Hacienda de Los Santos

With unrivaled panoramic ocean, city, and mountain views and approximately 10,000 square feet of living space, Hacienda de los Santos is one of the finest villas in Puerto Vallarta. It is also one of the few remaining true 8-bedroom haciendas in the city.

The best of the old and new meets within the villa, combining Mexican Hacienda tradition with modern construction technology (the house was built to meet California earthquake standards). Hacienda de los Santos is tastefully furnished with antiques, custom furniture, and modern art. It offers up-to-date amenities such as a bar/coffee pantry, complete with refrigerator, in the master bedroom. But the ''star of the show'' is undoubtedly the stunning views of the city, Banderas Bay, and the Sierra Madre mountains. Exotic birds glide past at eye level, and one has an unobstructed view for winter whale-watching. "Stunning" is an overused cliché in real estate, but at Hacienda de los Santos, it is virtually an understatement.

Hacienda de los Santos features custom design, cantera columns and balustrades, Spanish Alhambra tiles, bold arches, copper and crystal chandeliers, matte tikul flooring, brick "boveda" vaulted ceilings, private patios, fine Mexican tilework, and Juliet balconies. The villa features a large infinity pool and separate spa. The pool terrace and overlooking balconies are ideal for entertaining, regularly accommodating a range of events from intimate dinners-for-two to large gatherings of more than 250 guests. A barbecue patio off the kitchen offers a completely separate entertaining option.

The estate features two separate structures with room for expansion. The main house has a large living room/dining room, handsomely tiled kitchen, laundry area, and two half-baths (one by the front door and the other adjoining the kitchen). Also in the main house are the master bedroom  complete with a next-door private office  and three guestrooms, all en-suite. A separate apartment over the two-car garage comprises a kitchen, bathroom, and balcony  an ideal space for those who prefer additional privacy.

The new casita is spacious at more than 1,800 square feet, including three bedrooms on three levels and a separate garage. The upper suite, accessed by a private stairway illuminated by a back-lit onyx panel, is crowned by a striking glass pyramid and has a separate kitchen, dining/living combination, and a custom splash pool, with tiles to harmonize with the main house's infinity-edge pool. The mid-level bedroom comprises a spacious bedroom, bath, and terrace overlooking the bay. The lower-level features a bedroom with its own bathroom. The new casita has an extra large fresh water storage tank to work in tandem with the main house.

The estate has three garages: two below the apartment next to the main house and one in the casita. The villa is outfitted with solar panels and LED lighting to improve its energy efficiency, a new and enhanced WiFi system, and newly-constructed retaining walls and concrete water channels to guide rainwater runoff. Well-tended plants, flowers, and trees complement the estate. Hacienda de los Santos belongs to a well-managed HOA, serving nine estates, and has two sets of security gates, one of which is staffed at night.

The lot is approximately 18,062 square feet and can accommodate additional suites or casitas, pending permits.

A little farther south from downtown, just past the sub-region of Amapas, is one of Vallarta's oldest and most prestigious developments, Conchas Chinas. It is an upscale residential neighborhood with both upper and lower sections divided by the Carr. 200 South highway where one will find exemplary samples of Conchas Chinas real estate