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South America is dotted with villages and towns full of colonial architecture and even remains of a much more ancient history. Here are five favourites
Annai, Guyana
Annai is a small village at the base of Guyana's Pakaraima mountains, great for spotting wildlife such as tapirs and poison dart frogs. The local people, believed to be descended from Mongolians, are known for their cotton spinning and traditional dancing. Nearby Rock View Lodge (rockviewlodge.com) has doubles from $300, including food and activities such as guided walks. Return flights to Annai airstrip from Georgetown cost from $235 (transguyana.net).
El Hatillo, Venezuela
El Hatillo is becoming engulfed by Caracas but maintains its 16th-century charm. Multi-coloured houses line hilly streets, and the town is full of arts and crafts shops and noted for its music scene, hosting two festivals a year. Casa Luisa is a private home with two bedrooms to let for $55 a night B&B (roomsccs@yahoo.com). For the Festival de Música del Hatillo and El Hatillo Jazz Festival see worldtravelguide.net/caracas/events.
Olón, Ecuador
Olón is a charming fishing village – all bobbing boats and fish restaurants. It is surrounded by mangrove swamps – home to the endangered blue crab – and white-sand beaches. Olón is just up the coast from the surf town of Montañita, accessible by bus or taxi from Guayaquil. Finca Hostería El Retiro (elretiro.com.ec) has a pool, sea views and doubles from $103.
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
Colonia, across the Rio Plata from Buenos Aires, was founded by the Portuguese, and has a feel of Lisbon about it, with cobbled streets around a Unesco world heritage-listed centre. Returns from Buenos Aires on high-speed ferries cost from $20. Costa Colonia Hotel (costacolonia.com) on the riverfront has a pool, spa and doubles from $130.
Yanque, Peru
Yanque, in Peru's Colca Valley, is a mix of cultures: colonial Spanish and indigenous pre-Incan. Visitors can hike to Uyo Uyo, a well-preserved pre-Incan archaeological site up the mountain, then relax in the public hot springs while gazing across a landscape dotted with llamas. Yanque is on the bus route from Arequipa to Chivay (about three hours, $3 single). Eight-room Killawasi Lodge (killawasilodge.com), close to the centre, has doubles from $75 including breakfast and hiking tours.
