These amazing, restored historical mansions dating as far back as 1622 have been turned into luxurious hotels.
I’ve lived in Jalisco, Mexico for more than 18 years, running a 300 acre ranch. I thought I knew it all, having exhibited and sold our purebred animals in every corner of Mexico.
Perhaps then it is my pride that makes me describe the Haciendas of Jalisco as “hidden gems.” They’re not really so well hidden anymore. These amazing, restored historical mansions dating as far back as 1622 have been turned into luxurious hotels. There are eight scattered around the state of Jalisco, always in rural areas or small towns, just waiting to be discovered by the more adventurous tourist. Ranging from 60 USD per night. to all inclusive resort rates of $250 a night, they offer options limited only by your budget.
It can be discouraging to try to get off the beaten path in Mexico. Most accommodations out in the country tend to be a bit dodgy, seldom dirty, but noisy, basic, with little in the way of the amenities you find in city hotels. What a joy to find that you can now travel around the state into the most beautiful scenery of Mexico and not only find comfortable hotels, but a true experience at the same time.
The largest of the haciendas is Hacienda El Carmen with 24 rooms, set in the middle of its own sugar cane plantation. It is a magnificent structure, built and rebuilt many times, as one of the most important haciendas in Mexico. It has suffered during Mexico’s tumultuous history. Speaking with Monica Baeza who owns and operates the Hacienda El Carmen Resort and Spa with her family, she says, “It’s been a long, painstaking five-year process to slowly restore El Carmen to what it once was. We have finally achieved our goal of making it into a first class hotel while still preserving the feeling of its history.” The former granary has been turned into a full service spa with all kinds of natural healing wraps, massages and hydrotherapy; the gym was once the outside kitchen. Back in 1722 when El Carmen was first built and part of a 5,000 acre estate instead of the 400 acres that now remain, there probably wasn’t a swimming pool and Jacuzzi in the garden, but it blends in well, and the semi-tropical climate makes them a welcome addition.
The food is gourmet, Mexican nouvelle cuisine. But dining under the huge graceful arches of the patio, gazing upon the trees as old as the hacienda and the manicured lawns, you could believe you have stepped back in time and are just one of the honored guests of Don Francisco Merodio, to whom the lands were granted by royal decree. A night there firmly transports you back into an era that I thought had been lost. The rooms are all suites – huge, high ceilinged and filled with antiques. The more modern services such as wide screen TV, business center, and gift shop have tastefully been camouflaged so as not to destroy the atmosphere of antiquity. It was enough to impress this travel bum. After a full service spa treatment and a couple of days transported back in time, I was recharged and eager to move on to the next adventure and see what the other haciendas had to offer.
A different type of hacienda, called a casona, or mansion in Mexican Spanish, is the Hostal Casona de Manzano in Tapalpa. While Hacienda El Carmen is at 3,600 feet in altitude, Tapalpa is much higher at more than 6,300 feet. The alpine scenery is totally different, with wooden buildings set in pine forests. Tapalpa is a small town, dating back to 1522 when the Spaniards invaded to develop the missions to evangelize the Atlacco Indians. It’s become world famous for the international hang gliding competitions held there, but still remains primarily a weekend destination for upscale Mexican tourists escaping nearby Guadalajara. Casona de Manzano has been in the Manzano family for more than three centuries. Irma Manzano, the present owner tells me, “You have to be a little crazy to start an idea like this. I’ve been wanting to throw in the towel more than once in the last five years.” Yet I see the twinkle in her eye as we sit on the terrace overlooking the Sierra Madre pine forests. The huge wooden beams and carved supporting posts strike your eye first as you enter. With only ten rooms, it has a feeling of intimacy and elegance. Set only two blocks from the colorful main square of Tapalpa, it’s a great base to begin wandering around the cobblestone streets with its tiny fountain plazas and typical shops of the high mountains. Irma grew up here and loves to talk about her town and what to see, including the largest waterfall in western Mexico and the mysterious huge boulders and their legends. A historical walking tour of the town is offered explaining the legends of the many little plazas and visiting local workshops.
