My fiance and I just spent 3 nights at La Rancheta and had a wonderful time. Absolutely no complaints it was perfect. The rooms are very basic and yes don't expect hot water (most hotels in this area don't have hot water) but the owners are awesome. Ronald is a great cook and we pretty much ate the majority of our meals at La Rancheta. We also went over our travel plans with Ronald and got advice on what to do, what is safe, which beaches are the prettiest and how to get to all of them. If we come back to the area we will definitely be staying here again.

Karin, Ronald and Mii are the most gracious hosts I have ever met and I have traveled all over the world! I was alone with my daughter and a bit nervous about being in the Dominican Republic with her and with out my husband and no car. The 3 hosts of La Hacienda, La Rancheta and Villa Coloniales were so nice and helpful that we immediately felt more like family than customers. The villa at Villa Coloniales was bright with an open air feeling and a big wrap around porch! Mii the owner and also Architect goes to great lengths to keep them pretty and clean. You can see and feel his love for his property and houses in everything he does! The grounds are also very well cared for. He lives there with his family who are sweet but the villas are situated far enough away from each other so that everyone has privacy and peace and quiet. The spot is great because you are 5 minutes to a beautiful beach, 15 to town-walking! Karin is up the hill and she will take you on amazing horseback riding trips. Her knowledge of history there and nature make the trips even more interesting! Ronald at La Rancheta can cook like a real Belgian chef and I recommend the Langosta! Bravo !!!!!!!!!

This was the place that you can't find everywhere! I hate those five stars 110% hygienic white all-inclusive hotels, where you are just one of the visitors who brings the money to the company.
If you want to avoid everything like that, La Hacienda is an excellent choice! The place is unique, rooms are unique and you as a visitor are unique. You can live in the middle of wonderful nature and the place operates eco friendly principles which is very important for me. You can feel the lifestyle that we have forgot long time ago: eating from your own garden, spending peaceful time with other visitors...
Also the horseback riding trip was awesome! The views are amazing and Karin is a great guide.
I highly recommend this place! But don't go if you require all the modern facilities.

Myself and two friends shared a bungalow at La Rancheta for five nights in March (without advance reservations). Our bungalow could have easily slept six, and we had a nice spacious bathroom, a big front porch with hammock and dining area, and a simply outfitted, open kitchen.

The setting perfectly enabled our vacation escape: we could walk to town easily, but weren't so close that we were ever bothered by "local traffic"; we felt safe, and at the same time isolated; we chatted with interesting guests, but never felt pressure to be social while at home. The bungalow's kitchen was well-equipped for cooking meals, and Ronald shared with us whatever we needed from his kitchen. Ronald was available to give us rides to town if we needed, and to help us make plans (borrowing his mobile phone).

If you're convinced of Las Galeras already, La Rancheta is a perfect fit. The digs go hand-in-hand with this town fit for a chill vacation.