A Morning Ritual at Rancho La Puerta
Before sunrise, I shuffled into a gazebo, clutching a weak cup of coffee and a portioned banana chunk, joining 15 other guests bundled up against the desert chill. After a brief overview of the 5-mile trail ahead, the other hikers suddenly bolted forward, setting the tone for a spirited start. Welcome to Rancho La Puerta, where the day begins with gusto at dawn.
Located in Tecate, Mexico, guests at this wellness resort are encouraged, if not explicitly directed, to partake in daily early-morning hikes during their week-long stay. My husband Scott and I, seasoned hikers at heart, anticipated a leisurely pre-breakfast walk aligning with the resort’s ethos of mindfulness and tranquility. However, as our fellow hikers sprinted toward the hills, we found ourselves in the midst of an unexpected race to the summit.
Daily Hikes and Meaningful Connections
For the next six days, we huffed and puffed up and down Mount Kuchumaa, determined to improve our finishing time each day. The founders’ intention with these daily ‘health walks’ was to promote movement and foster connections — with the environment, fellow guests, and oneself.
Although quiet prevailed during our early morning hikes, we fostered connections over communal meals, frequently starting conversations with, ‘How many times have you been here?’ Guests are known to return 20 to 30 times, reflecting a staggering 64 percent return rate, as noted by Barry Shingle, the director of guest programming.
The Visionary Beginning
Rancho La Puerta’s inception in the mid-20th century is marked by the unlikely partnership of Edmond Szekely and his wife, Deborah. Arriving from Romania, they found sanctuary at the base of the sacred Mount Kuchumaa, creating a space for healthy living that would attract numerous followers. Early guests paid $17.50 a week to engage with Szekely’s revolutionary ideas involving organic food, clean air, and sunlight, captivating an audience during the WWII era.
A 1949 San Diego Union article sensationally referred to it as a ‘health cult,’ highlighting an austere regimen that included a diet of merely three pounds of grape juice a day. Today, that article is featured in every casita, accompanied by a note from Deborah, still active at age 102, reflecting on how those unconventional ideas have gained acceptance over the decades.
The Ranch Today
Deborah and their daughter, Sarah Livia Brightwood, have continued to reshape The Ranch since Edmond’s departure in 1969. The foundational principles endure, encompassing morning hikes, lectures, and self-growth initiatives but are complemented by modern comforts such as the introduction of coffee and seafood to the menu.
Guests indulge in a lacto-ovo pescatarian diet with plentiful vegetables sourced from the property’s organic garden. Activities ranging from water aerobics to yoga are promoted, while Wi-Fi is limited to certain casitas to encourage forthright, face-to-face interaction among guests.
Enduring Legacy
Rancho La Puerta remains a pioneer among wellness retreats, merging traditional principles of mindfulness with contemporary wellness practices. Longtime visitors often cite friendships formed as an essential motivation for return visits, further emphasizing the value of face-to-face connections in our digitally dominated world.
The resort continues to engage guests through interactive sessions on various wellness topics, ensuring that both its historical essence and modern approach thrive harmoniously.
In a time where disconnection has become increasingly common, Rancho La Puerta stands as a beacon, offering sanctuary and a chance to rekindle connections with oneself and nature, embodying the vision of its founders for over 80 years.
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