Tag: Colonial

Colombia’s Caribbean Gem Unveiled: Cheap Hotels Await In This Colonial Beach City

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If you’re looking for a unique and affordable tropical vacation destination for this summer, look no further than Cartagena, Colombia.

This colorful colonial city located right on the Caribbean coast of Colombia is one of the trendiest destinations of the summer.

According to recent data from travel booking platform Hopper, Cartagena is the fourth most searched international travel destination this summer. And it’s also really affordable, making it even better for a summer getaway that won’t break the bank.

Here’s why you should add Cartagena to your travel bucket list and plan a trip ASAP:

A Unique Blend Of Cultures

I’ve traveled to almost every country in South America, and I’ve never been anywhere like Cartagena.

Since it’s located on the country’s Caribbean coast, it has a very different vibe compared to the rest of the country, with a very strong Caribbean influence.

But there’s also still a strong Spanish colonial influence on the city’s architecture, particularly the walled Old Town which is full of colorful old buildings and quaint cobblestone streets.

Every corner of Cartagena is an Instagram post just waiting to happen.

Just outside the Old Town, the Getsemani neighborhood is the hippest part of the city. You’ll find street art, cool bars, trendy restaurants, art galleries, and the best nightlife in the city.

Cheap Hotel Prices

Colombia in general is one of the cheapest countries in Latin America, and while Cartagena is slightly more expensive than the rest of the country, it can still be super affordable.

In fact, it’s still one of the cheapest beach destinations in Latin America.

And you can find particularly good deals on hotels in Cartagena. Based on data from Hopper, the average price per night for a hotel in Cartagena this summer is $119.

That’s more than 50% cheaper than hotels in Cancun, Mexico (the most searched destination for this summer) where hotels average $255 a night.

When I was in Cartagena, I stayed at Hotel Bantu, an amazing luxury boutique hotel in the walled Old Town for around $150 a night. This hotel had a great location in the Old Town and I loved the tropical, colonial-influenced design and decor.

And the hotel has a pet toucan that roams the property freely — how cool is that?!

Easy And Affordable To Get To

Some of the other trending destinations for this summer (like Tokyo, London, and Rome) are not as easy for Americans to travel to.

With exorbitant airfare prices this summer, some of these more far-flung destinations might be off the table for budget-conscious travelers.

The great thing about Cartagena is that flights from the U.S. tend to be very affordable. There are a few cities with nonstop flights to Cartagena, but most flight routes will have you stopping in Bogota, Colombia or Panama City, Panama first.

Based on data from Google Flights, most flights to Cartagena are under $400 round-trip from dozens of cities in the United States!

Beaches, History, Food, And Culture

Cartagena is extremely hot and humid year-round. I visited in July and I was pretty overwhelmed by the heat, but luckily there are beaches nearby where you can cool off.

The city itself has some decent beaches in the Bocagrande neighborhood (basically the Miami of Cartagena), but the best beaches are in the nearby Rosario Islands.

Taking a day trip by boat to these islands was a highlight of my time in Cartagena.

And there’s plenty more to do in the city than just beaches — exploring the historic churches, museums, and forts of the Old Town, eating your way through the city’s delicious street food, and enjoying the lively nightlife are just a few things you can look forward to in Cartagena.

Dale Peterson

Dale is a full-time traveler and writer with over 6 years of experience. She’s traveled to more than 55 countries around the globe and specializes in covering solo travel and digital nomadism.

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June 20, 2024
6 Reasons Why You Should Visit This Stunning Colonial City In Mexico

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The Yucatán Peninsula is rightly a favorite among American travelers throughout the year, especially in winter.

With vibrant and beautiful coastal resorts to choose from, including Chetumal, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Cancún, this part of Mexico is hard to beat.

But away from the sun-kissed shores, there are some fascinating destinations in the interior of this region that are absolutely worth exploring, and one of those is Mérida.

