Mexican Resort Ideal Destination For Mexico Flying
A beautiful white 1999 Cessna T206, tricked out with all the
latest mods, stands near an AOPA Expo 2006 booth showcasing one of
the most unique flying destinations available to pilots. The
Hacienda de los Santos, or House of Saints, is a Spanish
colonial estate in a historic Mexican village about 300
nautical miles due south of Tucson, AZ.
The property was developed by Jim Swickard, a well-to-do gringo
who fell in love with the area 15 years ago when he first
flew into the village of Alamos, in the state of Sonora,
Mexico. The hotel features twenty-five different rooms
located within five haciendas and between them and the rest of the
estate, they share 57 completely unique chimneys attached to
wood-burning fireplaces among lush foliage.
It includes vintage furniture from around the world and, patios,
spas, pools, and fountains, all designed to appeal to the five
senses. It even made the cover of Architectural Digest Magazine
last year.
But what is most appealing to pilots is that aviators and their
families and friends are the majority of the guests you will find
there because of the hotel's isolation. Around 70% of the guests
are pilots, with the rest about evenly split between adventurous
Americans who brave the 450 mile drive from Arizona or charter a
private aircraft, and families from Mexico City looking for
tranquility
The nearby Alamos Airport features a freshly expanded and
improved 5,000 foot runway capable of accommodating virtually all
piston planes and has even seen a Falcon jet owned by a friendly
couple well-known to flight students. A ten thousand square
foot hangar can house around 14 planes on an as-available
basis.
The airport lies at an easy 1350 foot elevation and any person
who lands an airplane there is eligible to become an elite member
of the "Club Pilotos de Mexico". Jim Swickard says there are three
pre-requisites, to become a member in good standing, "1. Flying
left seat and finding Alamos, 2. Having a safe landing,
and 3. Staying at Hacienda de los Santos." There are no dues,
and every "piloto" is addressed as "capitan"
Swickard is excited that next year the airport will have
facilities to expedite customs for aircraft arriving and leaving
the country and be renamed Alamos International Airport.
The village of Alamos is composed of dozens of similarly
extravagant haciendas -- a result of a formerly-productive silver
mine, and lies near spectacular Copper Canyon which is said to be
ten times the size of our Grand Canyon.
The Hacienda de los Santos would seem to be the ultimate
vacation resort equivalent of the $100 hamburger. But the resort
isn't just an excuse to fly -- it may well be the very best reason
to fly.