LATIN AMERICA COLONIAL CITIES DESTINATIONS
none quite manages to surpass the infectious charm of this small city,” he says. “It stands proud as the synthesis of European and pre-Hispanic cultures.” Green, volcanic-stone buildings
characterise much of the architecture here, while ancient ruins dot the surrounding region. Suggest a visit to Monte Albán, a pre-Columbian archaeological site just outside the city, for history buffs wanting to learn more. In the city itself, there are
colourful, cobbled streets full of stalls selling silverware and handwoven crafts by the local Zapotec people, alongside impressive churches and good, reasonably priced restaurants serving regional specialities with a side of wince-inducing mezcal, which comes from Oaxaca. “One of the main draws is that
it’s a great place to experience the Day of the Dead festival in November,” says Andrew Sullivan, assistant product and commercial manager for Touring America at Travel 2. “The whole town becomes a huge celebration of ancestors past.” Book it: National Geographic Journeys (in partnership with G Adventures) offers a seven-day trip in Oaxaca themed around Mexico’s Day of the Dead. Travel 2 can package it up with flights, with prices from £1,599, departing October 28 from Heathrow.
travel2.com
5
PANAMA CITY, PANAMA Panama’s capital might be best known for its cosmopolitan, Miami-
esque vibe, but it’s not only about the shiny skyscrapers and glittering casinos.
LEFT: Oaxaca, Mexico
BELOW: Trinidad, Cuba
Salsa dancers spin and sway along to sensual Afro-Cuban beats, as tourists watch, mojitos in hand
At its heart is colonial quarter
Casco Viejo, a Unesco-protected, trendy neighbourhood where fashionable boutiques and hipster bars rub shoulders with crumbling, pastel-hued remnants that recall its Spanish heritage. Once something of a no-go
zone, it’s now a hotspot for coffee shops on cobbled streets, with colourful markets, attention- grabbing graffiti and live-music spots leading down to the crashing Pacific. Those wanting to learn about
the Panama Canal can check out the Interoceanic Canal Museum, housed in a restored colonial
building, while party-goers will find a plethora of late-night spots including Teatro Amador, a former cinema that’s now one of the neighbourhood’s trendiest nightclubs. Book it: G Adventures has a 16-day Costa Rica & Panama Quest from San Jose to Panama City, from £1,215 including guide, accommodation, transport and activities.
gadventures.com
6
TRINIDAD, CUBA It might be across the water in the Caribbean, but no list of Latin
America’s finest colonial-era architecture would be complete without Cuba and its treasures, including the town of Trinidad. Candy-coloured houses,
cobblestone streets and rustic horse-drawn carts make up the old quarter of this Unesco- listed town, formerly one of the wealthiest spots in the country thanks to its abundance of sugar cane plantations.
Today its Spanish colonial mansions remain, lined up against perfectly preserved churches, one-off art studios and laid-back rooftop cafes where live bands play throughout the day. By night, salsa dancers take
to the central steps, spinning and swaying along to sensual Afro-Cuban beats beneath a warm, starry sky, as tourists sit watching, mojitos in hand, from a cluster of outdoor tables. The beating heart of the town is Plaza Mayor, framed with lemon- hued mansions and colonial churches that tell of its prosperous past – and watched over by the domineering bell tower, which you can climb for panoramic views over the roofs below and distant mountains beyond. Book it: Intrepid Travel visits Trinidad on its eight-day Beautiful Cuba trip from Havana. Prices start at £1,107 including guesthouse accommodation, transport, some meals and activities.
intrepidtravel.com/uk
54
travelweekly.co.uk 25 April 2019
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