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Hacienda Jalisco: Stepping Back in Time

By Robin Noelle

During my recent trip to the petite colonial town of San Sebastian, I was fortunate enough to stay the night at Hacienda Jalisco, an old Hacienda from the times when San Sebastian was a vibrant mining town. Indeed, San Sebastian used to be as bustling and wealthy as any major metropolis in Mexico, with almost 30,000 residents. The Spanish took over the mining operations and the town grew fat on profits from precious metals and gems, but when the mines closed, the people left for other places and now the town holds a mere 1,000 residents.

The only time the town is busy is when the tour buses from Puerto Vallarta bring up the tourists for a day trip. By mid-afternoon, the town is almost deserted again and it’s a perfect time for strolling the quaint streets and poking your head into little shops to buy some locally made jam or candy.

If you make the trip up there, don’t miss the opportunity to stay at Hacienda Jalisco, an original Hacienda that retains an authentic charm from days long past. From the moment you pass through the gates and cross the bridge to the Hacienda, you will feel as though you’ve been transported back in time. The sturdy building with great wooden shutters sits amid orchards of fruit trees and large gardens that supply much of the food for the hotel. The downstairs is a museum which is well worth a look even if you can’t spend the night. There are documents from the mining operation, including ledgers of payments to workers and accountings of the riches being sent back to Spain.

In other rooms you’ll find more recent history, much of it Hollywood related, as the Hacienda was a favorite of celebrities who came to spend time with the previous owner, who himself came from a Hollywood family. You’ll read personal correspondence from movie stars and dignitaries and see photos from Vallarta’s initial heyday when the Night of the Iguana was being filmed.

The rooms are spacious, with three suites on the upper floors, all containing great fireplaces for warmth during the cool winter months. There is no electricity in the building, just oil lamps for light but there is hot water in the modern bathrooms. The rooms are decorated with antiques and mementos, many found on site from the Hacienda’s previous incarnation as mining headquarters.

Dinner and breakfast are served family style in the courtyard below and in the evenings, guests sit around the central bonfire sharing stories and visiting. It’s a homey, friendly kind of place and perfect for a romantic getaway or just for those seeking a little peace and quiet. In the morning, manager Joe Thompson takes guests on a tour of the grounds and shares some of the history of the area and the Hacienda. By the time you need to leave, you’ll be wishing for just a couple more nights of rustic solitude in the mountains.

Hacienda Jalisco—$80-90 includes breakfast and dinner

www.HaciendaJalisco.com

Reservations through Pam Thompson: tel. 322/222-9638 or 322/107-7007