Add some adventure to your vacation with a stay at this incredible hacienda hotel! A breathtaking drive of less than two hours (30 miles) from Puerto Vallarta takes you up through the hills to the old mining town of San Sebastian del Oeste.

The hacienda lies just outside San Sebastian and is surrounded by fields and gardens (almost all the fruits and vegetables served at the hacienda are grown organically on the estate). There's no electricity here, so the hacienda is lit by oil lamps and each of the three guest rooms has a log fire.

It's not a luxury property - the rooms have a faded grandeur enhanced by wonderful views of bougainvillea, antique furniture, huge bathrooms and big fluffy towels - but staying just one night here will add a new dimension to your vacation and leave you with lasting memories.

The cobble streets of San Sebastian are a delight to explore on foot, and there are some good restaurants there for lunch too. If you have more time, we recommend a drive to the summit of la Bufa mountain, from where you can see the coast (you can rent an ATV to make the trip if you prefer) and a visit to the organic coffee farm or the tequila distillery nearby.

You may visit for the sightseeing, but we guarantee that your lasting memories will be of the hacienda itself. The highlights of our stay were falling asleep to the crackling of a real fire, showering by the light of an oil lamp, and being amazed at the view of bougainvillea from the bathroom window. We also revelled in the discovery that previous occupants of our room included Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor (there are only three guest rooms at the hacienda and many famous guests, so you are sure to have similar stories to tell).

We recommend the meal plan with breakfast and dinner included as the meals are excellent and it's a joy to dine outside by the firepit in the evenings.

If you can only stay one night then that will be sufficient to experience the hacienda and have a brief tour of San Sebastian too; it is certainly better than trying to visit San Sebastian on a day trip. Two nights will allow more time to explore the area and relax in the clear, cool mountain air. We recommend driving to the hotel for the thrill of heading off the beaten track at your own pace, but transfers from Puerto Vallarta are available at reasonable prices too.