Hacienda Puerta is located in the heart of Campeche, mexico and marries a 17th century architecture to a new wing designed in a similar colonial-era aesthetic. The 3 guestrooms and 11 suites at The Hacienda Puerta Campeche are sizable and sport elegant, authentic details such as adobe-tiled floors, in-room hammocks, and pale limestone sinks in the even more commodious bathrooms. But it is the swimming pool which is surrounded by blooming gardens that most impresses the guests.

La Guardia, the hotel’s on-site restaurant, serves mexican-style seafood, and a grand selection of tequilas and rums can be found at the hotel’s Bar la Ballesta. Visit StarWoodHotels.com.

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The crusading spirit of the Spanish was seeking new victims and new riches to plunder following the expulsion of the Moors from the Hiberian peninsula. The warring classes of the era were jobless, in the modern sense of the term, once the task of eradicating Muslim presence in Spain was realized. The discovery of the Americas by Columbus could not have come at a better time to fuel and encourage their brutal ardor for wealth and conquest.

Conquistadores, as these warriors and their followers were called, are the main destroyers of mesoamerican culture and the native traditions that were erased through common work of the Catholic church and the Spanish authorities. Their legacy is still alive today in the inequalities, social tensions, and disparities in development seen in many parts of Latin America.

Bordered by Nuevo Leon, Veracruz and Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi is a mexican state with a mean elevation of about 6000 km, which ensures a temperate climate. The fertile soil of the state enables the cultivation of many different kinds of crops from maize to sugar depending on the location.

The state is especially famous for its mines which were some of the richest in the world prior to independence. Revolts and turmoil have since reduced production. Gold copper zinc and bismuth are the major products of San Luis Potosi mines today.

The population of the state is around 2,5 million. It is one of the less famous locations in mexico, but the rich history and landscape promise to make the journey a rewarding one for those who give the magic state of gems and precious metals a chance.

Photos from Wikipedia.

Virgen de Guadalupe at Las Pozas (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

It’s amazing what money can be used for. Las Pozas is an enchanting creation from the mind of Surrealist collector, Edward James, and highlights the intriguing beauty of mexico’s jungles in the most playful and fantastic ways. James inherited a fortune and used the money to create Las Pozas with the help hard-working locals.

The fantasy architecture and exhibits span 20-acres of emerald green tropical forests connected through a series of stone-covered pathways. Cascading pools offer a gorgeous spot where locals enjoyed swimming and wading in the fairyland-like world. It also provided the name “Las Pozas” for the park.

Enchanting structures (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

While most of the beauty of Mexico has the ability to transport you away from the mundane, the work of Edward James offers transportation to another world. The plants of Mexico, so truly exotic, offer the perfect back drop for the surreal structures that seem to mesh perfectly into their surroundings. They seem to have always been a part of the land instead of a recent addition worked on until Eward James died in 1984. Until that time, he had added over 36 concrete structures to the exquisite mexican Xanadu.

Beautiful greenery (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

The living museum was originally an inheritance of plantation to Edward James, a man bred into wealth,  that he used to plant orchids. After an unrelenting frost took the orchids, he began constructing his surreal wonderland instead. He kept working until his death, and many of the buildings stand unfinished. Many enjoy the possibilities of what may have been added and how the creation would have looked completed. I’m sure this pleased the artist more than having finished his works.

Las Pozas (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

In 2007, Fondo Xilitla, one of Mexico’s most renowned charitable organizations, acquired Las Pozas with the idea of conserving the structures and land for future generations to enjoy. The experience is a must when in San Luis Potosi and sure to make the very most of your Mexican travels.

The park is open from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00p.m. and tours cost $200 pesos. The price increases to $250 for English or French presentations. Three major hotels, El Castillo, hotel Dolores and Hotel Mission Conca, offer luxurious settings close to Las Pozas for the most amazing stay in the area.

Cascada de El Meco (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

The Huasteca Potosina is a region of the Sierra Madre that is named after the indigenous Huasteca culture and is found east of the capital of San Luis Potosi. The gorgeous area offers an amazing collection of both rapid, wild waters, as well as, calm a serene lagoons. Both ends of the spectrum are equaling facilitating with the stunning backdrop of rich jungle vegetation surrounding you.

Cascada el Salto (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

The Cascada el Meco is just one of the many waterfalls you will find through out the area. Smaller waterfalls, like the one above offer a more subdued experience. The falls, like many, lie at the mercy of rains and the Cascada el Salto, above, has dwindled to one of the smallest streams ever.

Gorgeous water (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

The colors of clear blue water are absolutely breathtaking and many enjoy snorkeling around the waterfalls and lagoons. The surrounding forests are home to  over 2,000 species of plants including orchids and lianas. The area is also home to the endangered Spider monkey, Jaguar and Kinkajou (also known as the Honey Bear). For these creatures, it is hoped that visitors will enjoy the grandeur in the most respectful ways possible.

Tranquil waters (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

There is a bounty of recreation available in Huasteca Potosina. Rafting, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, hiking and camping are just a handful of fun the region holds. The area is a true treasure and photographs of the area are some of the most stunning you will take in mexico. Huasteca Potosina is a must visit during your stay in Sal Luis Potosi.

San Luis Potosi, also called SLP, or simply San Luis, is the capital city of the mexican state of San Luis Potosi. The city is well known for its European architecture. Actually many people say that architecturally, the downtown of San Luis is very similar to cities in Spain.

The downtown is made up of different plazas and colonial buildings. The “Plaza de Armas” is home to the main Cathedral and the Governor’s Palace. It is really fascinating to see couples and families enjoying Popsicles and chatting around the downtown area especially on weekends.  Here you can also find “El Templo of Nuestra Señora del Carmen”, which is considered among mexico’s finest churches because of its colorful tiled domes and beautiful altars.

San Luis Potosi is considered the tenth largest metropolitan area in Mexico, with a population of approximately one million inhabitants. The city is a mayor  commercial and industrial center in the country because It lies in an economically advantageous area, at the heart of the triangle formed by the three largest cities in Mexico:Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

In recent years, the city has attracted European and American investors because of its location and because it is politically and economically stable. Recently San Luis Potosi, and its Metropolitan area was named the third best city in which to live in Mexico, according to a survey conducted by the magazine “The Investor”.

There are different important sights that you can visit when coming to San Luis Potosi, such as the house of the culture, the cathedral, the museum of science and the different museums you will find in the city. As in any other Mexican city, San Luis Potosi has many things to offer for visitors to make it a very relaxing and comfortable vacation. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants in the city for every kind of taste and budget. if you ever happen to be in SLP, as the locals call it, you will really be amazed at the beauty of this Mexican colonial city.

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