Rich in colonial history, this picturesque destination is an epicenter of culture in the region. It’s not only a great launchpad to explore the whole peninsula from, but is a captivating place to see in its own right too.

Here are six reasons why you shouldn’t miss Mérida during a trip to the Yucatán Peninsula:

Close To Big Attractions

Mérida lies in the northwest corner of Yucatán state, close to the north coast of this peninsula.

Whether it’s pristine beaches or ancient ruins that take your fancy, Mérida’s location is an ideal base to explore the wide range of attractions in this amazing region of Mexico.

Mérida is about 75 miles east of the iconic Maya ruins at Chichen Itza and 50 miles north of the ancient city of Uxmal.

It’s also very close to many different cenotes (natural sinkholes, many of which you can swim in) – one of the closest being Cenote Xlacah.

Learn More About History

There’s no shortage of interesting historical sites in Mérida; even the main square – Plaza Grande – has hallmarks of both ancient and colonial history.

The Catedral de San Ildefonso is perhaps one of the most striking buildings – this cathedral was built on the site of a former Maya temple and even used some of the temple’s stone in its construction.

Elsewhere, buildings such as the Palacio Cantón, Casa de Montejo, and Teatro Peón Contreras give more insight into the history of this city.

The main attraction you should not miss is the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya – one of the best museums on Maya culture in the world with more than 1,000 different artifacts. If you want to immerse yourself, this is the place.

Live Like A Local

Mérida is one of those towns where it’s easy to feel like a local simply by being there for a few days.

Walk around the lively markets, take in the almost-nightly free music and entertainment in the plazas, or enjoy the hum of the city center crowds on the car-free Sunday mornings.

Despite its size and stature as the capital city of the Yucatán state, Mérida manages to maintain a small-town atmosphere with friendly folks and a strong sense of community.

Fantastic For Foodies

Mérida is one of the best places to sample the delicious food of the Yucatán, with plenty of restaurants and food vendors catering to all budgets.

One of the most iconic dishes is cochinita pibil, which is a barbecued pulled pork dish that has a deep and earthy flavor with varying degrees of spiciness.

Another highlight is sopa de lime (literally lime soup). It’s kind of what the name suggests, but usually has some meat such as chicken or turkey in it too.

The refreshing citrus flavor of this one comes from the Yucatecan limes of the region.

More Flights Being Added

While Cancún is the most obvious airport to fly into this part of Mexico, there is also an airport in Mérida, which is currently expanding its offering of flights with help from the local tourism organization.

It was recently reported that the airport here will soon have direct flights from Miami, Orlando, and Atlanta via Mexican airline Viva Aerobus and U.S. airline Delta.

This extends the list of American cities from which you can fly directly to Mérida, which already includes Houston, Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York (Newark).

Good Transport Links

There are multiple reliable and affordable bus services that connect Mérida with Campeche in the west, and Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Chetumal in the east.

The city and wider area are also well serviced by taxis or other hired vehicles. You can even find ride apps such as Uber or Ryde & Go in operation.

If you are planning to visit an attraction that is a couple of hours drive away from Mérida, then a bus is usually a good option – that or hiring a driver between a group.

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November 14, 2023
This Lesser-Known Colonial Destination In Mexico Is Surging In Popularity

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Mexico may be the number one destination for Americans going abroad, hosting tens of millions of tourists every year, but while resort zones along the coast concentrate the majority of tourist arrivals, other lesser-known spots in the hinterland have been largely ignored for years.

This year, this trend has changed.

Now more than ever, U.S. vacationers are keen on exploring different parts of Mexico and experiencing the country beyond their luxurious enclaves, and that’s when this incredibly exciting yet lesser-known colonial city has come into play:

One Of The Last Hidden Gems Of Mexico

Located in North-Central Mexico, a 2-hour drive from equally underrated Aguascalientes, Zacatecas has never been traditionally promoted as a tourist destination on the international stage, even though it is one of Mexico’s most culturally wealthy and historically significant cities.

