4 Downright Gorgeous Colonial Cities Americans Can Fly To Nonstop This Spring
Tired of Taco Bell and looking the window and seeing the American suburbia reaching so far as the horizon below grey skies? It’s been a tricky winter, and possibly somewhat Latin American getaway is all of the decide me up you want this upcoming spring.
But hey, we get it: sufficient with the Punta Cana all-inclusives and the lengthy weekends of debauchery and nonstop consuming in Playa Del Carmen. This time, it is that Old World appeal you search.
LatAm is stuffed with picture-perfect cities settled way back to the sixteenth century, and which have barely modified an inch since, and in case you want any assist narrowing down your choices, these 4 cultural gems are a very good place to start out:
Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
Located within the neighborhood of a few of Guatemala’s most spectacular volcanic peaks, Antigua Guatemala is a storybook Spanish-built settlement recognized for its opulent church buildings, cobblestone streets, and colourful festivals.
In the center of the Historic Center, the yellow-washed Iglesia de La Merced is the quintessential Guatemalan Baroque church. Only just a few steps away, the Santa Catalina Arch, previously utilized by nuns transferring between two opposing convents, is Antigua’s most iconic landmark.
Towering over the primary plaza and its many cafés, Palacio del Ayuntamiento is your common, elegant colonial-era metropolis corridor with stone arches, and for the character lovers on the market, occurring an early-morning volcano hike, both up Volcán de Pacaya or Acatanenango Volcano, is a must-do.
Direct Flights From The U.S. To La Aurora worldwide Airport (GUA)
*La Aurora is the primary worldwide airport in Guatemala, a forty five min drive from Antigua
| Origin Airport | Airlines | Approximate Flight Time |
| Atlanta (ATL) | Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines | 3h30 |
| Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | American Airlines, Avianca, United Airlines | 4h45 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) | American Airlines, Frontier Airlines | 4h10 |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | JetBlue, Spirit Airlines | 3h30 |
| Houston (IAH) | Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines | 3h45 |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Alaska Airlines, Avianca, Volaris Costa Rica, United Airlines | 4h40 |
| Miami (MIA) | American Airlines, Frontier Airlines | 2h50 |
| New York (JFK) | Avianca, JetBlue | 5h00 |
| Newark (EWR) | United Airlines | 5h00 |
| Orlando (MCO) | Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines | 3h45 |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | United Airlines, Avianca | 4h15 |
Quebec City, Canada
Perhaps not the type of colonial metropolis you take into consideration, Quebec City won’t attraction to the typical taco-loving, sun-seeking traveler who nips south of the border each probability they get. On the opposite hand, in case you’re craving French crêpes and romantic structure, you’ve come to the right place.
It is, with out query, the most European-looking metropolis within the New World, with its still-intact French-built partitions, cobblestone-paved Vieux-Québec, a historic district protected by UNESCO, and landmark Château Frontenac—now, in case you did not know, it is not a fortress however truly a Fairmont-owned resort.
An in a single day at considered one of Fairmont’s signature Gold rooms can set you again by a whopping $650, so that you may need to search for lodging elsewhere in case you’re on a price range. In different information, Quebec-style galettes price as low cost as $10 in Old Town crêperies.
Direct Flights From The U.S. To Quebec City (YQB)
| Origin Airport | Airlines | Approximate Flight Time |
| Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | American Airlines, United Airlines | 3h10 (seasonal, winter) |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Air Canada, Air Transat | 3h30 (seasonal, winter) |
| Newark (EWR) | United Airlines | 2h00 |
| Orlando (MCO) | Air Canada, Air Transat | 3h50 (seasonal, winter) |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | American Airlines | 2h00 (seasonal, summer season/fall) |
| Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) | American Airlines | 4h00 |
| Charlotte (CLT) | American Airlines | 2h30 (seasonal, summer season/fall) |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | United Airlines | 2h30 (seasonal, summer season/fall) |
Puebla, Mexico
One of probably the most culturally-charged cities in all of Mexico, Puebla feels like a far cry out of your standard resort-dominated Caribbean vacationer dumps. Out with the bachelorette events on the sand, in with elegant colonial edifices, the hovering church buildings, and ornate Churrigueresque façades.
The most placing characteristic within the cityscape, Puebla Cathedral has Renaissance twin towers looming over a historic Zócalo. Make positive you take a look at its inside, richly-decorated with work honoring totally different saints and polychrome sculptures.
Dubbed the ‘Eight Wonder of the World’, the close by gold-encrusted Capilla del Rosario is taken into account by many Mexico’s most stunning chapel, and in case you’ve ever questioned what the oldest public library within the Americas appeared like… nicely, swing by the Hogwarts-coded Biblioteca Palafoxiana and discover out.
Direct Flights From The U.S. To Puebla (PBC)
| Origin airport | Airlines | Approximate Flight Time |
| Houston (IAH) | United Airlines | 2h30 |
Willemstad, Curaçao
Northern Mannerism meets Caribbean vibrancy, Willemstad is probably the most uncommon entry on this listing. Settled by the Dutch, and nonetheless overseen by the Netherlands, it might seem like your common canal-traversed city within the Netherlands, have been it not for the daring colours, avenue markets, and sweltering warmth.
The townhouses right here, whereas harking back to Amsterdam, are painted in shiny, candy-colored shades. And locals don’t usually snack on uncooked herring with onions and pickles—as an alternative, the deep-fried, meat-filled pastechi pastry is the preferred deal with at takeout stalls alongside the harbor entrance.
Of course, that is nonetheless the Caribbean. Even in case you’re right here for the gorgeous colonial buildings and the distinctive creole tradition, you do not need to skip a — to one of many island’s numerous palm tree-lined white-sand seashores. Not removed from city, Kenepa gives crystal-clear seas and a relaxed vibe.
Direct Flights From The U.S. To Curaçao International Aiport (CUR)
| Origin airport | Airlines | Approximate Flight Time |
| Miami (MIA) | American Airlines, Surinam Airways, GlobalX Airlines | 3h00 |
| New York (JFK) | JetBlue Airways | 4h45 |
| Newark (EWR) | United Airlines | 4h45 |
| Charlotte (CLT) | American Airlines | 4h20 |
| Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | American Airlines | 6h00 (seasonal, winter) |
Heading to the Caribbean this season?
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