Dedicated Black SUV transfer + multi-day chauffeur retainer for Post Ranch Inn — the iconic Big Sur clifftop Relais & Châteaux luxury resort, opened 1992 by architect Mickey Muennig, perched 1,200 feet above the Pacific Ocean (47900 California Highway 1). 39 individual accommodations (Cliff Houses + Ocean Houses + Tree Houses + Coast Houses + Mountain Houses), adults-only (no children under 18). Sierra Mar restaurant on-property with floor-to-ceiling ocean-view glass dramatically positioned at the clifftop's edge. Spa at Post Ranch Inn, two heated infinity pools, on-property observatory + telescope program. SFO/OAK 3:30-4 hr + SJC 2:30-3 hr + MRY commercial 45-60 min + SNS private aviation 1:00 hr transfers. Multi-day Big Sur weekend chauffeur retainer + anniversary + honeymoon + proposal-day discreet service + Big Sur Coast touring (McWay Falls + Pfeiffer Beach + Bixby Bridge + Nepenthe). CPUC TCP# 9225. Since 1986. Never surge-priced.
Request a Post Ranch Quote +1-650-876-1777Post Ranch Inn opened in 1992 as the first true luxury resort in Big Sur. The property was designed by architect Mickey Muennig (Big Sur's most-distinguished organic-modernist architect, who designed many notable Big Sur residences) and placed on a clifftop 1,200 feet above the Pacific Ocean on land that was previously Bill Post's family ranch (the namesake "Post Ranch"). 39 individual accommodations are spread across the 98-acre property — each a distinct architectural commission designed to blend into the coastal terrain. The property is adults-only (no children under 18) and is repeatedly cited in "best resorts in California" rankings + Travel + Leisure "World's Best Awards."
Cliff House: Perched at the clifftop edge with floor-to-ceiling Pacific Ocean view glass.
Ocean House: Sod-roofed sub-grade accommodations with skylight + ocean view.
Tree House: Elevated tree-trunk-stilted private accommodations among the redwoods + oaks.
Coast House: Triangular wood-and-glass accommodations along the coastal-facing slope.
Mountain House: Set among the redwoods on the property's mountain-side, away from the cliff.
South Coast Studios: The newer accommodations added in recent expansions.
Sierra Mar restaurant: The destination fine-dining venue. Floor-to-ceiling ocean-view glass dramatically positioned at the clifftop's edge. Sustainable-source contemporary California cuisine.
Spa at Post Ranch Inn: Signature treatments with ocean views. Wellness-focused programs.
Two heated infinity pools: Cliffside Pool overlooking the Pacific, Mountain Pool with redwood views.
Observatory + telescope: Big Sur clifftop has minimal light pollution; on-property astronomy program runs select nights.
Library: The 1992 main lodge for cocktails + breakfast + lounge.
The iconic 80-foot waterfall that pours directly onto a Pacific beach (one of the few "tidefalls" in California). 6 mi south of Post Ranch on CA-1. Short walk from the parking area. The single most-photographed Big Sur landmark.
The iconic 1932 reinforced-concrete arch bridge on CA-1, the postcard image of Big Sur driving. 12 mi north of Post Ranch on CA-1 (between Post Ranch and Carmel).
The purple-sand beach (manganese-garnet mineral coloration) with the famous Keyhole Arch rock formation. 3 mi south of Post Ranch via CA-1 + Sycamore Canyon Road. The road in is narrow + slow.
The iconic Big Sur restaurant with terraced cliffside outdoor seating + Pacific Ocean view. 4 mi south of Post Ranch on CA-1. Lunch + dinner. Henry Miller-era Big Sur cultural institution.
The cultural-institution bookstore + outdoor events space dedicated to writer Henry Miller (1891-1980), who lived in Big Sur 1944-1962. 5 mi south of Post Ranch.
Adjacent state parks for hiking + beach + tidepool access. Point Sur Lighthouse (1889 light station, guided tours).
Post Ranch Inn is one of the most-booked anniversary + honeymoon + proposal venues in California — the clifftop ocean-view privacy + Sierra Mar dinner + adults-only accommodations are signature romantic-occasion features. We handle special-occasion logistics with extra coordination:
Discreet driver protocol — partner unaware of destination during the 3-4 hour arrival drive from SFO/OAK. Post Ranch concierge coordination for ring delivery + photographer placement (often Cliff House terrace or Sierra Mar pre-dinner setup) + post-engagement champagne setup. Multi-vehicle option if separate arrival timing for partner vs proposer + photographer.
Newlywed arrival at SFO/OAK from wedding location → direct multi-hour chauffeur transfer to Post Ranch with welcome amenities arranged in vehicle. Multi-day Big Sur honeymoon chauffeur retainer including Tree House accommodation arrival timing + couple's Spa day + Sierra Mar tasting menu + private guided Big Sur Coast tour.
Returning anniversary couples often book the same Post Ranch accommodation every year. We coordinate consistent driver assignment year-over-year for relationship continuity. Anniversary tasting menu at Sierra Mar + Spa + memory-lane Big Sur Coast drive.
Post Ranch is the highest-privacy California luxury resort — the property layout deliberately makes accommodations hard to see from other accommodations. Our service complements: discreet driver protocol, no public mentions, NDA-discreet for high-profile + celebrity guests.
