Rancho Encantado narrowly escaped devastation at the hands of hurricane Dean as it swept through Bacalar and across the Yucatan Peninsula.

But we are turning that near disaster into a reason to celebrate our continued existence as a place of healing and restoration. We are asking you to join in that celebration by taking part in a raffle which will provide the lucky winner with a seven day luxury spa-adventure vacation for two at Rancho Encantado, located 4 hours south of Cancun, 1⁄2 hour south of Chetumal, on the shores of Laguna Bacalar.

This vacation will include 7 nights in our luxury accommodation, the Laguna Suite, with its private dock and indoor Jacuzzi tub for two and is valued at $3,500. All meals are provided, as well as a trip to the amazing Mayan archeological site of Dzibanche, a boat trip on fabulous Laguna Bacalar, and a luxury spa treatment. This deluxe spa package includes a lomi-lomi massage, salt glow, herbal wrap, facial, manicure and pedicure under the supervision of our well known and loved spa director, Mallina Visarraga.

To insure that you are taken care of once you arrive at the airport, we will arrange for pick up and, when you leave, delivery to the airport of your choice, Cancun or Chetumal.

Tickets are being sold at $100 each and to encourage you to convince others to participate, we are offering a free raffle ticket to anyone who sells ten tickets. And, to make sure there are no losers, we will give a 10% discount on any future stay during the remainder of 2007 through the spring of 2008. We will sell a limited number of tickets and the drawing will take place on October 31st, 2007.

If you are interested, please contact Mary at our reservations office in the U.S. Just tell her the number of raffle tickets you have sold or wish to purchase and she will assign you their numbers. You can call her at 1-800-505-MAYA (6292) or email her at bookings@encantado.com.

Proceeds from the raffle will help us rebuild our Cathedral Maya, which was leveled by Dean’s 175 m.p.h. winds. What wasn’t destroyed was the altar, complete with its Mayan figures and the spirit in which the original cathedral was built nearly 15 years ago. Additionally, many families are directly benefiting through the much needed income from increased work we’ve provided through the extensive clean-up project.

Although it’s sad to see the loss of so many trees, we’re happy to see the ones that survived. Most miraculous, of course, is that the major part of the Rancho has survived. Many of the repairs have already been taken care of, a new transformer bought so that we have electricity again, and repair of our dock and it’s palapa are underway. As a matter of fact, we are already receiving guests and the trees are growing new leaves!

Thanks so much for your consideration and support. With your help, we are determined to make what could have been a complete disaster into a cause for celebration and gratitude!!

With warm regards and good wishes,
la familia at Rancho Encantado