Hacienda de San Antonio
Photography by Davis Gerber
The story of this highland paradise began as far as back as 1879, once the center of a coffee plantation so revered it was served exclusively in the New York Waldorf Astoria, and drank by the German imperial family. Make sure to take the coffee tour and pick up a bag from the gift shop on property! Over time, the property passed various ownership, withstood wars, and outlasted volcanic eruptions all to eventually be acquired by Sir James Goldsmith who transformed it into the sprawling pink boutique hotel, which is now owned and operated by his daughter and her husband who also own Cuixmala on the coast and is accessible by helicopter or car.
Photography by Davis Gerber
The restoration of Hacienda San Antonio took 10 years, and Sir James enlisted French architect Robert Couturier to offer a classical European perspective along with his daughter Alix Marcacinni and interior designer Armand Aubery to decorate the hacienda, balancing the spirit and tradition of a grand Mexican hacienda manor house with the soul of a family home. Hacienda de San Antonio’s 22 Suites and 3 Grand Suites echo the design and traditions of a large Mexican home. Hand-made wool carpets from Oaxaca, European textiles and art pieces personally collected by the family, give each room a distinctive character. The high ceilings and large French windows invite the outside in, and overstuffed sofas and wood-burning fireplaces create a welcoming retreat for the cooler mountain evenings.
Photography by Davis Gerber
Every morning the outdoor dining terrace is set, where organic breakfast, fresh juices made to order, and coffee grown and roasted on Rancho Jabalí await. The dining terrace overlooks the first tier of the Hacienda's formal gardens, where fountains cascade throughout and a wide variety of beautiful birds can be seen flashing through the treetops. On cooler mornings the adjacent dining room is also set, and a crackling fireplace serves to cut through the fresh morning air. One of the hotel’s best features in its dining experience is that the wide range of organically grown fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and meats are provided by Rancho Jabalí; guests can tour the ranch and see firsthand where nearly all the food they are enjoying is produced. For guests who wish to simply stay and relax within the immediate hotel grounds, the 110' swimming pool features an adjoined dining pavillion with a dedicated wait staff and full kitchen. Throughout their overall stay, guests never tire of the dining experience as each day they may choose to enjoy unforgettable picnics on Rancho Jabali, romantic private dinner setups throughout the hotel or group dinners on the mirador terrace, accompanied by a live Mariachi performance.
Aside from its iconic pink exterior, or perhaps the matching pink volcano sunsets, one other defining offering Hacienda de San Antonio provides must be its dreamlike picnics. Set throughout the ranch, each provides an entirely unique way to immerse in nature while relaxing with good friends or family, a delicious meal, all in absolute luxury. This setting suspends guests inches above the waters of Laguna Jabalí on a large halfmoon deck, where horizontal Higuera tree trunks in a 100+ year competition for sunlight, stretch directly out above the same 10 to 15 meter area providing shade, and simultaneously a point of awe. The natural canopy extends high above this beautiful picnic setting, where groups of varying sizes will have a low dining table, cushioned daybeds, a fully stocked bar and their choice of a basket or grilled lunch prepared. Melt into the cushions of the dining area and daybeds after the meal or refresh with a plunge into the tranquil surrounding waters.
Certainly the most iconic of picnic options, the picnic at Epazote is nothing short of extraordinary, whether one chooses beautifully prepared organic individual picnic baskets, or a grilled buffet; with a cocktail or glass of Rosé in hand, and a priceless view of El Volcán de Fuego before them, without fail guests experience an afternoon apart of from time and space, tucked away from the world, where one's only concern is to head back to the hotel eventually or keep on hoping the sun never sets on their beautiful afternoon. As a perfect complement to the experience, replace a chauffeured drive with a horseback ride or ATV tour to arrive at the picnic area in true Rancho Jabalí style. Perhaps the most unique and romantic of the options available, a floating picnic takes guests out on a handcrafted bamboo raft, to the very center of Laguna Jabalí. Surrounded by lush high valley walls and resounding morning birdsong, guests enjoy a delicious organic breakfast basket on the raft's built-in table, before kicking back on the cushioned daybed. Don a sombrero and allow oneself to refresh with a quick nap in the morning sun or jump in for a refreshing swim in the cool waters all around. There is no better way to start the day when it comes to the Hacienda's picnics, and combining a ranch tour or any of the other activities, such as paddle boarding, a bike ride, skydiving or much more available on Rancho Jabalí, allows guests to take full advantage of a day on the spectacular 5,000 acre working ranch.
Photography by Davis Gerber
At Hacienda de San Antonio lavish rooms provide a vibrant backdrop to days spent in the Western Mexican highlands. The Yellow Bar, with its views to the garden, is the social hub for morning tea and coffee or evening cocktails and lively conversation, while across the courtyard a cozy timber ceiling library provides a quiet retreat at any hour. Upstairs a sunlight filled Mirador room is ideal for midday breaks or a movie night. For evening revelry, guests reconnect at the bar and enjoy games of pool in the adjoined billiard room,while savoring one of the Hacienda’s signature cocktails. Last, but certainly not least, once the coffee plantation’s vast storeroom, the imposing Club Room with towering volcanic stone columns and massive wood-beamed roof is the perfect space for large dinners and special events. Plenty of vibrancy and endless detail engulfs all of these living spaces in the formal gardens surrounding the entire house. Nestled within them, the 110’ alberca is perfect for morning laps, or an afternoon plunge before enjoying lunch in the poolside dining pavilion.
Photography by Davis Gerber
The Hacienda’s Rancho Jabalí consists of over 5,000 acres of stunning mountain landscape energized by the towering Volcán de Fuego – where wild horses roam, livestock thrives, crops flourish and a vast network of lagoons hide amongst jutting hilltops fringed by fields and forest. One of the main practices used on the ranch is Biodynamic farming, from which hundreds of acres have transformed into thriving organic gardens, yielding our healthiest and most lush produce to date. Nearly 90% of all ingredients used in our à la carte menu are sourced from the ranch. The utmost respect and care we put into our produce and our environment is reflected in every meal. Across the river valley, adjacent to Hacienda de San Antonio, lies the vegetable gardens and livestock pens.
Photography by Davis Gerber
Guests can tour these gardens upon request and be guided by one of the lead farmers, who will show them all the in season organic produce, which will be harvested mutliple times throughout the week and star in all of the hotel's delicious meal services and picnics throughout their stay. Within this sprawling highland ranch a dedicated staff carries out various practices and is involved in local initiatives to protect the environment. The operation overall supports local communities by encouraging and innovating sustainable practices via organic agriculture, horticulture, orchards and the coffee plantation. Daily tours of the ranch and it's many processes can be scheduled, where guests will see cheese making, the artisanal coffee roasting operation, where all fruit is processed for jams and more, even including delicious mangos from the hotel's coastal sister property -Cuixmala, all followed by a sampling of the freshest and purest products Rancho Jabalí provide.
Photography by Davis Gerber
Hacienda de San Antonio
Domicilio Conocido, San Antonio, Comala, 28463
Colima, Col., Mexico
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