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Stargazing Earthship Retreat in Taos with Outdoor Fire Pit - sleeps 6!

Vacation home with kitchen

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Exterior
Smart TV
Interior
Smart TV
A rustic building with a flat roof and large windows, a small outdoor seating area with four Adirondack chairs and a round table, and a vast open landscape with mountains in the distance.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Free WiFi
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
El Prado, NM
  • Place, Earthship BioTecture
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Río Grande del Norte National Monument
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, Taos, NM (TSM-Taos Regional)
    ‪10 min drive‬

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About the neighborhood

What's nearby

  • Earthship BioTecture - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Río Grande del Norte National Monument - 3 min drive - 2.3 miles
  • Rio Grande Gorge Bridge - 3 min drive - 2.8 miles
  • Kit Carson Park - 22 min drive - 16.4 miles
  • Taos Plaza - 22 min drive - 17.1 miles

Getting around

  • Taos, NM (TSM-Taos Regional) - 11 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Midtown Market and Lounge - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪Taos Mesa Brewing - ‬10 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Stargazing Earthship Retreat in Taos with Outdoor Fire Pit - sleeps 6!

The First Encounter Earthship is a stunning off-the-grid home that makes natural living possible for just about anyone.

Designed to be fully self-sufficient and as gentle on the planet as possible, it generates its own electricity, regulates temperature, and even grows abundant plant life. We invite you to come experience modern luxury and encounter the wonders of eco-friendly living!

Welcome to the First Encounter Earthship - a unique and sustainable VRBO experience! This stunning home is perfect for anyone who wants to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and reconnect with nature. As soon as you step inside, you'll be greeted by an expansive greenhouse that offers unobstructed views of New Mexico's breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. And with minimal light pollution, you'll have the opportunity to gaze at the stars like never before.

The Earthship's ecosystem has been thoughtfully designed to accommodate a range of plants that thrive in its optimal conditions. You'll be able to spot a range of species, including tomatillos, aloe vera, and even a fig tree! The Encounter is also completely off-the-grid, which means it utilizes solar panels to collect energy from the hot New Mexico sun to power the entire home. Filtered snowmelt and rainwater is used for home use, so you'll be able to enjoy a sustainable and eco-friendly stay.

The Encounter is equipped with all the modern amenities you need, including wifi and a smart TV, all without sacrificing the Earthship's eco-friendly principles. The home also has a propane stove and fridge in the kitchen, perfect for guests who want to cook during their stay. If you're looking for local recommendations, we're happy to provide you with some great options for watering holes and nearby attractions.

Earthship living is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but we understand that it may not be for everyone. You’ll need to be conservative in your use of water and electricity, and be comfortable living close to nature and plants. While the wifi is strong, being off-the-grid means it can be slow at times. But if you do choose to stay with us, you will have the opportunity to experience some of the most spectacular views that New Mexico has to offer while doing your part to make the Earth greener.

Before we purchased the home, it was a long time rental with a 4.85 score and over 90 glowing reviews. People love staying here and we hope you will too!

Named one of Lonely Planet’s Top Eco Stays in 2014, the Encounter Earthship brings together eco-friendly living principles and modern luxury to create an unforgettable experience. We hope you’ll enjoy it!

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Property amenities

Ski

  • Close to skiing

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1.5 bathrooms
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Games
  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Outdoor furniture

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Things to do

  • Hiking/biking trails nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Solar energy

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Rules

This home is not suitable for charging an electric vehicle or plugging in an RV. The power system cannot handle these types of charging.

There is a noise curfew of 10pm within the community

Pets are not allowed, with the exception of service animals

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses solar energy
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. This property uses solar energy. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector in each accommodation.

Property Registration Number HO-83-2022

Frequently asked questions

How close is Stargazing Earthship Retreat in Taos with Outdoor Fire Pit - sleeps 6! to the airport?