It’s a remarkably popular cultural destination among Mexican locals themselves, but there’s no denying international tourism in Zacatecas, particularly concerning American visitors, has been severely limited, mostly due to poor promotion.

Now, its potential looks set to be fully unleashed as the local Government turns its focus to tourism, formally identified as one of the main drives behind the city’s economic growth this year, and campaigns to position Zacatecas as a ‘romantic‘ city break.

So what makes it so unique, and what have Americans who restrict their movements to the Yucatan Peninsula, or Mexico City at best, been missing out on all these years?

One Of The Oldest Settlements Of The Americas

Firstly, Zacatecas is one of the oldest European settlements in all of the Americas, and this alone warrants consideration, especially if you’re passionate about Mexican culture.

It was originally founded by the Spanish settlers in the mid-16th century, and like many of its sister cities in Spanish America, it went on to become an important trading hub and a rich mining center due to the area’s abundance of silver and far rarer minerals.

While most of the riches flowed across the Atlantic into mainland Spain, Zacatecas did flourish as an important center of Baroque art upon the rise of a now-defunct empire, housing some of Mexico’s prettiest civic buildings and one of its best-preserved Old Towns.

The Centro Historico in Zacatecas is, in fact, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993 in recognition of the city’s 16th and 17th-century landmarks and its colonial townscape, dominated by narrow alleys etched onto steep slopes and a magnificent Spanish cathedral.

Unlike other historical cities of its standing, however, Zacatecas has evolved with the times without sacrificing its past.

A Historic City That’s Evolved With The Times Without Losing Its Essence

Its famous Plaza de Toros, inaugurated in 1866, is now home to the Quinta Real Zacatecas Hotel, while several other historical structures in the center have been repurposed and now either house shops, cultural centers, or other organizations, without defacing the building or changing its facade.

Walking picturesque Downtown Zacatecas, you may have the impression not much has changed since the Spanish conquered Mexico and laid the first stone in the centrally-located Plaza de Armas, yet it only takes a furtive peek beneath the surface to learn this is a creative, youthful city.

Yes, there are beautiful colonial mansions, a Spanish-styled Hidalgo Avenue lined with boutique shops, a historic Central Market, temples, and every other possible feature you would expect a colonial city to have, but it is more than a mere open-air museum.

This is a metropolitan area home to over 1.6 million people, after all, and there is no shortage of nightlife spots, particularly in the Historic Quarter, points of interest further afield, and artsy, modern districts to explore.

Nonstop Flights From The States

Luckily for Americans, Zacatecas is served by its own international airport.

Naturally, as this is a smaller destination, it does not boast the same flight frequency, nor the impressive connectivity Cancun, Cabo, Mexico City, or other far more popular vacation spots do, but it does host flights from Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare, Chicago-Midway, Los Angeles, and San Jose (CA).

Discover more historic colonial cities you can fly to directly from the United States here.

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November 5, 2023
This Colonial City Is One Of The Fastest Growing Destinations In Mexico
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Cancun, Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta form Mexico’s triad of world-class destinations, boasting an enviable number of tourist attractions and a well-developed wellness scene. But while they battle among themselves for the title of the top coastal hub, the lesser-known colonial city of Merida is setting new passenger arrival records – and adding to the competition.

Sun and sand are still the main reason why Americans flock to the neighboring nation of Mexico for their winter holidays, but there’s another interesting trend emerging lately that can’t be ignored for much longer: historical tours have exploded in popularity, and this Yucatan gem seems to be gaining the most traction lately.

Merida Breaks Previous Arrival Record

After two years of slower growth as a result of the ongoing Covid pandemic, Mexico shattered all records in 2022 and delivered its best performance yet, surpassing the already historical year of 2019 and recording an increase of 30% in arrival figures. All Mexican destinations, from the mighty Cancun to the under-visited, increasingly trendy Bacalar, benefitted from the surge.

