Photo: David Hoekman
	Hacienda de los Santos is an upscale boutique hotel in Alamos.

Spanish colonial hideaway

Western Article,
June 22, 2012

Nancy and Jim Swickard never set out to run a luxury resort hotel in Alamos, Mexico.

They simply wanted to make a small bed and breakfast and help employ some Alamos residents.

In 1989 they began what they expected would be a two-year project to renovate five contiguous properties into Hacienda de los Santos, House of the Saints. 

It turned into an 18-year project.

Hacienda de los Santos opened as a 12-room boutique luxury hotel in 1998 after 500,000 hours of renovation.

Now at 24 rooms and suites, it’s the largest hotel in Alamos.

There’s also a cantina, restaurant, spa and business center.

In 2000, the hotel completed construction of a 16th-century-style Andalucían stone theater.

	Photo: David Hoekman
	Nancy and Jim Swickard are the owners of Hacienda de los Santos in Alamos.

Three years later, it earned the AAA Four Diamond hotel rating. It has received that designation 10 consecutive years.

Stone walkways and bridges connect the five Spanish exquisitely restored colonial mansions. The hotel’s six acres are carefully landscaped. 

Original artwork, antiques and Spanish colonial art including santos, retablos and ex-votos can be found throughout the estate.

“By working with the many talented local and regional craftsmen and detailing the entire resort meticulously with custom-designed fabrics, colors, furnishings, we are happy to present our Hacienda de los Santos,” Swickard said.

The Swickards received the Alvaro Obregon Award in 2005 from then-Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and then-Sonora Gov. Eduardo Bours for their humanitarian work in Alamos.

During the first 12 years of renovation of the resort, they were the No. 1 private employer in Alamos. The total reconstruction, renovation and new construction exceeded 1.2 million man hours.

The resort can put together packages around gardening, cooking and Spanish colonial architecture and plan activities such as tequila tastings, piñata-making classes, a river float trip, hiking and mountain biking.

Hacienda de los Santos
(888) 777-0164
www.haciendadelossantos.com

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