Casa Encantada

Tranquil guesthouse with a plunge pool and impeccable service, just south of Antigua's central plaza

The former Spanish colonial capital, abandoned after a series of devastating earthquakes and now revived as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, beguiles even the most jaded traveller with its pretty cobbled streets and its 17th-century churches and convents. Combined with a breathtaking setting, a relaxed ambiance and some of the best shopping and dining in Central America, you can't fail to be charmed.

And there are few more hospitable or tranquil places to base yourself than Casa Encantada. A traditional iron and timber front door opens onto to a lush garden courtyard with a fountain-fed plunge pool. Alongside is a welcoming living room and just 10 bedrooms, including a kingsize rooftop suite. All have wrought-iron beds, Guatemalan textiles and top-quality furnishings. You can breakfast on the rooftop terrace amid majestic volcanoes, then return at the close of day to flickering candles and a glass of Chilean white. It's an enchanting and thoroughly comfortable guesthouse.

Highs

• Rooftop bar and breakfast terrace with wonderful views
• Discreet professional service
• Central enough for all sights to be an easy walk away; quiet enough to be a tranquil haven

Lows

• Not the most characterful of places to stay in fascinating Antigua
• No restaurant, although light snacks for lunch and dinner can be provided on request
• Bathrooms only have showers