Nestled in the heart of the stunning Sangre de Cristo foothills, Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe immerses guests in the timeless beauty and spirit of New Mexico. Located just beyond Santa Fe’s iconic downtown Plaza, the resort allows for a “best of both worlds” scenario: proximity to the history, culture, and art that define the region, yet secluded within a bucolic setting that encourages both relaxation and adventure. This was my first time exploring beyond the central Plaza, and I was beguiled by the resort’s setting and its expansive panorama. The state’s nickname—The Land of Enchantment—suddenly made sense.
Particularly captivating was witnessing the area’s first snowfall of the season. The flakes appeared just as I arrived, and within hours, the resort was blanketed in pillowy white. The soft powder remained during my 48 hour visit, and it was pure magic. My stay concluded a nearly two week cross country trip of travel assignments, and the snow-imposed respite was more than welcome. Clearly a “been there, done that” scenario for the entire Four Seasons team, the staff kept walkways cleared and fireplaces roaring, allowing guests full use of the ephemerally snow-packed property. I warmed both my inside and outside with a happy hour cocktail within the cozy bar before retreating to my suite for a room-service dinner by the soft glow of a wood burning fire. A hot bath in my deep soaking tub led to a peaceful night’s sleep within my heavenly Four Seasons bed.
What might otherwise have been a following day of hiking and biking was spent within the luxurious spa, for which I was not at all sorry, and where I enjoyed the Mountain Spirit Purification treatment: 110 minutes of pure bliss that began with a sage smudging, followed by an adobe clay body mask, a warm wrap, a scalp and foot massage, and finally, a juniper-sage hot stone massage. Santa Fe, due to its natural beauty, rich cultural history, and spiritual energy, is considered to have healing powers, and after this decadent spa treatment, I became a believer.
But I will definitely have to return someday in order to partake in the exploration as planned for me by the resort’s “Adventure Architect” Hans Loehr. The charismatic 10+ year veteran of the resort’s Adventure Center customizes experiences that cater to all desires, such as geological and archeological expeditions to ancient Indigenous dwellings, a Georgia O’Keeffe Country and Ghost Ranch tour inspired by the legendary artist whose solo adventures through the New Mexico desert made her a cultural icon, or an e-bike excursion to the Valles Caldera Volcano, one of the largest young calderas on earth. I was looking forward to my three hour e-bike ride to Lamy along the Rail Trail, part of the old Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway corridor. The route apparently offers stunning views of New Mexico’s high desert landscape, with wide vistas, rugged terrain, and the distant Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Definitely something to enjoy during my next visit.
“My passion is sharing my love of the outdoors and this magical destination with guests who are looking for authentic cultural experiences. The reward of seeing our guests enjoying the breathtaking beauty of New Mexico is priceless.” Hans Loehr
In addition to Loehr’s curated activities, the resort features complimentary offerings such as a daily guided hike along the Camino Encantado trail with its sweeping mountain views, yoga sessions, and varied cooking and mixology demonstrations. And the lovely swimming pool and hot tub are no doubt a draw during Santa Fe’s annual 300 days of sunshine.
The Santa Fe vibe is more than captured within the resort grounds where iconic adobe architecture and monthly changing art installations pay homage to the artistic and cultural mecca. Santa Fe is home to more than 250 art galleries, the highest concentration of any city its size and the third largest art market behind New York and Los Angeles. The resort champions local art by featuring an artist of the month. Each selected artist’s work is displayed throughout the resort with a new installation highlighted monthly. The resort also features an Art Concierge Program that allows guests to completely personalize their art experience. Led by Mike McKosky, a fixture in the Santa Fe fine art scene since opening InArt Santa Fe in 2006, the program provides a range of services allowing guests to customize an itinerary. McKosky can coordinate artist meet-and-greets with world renowned artists, private showings, or after-hours experiences at some of the city’s top galleries.
Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe is home to 65 intimate and newly transformed casita guest rooms and suites within its 57 acres. All rooms and suites have been significantly enhanced with new custom-made furniture, technology, lighting, window treatments, artwork and a new color palette with notes of coral and rust, reminiscent of the surrounding vistas more. All have furnished terraces and patios, heated bathroom floors, wood burning fireplaces, Nespresso coffee machines, and deluxe mini bar libations and treats. The resort also recently debuted a landscape redesign embodying the essence of the region’s natural beauty and culture with a focus on sustainability.
Sustenance comes via Terra, the resort’s signature restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner within a cozy dining room where large picture windows bring the outside in. (The visuals are particularly mesmerizing during a snow storm.) Santa Fe’s culinary landscape is a blend of Spanish, Native American, and Mexican influences and flavors, and the menu reflects this. Think huevos rancheros and chilaquiles for breakfast, green chile corn chowder and beef brisket tacos for lunch, and duck confit sope and cedar smoked barramundi seabass for dinner, among many other delectable and seasonal offerings.
Santa Fe has long beckoned those seeking to navigate a time of change, to experience a journey of personal discovery, or to enjoy a solo getaway. Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado offers an oasis for all, of both tranquility and adventure, where nature, art, cuisine, and luxury intersect, providing the ultimate destination, sun or snow.
Photos courtesy of Four Seasons Rancho Encantado Santa Fe, unless otherwise noted
Main image by Dan Miller