Posada del Angel

It’s not exactly topping any magazines’ lists of the season’s hot destinations. And its time as a regional capital is centuries past. This lack of attention, however, might make La Antigua more rather than less appealing — and the fact that development essentially halted after an 18th-century earthquake renders the city uniquely pleasing to the eye. It’s in these historic environs that we find the Posada Del Angel, a tiny gem of a hotel in the old town center, in the shadow of the volcano that looms above La Antigua.

The seven suites are well-maintained and modern in function if not in style — the comforts may be contemporary but the look is decidedly old-world. Such luxuries as 600-thread linens and a courtyard lap pool are welcome, of course, but a place like this is less about amenities and more about atmosphere. If you’re in La Antigua at all it’s to soak in the spirit of 1773. To that end there’s a lavishly decorated dining room, as well as an open-air living room and a rooftop terrace. It’s an intimate and insular place, and there’s little chance you’ll mistake the Posada Del Angel for a typical luxury-hotel experience; that, of course, is exactly what’s special about it.

How to get there:
Posada del Angel is located 56km (45 min) from La Aurora Airport. Transfers can be arranged for US$40 for up to 3 guests, and each additional guest costs US$12.