Trip Advisor Reviews: Hacienda San Lucas

Honduras Weekly
One of the treasures of Honduras is a small Bed & Breakfast mountain lodge called Hacienda San Lucas. It is located just outside the town of Copán Ruinas, which is about a two and a half hour drive from San Pedro Sula. The trip to Copán is filled with an expansive green countryside, lush valleys, and winding roads through misty mountains (especially after you pass the town of La Entrada). Remember to turn right at the fork in the road at La Entrada. Otherwise, you'll end up in Santa Rosa de Copán, which is a colorful and historic city, and worth a visit as well. Hacienda San Lucas is owned by a special lady named Flavia Cueva, who also serves as the host, historian, and storyteller. It is much more than just a beautiful place to sleep overnight or dine in the evening by candlelight. It is somewhere to go and feel inspired, be enchanted, and listen to the valley and the past.

From the candles in the bedrooms, to the flowers everywhere, the spectacular food, the gardens, the yoga pavillion, the dogs -- even the slightly loopt one. It's wonderful. You feel at home. But it's not your home. But still you feel at home.

If you go Trip Advisor, you will see lots of reviews of Hacienda San Lucas. If you do a quick read through by clicking REVIEWS, you'll notice that, overwhelmingly, the reviews are excellent. Of the 93 reviews posted, all but five give San Lucas either four or five dots (think of them as stars), with five being the highest.

After reviewing the reviews, we found the following ones to be the most interesting, descriptive, and personal. We sense that they provide a good feel for San Lucas. Clearly, you'll notice several threads that run through the reviews. It is these common threads that we think help paint an authentic picture of San Lucas.

Pure Magic
We love this place. Nestled in the hills overlooking the ruins, it is close enough to have good access to all of the local attractions but far enough away to avoid the noise and bustle of the town. At night, the Hacienda is predominantly lit with candles and the loudest noises are from the chirping frogs in the valley bellow. The result is an ambiance that is truly magical. The staff and particularly the owner, Flavia, are incredibly welcoming and have treated us like one of the family. Our explorations of the area were very easy with their assistance and advice. The food has been exquisite and when we wanted to to try out the restaurants in town the staff were ready with good advice. The price is more than you will pay for a hotel in town, but considerably less than some of the lodges on the coast who offered no better accommodations.

Believe the Hype... It's Spectacular
I am a cynic. I don't like hype. I don't like evangelism. But Hacienda San Lucas is truly as good as it sounds. It constantly surprises you with the attention to detail and the unfailing taste of Flavia and her team. From the candles in the bedrooms, to the flowers everywhere, the spectacular food, the gardens, the yoga pavillion, the dogs -- even the slightly loopt one. It's wonderful. You feel at home. But it's not your home. But still you feel at home. That is not an easy feeling to create. It was, without a doubt, the highlight of our trip to Honduras. The owner's daughter-in-law, Frida Larios, is a wonderful artist and lives with her family on the grounds. If you are lucky you can discuss her inspiration for the works that grace the hacienda patio. Can't wait to go back.

The Road from Hell On the Way to Heaven
There is not enough to say about the rustic beauty of the Hacienda San Lucas. Flavia is the best host we have ever met. She is surrounded by a wonderful staff, including Argi, her right arm, and assistant Wendy. This property is nestled in the mountainside with a glorious view. The eight rooms sit above the main house. They have ample space, and are simply decorated with timber, rock and stone. At night, hundreds of candles are lit in glass jars in the dining area, all throughout the property, up the winding stone stairs, including the bedrooms. It's romantic and beautiful. The meals here are superb. Each night brings a new dish that is authentic and homemade. Fresh seafood and fish tops the list. The selection of wines is excellent.

If you want peace and tranquility, you can't miss this stop that is situated only a few miles outside the town of Copán Ruinas. Flavia makes every one of her guests feel special. Her team cannot do enough to make your visit the very best. They will book anything from transportation to any other activity you want to do. If you love yoga, there is an outdoor studio that takes in a view of the mountains that you just have to see. Thank you again to Flavia, Argi, and Wendy. You made our trip very special. We'll be back.

A Truly Magical Experience
It was our second time to this fabulous place. Once you hit the dirt road that leads you to Hacienda San Lucas, you know that something magical awaits with an incredible surrounding. Up the mountain you go besides a mighty river, then you suddenly look at your window and the archaeological site of Copán lies in front of a majestic view. Once you arrive at the Hacienda, the hosts treat you as if you are part of the family, and of course Kuk, Luna and Paulie (3 labs) are part of the welcoming committee. You think you have traveled back in time when you see the place and the surroundings, a forest and just the birds singing and the breeze whistling on the trees.

The Hacienda San Lucas is nestled in such a spectacular place, that you can hike, canopy, horseback ride, or just lay down and enjoy a mystical moment in the Gaia (you'll have to visit it to know and understand). The food... Spectacular. You don't need to go anywhere else to eat. The rooms, are what you expect from an eco-friendly hotel. No A/C, very dim lights and candle light at your pleasure. The service... Out of this world. But I must warn you, if you are looking for a busy hotel, near or in town, with high end commodities and you don't like nature, please stay away, it is not for you.

For whom is this hotel? For nature lovers, people who want to get away from it all, who want to be treated as family or for people who want an incredible romantic getaway. You can do so much in this place that time will definetly run short on you. I truly thank Flavia, Argie and all the staff for such a wonderful stay, which obliges me to visit time and time again!

Simply Perfect in Every Way
My wife and I have traveled a good bit over the years, both in Europe and in Mexico. We have never written a review of any hotel, restaurant, airline, etc, but we have made an exception in the case because we want prospective visitors to know that every moment of our six-day stay at Hacienda San Lucas was wonderful. We traveled to Honduras with another couple who are close friends (we have taken many trips together to the old Spanish colonial cities of Mexico). All four of us found everything about Hacienda San Lucas -- from the lovely setting to the comfortable rooms to the fresh and superb food to the wonderful hospitality shown to us by Flavia Cueva, the owner, and everyone who works with her -- to be very professional while also being quietly unobtrusive. Just what we were hoping for.

Everyone at the hacienda is very keen on making sure that travelers who stop there are comfortable and are enjoying their time, both on the beautiful property and when out and about. We felt welcomed and cared for from the moment we stepped onto the property until the moment we reluctanatly left to return to the States. We had also hoped to discover in the Copán area a place of beauty and history, as the literature suggested. We were not disappointed. As with the hacienda itself, the Mayan ruins and other sights were terrific -- and uncrowded. Flavia pointed us in all the right directions, which made everything go smoothly every day.

Perhaps the highest compliment we can pay to Hacienda San Lucas is that (a first for us in our Mexican and Central American travels) we are about to book our return trip for next year. For people who are truly travelers and who want to learn about an intriguing and important part of the world with which many of us from the US are not very familiar, we highly recommend the Copán area and the wonderful Hacienda San Lucas. (11/15/11) (photo of the bar at Hacienda San Lucas)