Some call it the most coveted boutique hotel in Puerto Vallarta.
The views alone might earn Hacienda San Angel that status. It’s perched above terracotta rooftops and cobblestone streets, with views of Banderas Bay to the west and the the Sierra Madre mountain range to the east.
Casa Bur-Sus, the core structure at the hacienda’s heart, was built in the middle of the 20th century, then renovated in 2003 as a home for San Francisco designer Janice Chatterton. Since then, she’s purchased and renovated a number of neighboring villas, connecting 20 suites with gardens, pools, fountains and a restaurant.
“The design is intended to feel luxurious, sophisticated and true to the Mexican spirit,” said spokesperson Alexandra Huff. “Most of the art at Hacienda San Angel is original and from the mid-1500s to the mid 1900s and includes antiques and original artwork, crystal chandeliers, wooden carousel horses, large original oils, and religious artifacts.”
The project was almost entirely a remodel, so the challenge for Chatterton was to make her own design aesthetic fit the existing structure. She scoured markets, antique stores and estate sales – even purchasing paintings, statuary and stone angels from a local museum – to elevate the hotel’s décor.
The result is a sense of culture and rich heritage, with its one-of-a-kind artifacts carefully placed throughout. “The charm, serenity and sophistication blend to make it a truly heavenly retreat,” Huff said.
Conde Nast Traveler agrees, calling it “the place to stay” in Puero Vallarta.
For more on Hacienda SanAngel, go to http://www.haciendasanangel.com/
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