The Girasol Suite at Rancho Pitaya

This listing features the Girasol Suite at Rancho Pitaya and offers deluxe B&B style accommodation with full breakfast included in the rate. There are two other guest suites, the Cactus and Sol y Luna that can be rented for larger groups or families. The ranch is centrally located in the valle of Tlacolula, the eastern arm of the great valley of Oaxaca yet only 30 minutes from downtown Oaxaca. Rancho Pitaya offers the perfect balance between spectacular scenery, exotic flora and fascinating cultural and historical destinations. The ranch is nestled at the foothills of protected lands perfect for horseback riding and hiking, quiet backroads stretch to the east for cycling, and many cultural destinations are within a 20 minute drive. Dozens of varieties of birds can be observed right from the ranch. Traditional Mexican architecture in wooden beams, wild cane and hand-painted tiles define the design of the three spacious guest rooms of the adobe lodge. Rooms are available with kingsize or two twin beds and large enough to add an extra one; kitchenette with fridge and coffer maker, private en suite bathroom and sitting area in each room. Rancho Pitaya is about outdoor living, so relax in a Yucatan hammock chair on the old-fashioned veranda and gaze up to the cacti studded mountains due west. Or meander up to the ranches’ spacious open-style kitchen & dining room, settle on to the terrace and sip a freshly made Margarita as the evening sunlight warms views stretching up to the Sierra Juarez. There are complimentary bikes and great trails for self-guided hiking. Mary Jane Gagnier lives at Rancho Pitaya. She or the housekeeper will get you settled in, organized with activities and oriented in the fascinating area that surrounds the ranch. Mary Jane usually makes the welcome Mezcal Margarita and often likes to have coffee with guests at breakfast; this is a good time to make sure guests have everything arranged for a great day. Mary Jane and sometimes her son Gabriel, guide the horse rides and Mary Jane also likes to lead hikes in the area's exotic biosphere. The ranch is nestled at the protected foothills of Rojas de Cuauhtemoc, a quiet traditional dairy village famous for its "queso fresco". See farmers driving their horse-drawn carts laden with fresh cut alfalfa returning from their fields along quiet backroads perfect for cycling and riding. There's a handful of cultural destinations within a 30 minute drive. Dozens of varieties of birds can be observed right from the ranch. Some of the most exotic flora within 75 kms. can be observed in the nearby hills and valley. For $15 U.S. dollars a taxi can be sent to your hotel in Oaxaca for pickup. If arriving by bus or air we'll send you detailed driving instructions in Spanish and English to give the driver. Count on $15 U.S. from bus station and $40 from the airport. We recommend micro-travel once you're settled in to the ranch. Nature is the biggest plus about the ranch so hike, horseback ride or explore the traditional valley farmlands and villages on complimentary bicycles. We can arrange with a trusted local taxi driver terrific half and full day tours of the valley. Driver charges $200 pesos per hour - very fair. Watch and listen to the birds! You've got to eat in the nearby village of El Tule - renowned for its traditional Oaxaca cuisine. Our next door neighbor Auria invites our guests to have lunch or dinner in her house. She a very good cook!