Santa Fe is well-known as a creative hub. Dating back to 1607, the landscape that envelopes the oldest capital city in the United States has inspired many artists. If your idea of rest and relaxation includes views of majestic mountains and big skies, consider checking into the Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe.
Location
Set on 57 acres in the Sangre de Cristo foothills of northern New Mexico, the luxe resort is just 10 miles from Santa Fe Plaza, the heart of downtown. If you’re interested in visiting Ghost Ranch, a site made famous by legendary painter Georgia O’Keeffe, it’s less than a 60-mile drive and an easy day trip.
Accommodations
The resort features 56 adobe-style casita guest rooms and nine suites. Though the resort is spread out, walking paths make it easy to navigate, and within a few hours of my arrival, I felt like I had a good lay of the land. Zippy golf carts operate around the clock for those who prefer not to navigate the property on foot.
I stayed in a Deluxe Casita that was a 5-minute or so walk from the pool and spa. The spacious room had a neutral, cream-heavy color palette, exposed wood beam ceiling, wood-burning fireplace, and a generous patio with cushy furnishings worthy of an afternoon nap.
The bed was dressed in white linens and a memorable, fluffy comforter. Along with plush bathrobes and slippers, all accommodations feature a Lavazza coffee machine, an electric kettle, and a small refrigerator.
The spa-esque bathroom featured a vanity with two sinks, a walk-in shower, a separate soaking tub, and a water closet, but the heated floor was arguably my favorite touch in the space. Even during the summer months, I find heated floors to be a pleasing perk.
Public Spaces and Facilities
A complimentary shuttle to downtown Santa Fe runs numerous times a day, but be sure to set aside time to linger on the property. (You don’t want to miss the sky exploding at sunset over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.) Along with a pool and fitness center, there’s a movement studio for Pilates and yoga practice. The spa boasts 15 treatment rooms and a quiet courtyard to relish doing nothing.
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For those who prefer to keep moving, a complimentary one-hour guided hike along the Camino Encantado Trail is offered every morning. The resort’s onsite Adventure Center runs guided tours, for an additional fee, to spots such as Ghost Ranch and Plaza Blanca, as well as seasonal options including mountain biking, snowshoeing, skiing, and more.
The resort is just a 10-minute drive from the Santa Fe Opera. Along with complimentary transportation, Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado staff can organize a memorable VIP evening, including a signature Opera Tailgate experience with charcuterie, crudité, fruit, and wine, as well as primo seating and a program signed by the show’s cast and crew.
Dining Options
Signature restaurant, Terra, serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.
Foodies seeking an introduction to New Mexico’s culinary prowess will find something to love at every meal. During my stay, breakfast highlights included blue corn pancakes and shakshuka made with green chiles and spinach.
Dinner selections ranged from seared scallops with a pepita crumble to a roasted poblano pepper filled with calabacitas (a vegetable medley with squash), quinoa, avocado, and smoked gouda. Save room for dessert and have your phone ready to record when the Dulce De Leche Warm Cake arrives at the table.
If you want something a bit more casual, The Bar menu won’t disappoint. However, choosing between Beef Brisket Tacos, Green Chile Chicken Wings, and a Short Rib Grilled Cheese Sandwich might be the toughest decision you make all day.
Good to Know
Albuquerque International Sunport is a 76-mile drive; Santa Fe Regional Airport is just a 20-mile stretch behind the wheel, but flight options are limited.
There are three accessible casitas (one Two-Bedroom Interconnecting, one Deluxe Two-Queen, and one Patio Casita) and one Encantado Suite adapted for guests with mobility disabilities.
Rates start at $700 for a Patio Casita at the Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe. The daily resort fee is an additional $55. The resort welcomes dogs with no additional fee.
Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
Still undecided what property is the best fit for you? HotelScoop contributors have a number of favorite properties in Santa Fe.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by the Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe, but as always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