Interestingly, coastal cities are not the only driving force behind Mexico’s 2022 revival: its rich colonial heritage is finally achieving notoriety after being overlooked for years and has greatly contributed to the diversification of tourism. Out of all post-Columbian settlements, however, Merida stands out as one of the fastest-growing destinations.

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Last December alone, 328,750 passengers arrived at Merida International, the busiest month yet on record. Year on year, it has grown 10% since the pre-pandemic era, with a total of 3,092,951 passengers recorded throughout 2022. It marked the first time Merida and the wider Yucatan state breached the 3-million visitor mark.

Back in 2019, the city had hit a previous all-time high of 2.8 million. The landmark moment did not go unnoticed by both airport authorities and the Government, who have been tracking Merida’s rising popularity for months, going as far as presenting a certificate to the 3-millionth passenger, identified as Alberto Flores Torres.

Merida’s Connectivity Is Growing

Merida’s connectivity has improved significantly in recent months, with new flights launched to destinations across Mexico and Latin America. Most notably Toluca, Leon and Queretaro, and Flores, in Guatemala. From the United States and Canada, direct flights are available from the following cities:
- Miami (American Airlines)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (American Eagle)*
- Houston (United Airlines)
- Toronto (WestJet)*
*These routes are seasonal

Additionally, the launch of the new Maya Train, a Yucatan-wide project linking all main points of interest in the peninsula by rail, will further boost tourism. From December 2023, travelers will be able to board a Merida-bound train from Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and other resort towns along the coast making it a lot more accessible.

But other than the improved connectivity, what exactly is behind Merida’s newfound fame?

Visiting Merida Is Taking A Journey Back In Time

The capital of the Yucatan state, Merida, is a picture-perfect city with an incredibly well-preserved historical core that wouldn’t look out of place in the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. Strolling the colorful, lively streets of the Old Town, which have remained virtually unchanged, you’ll be transported back in time to the 16th century.

Namely, the age of discovery, territorial disputes, and Transatlantic trade, when Merida flourished as a valuable European asset on this side of the pond, built on top of a much older Mayan settlement. The most striking edifice, the fortified Merida Cathedral, was actually built using dismantled parts of Mayan temples, an everlasting symbol of the brutal Spanish Conquest.

Other important monuments include the traditional homes lining the Paseo de Montejo, once owned by the Yucatan elite, and countless palaces housing world-class art collections and relics of inestimable value. Outside Mexico City, visiting Merida is the closest one could get to bearing witness to Spain’s imperial grandeur.

In sum, Merida is an amalgamation of all Mexican cultures and a major cultural center in Yucatan: here, guests will find both Catholic shrines and Mesoamerican archaeological zones, restaurants serving traditional food – not the industrialized tacos sold within tourist complexes in Cancun – and a plethora of museums that shine a light on the region’s fascinating History.

Other Incredible Colonial Cities You Can Visit In Mexico

All across Mexico, colonial cities are rising to prominence as the country’s top tourist offer, as a direct response to the waning popularity of overpriced, overcrowded beach towns like Tulum, which some would argue lack authenticity, and as interest in cultural expeditions and meaningful experiences is renewed in the post-Covid era.

Among other beautiful colonial destinations in Mexico, we have:
- San Miguel de Allende, a small, quaint, photogenic city in the Guanajuato state
- Guanajuato, the capital of the Guanajuato state, whose Old Town has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architectural value
- Izamal, built in a vibrant yellow and home to several 16th-century churches and a fortress-like monastery
- Taxco, the pearl of the Guerrero state, famous for its imposing cathedral and whitewashed houses
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January 11, 2023
This Colonial City Has Been Voted The Most Beautiful In Mexico
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One of Mexico’s colonial cities has just been named ‘the most beautiful’ in the country, beating household names like Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and even the wider Mayan Riviera to the number one spot. The honor was bestowed by Mexico’s own Travel Awards, and it’s fair to say many were surprised with how voting went.

