Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico
Julie Register visited this Destination Spa in December 2006

• Fitness • Food • Accommodations • Spa •

I was excited to go to Rancho La Puerta. After all, it is the premiere spa in North America, founded in 1940 by Edmond and Debora Szekely - the original destination fitness resort and spa. I also wanted to do those things promised in The Ranch's web site - relax, renew, reflect and redirect. My husband was excited because he loves the desert and the opportunity to hike in Rancho La Puerta's 3,000 acres of mountains and meadows.

All stays at The Ranch begin and end on a Saturday. We flew into San Diego and easily found the Rancho La Puerta group at the airport. Our bus ride to Tecate, Baja California, Mexio (East of San Diego) took a little over an hour.

After moving into our beautiful casita, we went on a tour of The Ranch.

At first, the wide selection of activities was a bit overwhelming and The Ranch a challenge to navigate, but we soon figured out how to design schedules for ourselves and, with the help of the map, many signs and helpful gardeners, how to find our way around.

Administration (Reception) at Rancho La Puerta	Stained Glass Doors of the Administration Building Created by James Hubbell
*Reception Desk with Stained Glass Window overlooking Cactus Garden	Fountain near Administration Building

Our biggest surprise was the weather. The Ranch is at an altitude of 1,750 feet. There was a bit of rain (which was desperately needed - they are in a draught), and it was COLD - 24°F one morning, 28°F another. Fortunately, I happened to have gloves and my 180's earmuffs in the pocket of a jacket I threw in my suitcase at the last minute. Jeff didn't.

Garden near the Dining Hall Mid-Day	Frosted Garden in the Morning
The Miracle Oak was one of two live oak trees that formed a natural arch - the "Door" for which the Ranch was named in 1940. It was in their shade that Edmond Szekely lectured, guests dined, and meetings were held.	Xeroscaped Garden
Steam Rising off the Main Swimming Pool	The South Pool
Flowers near the Health Centers	*Flowers in Late Spring

More surprises:

• Only about 150 guests stay at The Ranch each week. Except at the Dining Hall where everyone came at about the same time, we only saw about 20 other people at any time in classes and hikes and walk. There is a real feel of space and privacy.

Some of our favorite quiet places

• There were 9 guests at The Ranch with us that have been to Rancho La Puerta over 10 times. This was the 32nd time for one of them!
• Owner Deborah Szekely gave a talk Tuesday evening, as she does each week. She has been active in the operation of Rancho La Puerta for 66 years!
• The art was wonderful - bronzes by Francisco Zuniga (Costa Rica-born Mexican sculptor, 1912-1998) and Victor Hugo Castañeda (born in La Palma, Michoacan, Mexico, 1947); paintings by Aurelio Pescina; stained glass doors and windows by James Hubbell of Julian, California (1931-); Mexican folk art.

My Favorite Bronze Sculpture by Victor Hugo Castañeda

For more than 100 years Metepec, in the State of Mexico, has been known for its unique ceramic creations, mainly the Arbol de la Vida, tree of life, a clay sculpture covered with flowers, leaves and biblical figures. Trees of Life could be found all over The Ranch.

And More surprises:

• I had a chance to learn how to distill essential oils at Tres Estrellas, Rancho La Puerta's 6-acre organic farm, from farm manager Anita Boen, a certified aromatherapist and herbalist. Lemon Verbena, Lavender, Rosemary and other aromatic plants are grown on the farm. Anita demonstrated the distillation of Lemon Verbena essential oil. An amazingly tiny amount of oil comes from a relatively large amount of plant material. The other product of distillation is hydrolat (I always wondered what that was!).

The Aromatherapy Classroom at Tres Estrellas

Lemon Verbena being distilled for its Essential Oils

• About 5 years ago, Rancho La Puerta won the state quality award and decided to pursue ISO 9001:2000 quality management customer satisfaction certification. They are the only spa in North America I know of that has done this. It is a very significant achievement. They are committed to continual improvement.

Mexican State Quality Award

ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management Customer Satisfaction Certification Certificate at Rancho La Puerta

• There was a gentle attempt to familiarize The Ranch's guests with Mexico and its culture. Since it was close to Christmas, they held a traditional Mexican Posada, a Christmas procession which reenacts Mary and Joseph's search for shelter with singing and ended with a piñata, sweets, hot chocolate and churros. This was led by Jose Flores, Ph.D. who also gave a very interesting talk on another evening about Mexico's past and present. We could even take Spanish lessons.

Traditional Mexican Posada

• I enjoyed reading the quote of the day near the track:
  • Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.
    ~Goethe
  • Time ripens all things; no man is born wise.
    ~Miguelle Cervantes
  • Great Spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
    ~Albert Einstein
  • A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
    ~ Francis Bacon

We loved our stay at Rancho La Puerta and would love to return with our friends and family some day. We experienced the excellent (food and fitness), the very good (accommodations) and the good (spa treatments). However, there were two things that could have been better (that's pretty good - having only two suggestions after an entire week!). The first is impossible to change - the sound of traffic from two nearby highways. The second can be changed. The Ranch provides a long list of suggested tips for various staff and services provided and requests you pay all of these in cash (you cannot charge them to a credit card). Often, my wallet was locked in the safe in my casita, and I forgot to bring money for a tip. I had to go back to get some money then return - extremely awkward. Personally, I would much rather have all gratuities added to the bill. Knowing that The Ranch has a great quality management system, I am sure this will be entered into their guest feedback log for continual improvement!

FITNESS at RANCHO LA PUERTA	THE FOOD at RANCHO LA PUERTA
OUR CASITA at RANCHO LA PUERTA	PERSONAL REWARDS THE SPAS at RANCHO LA PUERTA

A Talk with Rancho La Puerta Founder, Deborah Szekely