Entire home

Adobe casita on 12 acres of high desert

Photo gallery for Adobe casita on 12 acres of high desert

View of the casita facing east.
Exterior
Interior
Private kitchen
The master bedroom.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 469.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Santa Fe, NM
  • Meow Wolf
    ‪29 min drive‬
  • Santa Fe Plaza
    ‪32 min drive‬
  • Loretto Chapel
    ‪34 min drive‬
  • Santa Fe, NM (SAF-Santa Fe Municipal)
    ‪25 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed and 1 Child Bed

Living Room 1

1 Double Futon

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Adobe casita on 12 acres of high desert

Our vacation property is a wonderful adobe-style home on 12 private acres just southeast of Santa Fe. For those who want to enjoy both "the city different" and the wonderful high desert country, this home is ideal. Just off of the Turquoise Trail, a Scenic Byway, the property is close to Galisteo, Cerrillos and the old mining town of Madrid. Just 4 miles away, on the road to town, one can enjoy the best New Mexican breakfasts and lunches at the San Marcos Cafe while watching hens, turkeys and peacocks roam the property.

Our casita is cozy and carefully designed in the traditional local adobe style with hand-plastered interior walls, viga ceilings, and a wonderful kiva fireplace. The interior photos of the casita were taken by a professional photographer, so they are terrific, but we'd like to emphasize our casita is a cozy 750 square feet total. With amazing sunset views of the nearby Cerrillos Hills, the casita is nestled into the landscape with 360 degrees of complete privacy.

The landscape is completely natural, with two large arroyos (dry creek beds) on two of our property borders. Tranquility, fresh air, unforgettable sunsets and clear starry nights are everyday treats, and the sound of coyotes howling in the distance make this a very special and unique place.
The casita sleeps two in the queen bedroom, one in the single bedroom, and two on the double futon in the living room. A picnic table, hammock and lounge chair are outside on the slate patio. A stone fireplace is available for outdoor barbeques, and a pile of firewood can be used outdoors or indoors in the traditional fireplace. A large bathroom has a shower, and a washer/dryer. The kitchen has all appliances (no dishwasher). Linens, towels, extra blankets, satellite internet, TV/DVD player, telephone, area fans, games, puzzles, books and kids' toys.

In 30 minutes you can be in downtown Santa Fe. Bandolier and Petroglyph National Monuments, the Santa Fe Opera, and the Pecos, Sangre de Christo, Sandia and Jemez mountains are all nearby. The mountains offer hiking and fishing in summer, and skiing in winter (Ski Santa Fe in the Sangre de Christos; Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque). Art fairs and the famous Zozobra Festival take place all summer in town. Albuquerque is an hour to the southwest. The longest tram in the world climbs up the Sandia Mountains, which lie east of Albuquerque.

Christmas is very nice, the town is decorated with candelarias. A special thing to do is visit a nearby pueblo when they are having a feast or celebration day for traditional Native American dances, arts, food and culture.
The neighborhood around the casita features beautiful New Mexico high desert scenery, with amazing sunsets and views of surrounding mountain ranges. Built low in the landscape, it feels like no one else is around. All adjacent properties are at least 12 acres so there are neighbors, but lots of space in between. Explore our own 12 acres as well as walk in the neighborhood and adjacent properties.
The Lone Butte grocery store and gas station is a few miles away on Hwy 14, as is the San Marcos Cafe for all of your breakfast, lunch, hardware and feed store needs!
Climate: cold (20°-40°F) in winter, and as warm as 80°-100°F in summer, but it cools down at night and often there are short thunderstorms in the late afternoon in July and August. The air is very dry and the altitude is approximately 7,000 ft. Spring and fall are ideal seasons to visit.

Access: fly into Albuquerque International Airport and rent a car; drive north on highway 25. Or fly into Santa Fe County Municipal Airport. Amtrak stops in nearby Lamy.
Getting around: a car is needed. All nearby roads are dirt roads in good condition; local weather conditions apply.
Communication: cellular phone service can be good or bad depending on your provider, but the house has an Internet telephone for local and long-distance calls.
We are available for contact via phone, email, texts, before, during and after stay.
Please sign our guest book!

Property manager

George and Julie Kalmar

Languages

Czech, English, Hungarian, Slovak, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please treat the house, possessions and property with respect and care. It has great personal value for us!

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Santa Fe

Located in Santa Fe, this holiday home is in a rural area and in the mountains. Regal Santa Fe Place and Nuckolls Brewing - Lamy Railyard are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Allan Houser Sculpture Gardens and Casa Grande Trading Post. Travelling with kids? Consider Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum, or check out an event or a game at Oscar Huber Memorial Grandstands. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Santa Fe, NM

What's nearby

  • Meow Wolf - 29 min drive - 29.5 km
  • Santa Fe Railyard - 30 min drive - 36.2 km
  • Santa Fe Plaza - 32 min drive - 37.2 km
  • Canyon Road - 34 min drive - 38.8 km
  • Loretto Chapel - 34 min drive - 38.4 km

Getting around

  • Lamy Station - 31 min drive
  • Santa Fe, NM (SAF-Santa Fe Municipal) - 25 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Beer Creek Brewing Co - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪San Marcos Feed Store - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Black Bird Saloon - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Little Hoof Prints Riding Stable - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Thunderbird Grill - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Adobe casita on 12 acres of high desert pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Adobe casita on 12 acres of high desert?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Adobe casita on 12 acres of high desert?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Adobe casita on 12 acres of high desert located?

