Hotel Museo Casa Santo Domingo

Overview

Description

Antigua has major cultural and historical relevance for the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is primarily known for three features: its beautiful Spanish-style architecture and cobblestone streets built in the 16th century (preserved by law), the numerous churches and monasteries that remained after the 1773 earthquakes, and the majestic volcanoes in the surrounding areas. In Antigua, visitors can enjoy rich oral traditions and various traditional festivals, including the world-famous processions during Holy Week when the streets are filled with artistic, multi-colored carpets made of flowers and sawdust. There is also a huge range of restaurants, hotels, Spanish language schools, beautiful art markets, and more.

The city is surrounded by volcanoes and the union of two mountain valleys that form the department’s central plateau. Antigua’s most famous natural attractions are Agua volcano, Fuego and Acatenango volcanoes, Florencia, the Guacalate River scenic route, the Laguna de Dueñas historic route, Cerro de la Cruz, the Jocotenango butterfly garden, and the San Lorenzo el Cubo spa. You can also visit coffee and macadamia farms that are nearby and a few kilometers away there is a farm that grows more than a dozen varieties of world-class grapes.

Visitors will also enjoy the outstanding richness of the food. Guatemalan cuisine is a palette of colors that reflects the array of fruits, vegetables, and spices grown in these soils and the heritage of two great culinary traditions: the cuisines of Spain and our local ethnic groups. Our tables never lack cheeses, corn, tortillas, beans, soups, herbs such as oregano and bay leaves, fruits including papayas, mangos, and zapotes, as well as our dark, aromatic coffee. Some dishes typical of Antigua are the revolcado, pepián, and pilotada. Many sweet meals of Spanish origin are also prepared including bocadillos, nuégados, mazapanes, cocadas, and canillas de leche.

Rooms

128 rooms with special features, decorated with art by famous Guatemalan artists and handmade fabrics with traditional-contemporary designs.

The rooms feature:

• Voice mail
• Minibar
• Safe
• Iron and ironing board
• Hairdryer
• Lighted cosmetic mirror
• Hypoallergenic pillows (upon request)
• Bathrobes
• Maid service twice daily
• Fireplace
• Terrace
• Balcony
• Bathtub
• Jacuzzi or sauna (depending on room type selected)

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 450

Percentage of local employees: 95%

• In a joint effort with the municipality, we are implementing the first phase of a glass and plastic recycling system to benefit the community, our planet, and ourselves.
• Our staff participates in a community cleanup program. Every day they help clean the streets of Santa Inés to encourage the participation of community members in working with the municipality.
• We recently donated eight sewing machines, and our staff are now giving sewing lessons to 11 students (women from the community) so they can sell their services and creations to make extra money for their families.
• We finance the services of a psychologist who works weekly with preschoolers in the community to help them with their learning and development problems.
• We support a computer lab so that more than 130 children to have access to advanced technology, enhancing their knowledge in this area.
• We are making use of the hotel’s modern, equipped kitchens so our chefs can give weekly lessons to community women who, since they were very young, have made their living preparing and selling food. The goal is to teach special cooking techniques to improve their recipes and learn new ones.
• We promote community exposure to visual art by creating murals. We are teaching techniques to a group of local residents for making ceramics, candles and recycled crafts in order to strengthen our traditions and provide a potential source of income.
• We support the local scout group with the idea that they learn good values and strengthen the sense of community.
• We ensure the conservation of biodiversity and natural species at the hotel and in its surroundings.
• We are working on establishing a flea market where local residents can promote and sell their works.

Rates

$101 – $150

For more information about rates, please visit:

• www.casasantodomingo.com.gt/accommodations-es.html (available in Spanish).
• www.casasantodomingo.com.gt/accommodations-en.html (available in English).

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Guatemala (GUA)

Travel time to nearest airport: 45 minutes

Additional Information

Awards or Recognitions

• Travel & Leisure 500 World's Best Hotels 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, and 2007.
• Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List 2013 and 2012 - Readers' choice of the world's best hotels.

Additional Web sites

• www.casasantodomingo.com.gt/default-es.html (available in English and Spanish).

Date This Information Was Provided

August 2013.

Photos courtesy of Hotel Museo Casa Santo Domingo, Guatemala, for SustainableTrip.org.