This vacation home is 6.7 mi (11-min drive) away from the Taos, NM (TSM-Taos Regional) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does Stargazing Earthship Retreat in Taos with Outdoor Fire Pit - sleeps 6! have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.

Does Stargazing Earthship Retreat in Taos with Outdoor Fire Pit - sleeps 6! offer free breakfast?

This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Stargazing Earthship Retreat in Taos with Outdoor Fire Pit - sleeps 6!?

No, there is no casino at this vacation home, but Taos Mountain Casino (20-min drive) is nearby.

What time is check-in at Stargazing Earthship Retreat in Taos with Outdoor Fire Pit - sleeps 6!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Stargazing Earthship Retreat in Taos with Outdoor Fire Pit - sleeps 6!?

Free parking is not available at this vacation home.

Does Stargazing Earthship Retreat in Taos with Outdoor Fire Pit - sleeps 6! have a pool?

This vacation home does not have a pool.

Does Stargazing Earthship Retreat in Taos with Outdoor Fire Pit - sleeps 6! have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this vacation home.

Stargazing Earthship Retreat in Taos with Outdoor Fire Pit - sleeps 6! Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 24 out of 30 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 30 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 30 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 30 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 30 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jycell W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Absolutely amazing experience! Will stay again one day!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026

10/10 Excellent

elizabeth m.

Liked: Cleanliness
We enjoyed experiencing earthship living for ourselves. The accommodations were very comfortable. We were definitely conscientious in the use of our water knowing that drought conditions applied. Living alongside a garden with flowering plants and fruit trees made the environment beautiful and also less clean than we are accustomed to. Although unavoidable, the accumulation of dust tracked in from outside made keeping the floors clean a challenge. Perhaps a paved or gravel path might help alleviate some of this issue.We thoroughly enjoyed the fire pit and the Mountain View’s. We took full advantage of seeing the sunrise each morning from the comfort of the Adirondack chairs around the fire pit. We also enjoyed viewing the stars at night with the advantage of a dark night sky. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026

10/10 Excellent

Rachel D.

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026

10/10 Excellent

Nicolas F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful house - loved the amazing plants in the greenhouse patio, the beautiful setting and the architecture! Very cozy and comfortable for our group (4 adults and 2 kids)
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026

10/10 Excellent

Estevan M.

Liked: Cleanliness
We really enjoyed our stay. The room was as described. It’s always been a dream of ours sustain on earth ship. It was neat to see the vegetation growing so strong. We really enjoyed the view of the desert sky and the mountains in the background. The house maintained a decent temperature without heating. The Internet was fast. Everything was clean. Host communicated well. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Kat K.

Liked: Cleanliness
So interesting! This place has a gorgeous inside garden of fucshia geraniums plus a host of fascinating features. Highly recommended.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

6/10 Okay

Candance B.

Disliked: Cleanliness
A heavy smell like mold or bat guano permeated every room, or could have been from back up in septic recycling grey water. Dead mouse near outdoor fire pit. Found broken glass in kitchen. Surface cleaning good but oven really needed cleaning. Outdoor chairs hadn’t been cleaned. Front view included two campers and and a van, ruining the view in that direction. The surrounding views were magnificent but I cannot recommend this home due to a very serious lack of upkeep
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Jason N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great star gazing, super close to the gorge and Taos. Unique house.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Shawn F.

Unique property and overall great stay. A little more attention to overall cleanliness would have been 5 stars but we would stay again and explore some other Earthship properties since they all look a little different and fun.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Molly H.

Liked: Cleanliness

A great experience!

We had a fantastic stay. It was a great experience for our kids. Our host was extremely helpful and responsive. This is a rental we will remember for a long time!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

rachael b.

