...And back to work at our business here, Starr Gallery (www.ZapotecMarket.com).
We’re here again in the mountains of northern New Mexico, but the tropical beauty of Rancho Encantado and Laguna Bacalar is still close to my heart and mind. It has been twenty years since we first found this beautiful piece of paradise, then completely overgrown with no way of walking the land without the use of a machete to clear a path. But we fell in love immediately with the spectacular beauty of the warm blue/green water and saw the overgrown land as something to be worked with.
Two years later, after cleaning and planting extensively, the first four garden casitas were built. Not long after, two more were presented and shortly after that, the duplex with it’s carved stone dividing wall. Meanwhile, the palapa (thatch roof building) which houses the restaurant, bar and tienda (store-gift shop) was also built, just as close to the water as was possible. The next phase saw the development of the four charming laguna casitas, built directly on the water.
After that came the large jacuzzi, designed by noted Taos artist, Anita Rodriguez, nestled on a private cove, surrounded by a semi circular wall with mosaic tiled wrap-around bench to complement the mosaic tiles of the sitting pool, adorned with pots of plants and flowers. Finally, the laguna suite, with it’s own private deck on the water and it’s indoor jacuzzi for two, was designed for that extra special experience of complete privacy.
The last stage of construction was the soaring palapa called “Cathedral Maya”, fifty-four feet high at it’s apex, also built close to the water. Here, groups gather to do their work, anywhere from yoga to creative writing. It’s spacious feeling, completely open except for the altar at one end and hand-made Maya furniture around it’s perimeter, is the perfect place for meditation, whether individually or in groups.
Finally, the spa’s massage hut, built directly over the water with a small dock leading to it...
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 ...was created to give spa guests the ultimate feeling of relaxation while experiencing the healing hands of Mallina and her staff.
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All of this growth took place organically and now Rancho Encantado has become a destination for people who want to have something that is eco friendly, with a staff that is personal and caring, food that is prepared consciously with an emphasis always on the healthy. In addition to her management responsibilities and as director of spa services, Mallina has also created the bread served at the Rancho, which I can attest to, as being the best I’ve ever had, bar none.
Now, after all the years of building the Rancho, this quiet, somewhat remote area, is at the point of discovery. Roads have been expanded and soon (we hope) the airport in Chetumal will be expanded to accommodate more flights. Right now, our closest airport only receives service from Mexico City. Those who choose to stay with us usually fly into Cancun or Belize City. It’s exciting to see all the changes happening, and we are in the forefront of trying to maintain the pristine quality of the laguna and it’s surrounding area. Mallina recently had Rancho Encantado involved in sponsoring activities for Earth Day, bringing information to the children at school as well as T-shirts.
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As always, the time we spent at the Rancho, two months this time, was enriched by the meetings with many special personal exchanges with wonderful and interesting guests, some new and some returning.
 My own personal experience this year was very special. John and I built a beautiful and perfect small home of our own, adjacent to the Rancho property. We call it Casa Estrella.
 It was designed by us and created by noted Mexican architect, Ricardo Romay. His work is outstanding and each home reflects the spirit of its owners.
 Ours is on the water, with a direct view from most of the rooms. From the beautiful master bedroom, you don’t even have to get out of bed to see the water. Since the house is comprised of two wings, the master bedroom suite occupies one side, separated from the living room and guest bedroom, with the dining room and kitchen in-between.
 Besides being able to use my collection of wonderful colorfully embroidered textiles from Guatemala in the form of wall hangings and many throw pillows, we have also decorated with colorful art. The indoor garden in the wonderful master bathroom makes it feel like being outdoors, indoors. So, we were able to spend these past two months living in our new home, fine tuning all the details, completing the decorating, and buying plants for the new gardens.
 Fortunately, much of the property is treed so we had a nice background to create new gardens. I needed no excuse to buy more plants and just about every day we managed to visit another nursery. It was pure indulgence. Coupled with that was being part of the Rancho and being taken care of in the Rancho way, with wonderful food for breakfast, lunch and dinners. Most of our days were spent, in addition to shopping for plants, in reading in the ample hammocks, lying on our recliners or sitting on the chairs sipping tea and watching the water and the birds, from our spacious terraza.
This house, lovingly built and created with our own vision of aesthetics, is available for rent for up to four persons, since it is not our primary residence and we can only be there for part of the year. It is a non-smoking property. Food can either be prepared in the kitchen or meals can be taken (as we did) at the Rancho at a 20% discount. Reservations can be made through our New Mexico reservation office at 1-800-MAYA, the same as for Rancho Encantado.
The other major happening is the area in and around Bacalar. After so many years of being virtually undiscovered by the outside world, this southernmost region of the Yucatan Peninsula is slated for major development which we hope will be in a conscious way. But it’s exciting to see all the changes and the people who have lived there for generations seem to be welcoming the new infusion of energy. It’s a superb time for investment and is attracting a lot of interest from people who see it as a viable alternative to the hustle and bustle of the overdeveloped areas of Cancun and Playa del Carmen.
Although we still have the Rancho for sale, and have had several interested parties, this past trip has led us to consider alternatives to selling it. It seems that we are at a juncture and we know we
would like to maintain the original vision of the low-impact eco-retreat and healing center that has developed, also expanding our spa services. We’re open to many things, including time-sharing for those who have made a long-lasting connection to what the Rancho has to offer. With your time share, this could also be a wonderful gift to your family and friends. For more details, you can contact me directly:
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