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

El Prado, New Mexico
$291 avg/night Minimum Stay 2 Nights
Bed 2

Bed

Bath 1

Bath

Home Private Vacation Home

Property Type

Sleep 6

Max Sleeps

Night 2 nights

Min Stay

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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  • Feature Features
  • Map Map
  • School District Rates & Availability
  • Review Review

Feature Features

  • SKI

    Close To Skiing
  • PETS

    No Pets Allowed
  • DINING

    Dining Table
  • SAFETY

    Carbon Monoxide Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Carbon Monoxide Detector On The Property) Smoke Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Smoke Detector On The Property)
  • BEDROOM

    2 Bedrooms Bed Sheets Provided
  • KITCHEN

    Coffee/tea Maker Cookware/dishes/utensils Electric Kettle Oven Paper Towels Refrigerator Spices Stovetop
  • PARKING

    Onsite Parking
  • INTERNET

    Free WiFi
  • OUTDOORS

    Outdoor Furniture
  • BATHROOMS

    1.5 Bathrooms Shampoo Shower Soap Toilet Paper Towels Provided
  • WORKSPACES

    Desk Desk Chair
  • LANGS SPOKEN

    English
  • THINGS TO DO

    Hiking Nearby Hiking/biking Trails Nearby
  • ENTERTAINMENT

    Games Smart TV
  • LIVING SPACES

    Living Room
  • SUITABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY

    Smoke-free Property

CheckIn Check-in : 04:00 PM CheckOut Check-out : 10:00 AM
No Wheelchair No smoking No pets Children allowed
Occupancy Max occupancy : 6

Map Map

School District Rates & Availability

Review Review

  • Kat K.

    Submitted Feb 8, 2026

    Stayed Jan 10, 2026

    So interesting! This place has a gorgeous inside garden of fucshia geraniums plus a host of fascinating features. Highly recommended.

  • Candance B.

    Submitted Oct 22, 2025

    Stayed Oct 8, 2025

    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

  • Jason N.

    Submitted Sep 30, 2025

    Stayed Sep 25, 2025

    Great star gazing, super close to the gorge and Taos. Unique house.

  • Shawn F.

    Submitted Sep 9, 2025

    Stayed Sep 7, 2025

    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.

  • Molly H.

    Submitted Jul 13, 2025

    Stayed Jul 5, 2025

    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!

  • rachael b.

    Submitted May 7, 2025

    Stayed May 5, 2025

    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!!

  • Brett M.

    Submitted Apr 29, 2025

    Stayed Apr 21, 2025

    Instructions and communication from the property manager was great. The property was in great shape and we had an excellent stay.

  • Justin F.

    Submitted Mar 24, 2025

    Stayed Mar 17, 2025

    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!

  • Cat O.

    Submitted Mar 17, 2025

    Stayed Mar 14, 2025

    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

  • lorise v.

    Submitted Oct 15, 2024

    Stayed Oct 1, 2024

    Incredible concept and experience . Do it! Loved the house decor and subtle adds

  • Julie G.

    Submitted Sep 19, 2024

    Stayed Sep 9, 2024

    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!

  • Sunny L.

    Submitted Aug 26, 2024

    Stayed Aug 2, 2024

    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

  • Mary B.

    Submitted Aug 24, 2024

    Stayed Aug 11, 2024

    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!

  • Kay

    Submitted Jul 6, 2024

    Stayed May 30, 2024

    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

  • Jackson N.

    Submitted Jun 14, 2024

    Stayed May 16, 2024

    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.

  • Nathan K.

    Submitted Jun 12, 2024

    Stayed Jun 5, 2024

    Beautiful location and home and excellent communication by the hosts.

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Total

Includes taxes and fees
$291+
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