Desert Harbor

I have only the highest praise for the accommodations and hospitality offered at Desert Harbor. It is an exceptional place, and so too the people who run it - their attention to detail is remarkable. The desert setting was exquisite, but I was not prepared for the quiet elegance of the casita. Raymond and Wesley have created a profoundly beautiful space - a place that feels like a sanctuary in its peacefulness and soft and spacious elegance. I spent three nights there is quiet bliss. And have I mentioned the food or the well-placed structure on the mountain top, complete with a hammock, overlooking a beautiful valley? The food was incredible; again, the presentation was simple yet elegant, and the food healthy and delicious. I highly recommend the Asian salmon noodle dish. The hammock, well let's just say it's about as close to heaven as one can get. There is a lot of nurturing that happens at this haven/harbor in the desert. I left Desert Harbor much richer for the experience. Thank you both for what you have created; it is truly a gift to the world.

I stayed here with my husband a few weekends ago. The guesthouse is beautiful, comfortable and very clean. The scenery is lovely. If you like being able to enjoy wide open space in privacy, this place is perfect. I highly recommend paying extra for the Anniversary Celebration, which includes dinner. The food (both dinner and breakfast) was excellent during our stay - delicious and well presented. And we enjoyed the private campfire with cookies. Hoping to get another visit in when the weather warms up. The owners were helpful and unobtrusive.

Desert Harbor is the perfect combination of naturally beautiful setting, gracious hospitality, delicious food, and luscious accommodations. The result is a serene stay that you won't want to end.

We only had time to stay for one night at Desert Harbor but loved our time there. The cottage is beautiful and relaxing with so many fantastic details. The views from the cottage are spectacular. The peacefulness and beauty of the landscape are immeasurable. On top of the fantastic views and lovely cottage, the service was great. Our breakfast was delectable. Raymond was very friendly and open to answering all of our questions regarding our stay in New Mexico. We highly recommend Desert Harbor and hope to stay longer when we return.

I was looking for some relaxation, quiet, and a change of scenery and Desert Harbor exceeded my expectations in every way. The drive there whets your appetite with the remote and beautiful desert scenery on Historic Route 66. The first look of the exterior and interior of the grounds and casita are breathtaking. Every little touch is at the same time on purpose and yet so seamless. The reading nook, the amazingly comfortable bed, the artfully mosaic tiled kitchen and bathroom vanity, the soaking tub with candles, the fireplace, the simple and desert complimentary decor...and that's just the interior. The crazy clear and brilliant blue skies and natural vegetation do more than impress the exterior view. The organic and personally tailored cuisine is a definite highlight. Raymond and Wesley do everything possible to make your stay the best possible for you in every way. They truly serve you for the duration of your stay. I found everything I needed and so much more at Desert Harbor. I very highly and enthusiastically recommend it.

April 28, 2012 Dallas, TX We just returned from a wonderfully relaxing weekend at Desert Harbor and it was everything we had hoped for. As soon as you walk in the door you can feel your stress melting away. The decor is simple and elegant, the views out every window breathtaking, and the soaking tub is heavenly (they even provide the candles). Everything you might want is there for you from beautiful coffee table books and board games to comfy robes and hot tea. The breakfasts prepared by Raymond and his wife, Wesley, were delicious and better than any we've had in a long time. We also enjoyed the fire pit nearby and the deck surrounding the cottage. For the most spectacular views, though, your best bet is the viewing deck up a short trail where you can relax in the hammock with a blanket or put your feet up in the comfy armchair made by the owner. Lastly, the hiking is great because you can push yourself if you want to or just stick to the flatter areas, and there is lots of space to cover. The rock formations are unusual and the sandstone is fun to scramble around on. Basically, this is the greatest getaway ever whether you need a break from the stresses of daily life or if you just want to spoil yourself. We'll be back!

I stayed for 3 nights with Desert Harbor. Each day I eagerly watched the light play on rocks and cedars--while hiking over the dry creek beds, swinging in the glorious hammock, or lazily rocking in front of the guest house. My first breakfast was fabulous french toast--generous portions with strawberries and syrup. The second breakfast I chose was the huevos rancheros--made to absolute perfection with spicy salsa, fresh avocado, atop blue tortillas. My third breakfast include selections of green chile biscuits, scramble eggs, and mango. Each day the coffee was superb. The guest house is beautifully appointed, the mattress is very comfortable, and the kitchenette is a delight made of mosaic stone. The outdoor shower is divine--warm or cool as you like it. The grounds are wild yet well kept and cared for. In fact the sense of care pervades every part of Desert Harbor from the hand crafted labyrinth to the marked walking trail. I can't than Raymond and Wesley Jo enough for sharing this beautiful place.

Desert Harbor does a magnificent job of blending first-rate hospitality with the stunning yet rustic desert wilderness in which it is situated in a manner that is truly luxurious. The guest cottage is designed in such a way as to maximize one's interaction with nature, while also offering the traveller a space of rest and beauty where everything is crafted with the utmost intentionality. And the food is magnificent - healthy, organic, local, and always delicious, made and served by absolutely delightful hosts. In addition to Albuquerque and Santa Fe, nearby areas of interest include the small town of Madrid (a quaint yet unique restored ghost town which provided the setting for the 2006 movie "Wild Hogs"), the Sandia Ski Area, the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway (a 14-mile jaunt up the east side of the Sandia Mountain range to the Crest that sits at 10,678 ft and overlooks the city of Albuquerque), the Tinkertown Museum (an eccentric and eclectic collection of largely hand-carved folk art, miniatures, and memorabalia), Wildlife West Nature Park (a habitat for nonreleasable animals native to the southwest that is maintained by youth and volunteers), and abundant hiking trails and popular cycling routes.

