A Week at Rancho La Puerta

I just got back from Rancho La Puerta and wow, what a magical week! It was the most relaxing and rejuvenating experience I've had in a long time. Honestly, I wish I could go back in six months and do it all over again. Here are some of my thoughts and tips for anyone planning a trip there:

Rancho La Puerta Tips

Arrival and First Impressions: We arrived right after lunch, which was perfect. We had a late lunch, checked in, and did a tour and orientation before dinner. This gave us a nice overview and helped us settle in without rushing.

Accommodations: We stayed in a place called Luna, which had wifi (a rarity there, by the way). The Sol area also has wifi, but other accommodations only have spotty cell service and no wifi in the rooms. Honestly, the limited connectivity was a blessing in disguise – it really helped us disconnect.

Pack Two Pairs of Tennis Shoes for Hiking: I only brought one pair, and they got pretty dusty, dirty, and muddy. It was fine, but next time I'll definitely bring two. Also, I’m usually a carry-on person, but considering the laundry situation isn't the most convenient and I didn't want to spend time on it, I'd check a larger suitcase next time. Bring enough workout clothes for your stay. Everyone dresses casually, and you can wear workout clothes to dinner if you want. I rotated the same three dresses because my other clothes were for warmer weather, and it was chilly at night – but no one notices!

Bring a Rain Shell: Weather can be unpredictable, so it's always good to be prepared.

Warm Clothes for AM/PM: It's always chilly in the mornings and evenings. Luckily, I had a warm jacket that I wore on repeat.

Travel Timing: Arrive early and leave after lunch. We took a 10:15 am flight, had a late lunch, checked in, and went on a tour and orientation before dinner. It worked well, and we avoided the super early 7 am flight. For our return, we took a 1:30 pm flight home, which meant catching the 10 am shuttle to SAN after a hike and breakfast. It was convenient, but I might try the 12 pm shuttle next time to squeeze in a couple more classes before leaving. Generally, you have to be out by 11 am, so the 10 am shuttle was also easy – travel days always feel like "lost" days anyway.

Ginger Chews for the Windy Road: The last 20 minutes to Tecate is pretty windy. Ginger chews or acupressure wrist bands can help if you get carsick. They had the chews available on the bus, but I brought my own, as well.

Water Bottle: Everyone brings one, and there are water filling stations everywhere.

Hiking: The hikes are amazing! They start early (options at 6, 6:15, 6:30, and 6:45 am), but it's so worth it.

Treatments and Massages: We had 5 pm appointments, which worked well because we could go back to our room to change and then head to dinner. But honestly, people do what works best for them, any time of day.

Early to Bed: We went to bed at 9 pm, which made waking up early a breeze.

Cooking Class: This is a must for anyone interested. It was one of the highlights of our week. Even if you don't like to cook, it would be memorable. You can also do the 6am hike to the organic farm, to have breakfast, which we would have done, if it had not been raining. That is also a highlight of everyone's week.

Orientation and Tour on Day One: These were really helpful for us as newbies. Definitely recommend doing this as soon as you arrive.

Final Thoughts

Rancho La Puerta was a dream come true. The no cell phone policy (except in your room) and limited wifi really helped us relax and enjoy the experience. If you’re thinking about going, just do it. You won’t regret it!

Already dreaming of my next visit!

This was one of the best weeks I have ever had, and will prioritize this as a trip to take every year, if possible. Most people, on average, have been coming for every year for 15-20 years, and that is a testament in itself.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to San Diego. In need of further inspiration? Check out Alexander Avigdor’s guide, A Foodie's Guide to San Diego, California.