Casa Lyobaa (lee-oh-bah) is a sanctuary for travelers in the Oaxaca Valley. Set on three acres of organic gardens—walking distance from the Mitla ruins—the hotel features a pool, temazcal, palapa, and kitchen & living space. The four guest rooms and suite have been appointed with great care, from the handwoven blankets and rugs from our favorite weavers, to local pottery and art. A separate poolside building houses the fully stocked kitchen & living area, where complimentary breakfast is served each morning. The adjacent palapa is an idyllic space to relax, surrounded by bamboo, coffee plants, palms, and ferns. Solar panels provide nearly all electricity. We embrace sustainable environmental and ethical labor practices.

Lyobaa is the Zapotec name for Mitla (Mictlán in Nahuatl). It means place of rest. The hotel is approximately 500 meters from the ruins along a road that turns from paved to unpaved about halfway down, and that continues to prehistoric cave paintings about 10 minutes beyond the house. Our three acres are bound by a small seasonal river, a smaller seasonal stream, and countryside. The gardens include hundreds of native and non-native species—from rare cacti, agaves, and yuccas, to pomegranate, macadamia nut, and orange trees. Bird life is often abundant, including scarlet tanagers, orioles, hummingbirds, and gray-breasted woodpeckers. Trails for hiking run from just outside our gate, and we have a number of other hiking recommendations for the area (many on trails that we have mapped).

Note that there are also two large, friendly dogs on the grounds.