Casa de la Vaca I – Peaceful Guest House on 5 Acres Near Santa Fe
For over a decade, Casa de la Vaca I has welcomed guests seeking peace, comfort, and the beauty of nature. This private adobe guest house sits on 5 wooded acres in the Cañoncito area, just 12 miles from Santa Fe Plaza and 3 miles off the Eldorado exit. With nearby hiking trails, starry night skies, and panoramic mountain views, it’s the perfect escape while still being close to great restaurants, the Agora Market, and historic Route 66. Pet-friendly with prior approval ($75 per pet).
The Space This two-level, one-bedroom casita has been fully refreshed and thoughtfully furnished. The living room features heated brick floors, a comfortable sofa bed (fits 1 adult or 1–2 children), and a small workspace. The full kitchen offers new cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, an island, and all the essentials for cooking. Upstairs, the cozy loft bedroom has a queen bed and full bathroom with subway tile. Outside, enjoy a private patio and courtyard with a grill, sitting area, and space for yoga or morning coffee under the portal.
Special Notes: 1. Water – Our water comes from a shared underground well. It is filtered through a triple ozone system, multi-stage filtration, and a Primo filtered water system for drinking. While perfectly safe, it may carry a mild sulfur scent, common in remote mountain areas. If you prefer city water, you may want to stay in town. 2. Access & Parking – All-wheel drive is recommended in winter. You’ll travel 800 feet of unpaved road before reaching our gravel driveway. Parking is available at the stonework by the left entrance. A complimentary Level 2 EV charger (NEMA 10-30 with Tesla adapter) is available in the carport. 3. Guest House - there is another rental home adjacent to this property on the right which is the main house. There is a courtyard separating the two homes. We ask our guests to be respectful of other guests andd neighbors and keep noise to a minimum. Each home has their own private entrances and outdoor spaces.
Location & Activities Casa de la Vaca I borders a 4,000-acre nature preserve with miles of well-marked hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. Hiking sticks are provided for your use. At night, enjoy exceptional stargazing thanks to minimal light pollution. Downtown Santa Fe’s world-class dining, art, and shopping are just a 20-minute drive away.
Cleanliness & Comfort We follow enhanced cleaning protocols for your safety and peace of mind.
Pet Policy We welcome well-behaved dogs (sorry, no cats) with prior approval and a $75 fee per pet. Please crate dogs when left alone and keep them off the furniture. We love pets—we have a cockapoo named Cash—but also strive to respect guests with allergies.
Nearby Dining Within minutes, you’ll find local favorites such as Café Fina, Bourbon Grill, and Harry’s Roadhouse. Grocery stores, gas, and shops are nearby in Eldorado, and Santa Fe offers Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and countless restaurants for every palate. Our Welcome Book and online guide include our top recommendations.
Additional Options Need more space? The main house (Casa de la Vaca II) next door has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Rent both homes together as Casa de la Vaca III to enjoy the entire property—ideal for family gatherings or retreats. VRBO property ID 3123139
We look forward to hosting you! Diana & Cory
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Hiking, mt biking, 44 acres to explore, 20 min outside of Santa Fe
Santa Fe
Hiking, mt biking, 44 acres to explore, 20 min outside of Santa Fe
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 3123090vb
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
About the area
Santa Fe
Located in Santa Fe, this holiday home is in the mountains. New Mexico Military Museum and Museum of International Folk Art are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Glorietta Battlefield and De Vargas Street House. Santa Fe Botanical Garden and Santa Fe Children's Museum are also worth visiting. Take the opportunity to explore the area for outdoor excitement like hiking.
Eldorado Community Preserve - 5 min drive - 3.4 km
Vista Grande Public Library - 13 min drive - 14.6 km
Quail Run Golf Course - 15 min drive - 23.1 km
Winsor Trail - 16 min drive - 26.1 km
New Mexico Land Conservancy - 18 min drive - 30.2 km
Getting around
Lamy Station - 22 min drive
Santa Fe, NM (SAF-Santa Fe Municipal) - 29 min drive
Restaurants
Cafe Fina - 10 min drive
Jambo Bobcat Bite - 13 min drive
Arable - 13 min drive
Pizza Centro - 13 min drive
La Plancha - 13 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is 7thNtFree! CasaDeVAca1bdrSantaFeCharm pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).
How much does it cost to stay at 7thNtFree! CasaDeVAca1bdrSantaFeCharm?
