Some of these places are more than mere coordinates on the map. They are living art, created by the imagination of dreamers and the beat of the land itself. On June 28, visitors will be invited to step into one such place with a pioneering walking tour of Tecate, Mexico, guided by the Ilan-Lael Foundation. It’s not an experience of vistas or dry history facts. It’s a glimpse into the life and legacy of celebrated artist and architect James Hubbell.
In a world that has a tendency to whizz along in a blur, this day-long adventure is all about slowing it down. To walk, to feel, to connect. Against the backdrop of Tecate’s rolling hills and rich cultural heritage, the tour is an immersion in the intersection of art, nature and cross-border harmony.
The Day Begins at Rancho La Puerta
The journey starts at Rancho La Puerta Resort and Spa, the world’s most elite wellness retreat. It is not the beginning. It is the continuation of the story.
Founded in 1940 and situated at the foot of Mount Kuchumaa, Rancho La Puerta is more than a resort. It is a haven for mind, body and spirit. And here, it is the hub of the tour for this specific event. The attendees will gather here before setting out in small, guided hiking parties to view the creations of James Hubbell surrounding Tecate.
The instant you arrive, the earth itself appears to breathe an air of tranquility. Olive trees gently dance in the wind. Sunlight plays across adobe walls. And there is the promise of the next day of discovery, of design, and the richly embedded beauty of northern Mexico’s countryside.
Rediscovering the James Hubbell Universe
For those unfamiliar, James Hubbell is not your average artist. He is a designer of sacred space, a sculptor of light, a bridge builder literal and symbolic. His architectural and artistic endeavors throughout the Baja California landscape are an invitation to consider, to talk about and to connect.
This tour, so thoughtfully organized by the Ilan-Lael Foundation, is a rare opportunity to observe Hubbell’s vision firsthand with the people who have lived and breathed his process.
Highlights of the experience include a visit to Museo Kumiai, a museum celebrating the history and culture of the indigenous Kumeyaay people. Along the way, visitors will also pass through a number of Hubbell’s site-specific installations, which were co-designed with the communities they now occupy.
These are not fixed landmarks. They are breathing, living spaces that speak with curves, color and craftsmanship. As you walk through them, you begin to understand that art in Hubbell’s way of thinking is never just about appearance. It is a matter of belonging.
A Gastronomic Celebration at Tres Estrellas
Halfway through the tour, visitors have a lunch experience as wonderful as the scenery. It’s at Tres Estrellas, Rancho La Puerta’s teaching kitchen and organic farm. No food is cooked here. It’s instead carefully selected. Planted on the property and imbued with the spirit of the earth, every bite is a tale about seasonality and sustainability.
Long, communal tables promote conversation. Wine is lovely with mountain air. And as you dine on just-picked food, you can’t help but think this is how to travel.
Lunch is included in the ticket price, along with transportation from Rancho La Puerta to the US-Mexico border and all guided activities. It’s a carefully thought-out day, ideal for physically fit participants, since so much of the adventure is hiking on rough but rewarding terrain.
Art Across Borders and Generations
Beyond a tourist excursion, this journey holds more significance. It illustrates the way that art can serve as a bridge geographical, cultural, even generational. With each place he stops, there is a feeling that Hubbell’s work is not only placed in the landscape but in the connections that it has created between communities on both sides of the divide.
That energy will carry over the next week on June 14, during the Saturday Social Tour at the Ilan-Lael Center. Sarah Brightwood, President of Rancho La Puerta and a long-time colleague of Hubbell’s, will provide her insights into the making of the Kuchumaa Passage. This striking cross-cultural artwork, finished in 1989 with co-creator Milenko Matanovic, is a testament to vision and respect.
By coming to this special event, guests will get a first-hand glimpse at why and how the project was developed, and why it is so relevant today. Brightwood can bring a very personal view to the story, for someone who was present in body and mind.
Why This Journey Matters
In an increasingly distracted, virtual era, the Tecate tour is a wonderfully rare thing. It makes people slow down. To sense the earth beneath their feet. To talk not just with each other but with the land, the culture and the creative spark within every one of us.
Whether you’re an old friend of James Hubbell or simply a traveler in search of something different from your average summer vacation, this experience will be one that will leave you changed. Inspired. Connected.
For $225 a person, the tour is not simply a ticket. It is an invitation. A well-orchestrated stay in a world where art, nature, and humanity intersect.
Save Your Place in the Novel
This is a personal experience by nature, and space is limited. Interested travelers are encouraged to reserve early. Regardless of whether you spend a day or a week at Rancho La Puerta, this is a special chance to experience Tecate in a manner that few visitors ever will. For more information or to reserve your ticket, visit the Ilan-Lael Foundation website or contact Rancho La Puerta guest services. At other times, the most indulgent thing you can do for yourself is not a tangible something, but an experience that resonates with you. One that brings you more in touch with place, with art, and with your own inner journey. This walking tour is that.
