We spent nine lovely days in this beautiful home. The wonderful Mexican folk art throughout the home made us feel connected to the history of this part of Mexico -- a kind of immersion experience. And we much appreciated the gracious help from all of the staff.

a week in Shangri-la, actually. We could not have been more pleased with this home, the thoughtful hospitality, and the welcome/helpfulness of Florencio, Rosa, and the neighbors. We are so grateful, Adele, that you could share your home with us. Cynthia in Massachusetts

this is such a wonderful place... close enough to oaxaca to make trips into the heart of the city painless, yet removed enough to offer a peaceful refuge. we absolutely loved our stay here. comfortable. peaceful. beautiful. thoughtfully stocked with basic supplies. attentive and professional management. comfortable beds. fantastic views. such a gem - would wholeheartedly recommend without reservation.

Our stay at El Barco was so lovely. Reset button fully pressed after seven days there! The house is charming with lots of little surprises here and there as you explore. Leaving the doors open all day, hearing the outdoor sounds coming through with a little breeze... Many nights spent on the patio with new friends from the little casita next door.. Neighbors in the compound are so friendly. Pool not so usable during the winter months unless you are looking for a polar excursion! Adele provided all the info we needed, whenever we reached out with random questions. Florencio and his wife were great and we even had their kids over for a play date with our 8 and 6 yo kiddos. Neighbors at Casa Raab are pretty awesome folks as well; Dog rescue = lots of puppies for the kids to snuggle :) Thanks a lot, Adele! We highly recommend this property A+

From the moment our driver pulled into the idyllic driveway of El Barco I knew we were in for a treat. My multigenerational family had the time of our lives during our stay. My 3 young kids immediately felt at home with all the space to run around; my father was enamored by all the books, music and the beautiful view; and I was enchanted by the inspiring folk art and creature comforts that assured me I would be able to care for everyone in a hassle free way. Cooking is a breeze in the well equipped kitchen, the water is hot in the showers, and there is just the coziest feeling inside the home. We had an afternoon of heavy rain and I was so grateful to be quietly tucked away with my family in Adele's retreat as opposed to Oaxaca's city center. Despite the relatively cold water, my kids loved the pool. The property manager and his family feel like dear friends to us now and were so helpful regarding transportation and any other question we had. Sarai delighted us with her cooking for a couple of meals which was also a real treat. This home is gorgeous and Adele and her family have clearly embraced the local community and it's people and traditions in the most sincere way. Somehow this authenticity resonated in throughout the property. We can't wait to return.

We came to Oaxaca for the birding, the food, the archeology, the art and to relax. All five goals were reached...and beyond. Great birding including several endemic species and northern migrants. Many right around the house. Delicious food; including local take-out, fancy restaurant, and a home cooked meal prepared by the property manager's (Florencio) wife and delivered to the house. And some mezcal tasting. The Zapotec ruins of Monte Alban are a site to behold. Get a good guide (see below). Art is everywhere, including all through the house! If you can't relax here, you can't relax. Adele, the property owner was extremely thorough and prompt in her communication. Thank you Adele. And lastly, I HIGHLY recommend that your hire Lupe the bus driver. But he is much more than a driver. He speaks excellent English, is knowledgable, charismatic and funny. And best of all, he traces his heritage back to the original culture of Oaxaca; the Zapotec. Lupe gave us great insight into Zapotec culture and the history of Monte Alban. All very safe, quiet and spacious.

This property is so fantastic, we had the most lovely stay! It is peaceful, clean, charming, great landscaping with the most incredible pool and view. We enjoyed waking up and having fresh fruit we had purchased from local markets before heading out to sight see during the day and coming back in the late afternoon to enjoy sunset by the pool with stunning views. There were 4 of us (two couples) and we had more than enough space. There are also so many small and wonderful touches that make the house really exceptional (awesome decor and rugs, pool/beach bags and hats by the door, plenty of towels, lots of kitchen essentials). The house is super comfortable and well maintained, and the property manager Florencio is extremely responsive. We arranged for his wife Sarai to cook us a traditional Oaxacan meal and it was delicious! We rented a car to get around, which we would recommend as it made it super easy to get into the city and beyond. We ended up spending 3 nights in the city and 4 at this lovely property, which was a nice balance. Overall a fantastic stay!!

My family’s stay at this villa will stay in my heart always. We took such delight in the beautiful rooms full of folk art, the terraces and pool set in amazing botanical gardens so well kept. Staff was so kind and Florencio was a real blessing, so available and spoke English so well. When we sat outside on the terrace with our coffee we could hear roosters, donkeys, goats, and new bird calls coming from the village below. Enchanting!