Mexico’s fame as the King of Tourism may be almost exclusively attributed to its Caribbean hubs and a plethora of well-preserved pre-Columbian settlements. While Mexico’s Mayan World is still largely responsible for the country’s record-breaking numbers, yet another facet of its multicultural appeal is emerging as an equally-powerful attraction.

Namely, Mexico’s colonial era cities, that are among some of the first European settlements in the Americas, with one in particular eclipsing all others in beauty and charm:

Mexico’s Beauty Lies In Its Multicultural Past

Mexico Travel Awards is a yearly event where the nation’s top tourism authorities gather to celebrate achievements across different sectors of the industry, such as the most outstanding and best performing municipalities. In any case, there is one trophy not based purely on broken records and booking trends.

This year, 20 municipalities were nominated for the title of Mexico’s Most Beautiful, including San Miguel de Allende, a Neo-Gothic/Baroque fusion that has been rediscovered by the American audience in recent months, Merida, the Yucatan state’s number one city, and of course, Mexico City, the vibrant, sprawling mess of a capital.

Despite being strong contenders, none of them took the award home in the end. Mexico’s crown jewel turns out to be the unsung Guanajuato City, the capital of its namesake state and one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the Americas – even before Spain’s path got intertwined with pre-Columbian Mexico’s.

Much like the aforementioned San Miguel, Guanajuato is famous around the world for nearly-intact colonial monuments, though on a much larger scale. Its Old Town, or Ciudad vieja district has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site all the way back in 1988, not only due to its architectural wonders, but the History it carries.

The Rising Trend Of ‘Colonial’ Tourism

Guanajuato was founded by Spaniards on the site of other native American settlements in the mid-16th century, and served at one point as the world’s top silver exporter before turning its back to the Empire and joining the fight for an independent Mexico. Naturally, this turbulent, yet fascinating past has been engraved in the city’s urban landscape.

It is composed of a maze of narrow winding streets lined with colorful traditional houses resembling those found in Iberian Europe – Spain and Portugal – and it is dotted with Baroque gems, including the Valenciana Temple and the most easily recognized landmark, the Saint Francis church, featuring its iconic bright yellow hue.

Although it is not as huge as Cancun or its main rival Mexico City yet, Guanajuato is surely becoming more popular every year. The state itself, which carries the same name, has witnessed a steady increase in arrival figures from 2007 to 2018 culminating in 956,000+ yearly visitors. However, that was years before Mexico’s Renaissance had officially begun.

This year, eight to nine million visitors are expected, a sharp increase from 2018’s figures, just shy of the millionth landmark. This proves Guanajuato has a key role to play in promoting Mexico as a diverse destination, and a world capital for culture acknowledged for more than just its pristine beaches and luxury all-inclusives.

What Other Cities Made The List?

The top 4 most voted cities, excluding Guanajuato, were:
1. Mexico City
2. Queretaro
3. Morelia
4. Monterrey
The Mexico Travel Awards is, in fact, a tourist-voted award, proving Guanajuato is indeed the most appealing city out of all the twenty surveyed. Other than being lauded for its architectural grandeur and contribution to History, it has been described as a ‘culturally rich city with numerous museums, theaters, music venues and festivals‘.

All of the top five cities have one thing in common: they have managed to retain their Spanish-era allure, in spite of the turning of the centuries and the overwhelming wave of industrialization that spread across North America throughout the 20th, and early 21st centuries, tearing down everything ancient standing on its path.

Direct Flights To Guanajuato From the U.S.

As for accessibility, the Bajio International Airport is the closest airport to Guanajuato, serving both the state capital and its neighbor Leon. Direct flights from the U.S. are available from the airports below:
- Chicago (O’Hare and Midway)
- Houston (George Bush Intercontinental)
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Los Angeles International
- Oakland International
- Sacramento International
- Fresno Yosemite International
- San Jose International
- San Antonio International
- Kansas City International
- Las Vegas (Harry Reid)*
*This route has since been suspended

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September 13, 2022