Sarah Livia Brightwood

Week of August 1, 2026

Sarah Livia Brightwood has been President of Rancho La Puerta for over 20 years, the pioneering 4,000-acre resort and spa founded in 1940 and located in Tecate, Baja California. For 30 years, Sarah designed the gardens and many buildings at the resort and created its organic farm and culinary center. She is a champion of regenerative, earth centered practices and a passionate steward of the land.

She has been President of Fundación La Puerta since 1996, a nonprofit serving the city of Tecate which created and maintains Parque del Profesor,  providing environmental education, wildland conservation and extensive programs for youth and families.  Twenty years ago Fundación La Puerta initiated a citywide campaign to rescue the Tecate River from being channeled in concrete and championed the development of the Tecate River Park.  The Tecate watershed continues to be a focus of Fundación La Puerta’s programming through city wide river clean ups spanning 20 years, curriculums and workshops on water and educational festivals such as Olipiaguas, a collaboration with the State Water Authority.  Currently, water treatment, water healing and reuse are part of the effort to restore the Tecate River and the watershed.