Hotel Villa Colonial

Overview

Description

Walking around Antigua is like going back in time: cobblestone streets, colorful bougainvillea flowers among the ruins, facades of pastel colors under tile roofs, parks with fountains, all at the base of three volcanoes: Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango. These are some of the reasons why Antigua is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in America and UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site.

Just 25 miles (41 km) west of Guatemala City, Antigua was founded on March 10, 1543 as “The very noble and loyal city of Santiago de los Caballeros de Goathemala”. It flourished during the 17th and 18th centuries but a strong earthquake destroyed it in 1773 and the capital had to be moved to its current site.

Antigua’s focal point is the beautiful Central Park, surrounded by the Cathedral, the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the Municipality, and the Portal de las Panaderas. Other relevant historic monuments in Antigua are the Arch of Santa Catarina and the La Merced Convent and Church, the colonial city’s richest example of baroque art. Other important monuments include the Convento de Capuchinas, the University of San Carlos (the first university founded in America), the Santa Clara Church and Convent, and the San Francisco Church.

Rooms

54 rooms in two-story colonial-style houses along a cobblestone street resembling a traditional roadway.

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 45

Percentage of local employees: 99%

Villas de Guatemala, a chain of five hotels including the Hotel Villa Colonial, was founded in 1971 and is the first national hotel chain, created by Guatemalan visionaries who valued and appreciated Guatemala’s tourism potential in their 40 years of experience.

Our business takes a sustainable approach, based on and committed to socially responsible environmental conservation, promoting the development of local communities, and supporting culture.

All of our hotels were recently verified by Rainforest Alliance, committing us to constantly implement best environmental, economic, and social practices.

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Guatemala (GUA)

Travel time to nearest airport: 45 minutes

Additional Information

Additional Web sites

• www.stpguatemala.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=15 (available in English and Spanish). List of hotels on the STP Guatemala tour operator website.

Date This Information Was Provided

July 2011.

Photos courtesy of Hotel Villa Colonial, Guatemala, for SustainableTrip.org.