We were so relaxed at this property. It was beautiful. Thank you

Nos gustó el lugar, la vista, la vegetación, la distribución de las habitaciones. La seguridad es muy buena. La disposición del gerente para atender de manera rápida y efectiva algunas fallas menores en el lavado de un baño y en lavandería. Hubo algunos incidentes con insectos (arañas) dentro de las habitaciones.

Staying at Casa Barcol was the highlight of a brilliant month in Mexico - The property is beautifully decorated but also well equipped and relaxed - my daughter took photos of the art for her GCSE mexican folk art project! Pool is fabulous and the manager is extremely helpful and attentive with excellent English. We really wished we had booked for longer...

We have stayed in other properties up here because we like to be off in the country side. This property is perfectly remote. Everything in it is tasteful.

What a treat to stay in this home. The aesthetic and country life-style of the owners created an intimate and homey nest for our family. Lush vegetation all around, views over the valley, mountains, and many outside resting spots. The place is very peaceful (except when there are fiestas in the village below). But the fiestas, the music of bands, the odd tuba solo and the singing from below just added to the exceptional ambiance. With grandchildren, we found it necessary to rent a car as some destinations (including Oaxaca city) were beyond our taxi/bus prowess, but if ambitious, one could probably do without a car. We love the cultural richness and vibrant colour of Oaxaca and hope to visit again in the future.

El Barco was the perfect choice for my group of friends and I. There were 4 of us, we all fit comfortably and were able to have our own space and bathrooms. The Kitchen also came generously equipment with all of the basics from coffee and seasonings to bread and fruit. We were doing a lot of our own cooking, so that was a lovely surprise to arrive to. Over all we couldn’t have picked a better spot. I would recommend El Barco to any type of traveler coming to the area. It would even be a perfect spot for a family with kids.

Located north of Oaxaca, this was the perfect place to stay to get away from the bustle of Oaxaca City. Nice views of mountains in the distance, two patios, well equipped kitchen, comfortable beds, plenty of hot water. About a 20-30 minute drive to the city depending on traffic. If you are visiting places south or east of Oaxaca, count on extra time to navigate around the city.

Stay at El Barco if you love silent mornings where you can watch the sun coming over the mountain to wake the beautiful Etla valley below (while eating the mangoes, bananas and papaya you bought from the women who grew them). Stay here if you want to hear nightjars serenading you to sleep and owls hooting in the night. Stay here if you want to buy homegrown organic greens and free range eggs from a farmer who arrives each Tuesday morning at the door. Stay here if you want a well-equipped Mexican- styled kitchen with lots of beautiful local pottery to serve your meals at the table formed from local wood. Stay here if you want to sip a cold Marguerita you have made from the limes you bought from a farmer in the Etla Wednesday market, while watching the sun set over the valley. Stay here if you want a property manager (Florencio) who will help you in every way he can. In short, stay here if you want a real home to come home to (or hang around in all day if you're feeling lazy) with two villages within an easy walk and to have a sense you're part of a community. My husband and I stayed in January and February 2017 and found the house ideal for 2 - 4 people. There is a separate master bedroom cottage and another large bedroom for a couple in the house. In addition there are 2 single beds (one of which is up a steep spiral staircase). There are several terraces for outdoor meals or relaxing. If you are interested in birding or hiking in the mountains there are excellent guides that can take you. Oaxaca has so many fabulous restaurants I won't bother to mention any by name. We tend to go exploring during the day and try out a restaurant then come "home" for dinner. If we were tired we stopped at one of the roast chicken stands on the road for an easy, tasty meal. Whenever we come back to Oaxaca this will be our home base. Thank you Adele for sharing your beautiful home and artwork with us. We will return.

Spacious home on the hill overlooking Oaxaca. Beautiful landscaping. Two master bedroom suites with plenty of privacy.

We have just spent a week at this lovely home. First time in Oaxaca. Everything, and I mean everything, was lovely. Very clean, bright, vibrant decor and scenic views of Oaxaca below from this hilltop retreat. The owner, Alele, was always available to answer questions via phone and the caretaker, Florencio, met us at the airport and transported us to the home and answered every question. Housekeeping service was provided and everyone we encountered was genuinely kind and helpful.Florencio and his wife are available to provide a fully catered and authentic Oaxaca dinner. Don't miss out on taking advantage of this rare opportunity. The food was delicious and the preparation and clean up were included - all for a very reasonable price. We would highly recommend this property to anyone interested in traveling to this part of Mexico.