Visit us in the heart of the Mayan world
We have recently become stewards of a remarkable place in the heart of the Mayan world. Our 230 acre haven is called Rancho Jixhil (pronouced "heeshEEL"). It is the last remaining part of a pre-revolution era finca that includes a wheat mill built in 1870 and house built around 1920. The land is the main attraction, however, with about 1/3 valley bottom crossed by a stream and canal and 2/3 forested mountains, replete with terraces and ruins at the edge of a lost Mayan city, rocky canyon, and a web of pathways, some leading to milpas (corn patches) and others to hidden sanctuaries.
The weather on this high plateau in Chiapas, Mexico is as close to perfect as we have ever seen. All year long the days are almost always sunny and warm to hot (70 to 80 degrees F). Nighttime lows are usually in the 50s and 60s. A fire in a chimenea is all that is needed to remove the occasional evening chill. The rainy season comes in the summer and fall (May through October) with most mornings bright and sunny and the rains not starting until sometime after 3:00 in the afternoon. During the rainy season is when the highlands of Chiapas are most verdant.
We are inviting you to be our guest during our first phase of development. (We personally are always curious about the origin of things and think you might be, too.) Our goal for the future here at Rancho Jixhil is to complete accommodations comprising an eight-room guesthouse, two-room mill house, and three-bedroom house to let for groups and occasions. We will also have a restaurant serving meals made from organic produce, milk, and cheeses from the farm; as well as open a spa and a gift shop offering local artesanias. And finally, we are contemplating forest treehouses for travelers who want a more complete natural experience.
We are opening the mill house to rent to visitors at a reasonable price while we continue to develop this beautiful place into an example of sustainable living (non-wasteful abundance). We invite you to come share our adventure.
Sincerely,
Regina and Steve