This family-friendly Santa Fe holiday home is located in the mountains, 0.3 mi (0.6 km) from Allan Houser Sculpture Gardens, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Cerrillos Hills State Park and Museum of Encaustic Art. Casa Grande Trading Post and Cerrillos Children's Park are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 40 out of 47 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 47 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 47 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 47 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 47 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Laurie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location -cozy and wonderful stargazing

Comfortable, house well stocked, owner very accessible -
Stayed 20 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tim W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Picturesque Retreat

A charming adobe home tucked in the hills outside Santa Fe. It was just the scenic view we had imagined. One highlight is the large bedroom window which allows you to admire the spectacular star filled sky. It took my breath away!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jen S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Winter get away

We came for a long weekend to explore the area. The house is cozy, designed well and has beautiful natural light. We particularly enjoyed the night sky and the indoor fireplace.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tom D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Experience the desert!

Awesome home and area. Quiet, clean, and well stocked. Owner was very responsive and cordial.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Angela L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The perfect little get away

This home is the perfect little secluded place to get away, relax, watch the amazing sunset every night, yet close enough to drive into town for shopping and a meal. The home was clean, had everything we needed, and the views were amazing. We will be back!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Simone R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heaven on Earth

This was perhaps the most enjoyable trip I have ever taken, thanks in large part to the peace, comfort and bliss of this beautiful property. Quiet, gorgeous views, visiting with hummingbirds nearby and other wildlife at a very safe distance. It felt like another world yet so close to Santa Fe and the nearby pueblos. Julie and George were incredibly responsive (and responsible) before and during our stay. I can't say enough about this lovely property! THANK YOU, Kalmar family... from our hearts to yours. We will be back!
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

neal e.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spectacular Rural

Why would you stay in a hotel? The house is very rural and was a great base for northern new mexico field trips. The house has everything and uninterupted views in every direction. I spent one day just walking and inspecting the acreage.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

tiffNY T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peace on Earth

We spent five nights at this lovely lil house over the Christmas holiday. The property is vast the house was small and cozy, the perfect fit for us. Sunrises, sunsets, and stars galore. I would definitely come again.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lynda B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just right for us

The casita is cozy, comfy, and in a beautiful setting. The host, Julie was wonderful to deal with beforehand when we had questions, or wanted to extend our stay. We were delighted to be in this remote and isolated location. I do need to say that it might not be for everyone as there are no stores or restaurants or other amenities within about 10 miles, and Santa Fe is about 30 minutes away. We loved it!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Brett W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique & Quiet House

Overall, this was a good place to stay for an extended weekend trip to the area for the Balloon Fiesta. No negatives to speak of... the only real drawback was that the road out there is incredibly rough. Nothing a standard vehicle can't handle, just be ready to be bounced around a bit. Positives were that it was incredibly quiet... we hardly saw another car and never heard another neighbor while we were there. The stars at night were amazing to see with no other lights around. Overall, we enjoyed our time there!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Terri B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing place!

We absolutely loved the casita & the location! It was great both inside & outside. The sunsets, the sky, the stars, coyotes yipping & howling one night, proximity to Santa Fe, Madrid, Bandelier & many other things made the casita such a wonderful place to stay. I would definitely stay there again & highly recommend it if you like to be out where is quiet and very beautiful, Julie was very responsive to all communication too.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

Linda B., Tulsa Oklahoma

Liked: Communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in

Wonderful Scenery

The casita wasn’t ready for us until after6:00 pm, when checkin was at 3:00. So after 10 hours on the road, we drove to Madrid to shop and eat. We highly recommend The Holler restaurant there! Looks very casual, but the chef is amazing! We had dinner there 3/4 nights and were happy each meal! Stay away from Bear Creek Brewery! Bad attitudes and awful food! As to the casita, as another guest said, there is a lot of deferred maintenance that needs to be done, that the housekeeper isn’t capable of! Great view from master bedroom of the mountains and the hummingbirds! Definitely need high ground clearance on the dirt roads.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Kevin T., Dallas

