Hacienda San Lucas

Location:
Copan Ruinas, Honduras

Hotel Types:
Ranches/Haciendas/Estancias

By Laura Watilo Blake

We arrived at La Hacienda San Lucas just as the sun was about to disappear over the mountains beyond the valley. It was a truly magical time. The ranch hands were just beginning to light the thousands of candles and oil lamps that bask the 100-year-old property in a golden glow.

The main house of the structure houses two kitchens (one is the original, which contains a traditional oven), a sitting area and the reception desk. A door leads out to the restaurant on the front patio.

Up a steep hill are the two guest houses with four bedrooms each. The beds are covered with colorful Guatemalan bedspreads, and pillows made of woven mat material (the matting was used by Mayan royalty, and is a symbol of political power). The candles were already lit for us and black soot covered the white stuccoed walls above them.

Just outside the room hang two hammocks where we've spent several hours each day napping, reading or hanging out with the resident dogs, Luco, K'inich and Poli. Photo albums in the main house show them all as puppies, when the hacienda's owner, Flavia, moved to Honduras and began to restore the property, which had belonged to her grandfather.

Flavia, originally from this region, moved to Kentucky in her teens to attend a private high school. She went on to college, married, had kids, started a catering business, and eventually divorced--all in the United States. Her grown children thought she was crazy when she said she was going to return to her homeland and live at the hacienda. They said it was "her menopause project."

This Hotel is: Very expensive

Hotel Amenities, Services and Facilities All Credit Cards Accepted, Restaurant, Bar, Breakfast Included, Airport Pickup - Free, Parking - Free, Linens Included, 24-Hour Hot Water, Pets Allowed, Wake-Up Call, Towels Included, Common Room, Taxes Included in Price

Getting There:
Fly from the U.S. to San Pedro Sula and take the Heman Alas bus from San Pedro Sula airport (via San Pedro Sula's main bus station) to the Copan Ruinas station.

Room Prices:
Lower:$100
Price Description:This is an expensive place to stay. But they will give you great service, and pick you up from bus station. They even provide free transport if available between the hacienda and the town.

Contact Information:
E-mail: info(at)remove-this.haciendasanlucas.com
URL: www.haciendasanlucas.com