Coming to Vallecitos feeds the part of us that knows…
A more beautiful and supportive setting to cultivate freedom of the heart and mind is hard to imagine. Amidst the high alpine mountains, Vallecitos Mountain retreat center is a breathtaking, off-grid wildlife preserve on the ancestral territories of the Ute and Jicarilla Apache Peoples (Tusas mountains, New Mexico). Wildlife abounds among alpine meadows, mountain ponds, ponderosa pines and aspen groves. The 135-acre private mountain retreat center, surrounded by 300,000 acres of National Forest, is frequented by elk, deer, bear, beaver, wild horses, eagles, 60 species of birds and many other creatures. The Vallecitos River, protected under federal law, runs through the mountain retreat center. Trails wind in and around the retreat center.
Centering a “Land as Dharma Teacher” Approach
Our center is rooted in the teachings of early Buddhism, which uplifts practice in the forest as a doorway to liberation. We offer Insight Dharma in its fullness through practice within the land to support awakening and intimacy with all things.
Far from distractions. Close to nature.
Being in nature at a high alpine mountain retreat has a way of reminding you of your place in the whole of things. The deep quiet of Vallecitos invites you to bring your attention inward and to gather the heart and mind in the present moment. The sounds of wind through the pines, the hum of the rushing river and the chirping of birds replace those of automobiles, electronics and sirens. The beauty of crisp mountain air and brilliant blue skies help us remember the inherent beauty within ourselves and all of life.
Simple. Comfortable. Intimate.
A maximum of 40 guests occupy the mountain retreat center’s charming yet rustic casitas, yurts, tent cabins and campsites. Most activities are hosted at either our historic log cabin lodge, built in 1928, or in our outdoor practice tent, overlooking a spectacular meadow and mountains. The lodge’s cathedral ceilings and stone fireplaces dot the meditation hall, library and dining rooms that overlook the meadow and the Vallecitos River.
Life-changing programs.
At Vallecitos, the beauty and power of wildness help us heal our fractured, aching hearts and reignite our deepest aspirations. Being on the land restores us in ways that are unmistakable, even if inexplicable. When we are absorbed into the medicine of the land, we recognize the truth of our belonging—to each other and to the great mystery of life.
Vallecitos is a place where the land holds our joy, our tears, our questions, our self-doubt, our pain, and our rejoicing. The land holds it all. When we are on retreat within the land, we take refuge within the earth. When we remember our own embodied nature, we evoke the power of the sacred. We breathe life into our heartfelt aspirations and receive the nourishment and capacity to keep going.
“The retreat experience helped ground me after four turbulent and scary months, and it gave me a useful set of tools to persist and hopefully thrive in my field in the long term.”
-2025 Retreatant