As of 10 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at 7thNtFree! CasaDeVAca1bdrSantaFeCharm on 22 June 2026 start from NZ$282, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at 7thNtFree! CasaDeVAca1bdrSantaFeCharm?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at 7thNtFree! CasaDeVAca1bdrSantaFeCharm?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at 7thNtFree! CasaDeVAca1bdrSantaFeCharm?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is 7thNtFree! CasaDeVAca1bdrSantaFeCharm located?
Situated in the mountains, this holiday home is 1.2 mi (1.9 km) from Eldorado Community Preserve and 2.5 mi (4 km) from Bishop John Lamy Grant. Vista Grande Public Library and Glorietta Battlefield are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Everything was perfect. Diana really pays attention to detail and her place is so nice and private. It is jjst what we needed to get a break from the city life.
Wonderful house and location; very quiet and peaceful. Everything is exactly as depicted in the listing. Owner’s were great to work with and I will definitely be staying here again!
Justin O.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 September 2025
Fantastic guests! They are welcome back at our place any time!
Best,
Diana
Such a great property and host was a delight to work with. Kitchen very well stocked. Warmly welcomed pets. About 20 minute drive to downtown Santa Fe.
Mary S.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 21 March 2026
Mary,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so glad you enjoyed the home, the then, and that your pet felt welcome too. That's always important to us.
We truly enjoyed hosting you and would love to welcome you back anytime you're in Santa Fe!
Warmly,
Diana
This is a very lovely property. Immaculately clean with an enchanting decor nestled in the beautiful New Mexico woods. Very serene. Highly recommend.
Sara H.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 11 September 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! I’m so happy you enjoyed the peaceful setting and New Mexico charm, and that the home felt spotless and welcoming.
Your recommendation means a lot, and I’d love to host you again whenever you’re ready for another serene getaway.
Best,
Diana
Stunning views and excellent accommodations. Very clear instructions for check in and out. Host is very kind and provided excellent communication throughout. The kitchen was well appointed and all told, perfect for a secluded getaway
Wonderful property and awesome host! We loved the remote location, oudoor space, and its a beautiful home. One of the best stocked vacation rentals I've stayed at, and dog friendly. We had a gift bag with treats and toy for our pup when we checked in!! Highly recommend!!!
Debi S.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 August 2025
Deborah,
Thank you so much for your kind review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the peaceful setting and outdoor space. It was a joy hosting you, your family and your pup, Zuni. I’m thrilled you loved the gift bag! I’d be delighted to welcome you back anytime.
Best,
Diana
Amazing host, Diana was very attentive and responsive,also surprised us with a beautiful note and bouquet of flowers for our anniversary. Note that this is a somewhat remote canyon location, which brings a quiet and cozy getaway and the architecture, New Mexico is known for, certainly shines here with modern amenities. Diana shows that she truly cares about her guests in her communications and efforts to make our stay the best it could be. Thank you, Diana.
John C.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 11 September 2025
Thank you so much for your thoughtful words! I’m delighted the flowers and note helped make your anniversary extra special. I’m glad you enjoyed the peaceful canyon setting and the mix of classic New Mexico style with modern comforts.
It was a pleasure hosting you both and I’d be thrilled to welcome you back anytime for another quiet getaway.
Best,
Diana
Beautiful property, Enjoyed the mountain veiws, Very peaceful, Would highly recommend this vacation rental.
NOEL O.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 17 October 2023
I am so glad you enjoyed your stay in our home in Santa Fe! I hope you will come back and stay with us again soon.
Best,
Diana
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Mark P.
1 April 2019
Very nice place to stay
Loved how it was tucked away in very peaceful beautiful setting. Had everything you needed to reteat and relax. But yet it is only a few short miles from Santa Fe . Great place to stay !
The property is well maintaineda and very clean. It is a quick 20 - 25 minute drive from downtown Santa Fe. We enjoyed being out of town for our evenings and mornings. It was a cery peaceful place to stay.
Cahl S.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 24 August 2024
Cahl,
I am so glad you enjoyed your stay at Casa de la Vaca. I hope you will come back and stay with us again.
Best,
Diana
The property is easy to get to from the freeway but set apart from the busyness of Santa Fe—a nice and quiet location. The kitchen is well stocked with anything you might need to cook a meal, and the yard is peaceful and even has a hammock!