The Association of Haciendas and Casonas de Jalisco has begun offering circuit tours, independent or guided to entice you to visit more than one. Here’s rundown of what they have to offer.
Lagos de Moreno Only 30 minutes from the leather capital of Leon, Guanajuato, Hacienda Sepulveda was founded in the 17th century. It’s an intimate hotel with only ine suites and a recently opened spa set in the former grainery. Hacienda Sepulveda has a nice stable of 11 horses and trails within estate. Tours are offered to nearby Lagos de Moreno, an important cultural center of this region, and a city-tour of Leon. Once you’re in this beautiful estate, it’s hard to tear yourself away to see the local attractions. The gardens, fishing pond, and trails were enough for me.
Sayula La Casa de Los Patios is indeed that, with four sunny flower-filled patios, one of which has a beautiful pool. The restaurant serves food prepared in front of you for breakfast, and family recipes all day long. Sayula has many historical churches and buildings to explore, and La Casa de Los Patios offers a special cultural tour to the many artisan workshops there. It is located in town, yet completed walled in, so everything is within easy walking distance. The hostesses, Rossy and Carmen, are sisters, and their enthusiasm and warm welcome offered me a way to see a town I’ve passed through many times, in a new light.
Tapalpa Hostal Casona de Manzano, see above description.
Mascota You have two choices here, both historical mansions, yet restored in different ways. There is Meson del Refugio with its two stories of 12 rooms overlooking the main patio and grounds. Just a block from the main square of this little mountain town, it’s a favorite spot for Mexican tourists on weekends. Meson del Refugio has a full-service bar and lovely garden for events.
Meson Santa Elena is more intimate, decorated with antiques for the flavor of being in a private home. It’s off a side street and offers quiet seclusion. A warm hostess from the Sahagun family will help you find the most beautiful spots in the surrounding mountains. It is only an hour’s drive to Puerto Vallarta from here, and the foreign tourists are just beginning to discover what the Mexicans have visited for years for holiday stays. The lakes and mountains of this area are stupendous and the National Geographic Museum featuring the local petroglyphs and South American pottery found in the area is well done.
The two haciendas work together in providing nature excursions and cultural tours to the nearby villages and lakes.
Etzatlan An easy drive from the major tourist attraction of Tequila, Hotel El Centenario retains the graceful staircase, ironwork and balconies of its original construction in the 18th century. Chencho and his wife, Elsa, the friendly owners, can arrange a horse ride or 4×4 drive out to the fascinating Piedras Bolas, more than 200 huge perfectly round rocks scattered through a field and riverbed. Also nearby is the most important archaeological site in Western Mexico – Huachimontones. The town itself is a lovely colonial village with a church and town gazebo with a surprising story.
El Carmen Here lies Hacienda El Carmen, where I began, and where I shall be tempted to return to get my batteries recharged time and time again. The circuit is complete and I have toured our state of Jalisco in a new light, in more than comfort, and discovered nooks I never imagined were there.
A new addition offered by the association are their ranch house rentals. These are self-catering properties rented for minimum of three days and are set on working ranches. If you thought you were out in the country visiting the haciendas, these will give you a whole new perspective of what the countryside of Mexico really is all about. Bring your sombrero and take off (with a well drawn map!) through the many little trails used to get out into the fields of corn and cattle pastures. Return for a barbecue and roping lessons with one of the ranch hands. A full-time cook and maid service are options, and I couldn’t imagine a better place for a real family vacation, or a peaceful retreat far from any distractions.
I should know. I lived there for 18 years. During those 18 years, I’ve had countless guests from more than 15 countries and everyone has commented on the magic of the patio in the moonlight overlooking the open valleys and high sierra of Quila.
I love the haciendas and their history, but have been glad to offer still another way of finding the “real Mexico” in comfort and with a caring hostess. There are presently three ranch houses for rent as part of the Asociacion de Haciendas y Casas Rurales de Jalisco, near Tenamaxtlan, Atengo and Mazamitla.
Welcome home, welcome to rural Mexico.
Thank you for this.
Any updates?
Kind Regards,
Lannie Loeks
Chapala, Jalisco
I believe the current website for this group of hotels etc is https://haciendasycasonas.com/hoteles/