We spent a weekend at Desert Harbor retreat because we needed time and space in the midst of major transitions. We fell in love with the space and are already planning our return! The food was delicious, the setting exquisite, and the hospitality was beyond compare. I'm not sure what our favorite place was...the beautiful reading niche in our room, the bathtub with the gorgeous view, or the hammock on the overlook. We left feeling deeply nourished by such gracious hosts and the lovely space. I highly recommend this place!

The silence is almost unbelievable. The food was gourmet and served with punctuality and friendliness. The hosts, Raymond and Wesley (and little Stella, their three year old daughter) are warm, friendly and very talented and accomplished at what they do. The cottage is just right, that is, not too much and not too little; comfortable and well appointed with just the right decoration. You can sit in peace for hours and never see another soul unless you want to. You can hike the arroyos and canyons. There is even an outdoor (yet private) shower! There is a wonderful spirit that pervades the New Mexico landscape and Desert Harbor captures and enhances that spiritual experience. Highly recommended!

Desert Harbor truly feels like a home away from home. It's that place you visit when your soul needs to be renewed and your spirit needs to be refreshed. Sweeping mountain vistas broken by juniper trees and desert sage create an atmosphere where one can be immersed in the beauty of nature. When the sun goes down at Desert Harbor, the stars truly do come out and can be enjoyed from the outdoor shower or around a campfire with marshmallows depending on the time of year (I have personally done both). The appeal of Desert Harbor is in the details. From the highest quality linens to the best botanical bath products, Raymond and Wesley Jo pride themselves on providing excellence. Meals are an adventure prepared from scratch with the finest organic ingredients and can be tailored to suit individual tastes such as vegetarian, vegan or that odd aversion to certain foods. If you are one who can only handle seclusion in short increments, Santa Fe and Albuquerque are short jaunts down the road where shopping, culture and entertainment can be found. I highly recommend Desert Harbor as a destination to get away from it all at an incredibly reasonable price.

A refreshingly hidden gem of a getaway. I've stayed at Desert Harbor multiple times now. Living in NYC, it's exactly what I crave -- a beautifully thoughtful escape surrounded by rugged nature, sans people. This place feeds the soul. Big starry skies; reflective solitude; abundant natural inspirations. What's more, you're far from roughing it. (Honestly, what other place around uses 1,000+ thread count sheets? Has world-inspired architecture? Outdoor shower + candle lit jacuzzi.) Outstanding bill of fare. Little, loving details. Solar-powered energy. Mountain-side hammocks. I will come back again and again.

I was looking for rest and renewal and found these along with so much more at Desert Harbor. The Linams are gracious and charming hosts who have created an oasis retreat surrounded by the beautiful sandstone cliffs just east of Sandia Mountain. The little casita that I spent the night in is thoughtful and eligant using the natural surroundings to provide solitude and privacy. I can't wait to take my wife here on a romantic getaway. The Linams also provided a wonderful meal and gave me welcomed insight into my life's current journey. I highly recommend Desert Harbor and the full experience that is available.

Raymond and Wesley of Desert Harbor Retreat have constructed a masterpiece consistent to that which is advertised. Peaceful, relaxing, with acute attention to detail, this one of a kind retreat setting trancends expectations to deliver a intimately memorable experience. The atmosphere, reflective of the proprietors, exude wisdom and maturity in a manner rare to my existence. I cannot enough express my appreciation for and recommendation of this retreat. And don't get me started on the food... heavenly!

January 28, 2012 Albuquerque, NM My wife and I left Albuquerque stressed from the week's work, drove up into the East Mountains unsure what we would encounter. Raymond met us at the quiet entrance and showed us up the carefully-lined walkway to the casita---and from the moment we stepped inside our stresses melted away. The casita is simply but tastefully done: The harbor logo (an anchor) hanging on the wall, the high ceilings, the bed and reading nook by a large window opening out to gorgeous views, the extra-deep bathtub, the Bose radio in the corner ready to play music and the magazines on the table waiting to be read. Especially tasteful were the many items that have been hand-made by Raymond himself and his great attention to detail and design of the place added to the rich experience of simply being there. The following morning and at exactly the time we had requested, Raymond and his wife came in to set our table and provide us with a delicious breakfast. They effortlessly accommodated my vegetarian diet and my wife's multiple food allergies. Later, Raymond climbed with us up the ridge behind the casita to show us the area where we could hook up his hammock and sit drinking in the view and listening to the silence. All in all, our stay at Desert Harbor was an over-the-top experience. We were treated to more than we could ever have expected and felt truly cared for. Raymond and Wesley have a wonderful vision of hospitality, and an extraordinary way making our stay an extra-ordinary thing.

I am especially fond of the cabin and the quietness. It is isolated and there is a freedom to do what I want. Like take an outdoor shower. Not that the deep tub indoors isn't also lovely.....different and each restores my sense of peace. I'm fond of naps on the bed where my hosts have made sure I have the most comfortable pillow ever. The labyrnth is a delight. There are several places on the property to get away and sink into a meditative state. I have never come away from these secluded spots without a sense of inner calm and awe from the beauty of it all. I enjoy the times spent over food with Raymond and Wesley. They are extrordinary in their selection of food and have always sought to meet any dietary needs I may have. Conversation is lively. These are well traveled people with many interesting experiences and interests. While at the same time they are sensitive to my doing as much or as little as I want while I am there. While the landscape changes each time I go (a good thing), I have found my stays there consistently pleasing and above my expectations.