Plan your trip

Rancho La Puerta web site:
http://www.rancholapuerta.com

Select a time to go
Based on Rancho La Puerta 's pricing structure going in the summer months is less expensive. Temperatures are pretty much consistent through out the year and they have very few days of rain. Evenings can be much cooler than expected and the air is very dry. We went during the spring when the evenings are cool. If you do select a similar time choose a room with a fireplace. Also pack a wider selection of cool weather clothing. Look at Rancho La Puerta 's special events calendar to see if any programs catch your interest. The cooking week we signed up for was great and I hear they are doing a cooking teaching week. We loved the Iyenger Yoga with Eddie Marks.

Plan your Spa Treatments early
Time slots for the afternoon fill up fast. You can schedule your treatments online from Rancho La Puerta Web site. Bring a bathing suit for the hydrotherapy.

Fitness Programs
If you are really active you will not have a problem with having so much
fitness back to back. However you are at 1700 feet above sea level and you must drink plenty of water. Also vary your days, go heavy one day and light the next. Remember fitness is not just about working to exhaustion. There are plenty of events for the mind and social interaction to increase overall well being. Try taking an African Dance class or art class. See our must do fitness list.

Pack the right amount of clothing
We under packed in the warm clothing department and over packed in the shorts and tees. At night the temps can drop to 40 degrees. To enjoy the evening activities bring warmer dress ware. For the morning hikes bring warm weather athletic ware and dress in layers. Bring a bathing suit to enjoy the hot tubs and pools. Bring a fanny pack to get yourself around to the various classes. Also a water bottle or hydration pack is essential. Bring heavy lugged sole hiking shoes. The trails are very dusty so also bring a pair of workout shoes.

Food
Have to cover this subject again. If you can not live without red meat, salty snacks, junk food, fast food, candy bars, anything fried you will not enjoy the food. I mean if you have to eat that stuff see Cheryl or a doctor, you are not living too long. But if you love to experience fresh food pulled out of the ground the day before you eat it, presented in artistic arrangement, augmented with local cuisine then you will not be disappointed. And with all the exercise, walking and hiking you will do you just might drop a few pounds.

Water
Drink plenty. There are 2 taps, one for drinking and one for washing. The drinking water is highly filtered, using a reverse osmosis process. To water the gardens they use gray water that is caught from the drains and treated but not to the extent of drinking water. Please conserve water at Rancho La Puerta they are in an unbelievable water situation there. Only use what water you must but do not waste any.

Things not to miss

• Teeccino Coffee
• Ranch salsa
• Tomotilla Sauce
• Ranch granola
• Dine with people you do not know
• Breakfast hike to the vegetable garden and then take the environmental tour
• Take any hike that gets you up to see the back country
• Seaweed treatment
• Hydrotherapy treatment
• Spend some time in the many hammocks
• Deborah's talk on Monday nights
• Pilates
• Yoga
• Barry's sculpt and tone class
• Bingo
• Take a walk through the gardens and look at all the great art work
• Take an art class or any class that lets you be creative
• Joe's bird walk and talk
• Labyrinth
• Plan your next life changing event