Refined Summer Wellness and Group Retreats at Rancho La Puerta
Forget bunk beds and bug sprayāRancho La Puerta is giving āsummer campā a seriously elevated glow-up. Located beneath Mount Kuchumaa in Baja California, this legendary wellness resort invites grown-ups to recharge with golden hour sound baths, sunset hikes, lawn games, and concert-filled evenings under the stars. From May 31 through September 6, The Ranchās 2025 summer programming blends nostalgia with pure escapism. The āMore the Merrierā offer sweetens the deal, giving groups of three or four friends exclusive rates on Villa Suites that feel more like dream retreats than dorms. Whether youāre craving a midlife timeout or a week of shared wellness with friends, Rancho La Puerta turns summer into a season of serenity, joy, and just the right amount of sparkle.
Golden Hour Sound Healing by the Pool
Skip the chaos and tune into calm. At Rancho La Puerta, the golden hour isnāt just a time of day, itās a state of mind. Their sunset sound healing sessions at the Central Pool feel like a spa date for your nervous system. Guests float effortlessly on ultra-stable aqua boards, wrapped in cozy Mexican blankets, gently suspended on the waterās surface with almost no risk of getting wet. Prefer to stay dry? Thereās the option to enjoy the experience from a lounge chairābut the full effect is meant to be felt on the water.
Picture it: harmonic tones ripple through the air as the sky shifts from tangerine to twilight. This isnāt a guided meditation that puts you to sleepāitās a sensory experience that reboots your spirit. Quartz crystal bowls, gongs, chimes, and soft percussion combine with natureās soundtrack (think rustling oaks and chirping crickets) to lull your overstimulated brain into bliss. Sound baths are hosted throughout the summer, but the real magic unfolds in August, when Baja sunsets blaze and programming peaks.
Local Insight: Bring your villa-mates and turn it into a ritual. Camp has quiet time. Rancho has transcendence.
Not Your Grandmaās BingoāBarryās Running the Show
Letās be honestāno one saw this coming. One of the most talked-about events at Rancho La Puerta isnāt a yoga class or organic cooking demoā¦itās Bingo with Barry. But make no mistake, this isnāt your grandmaās bingo night. Barry is part emcee, part comic relief, and entirely iconic. His campy flair and razor-sharp wit turn a simple game into a must-attend spectacle, complete with cheeky prizes, fierce competition, and moments of pure, joyful chaos. You might be surprised by how invested you become in calling out B-7. In a week packed with morning hikes and deep-tissue massage, Barryās Bingo is your permission slip to play, laugh, and let loose. And honestly, isnāt that what summerās about? No skills required, just bring a sense of humorāand maybe a cocktail from the juice bar if youāre feeling wild.
Sunset Hikes to Alexās Oak
The summer sun may be sizzling, but evenings at Rancho La Puerta are made for movementāand thereās no better way to catch a Baja sunset than on the Golden Hour Hike to Alexās Oak. This guided group walk is part nature immersion, part spiritual reset. Youāll wander winding trails past cacti, chaparral, and mountain views that seem too pretty to be real, all leading to a beloved oak tree with a name and a view. As you arrive, the golden light spills across the valley below and the world goes deliciously quiet. Itās a moment that reminds you: yes, you are smallābut also, yes, youāre killing it at life. The best part? Youāre surrounded by other adults who also traded emails for endorphins. This isnāt a forced march, itās a golden ritual, perfect for catching your breath (and maybe a selfie if youāre that kind of hiker).
Outdoor Movie Nights and Evening Concerts
At Rancho La Puerta, your evenings are anything but average. Forget mindlessly scrolling TikTok before bedāthis is screen time done right. Outdoor movie nights on the resort lawn pair nostalgic flicks with starry skies and fresh Baja air. Think feel-good classics and thoughtful indies, curated for adults who want just enough plot to go with their post-dinner cacao elixir. Not into films? Summer also brings evening concerts that make your wellness week feel like a mellow music fest. Ā Augustās programming peaks with Jazz Week (August 23ā30), when visiting musicians turn the property into a low-key sound stage, and the sunsets practically dance to the rhythm.
According to the team at The Ranch, these impromptu musical moments often unfold when you least expect them, on a hike, in a yoga class, or even at the labyrinth. They offer soulful surprises that capture the essence of summer at Rancho: art, nature, and community in harmony.
And truly, August is the perfect time to visit. Summerās vibrant energy is at its peak, with long, golden days that stretch into warm, glowing evenings. The sun sets late, giving you extra time to explore mountain trails, relax by the pool, or sip wine as the sky shifts through radiant shades of orange, pink, and amber. With nature in full bloom and cool mountain breezes bringing balance, August invites you to slow down, soak in every sun-kissed moment, and reconnectāwith nature, with others, and with yourself. Itās a season made for healing, discovery, and radiant renewal.
Drum Circles and Lawn Games
The simplest pleasures? Often the most fun. The Ranch’s summer schedule brings a nostalgic edge with daily lawn games, like bocce, horseshoes, and croquet. Theyāre scattered across sun-dappled meadows and shady gardens, offering a playful excuse to channel your inner kid. And just when you think youāve tried everything, itās time for the afternoon drum circle. This isnāt Burning Man, but it might stir your soul just the same. Hosted beneath the trees, these rhythmic gatherings invite guests to play, move, and connect through percussion. No rhythm requiredāshow up, grab a djembe, and let your hands do the talking. Itās communal, cathartic, and a lot more fun than any remote team-building exercise youāve endured lately.
Villa Vibes: The More the Merrier Offer
Letās talk logistics. Rancho La Puerta is undeniably dreamy, but itās even better with friends. Therefore the More the Merrier promotion was built for such experiences. From August 2 through September 6, groups of three or four can book a Villa Studio or Villa Suite at a steep discount. Weāre talking up to $1,950 in savings per person for a seven night stay. Translation: More cash for spa treatments, farm-to-table wine nights, and poolside smoothies. These arenāt your average group digs, either. Think adobe fireplaces, private patios, and enough space to dance around in your robe without bumping into your BFF.
Itās all the fun of a girlsā trip or couplesā retreat, without the shared bathroom horror. And when you split the cost, the whole experience suddenly feels like a dream getawayāindulgent, but totally doable. This exclusive group rate applies only for arrivals between August 2 and September 6. Itās the perfect excuse to plan a late-summer escape with your favorite people.Ā
The More the Merrier promo isnāt just about the dealāitās about the deeper ethos of The Ranch.
As co-founder Deborah Szekely says,
āSocial connections are essential; we cannot live alone, or else we lose a sense of balance.ā
That spirit of togetherness is baked into the experience. Whether youāre bonding with old friends or making new ones over sunset hikes and sound baths, Rancho La Puerta makes it easy to unplug from daily stress and reconnectāwith nature, with others, and with yourself.
A California local, Kathleen Hokit grew up on a farm but spent every chance she could at the beach. After earning her graduate degree in the social sciences in Finland, she built a 17+ year career writing and editing across lifestyle, entertainment, and culture. A longtime magazine lover, she now lives the dream as part of the editorial team at LOCALE. When sheās not on deadline, sheās hiking or sneaking in a beach day with her husband and son. Kathleen loves all things artāfrom writing and photography to spending time on the dance floor, where she teaches ballet to everyone from tiny tots to grown-ups on their pas de bourrĆ©e path.