Friday (Day 1) — arrival: SFO/OAK morning arrival → direct chauffeur transfer south via US-101 + CA-156 + CA-1 (with stop at Carmel-by-the-Sea for lunch at Aubergine L'Auberge Carmel, 1-star, en route). 3-4 hr total. Arrival at Post Ranch ~3pm. Cliff House check-in → afternoon at Cliffside Pool. 7pm Sierra Mar tasting menu.
Saturday (Day 2) — Big Sur Coast south: 10am Library breakfast → 11am Pfeiffer Beach + Keyhole Arch (chauffeur drops, 1-hour walk + photo) → 1pm lunch at Nepenthe (terraced cliffside outdoor seating) → 3pm McWay Falls + Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park → 6pm return to Post Ranch → 8pm Sierra Mar dinner.
Sunday (Day 3) — Big Sur Coast north + Spa: Morning at Post Ranch Spa → 1pm lunch at Big Sur Bakery → 2:30pm Bixby Bridge + photo → 3:30pm Andrew Molera State Park + Point Sur Lighthouse → 5pm Henry Miller Memorial Library browse → 7pm Sierra Mar dinner.
Monday (Day 4) — departure: Library breakfast → checkout → direct return to SFO/OAK (3:30-4 hr via CA-1 + CA-156 + US-101). Or extend with day-trip to Carmel Valley wine + spa (Bernardus Lodge + Carmel Valley Ranch, 1:00 hr inland from Post Ranch).
Operational notes: 4-day dedicated chauffeur retainer covers all transfers (airport + Big Sur Coast routing + restaurants). Post Ranch concierge integration. CA-1 winding-road experienced chauffeurs.
47900 CA-1 Big Sur, clifftop 1,200 ft above Pacific. MRY 45-60 min (closest commercial), SJC 2:30-3:00, SFO 3:30-4:00 (140 mi via US-101 S + CA-156 + CA-1), OAK 3:30-4:00, SNS private-jet 1:00-1:15. From The Lodge at Pebble Beach + Carmel village, 30-45 min south on CA-1.
Opened 1992 as first true Big Sur luxury resort. Mickey Muennig organic-modernist architecture. 1,200 ft clifftop. 39 individual accommodations (Cliff Houses + Ocean Houses + Tree Houses + Coast Houses + Mountain Houses). Adults-only. Sierra Mar restaurant ocean-view fine dining. Relais & Châteaux. Repeatedly in Travel + Leisure "World's Best Awards."
Yes — one of our most-requested California destinations despite long-distance from SF Bay airports. SFO/OAK 3:30-4 hr (often with Carmel village stop), SJC 2:30-3 hr, MRY commercial 45-60 min, SNS private-jet 1:00-1:15. Multi-day chauffeur retainer with Post Ranch as base. Concierge coordination.
Spa at Post Ranch Inn (ocean-view treatments), two heated infinity pools (Cliffside + Mountain), yoga + meditation programs, guided nature walks, on-property massage + body work, observatory + telescope program (minimal light pollution), private chef events at individual accommodations.
Yes — McWay Falls (6 mi south, the 80-ft tidefall), Bixby Bridge (12 mi north, iconic 1932 arch), Pfeiffer Beach (3 mi south, purple-sand Keyhole Arch), Nepenthe (4 mi south, terraced cliffside restaurant), Henry Miller Memorial Library (5 mi south), Andrew Molera State Park + Garrapata + Point Sur Lighthouse.
Most-booked Big Sur romantic-occasion venue. Discreet driver protocol for proposal-day, Post Ranch concierge coordination for ring + photographer + champagne. Multi-day chauffeur for honeymoon + anniversary. Privacy-focused service complements property's deliberate accommodation isolation.
Yes — Ventana Big Sur is 0.5 mi from Post Ranch across CA-1. Some guests split visits between properties (Post Ranch's organic-modernist 39-room adults-only cliff-house model + Ventana's 59-room all-inclusive-with-glamping Alila model). See our full Ventana Big Sur property page for the all-inclusive luxury detail. Inter-property transfers routine.
CA-1 between Carmel and Post Ranch is famously winding two-lane with elevation changes. Carmel to Post Ranch 45 min in light traffic. Weather (Big Sur fog) unpredictable. Recent winter storms periodically closed CA-1 south of Big Sur Village — we monitor real-time CA-1 status. Our chauffeurs are experienced on CA-1 winding coastal sections.
Three pricing modes: flat-rate airport-to-Post Ranch transfers (SFO/OAK 3:30-4 hr, SJC 2:30-3, MRY 45-60 min, SNS 1:00), multi-day Big Sur weekend chauffeur retainer (dedicated driver Fri-Mon, hourly + Coast touring + dinner), multi-stop Big Sur Coast day-tour. Never surge-price. Returning Post Ranch clients priority booking. Call +1-650-876-1777.
40 years of Big Sur Coast luxury experience. CA-1 winding-road experienced chauffeurs. No surge pricing.
Request a Post Ranch Quote +1-650-876-1777SFO to Big Sur (corridor page) • OAK to Big Sur • SJC to Big Sur • The Lodge at Pebble Beach (Pebble Beach sister property) • Auberge du Soleil (Napa luxury sibling) • SFO to Pebble Beach / Carmel • California Highway 1 Pacific Coast Itinerary Hub • California National Parks & Adventure Hub • California Honeymoon & Anniversary Hub • California Sustainable Luxury Tour Hub • SF Bay Wedding Venues Hub • California Coast Resort Hub