Why do guests keep returning to the Rancho la Puerta?
“Siempre Mejor.” Always better. It’s why guest keep returning to the Rancho La Puerta
It’s one of the sayings of Edmond Szekely, who co- founded with his wife, Deborah, Rancho La Puerto, now one of the world’s best wellness resorts. It rather sums up what wellness is all about.
You’re not too unfit, too unwell, too old, too tired to start to invest in your health and wellness. You’re not too fit, too well, too young, too active to continue to look after your health and wellness. You can be better today than you were yesterday, whether you’re starting out or continuing.
Becoming a premier wellness resort
The Szekelys started the Rancho La Puerta just south of the Mexican border, about an hour’s drive from San Diego, in 1940. At that time, it was pretty much just a “bring your own tent,” affair, but “Siempre Major” has meant that it has grown into not just one of the first of its kind, but also one of the best and globally recognised wellness resorts.
Many of its clients return year after year with an almost fanatical enthusiasm. And that’s because it delivers what it says it will. You will feel and be better. Being so close to San Diego means that it is a perfect add on to a holiday to California and is very popular with us Brits.
Deborah, who is now in her 90’s and still going strong, puts it like this. “If you want your body to serve you well, then serve it well.” Rancho la Puerta is a bit like a summer camp for adults, although it is open all year round, a School for Living
Activities at the Rancho La Puerta
There is a lot to do, and all focused on personal improvement, be that physical, mental or spiritual.
Let’s start with the spiritual. The Ranch is built near Mt Kuchumaa, a mountain sacred to the Kumeyaay tribe as being the centre of creation and healing. You find a growing sense of going back to the traditional ways of doing things, and in so doing, finding your true purpose.
You might start your day with a morning hike before breakfast. Food is mainly plant based, grown on the Ranch’s organic farm with a little fish from time to time. After breakfast, you might take a yoga, Pilates or meditation session. Or you could do something considerably more vigorous, a run over some challenging terrain, a game of tennis or a work out in the well appointed gym.
After lunch, you could head down to the spa for a variety of relaxing, detoxifying or beauty treatments, or just relax by one of the pools, one of which is Olympic sized. The library has plenty of good books if you fancied improving your mind. Which you could also do with one of a number of classes and lectures they run during the afternoon and evening. The evening will also feature a concert, and plenty of opportunities to build new friendships in the wine or coffee bar. No, you are not required to give up all of life’s little pleasures
Accommodation
Accommodation is in well sized and very comfortable Mexican Casitas, spread out over the Ranch. You may sometimes wonder where everyone is, until you meet up at a meal, a class or activity. Rancho La Puerta is a place where you can do as much or as little as you want. And sometimes it is the simple things in life that give us the greatest reward, like an early morning walk to greet the rising sun. The perfect start to a day where you will be better today than you were yesterday
Rancho La Puerta is one of the wellness resorts I am very happy to recommend to clients from the UK on a holiday to California. It is easily reached via a shuttle bus that the resort puts on to and from San Diego airport. Although it is possible to drive to the resort, I recommend taking the shuttle because they can get you though the Mexican border much quicker than if you were to drive yourself.
For more information on the resort or on any special offers that I might have please just get in touch.