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place, needs some work

The location is amazing. Outstanding 360° views. House is great, but needs some work. Owners aren’t putting money back into property. First 5 days were great. But temps got above 82° and house heated up like an oven. Half the windows are broken and won’t open. Those that do open have holes in screens, missing screens, holes where handles should be. Only 1 door has a screen and it has huge hole in it. At night, the house cools off, but with all the holes, bugs got in- hundreds of bugs-attracted by the lights. I left 3 days early because of how hot house was. Great place for cooler weather, but not over 85°. Great kitchen, bathroom, den. Water pressure is great. Lady who is caretaker is great. One night storms washed out 2 roads to the house and she rescued us in her 4x4. Would definitely recommend house in cooler months, but not in summer months.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Eric L., Tulsa, OK

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

June Stay

We loved our stay at this casita. It was so peaceful and quiet. The air and the smell of pine so refreshing. The sunsets were stunning. Only 30 minutes from the Plaza in Santa Fe, it was like having 2 separate vacation experiences.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Quiet Casita

Lovely 2-bedroom casita on large property. Incredible star gazing at night with the occasional coyote yips. No AC, but once sun goes down you open up the windows and turn on the fans and it airs out easily. Good breakfast spot and brewery/pizza spots nearby; easy 20-30 minute drive to Santa Fe. Kitchen well equipped, washer and dryer in bathroom was helpful. Host Julie and nearby housekeeper Anne were delightful and responsive to any questions that arose. Highly recommend!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022

8/10 Good

Bruce S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Outstanding rest and recuperation

Quiet and restful, yet close enough to Santa Fe to enjoy all of its treats.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Shyra W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a (Grown Up) ReTreat

This is a space for getting away. Everything needed was there.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Angela S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy retreat in beautiful surroundings

We had a wonderful stay and enjoyed the location very much.
Stayed 10 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

John D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful!

The views were awesome. Santa Fe doesn't have much light pollution, but this has even less, so nights were full of stars. Summer storms rolling around in the distance were beautiful to watch. We ate every meal outside on the little patio. We brought our own hanging chairs to hang from the sun shade thing. We were there during the end of summer so it did get kind of hot indoors while we were away for the day in Santa Fe. But some fans and open windows quickly solved that problem. So glad we found this property! We loved our stay and may be back again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

P W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy, quiet and breezy.

Had a lovely time alone even though friends had to bow out at the last minute. Quick and easy access to Santa Fe. Adobe cottage is cozy and airy. The sky watching was amazing next to the patio fire ring. Coyotes singing in the distance most nights. Wi Fi worked great so easy to keep in touch online. Wacky community radio station (96.9 FM) was an unexpected delight.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Vanessa C., Fort Myers, Florida

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Traditional style in the beautiful desert just outside of Santa Fe

We loved our stay in the Adobe casita set within the high desert outside Santa Fe. We booked this property as we wanted to experience the natural beauty and style of New Mexico and this property did not disappoint! We loved watching the thunder storms roll across the mountains from the outside seating area to enjoying the magnificent sunsets before star gazing for the rest of the evening. The casita was charming with its coziness and the traditional decor that celebrates New Mexico with its furnishings and textiles, we loved it! Thank you Julie for being the perfect host and answering our questions quickly, loved the additional information about the local area and where to go off the beaten path, it made our trip! We will be back!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Charlotte J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful property and lovely house

This is a lovely house and the property is wonderfully peaceful. I enjoyed my stay so much, especially being able to have fires in the fireplace. Julie is a great host. I recommend staying at her place.
Stayed 27 nights in Feb 2021

10/10 Excellent

Eloisa R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved the ranch Adobe style

Our stay was amazing, enjoyed the stars at night and the fireplaces the views were unforgettable sunrise and sunset.

8/10 Good

Kristy W., Portland, TN, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely New Mexico visit

We enjoyed the beautiful property! The views were amazing. Futon was difficult to maneuver. When we arrived, we were not sure of the check in time so the casita had not yet been cleaned but the housekeeper arrived promptly to clean it. Thank you for a wonderful stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Julie F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

awesome property and perfect vacation

Our stay was perfect - the location was beautiful and relaxing and adobe was awesome - definitely coming back - better than hotel and charming adobe. Clean, quiet, awesome star viewing and relaxing location.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2019

About the host

Hosted by George and Julie Kalmar

Host profile image
George and I lived in Los Angeles for 20+ years. We now live in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. We have two children, ages 17 and 27, and we work in international education and other creative fields.

We enjoy sharing our homes with visitors to the wonderful cities of San Miguel de Allende and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Our home in San Miguel is a spacious, Spanish Colonial two-story home with a large veranda and yard, and a two adjacent casitas.

Our traditional Santa Fe-style adobe casita is located on 12 acres of high desert, 30 minutes southeast of Santa Fe.

Like many of our guests, we love to explore the world, and hosting people from all over the world enriches our own experience. We always provide attention that is both professional and personal.

Why they chose this property

We each have a history of living in, or visiting New Mexico since 1990. We love New Mexico and its unique aspects: cultures, landscapes and cuisines.

What makes this property unique

Beautiful high desert countryside, privacy, quiet, lots of stars at night.

Languages:

English, Spanish, Czech, Hungarian, Slovak