Host replied promptly to any requests or questions. Highly recommend a stay here!
Carol A.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 16 September 2024
Carol, thank you for staying in our casita in Santa Fe and for taking the time to write such a kind review. I am glad you enjoyed the outdoor space and found it peaceful and relaxing. I hope you will visit us again, soon. Best,
Diana
This was just close enough to Santa Fe without being downtown. We very much enjoyed the surrounding landscape and heated floors. The host was very responsive and provided great information. We look forward to staying again on our next Santa Fe trip!
Thank you!
Darrah W.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 23 April 2024
So glad you enjoyed your stay! We welcome you back anytime!
Thank you for taking the time to write and for taking great care of our home.
Best, Diana
This is a beautiful little casita, nestled in the foothills near Santa Fe. The location was as scenic as it was peaceful, and it proved to be perfectly suited distance-wise for our day trips into Santa Fe proper, like La Plaza and the many other surrounding attractions. In addition to that, there was great communications from the owner which is always a plus. Five stars for sure.
HUMBERTO R.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 13 September 2024
Humberto thank you for your gracious review! I am so glad you enjoyed the peaceful surroundings. I hope you will come back and visit us again, soon. You have your casita here in foothills of canoncito.
Best,
Diana
Have stayed at this location many times! Always great ! Some new updates were greatly appreciated. Francis was very easy to work with as always! Great communication in updates and policies!
Wilber K.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 31 May 2022
Thanks for the kind comments. Happy you liked the home upgrades, renovations and additions. Yep, gotta follow the directions to the house I send which are much easier to follow than GPS which gets confusing. Always a pleasure hosting and thanks for your continued visits at our Santa Fe homes. Francis
This may be the most beautiful VRBO we’ve stayed in. My husband and I stayed for five days at the holidays, and my sister drove in and used the very comfortable fold out couch for two nights. The owners were incredibly good at communicating when we had questions, the place was immaculately clean, and had every single thing we could want or need. We will stay here again- can’t wait to see the stars from the balcony deck in the summer, and hike on the nearby trails!
Nikki L.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 4 January 2023
Nikki,
Thank you for your very kind words. It was such a pleasure to meet you and your husband. You left our Casita better than how you found it and gave us some great tips. We can't wait to have you back again soon!
All the best,
Diana
We loved our stay. If you want to be near Santa Fe but in the quiet of the forest, this is a great place. And we loved having our dog there. It is close to hiking trails which we loved. If I could make a suggestion, I would encourage the purchase of new bath towels and to check some light bulbs that are burned out. Small complaints from an overall wonderful stay!
Pamela M.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 May 2022
So happy you enjoyed your stay.
I have been away from Santa Fe last 3 months and just returned.
Lightbulbs replaced and updated towels.
Thank you and come see us again!
Francis
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Christine
11 October 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The views from this home were spectacular! The balcony off the bedroom is perfect for your morning coffee and to soak in the sun before you start your day. It is even more amazing to admire the stars. The front patio was perfect to experience sunset and had a great view of the mountains. The kitchen and bathroom were well stocked with supplies. The queen bed was very comfortable. The entire house was really clean.
Communication was also very good. Even with the strong sulfide odor smell of the water, this home is a 5/5. We truly enjoyed our stay!
Terrific elegant little casita tucked into the wooded hillsides south of Santa Fe was our choice this annual visit but first time Stayin in this area and we loved our 3 days off the beaten path with out the door secluded country dirt/gravel road to walk our dog several times a day and take the bike for a spin. Loved the fully stocked kitchen for cooking and windows every where to open and feel the mountain breeze throughout the house upstairs and down. Then getting in the truck and goin in to town to eat or shop was an easy 20 min scenic drive. Hope to come back again in summer when all the garden is alive and colorful. Thanks for sharing this property with us!
Alan P.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 13 March 2023
Alan, Cortney & Moses,
You all are wonderful guests and so appreciative and caring of our home and surroundings. We welcome you back any time of year!
Thank you for staying with us. You have your home here in Santa Fe.