Liked: Cleanliness

Earthship Taos

So magical!! The location was really breathtaking with views of the mountains all around!!The weather kind of betrayed us (huge winter storm with snow and rain!) so it was a bit cold but the blankets on the beds were nice and snuggly! We also did not get to see any stars due to cloud coverage.The Earthship did have a pretty significant ant problem, but we just put everything in the fridge and it was okay.Make sure to read the handbook as there are two spouts on the faucets: one for drinking water and one for other uses (we did not realize that)Overall, an absolutely wonderful once in a lifetime experience.Thank you!!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brett M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great stargazing

Instructions and communication from the property manager was great. The property was in great shape and we had an excellent stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Justin F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Stay away from town

Had a great stay at the Stargazing Earthship Retreat. The house was clean, the check out instructions were clear and not onerous. The property was quiet and slept myself and my two daughters comfortably. Very close to the gorge and town was just a bit further. The heating/cooling system took a bit to figure out, but was described in the online house documentation. Would stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cat O.

Liked: Cleanliness

Family Vacation

I loved all aspects of the property. It was warm and welcoming. Our son is headed off to college so it was nice to have closer quarters to hang out in. We couldn’t use the outside because of the March weather it was rather windy but we did bundle up and sit and watch the stars. The idea of an earth shipThank you for having us also was cool to know
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

lorise v.

Liked: Cleanliness

A must

Incredible concept and experience . Do it! Loved the house decor and subtle adds
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie G.

Liked: Cleanliness

September Taos Earthship Retreat

Beautiful, simple, easy, best view to enjoy, off grid retreat from the crazy world we’re all living. Perfect recharge pad. Don’t expect cleanliness perfection but it gives you what you need. Awesome trip. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

6/10 Okay

Sunny L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Unique experience but not my cup of tea

I took my teen on a roadtrip and thought this house would be a unique experience. Clearly not knowing anything about earthships i relied heavily on location is very
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Wonderful Experience

We had a wonderful time at this earthship! The hosts were responsive, and the eco-house was so cool with its environmentally friendly systems. We are from Canada, so the desert was a real experience (although we only looked from afar). The views were incredible. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kay

Liked: Cleanliness

One of a kind

This was an amazing decision. I would return over and over and recommend anyone to do so. Beautiful house, the stars at night were awesome and the town is great. Thank you for having us
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jackson N.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing stay!

This was our first earthship experience and i can definitely say we will be doing it again! They stay was amazing, location was great, and we had such a lovely experience. Absolutely a 10/10.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nathan K.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great experience

Beautiful location and home and excellent communication by the hosts.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Justin S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Cozy and fun!

I rented this place because it was a two-bedroom earthship. It did not disappoint. The bedrooms are spacious and this living space is A+. Amazing how all of the systems work so well being off the grid. I would recommend to anyone who is curious about earthship living. The hosts were very informative and helpful. We had zero issues!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

6/10 Okay

Ellen Z.

Disliked: Cleanliness

wonderful location, fantastic views

Rarely have I seen a more beautiful location. The mountain views are glorious and we enjoyed watching the weather move across the plateau. The Earthship itself needs some maintenance and a good cleaning. If you think you'd like to spend time outdoors, bring folding chairs or camp chairs. There is a picnic table, but it it too warped to use comfortably. If you want to cook anything beyond the basics, you may need to bring a few things as the kitchen is not well equipped. Also, be aware that ice cream will not stay frozen in the freezer, so if you bring that, you'll want to eat it the first night. Again, it's a magical spot, but the earthship itself needs better upkeep.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Alan E.

Disliked: Cleanliness

I expected more

My spouse and I have been interested in Earthships for years. We were excited to rent this property, but there are some minor issues that need to be addressed. Cleanliness-Being an Earthship it should have a vibrant green area with plant life. Unfortunately, this section left us desiring much more. The green space doesn't appear maintained and does have a slight amonia odor. The rooms were relatively clean and comfortable. The living/kitchen area was lacking comfortable furniture, as it appeared to be there for a while. In closing, I would say this is a nice place to stay. Just not for the price. I understand Earthships are unique, but that doesn't justify the higher price.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023