorations right at the mesa. Walking the bed of the wash, gathering chert, arrowheads, unusual rocks, and bringing our treasure back up to the house, sitting out under the stars, watching the cloud shadows run over the mountains, watching the red rocks double themselves in the lake. And the quiet. True quiet, true darkness. And then sunrise and mountain bluebirds! Magnificent.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

  Owner response: Thanks so much Lynne for all your great insights into new places for us to explore. Please come back and visit us anytime.

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• Just lovely!

  Just lovely!

  • Guest Contented traveler
  • Date of stay 03/15/13
  • Review Submitted 03/23/13
  This was exactly what we were looking for--relaxing, quiet, and a perfect escape into gorgeous country. The home was comfortable and complete with little details that made us feel welcome (hiking sticks, guide books). The kitchen was stocked with the equipment and utensils we needed to make great meals. The pull-out bed in the living room is the most comfortable pull-out bed I have slept in--I believe it's memory foam. The only part that is a little hard to understand regarding sleeping arrangements as described on the website is the 2nd sleeping option in the living room. It's actually a couch (a comfortable couch). Also, travelers should be aware that not all vehicles will have an easy time making it up the hill. Ask Larry and Laurie about this prior to your trip. Larry was wonderful to correspond with, even though I did not have time to connect much with him prior to the trip. Everything was lovely. Thank you for sharing your home! Would definitely recommend this place to those looking for a quiet escape.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Owner response: So glad that you found our home as comfortable as we do. BTW: Our Website indicates a maximum of 6 people using 3 Queen beds, one each in the Master BR, the Second BR, and then a Queen Sleeper Sofa in the LR. I'll try to amend the language on the site that may lead anyone to believe there is a 4th sleeping surface. You are a welcome guest in our home...hope to see you again Laurie.

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• Magnificent Getaway

  Magnificent Getaway

  • Guest Moonshine
  • Date of stay 03/12/13
  • Review Submitted 03/18/13
  This place was even more beautiful than the pictures. It was also so comfortable and welcoming. We had a blast hiking, fishing and arrowhead hunting. Hope to visit again in the near future.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Owner response: It sounds so cliche coming from me, so I'm glad you mentioned that the pictures (as beautiful as they are) don't even come close to how spectacular it really is. You and your family are always welcome back Jeni ;-)

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• Vacationers seeking hiking and serenity

  Vacationers seeking hiking and serenity

  • Guest Steph
  • Date of stay 02/10/13
  • Review Submitted 02/18/13
  There is no place like this to which we have ever been. We needed more time. The effect Vista del Lago and the surrounding beauty has upon your heart mind and soul is indescribable. The siting of the house is magnificent, the view is so permanent but yet never the same. THe stars.....dizzying. The owners of Vista del Lago have made a beautiful getaway complete with everything you need, including binoculars. The kitchen outfitted wonderfully, bathroom and soaking tub are fabulous with the stars above. Hiking all over the place. The light dusting of snow was a real treat! We wanted to get snowed in. We were very lucky to find this place! We will be back - next time for at least a week!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

  Owner response: D & S...We're so happy that we could share this special place with you. You're welcome back anytime. We feel like we are kindred spirits. All the best...Larry and Laurie ;-)

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• Vista de Lago Review

  Vista de Lago Review

  • Guest Laurie H.
  • Date of stay 01/18/13
  • Review Submitted 01/30/13
  This house was fabulous. I was skeptical prior to arrival that it would be as wonderful as the pictures depicted, but I could not have been more pleased. The home was immaculate and the views simply awe inspiring. We especially enjoyed the radiant heating in the concrete floors, what a wonderful thing to walk on warm floors while looking outside at the snow! My family of 4 was quite comfortable in this house. The owners made the rental process very painless and easy. Hiking at nearby Ghost Ranch was fabulous. We are already looking at our schedules to find time to come back to this home.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: I like waking up our on our first morning every time we come back and even after all these visits, the view still knocks my socks off! Laurie, you and you family are welcome back anytime. All the best.

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• Wonderfully Relaxing Escape

  Wonderfully Relaxing Escape

  • Guest PJ
  • Date of stay 12/22/12
  • Review Submitted 01/09/13
  Great location, removed from the hustle and bustle of daily life--with fantastic views of Abiquiu Lake. Warm and inviting home with lovely amenities. Recommended for those familiar with the area, looking to escape a bit, enjoy the scenery and soak in some of the Land of Enchantment.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: Thank you, Paula. You and your family will always be welcome at Vista de Lago. Happy New Year. Larry and Laurie.

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• All It Was Touted To Be, Far More Than Expected; or Vacation for the Mind, Eye Candy for the Soul

  All It Was Touted To Be, Far More Than Expected; or Vacation for the Mind, Eye Candy for the Soul

  • Guest Jeff
  • Date of stay 07/17/12
  • Review Submitted 12/16/12
  Vista de Lago is likely many things to many guests. Two of us, Jeff and Barb, are Santa Fe, NM residents who found Vista de Lago during a web search for "water recreation Colorado". Go figure. The unexpected finding was a chance step toward a grand experience as deep into the recess of mind as the volume of space surrounding Vista de Lago is expansive. While the name translates to 'view of the lake', Abiquiu Lake is only a starting point when considering the rich natural context in which Vista de Lago is set. The casa, the house itself, is a beautiful and wonderful construction. Vista de Lago however, is much more than that. Our stay became an ethereal one, every bit as transcendent as the casa's foundation is physical. We decided that once we arrived, we would not get back in the car until it was time to leave. It was easy to do. We made all our meals there, hung out there, took short walks around there, and were blown away there. Our three days and two nights were spent completely out of our normal space-time, in a place of all space and no time. We were in no named place. Our days there were no days of the week. Issues fell away. Identities faded. We merged with land and sky. Our stay at Vista-Desde-la-Mente was an introspective adventure, a view-from-the-mind. Sitting on the very prow of the mesa point on which the casa is perched, one can and easily does get lost in thought, or simply lost as you peer unfocused into an enormity of undulating topography and vibrant light and indescribable heaven and baby let your mind roll on. Speculate on cycles of day-to-night-to-dawn-to-dusk, over and over, and how the landscape around you may have changed, or not, over millions of days, perhaps just like today, or not. At Vista-del-Cuervo-Altisimo, you need not leave the porch to imagine the view-of-a-soaring-raven as it cruises through your field of vision and over a vast earth from its domain in the firmament. If you're lucky enough to be at Vista-de-la-Cambiante-Luz during some dynamic cloud drama, you're likely to succumb to the view-of-the-changing-light. Time will pass, but you won't be aware of it; and you can't take your eyes away from the dance of the light play. Our stay at Vista de Lago imbued us with tranquilidad de espiritu, with peace of mind. With cabezas en las nubes, our heads in the clouds, the toughest moment was returning to ourselves, getting back in that car and leaving. Renewed, however. Vista de Lago did it. And we'll be back.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, age 55+, romantic getaway.

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Additional information about rental rates

Quoted Rates are for up to 4 people, any combination of Adults and Kids.

Additional Guests: KIDS under 12 are $15 per night; ADULTS are $25 per night.

6.5 % state tax

One-time $85 cleaning fee

Glorious sunsets are FREE with every booking.