4 Downright Gorgeous Colonial Cities Americans Can Fly To Nonstop This Spring

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Tired of Taco Bell and looking out the window and seeing the American suburbia reaching as far as the horizon under gray skies? It’s been a tough winter, and maybe a little Latin American getaway is all the pick me up you need this upcoming spring.

But hey, we get it: enough with the Punta Cana all-inclusives and the long weekends of debauchery and nonstop drinking in Playa Del Carmen. This time, it’s that Old World charm you seek.

LatAm is filled with picture-perfect cities settled as far back as the 16th century, and that have barely changed an inch since, and if you need any help narrowing down your options, these 4 cultural gems are a good place to start:

Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala

Located in the vicinity of some of Guatemala’s most impressive volcanic peaks, Antigua Guatemala is a storybook Spanish-built settlement known for its opulent churches, cobblestone streets, and colorful festivals.

In the heart of the Historic Center, the yellow-washed Iglesia de La Merced is the quintessential Guatemalan Baroque church. Only a few steps away, the Santa Catalina Arch, formerly used by nuns moving between two opposing convents, is Antigua’s most iconic landmark.

Towering over the main plaza and its many cafés, Palacio del Ayuntamiento is your average, elegant colonial-era city hall with stone arches, and for the nature lovers out there, going on an early-morning volcano hike, either up Volcán de Pacaya or Acatanenango Volcano, is a must-do.

Direct Flights From The U.S. To La Aurora international Airport (GUA)

*La Aurora is the main international airport in Guatemala, a 45 min drive from Antigua

Quebec City, Canada

Perhaps not the kind of colonial city you have in mind, Quebec City might not appeal to the average taco-loving, sun-seeking traveler who nips south of the border every chance they get. On the other hand, if you’re craving French crêpes and romantic architecture, you’ve come to the right place.

It is, without question, the most European-looking city in the New World, with its still-intact French-built walls, cobblestone-paved Vieux-Québec, a historic district protected by UNESCO, and landmark Château Frontenac—now, in case you didn’t know, it’s not a castle but actually a Fairmont-owned hotel.

An overnight at one of Fairmont’s signature Gold rooms can set you back by a whopping $650, so you might want to look for accommodation elsewhere if you’re on a budget. In other news, Quebec-style galettes cost as cheap as $10 in Old Town crêperies.

Direct Flights From The U.S. To Quebec City (YQB)

Puebla, Mexico

One of the most culturally-charged cities in all of Mexico, Puebla feels like a far cry from your usual resort-dominated Caribbean tourist dumps. Out with the bachelorette parties on the sand, in with elegant colonial edifices, the soaring churches, and ornate Churrigueresque façades.

The most striking feature in the cityscape, Puebla Cathedral has Renaissance twin towers looming over a historic Zócalo. Make sure you have a look at its interior, richly-decorated with paintings honoring different saints and polychrome sculptures.

Dubbed the ‘Eight Wonder of the World’, the nearby gold-encrusted Capilla del Rosario is considered by many Mexico’s most beautiful chapel, and if you’ve ever wondered what the oldest public library in the Americas looked like… well, swing by the Hogwarts-coded Biblioteca Palafoxiana and find out.

Direct Flights From The U.S. To Puebla (PBC)

Willemstad, Curaçao

Northern Mannerism meets Caribbean vibrancy, Willemstad is the most unusual entry on this list. Settled by the Dutch, and still overseen by the Netherlands, it would look like your average canal-traversed town in the Netherlands, were it not for the bold colors, street markets, and sweltering heat.

The townhouses here, while reminiscent of Amsterdam, are painted in bright, candy-colored shades. And locals don’t typically snack on raw herring with onions and pickles—instead, the deep-fried, meat-filled pastechi pastry is the most popular treat at takeout stalls along the harbor front.

Of course, this is still the Caribbean. Even if you’re here for the beautiful colonial buildings and the unique creole culture, you don’t want to skip a — to one of the island’s countless palm tree-lined white-sand beaches. Not far from town, Kenepa offers crystal-clear seas and a relaxed vibe.

Direct Flights From The U.S. To Curaçao International Aiport (CUR)

Heading to the Caribbean this season?

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Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.