Tour the Ranch and relax when you first arrive

Consider taking a self-guided meditative walk through the peace and silence of the oak groves to our amphitheater-like sculpture known as Kuchumaa Passage. Here you can become a part of our “family tradition”—a way of starting your week by greeting the mountain, silently reflecting on your life, and affirming your intentions for this week and the future. Traveling to or from the Passage, you may also wish to walk the Labyrinth. A magical beginning!

Enjoy a first-time spa-goers luncheon

On Sunday meet at the top of the spiral staircase in the dining room, get your lunch there, and proceed to our private dining room “Los Olivos.” Meet other first-time guests and get additional tips for making the most of your week.

Meet our Fitness Navigator

Our Fitness Navigator is in the dining room upon your arrival on Saturday to provide expert advice on how to create a week-long program.

Join a Ranch orientation and tour

This informational session covers classes, activities and hikes plus indispensable advice on how to balance your week. All guests are encouraged to attend on Saturday.

Returnee Update

Ranch “veterans” will enjoy this abbreviated version of the Ranch Orientation designed for guests with more than three prior (and fairly recent) visits.

Attend a guest reception

Socialize with other guests while feasting on Ranch guacamole (our amazing lower-fat recipe), chips, veggies and fruit. Day and time will be announced.

Train One-On-One with a fitness specialist

Our fitness staff professionals are available for private training sessions in their areas of expertise. Contact the staff member of your choice directly or call the fitness office at ext.623. (Additional fee)

Take the Ranch home

This inspiring key lecture helps you adopt the healthy lifestyle changes you have begun at the Ranch. Learn the successful strategies that have inspired so many guests to make the transition to a year–'round Rancho La Puerta way of mind-body-spirit integration.

Creative expression

Make something beautiful to take home! Our resident art teacher offers afternoon and evening programs throughout the week, including workshops in jewelry making, landscape sketching and watercolor painting. Our sculpture instructor leads intensive workshops, and guests often have their sculptures cast in bronze (additional fee for bronze casting only).

Appreciate art

Stroll the grounds and take in the Ranch's extensive fine art and folk art collections, either on your own or with the guided Art Walk. Join resident artist Jennifer Brandt and sculptor Jose Ignacio Castaneda for local Baja California wine and cheese, as they host an exhibition of their art. Enjoy the work of their students, many of them guests with no previous artistic experience--you'll be amazed at the variety and beauty of their work! Perhaps you'll be inspired to create your own art at home, as you transform your week at Ranch La Puerta into a new, richer and more integrated life that honors your unique creative gifts.

In Deborah's words…

Over the years, I've received many letters from guests about their home-away-from-home, Rancho La Puerta, and each one has a special place in my heart. I greatly enjoy hearing about your "epiphanies" -- those moments when you find yourself smiling for no reason at all -- just the enjoyment of finding and liking the person you've become!

But these moments don't come easily.

You must find the time not to be concerned about the well-being of each person in your life. It is a lesson that is especially difficult for women to absorb; after all, we were trained to be ever-mindful of the feelings of the people around us.

Our own needs somehow become secondary, and this really does go on throughout our lives, until that magical "ah-ha moment."

Author Denise Linn ("Secrets & Mysteries: The Glory and Pleasure of Being a Woman") reminds us all of why we come to the Ranch -- often without husbands and children: To wipe away all those responsibilities that are a part of our lives, and to concentrate, even if it is only for one week, solely on ourselves -- our needs, our spirit, our future.

There's so much we cannot control, but the one thing to remember as we make our pledges is to promise ourselves to keep in mind the needs of our partner: our body, the miracle upon which everything else depends.

My wishes go out to each and every one of you for a very successful partnership!