Punta Mita/Playa Anclote new street redo a reality

Great news for the Punta de Mita and the whole beach area. The renovation of the Playa Anclote restaurant row street has been started. It includes a dedicated pedestrian walkway/malecon with stamped concrete for a brick and slate look. Ultimately it will have include palm trees and walk way lighting. Not only has the street been cosmetically improved, but it will now be one way traffic with no buses.

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

Platanitos: Picture Perfect

by Robin Noelle
If you are fortunate enough to drive up the verdant coast of Nayarit from Puerto Vallarta or other close-in destinations, make sure not to miss your chance to have lunch and enjoy the beach at Playa Platinitos (little bananas). Located approximately 27 km north of Las Varas, the little town just past Chacala, on the highway to San Blas, Platinitos is a wonderful place to stop and stretch your legs.
What initially drew me off the highway during my latest road trip was the brilliant glow of the estuary on the opposite side of the hill from the beach. If you turn and head down the hill, past the parking lot and palapas, and make a left onto the dirt road, you will soon find yourself with an incredible view of gleaming sand and the gently waving palms of Playa Las Tortugas, which is situated on the opposite side of the river mouth. You can get down to the estuary by car but if you keep going around the curve, you’ll find a fantastic photo opportunity of the beach, palms, ocean and probably several snowy egrets or herons.
Heading back to the beach the way you came in, you can park at one of the half dozen palapa restaurants that line the sandy little cove. The beach is clean and the waves are gentle, making this a good location for swimming and for families. Bring your own gear and you can snorkel the nearby rocks.
The chances are unless it’s Sunday, you’ll probably have the beach almost completely to yourself. There’s cold beer, great shrimp plates and clean restrooms in the restaurants and ample parking; what else could anyone want? If you ask nice, you might even be able to camp on the beach.