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Queridos Amigos,
How's the weather, you might ask?
Glorious! The Rancho benefited from a very rainy rainy season and is currently flourishing on every level: the greens are deeper than ever, the sunset hues of the flowers more vibrant, the fruit trees dripping with bounty. Our longtime landscape wizard, don Julio, continues to work his magic all over the land. The birds are ecstatic, if that melting morning symphony is any indication. A resident pair of toucans now makes its home in the chicle-zapote tree beside the water, we are delighted they have come to live with us.
Still, our hearts go out to our friends in Belize who suffered from the storms. For those of you who worried about us in the hurricane, thanks for your concern, but please do remember: because we are a bit inland from the sea, we rarely receive the harsh effects endured by our coastal neighbors—we mostly just get very soggy for a while!
Wellness, Beauty and Bliss
- May we introduce our spa team?
Mallinallitzin(affectionately known as Mallina) is not only a doctor of Oriental medicine who holds a degree from the International Institute in Santa Fe. She is also a gifted Aztec healer who comes from a curandera lineage in the mountain villages of Northern New Mexico and studied extensively with an indigenous master in the Valley of Mexico.
Mallina offers relaxing massage, lavish Lomi sessions to unlock deep seated blockages, traditional acupuncture, and an array of tropical beauty treatments using native fruits, sea vegetables, and plant and flower essences which will leave you shimmering inside and out.
She also manages the day to day operations of the Rancho, orchestrating staff relations, running to the mercado for produce and plumbing parts, shellfish and silverware, greeting guests and seeing them lovingly off, and deciding under which coconut palms to hang which hammocks. All this unfolds with serenity and good humor, as if it were easy. We are blessed.
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Atzin, which means "venerable water" in his native Aztec tongue, is a curandero from Mexico City. He is a traditional folk healer who uses massage, herbs, flowers, crystals and flute music in his healing treatments. Guests find Atzin's gentle touch to be deeply cleansing, relaxing and balancing. Together, these two extraordinary beings manage the physical and spiritual well-being of Rancho Encantado with equal grace.
Sweet Retreat-
The Laguna Suite
In the mood for utter luxury?
Reserve our newest accommodation for an intimate hideaway with your beloved. The laguna suite is nestled in a private cove at the far end of the property. From the cozy bedroom, great double doors open onto a bright living room, where French doors lead onto an expansive deck which in turn gives way to a private dock, surrounded by wild grape and other broad leafed plants, creating a natural cocoon of seclusion. In the beautifully tiled bathroom you will find a large Jacuzzi tub, surrounded by fresh flowers, candles and sacred art objects. This has turned out to be our most sought _after casita, so make sure you reserve it well in advance of your romantic get-away.
Ancient Maya -
We invite you to explore the latest excavation in our neighborhood: Oxtankah(osh-tahn-kah). This site is only sixteen km. north of Chetumal, gateway to Belize. Archaeological evidence indicates that Oxtankah was more oriented toward the production of salt than ceremony. There is an unusually high concentration of residential areas present, as well.
The architecture is classic Peten in style. In addition to plazas, palaces and courtyards, the people of this special place built impressive chultunes to obtain fresh water in the jungles of the prehistoric Yucatan. Residents of Oxtankah had access to the Caribbean through the adjoining Bay of Chetumal.
The remains of a Catholic church built on top of sacred Mayan land in an early attempt to conquer the local indigenous community adds perspective to this exciting new excursion.
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