I just returned from a magical holiday in Puerto Vallarta. Although I’ve been to several other places in Mexico, this was my first trip to Vallarta. As always, I wanted to stay in a well designed hotel, one that would allow me to experience one of the best designs of the region I am visiting. I found this at the Hacienda San Angel in the Centro region of Puerto Vallarta. Take a look:

The Grand Salon of the Hacienda San Angel

The owner, Janice Chatterton, had purchased the original property as her vacation home in 1990. At one time, Richard Burton had purchased this house as a Valentine’s present for his wife, Susan Hunt. Over the years, Ms. Chatterton has purchased 5 additional Old Vallarta-style homes. She proceeded to blend them seamlessly into a museum quality treasure in the heart of town.

One of three pools on the property

And here is another of the pools:

Did I mention the view?

Behind antique carved doors is the chapel. Yes, it has its own chapel!

Puerto de Cielo Chapel

One side of the chapel is completely open to the sky (cielo), and no chapel is complete without a view is it?

View from the chapel

The grounds are immaculate:

The Courtyard

And the rooms! Oh the rooms made me swoon…..

The Divine San Miguel Suite

Each room is unique in size, layout, and design:

Fabulous views, 600 thread count Egyptian cotton linens, and amazing antiques

The owner was able to purchase about 80 percent of the collection from an art museum in town that was closing. The collection of sculptures and paintings represents one of the best collections I have seen outside of the Franz Mayer Museum in Mexico City. The beautiful suites, the service, the appointments, the collections…..

San Gabriel Suite

It all combined to let me know that I had actually found heaven on earth!

Even the Angels live here!