Lodging
Lodging is available at Tubac, but options are somewhat limited. We recommend staying in Tubac, at the Santa Rita Lodge north of Tubac, or at an Airbnb in Tubac, Green Valley, Rio Rico or the surrounding area. Lodging options seem to be filling up for spring. We recommend booking as soon as possible. Standard hotel chains are available in Green Valley.
Santa Ritas
The Santa Rita Mountains, one of Arizona’s Sky Island mountain ranges, are located about fifteen miles northeast of Tubac. The Sky Islands are an “archipelago” of high elevation, isolated mountain ranges scattered around southern Arizona, that rise thousands of feet above a “sea” of deserts and grasslands. Ascending the Santa Ritas from the lower desert surrounding Green Valley is the equivalent of traveling a thousand miles north in terms of habitat and ecological community changes. At the mid-elevation altitudes, the desert scrub changes into Madrean evergreen oak forest, and, at the highest elevations, to subalpine spruce and pine forest.
Nestled in the mixed oak-pine forests of Madera Canyon, on the northwestern slope of the Santa Rita Mountains, is the Santa Rita Lodge. The Santa Rita Lodge is an ecolodge with affordable cabins and casitas. In addition to the lodge, along the same road into Madera Canyon, there are several upscale bed and breakfasts and Airbnbs. Although this area is 40 minutes away from the Secret Garden Inn in Tubac, the majority of the drive and Madera Canyon itself is beautiful, and we highly recommend this area.
Santa Rita Lodge
The Santa Rita Lodge is an affordable ecolodge in Madera Canyon on the northwestern slope of the Santa Ritas. To the venue, it is a 40 minute drive, largely through picturesque habitats that change with the elevation. Cabins and casitas range from $145-225/night. The lodge is nature and wildlife oriented, and bird feeders are stocked every morning to attract hummingbirds, other birds, and coatis. Leave a bit of fruit out overnight and you may have an encounter with Andreu, the resident ringtail.
Other Madera Canyon Lodging
Madera Canyon is accessible by only one road that terminates at the Mt. Wrightson trailhead parking lots. Towards the top, there are several bed and breakfasts and Airbnbs. Chuparosa Inn (pictured) is one of these, and others include Kubo Bed and Breakfast, Kent Springs Cabin (a group cabin, up to eight people, maintained by the Forest Service) and others. Search Airbnb for other Madera Canyon options, although not all search results will be located in the canyon.
Area Airbnbs
A number of Airbnbs are available in Tubac, Rio Rico, and Green Valley. Rio Rico is located about 20 minutes south of the Secret Garden Inn in Tubac, while Green Valley is about 25 minutes north. Much of this distance is on I-19 and relatively easy driving, generally free of traffic. Be aware that there is a Border Patrol inland check point between Tubac and Green Valley, which can be a pain.
A few of the Airbnbs in the area that we have stayed at, considered, or that look nice:
Condo in Green Valley (we often stay at this complex)
Room at Chuparosa Inn (Madera Canyon)