Best regards,
Diana
About the host
Hosted by Diana Olivar
Cory and I met in Chicago. We would visit the southwest where I was born and raised and he would often ask, “Why don’t we live here”? Granted we were usually escaping the Chicago winter and enjoying 60-degree weather. We eventually moved back to my hometown of El Paso, Texas for family reasons where we have lived for the past 10 years. Cory being an adrenaline junkie loves all things outdoors. Although, he loves the El Paso desert and the 330+ days of sunshine (so he can downhill mountain bike and ride motorcycles), he also craves the winter slopes. Our 11-year-old son is doing a great job of keeping up with Cory on the black diamonds. We found the perfect compromise when we landed on Casa de la Vaca in Santa Fe! A beautiful, serene mountain get away nestled in the foothills of magical Canoncito. It’s a short drive for us and we love to stop along the way in Albuquerque. It is so kid friendly that we do trips to the museums, Explora, zoo, Mama’s minerals and our favorite Sawmill Market. In the summer, we can escape the heat in EP and with so much to do in Santa Fe we have a great place to visit all year round. We couldn’t be more excited to enjoy our second home and share it with family & friends and now thanks to platforms like VRBO with guests when we are not in town. A bit of a win, win. We love to travel and enjoy good cuisine, so Santa Fe really fits the bill. There are so many great restaurants, hiking trails, museums, spas, festivals, the opera, skiing, farmer’s markets, the second largest art market in the country, nearby Taos and Chimayo and the list goes on and on. It really is a cosmopolitan gem in the high desert. The VRBO vacation rental opportunity has allowed us to do what we love; meet new people, travel, and share our stories.
We hope we get to meet you and hear your story.
Best,
Diana and Cory
Why they chose this property
Casa de la Vaca I (one bedroom home), sweeping views, secluded in the foothills of Canoncito Tranquil and Serene. The private (Casa I) has its own private entrance and sleeps up to 3 guests with one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen, and a pull-out sofa bed. This gem is perfect for a couple or small family. Nestled up in the foothills with panoramic views sits this Canoncito/Santa Fe Charm house on secluded 5 acres, just a mere 15 miles (20-minute drive) to Santa Fe’s historic downtown plaza. Serene and exquisite, you will encounter majestic Mountain views and with almost no light pollution you will experience the most incredible evening star gazing! You will be surrounded by gorgeous local plants, flowers, hummingbirds, and pines. This peaceful sanctuary is surrounded with birds and wildlife. Enjoy the gas grill, patio seating, break out the yoga mats and take in the breathtaking views! Namaste. All-wheel drive is always recommended especially during winter months, in case of snow. You will drive up 800 ft of unpaved road to reach our private gravel road to our home. Convenient parking is available in front of the stonework on either entrance.
Cleanliness is of the utmost importance. To help ensure your safety and well-being, we have a cleaning service who is utilizing best practices for enhanced cleaning and disinfecting vacation rental properties.
We also have the absolute best internet -100mbps for Canoncito. So, if you must work you can do so without a problem.
What makes this property unique
Other things to note: Cuisine -We love to cook and have some essentials in the kitchen for your convenience. At the nearby Eldorado community, you can find gas, and groceries at the Agora market. There are also a few local eateries we like to support. Of course, we have Whole Foods, Trader Joes's and other chain supermarkets in downtown Santa Fe. You happen to be in one of the food capitals of the world so take advantage of the amazing cuisine that Santa Fe has to offer.
Pets: We welcome well-behaved pooches. Sorry, felines only dogs are allowed. Pets are allowed with advanced approval at $75 per pet. This fee is included as we take added measures to thoroughly disinfect and sanitize the home to ensure there is no trace of a pet after each stay. We appreciate your cooperation in crating your pets when left alone and not allowing them on any furniture. We know our pets are family and we want them to travel with us, we have a cockapoo of our own, so we know. We also need to ensure that we respect all of our guests who may have sensitives or allergies and strive to deliver the best experience in our homes.
Nature and your surroundings: You are surrounded by a 4,000 acres nature preserve with miles upon miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. These trails are very well marked and range from easy strolls to more strenuous hikes. As you drive down Ojo da la Vaca road you will see two areas to park to access the trail heads. We have hiking sticks available during your stay, adjust them and set out and explore. The items in the house are for our guests, so please feel free to enjoy. After a full day feel free to set up the portable massage table which has disposable covers for the headrest. There are also top rated spas in Santa Fe to choose from. There is so much to do and see in Santa Fe and the surrounding areas. Please check out the Welcome book for our personal recommendations.
We look forward to hosting you during your stay in Santa Fe!
Diana & Cory
Languages:
English, Spanish
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests