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Best slow travel destinations in North America

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Antigua Guatemala
Colonial Charm and Volcanic Views
7.5
The Arco de Santa Catalina spans a street north of Central Park. Volcán de Agua rises behind it to the south. Volcán de Fuego, to the west, is nearly always active at a low level. Spanish settlers founded the city in 1543. During Lent, processions pass over carpets of dyed sawdust and flowers.
Highlights:
  • ⛪ Visit the ruins of the historic Antigua Cathedral
  • 🥾 Hike Cerro de la Cruz for panoramic city views
  • 🌉 Snap a photo under the iconic Santa Catalina Arch
Oaxaca
Colonial Charm and Rich Traditions
7.5
Mondays in July belong to the Guelaguetza, a festival of regional dance and music. It began in 1932 and has run as a series of Mondays since 1953. The city is at 1,555 metres. It has the greatest variety of mole in Mexico, including negro, coloradito and amarillo.
Highlights:
  • 🌿 Relax in the colorful Oaxaca Botanical Garden
  • ⛪ Marvel at the Baroque Templo de Santo Domingo
  • 🏛️ Explore the ancient Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán
Copán Ruinas
Mayan Mystique Meets Rural Charm
7.0
Carved glyphs cover all 62 steps of the Hieroglyphic Stairway, about 2,200 in total. It holds the longest known Maya hieroglyphic text. The town of Copán Ruinas lies 1.6 kilometres from the ruins. UNESCO listed the site in 1980. Laser mapping has since found more than 6,000 unseen structures.
Highlights:
  • 🪜 Walk the Hieroglyphic Stairway with ancient inscriptions
  • 🖼️ Visit the Sculpture Museum showcasing Mayan artistry
  • 🏛️ Explore the ancient Copán Mayan ruins and temples
Trinidad
Cuba’s Colonial Gem by the Sea
6.4
In the evening, people gather for live music at a casa de música beside the cathedral on Plaza Mayor. Diego Velázquez founded the town in 1514. Pastel houses and cobbled streets earned it World Heritage status in 1988. The nearby Valle de los Ingenios has around 70 old sugar mills.
Highlights:
  • 🏺 Visit Museo Romántico in Palacio Brunet for 19th-century artifacts
  • 🏞️ Climb the historic Convento de San Francisco de Asís for panoramic views
  • 🌸 Stroll through Plaza Mayor, the heart of Trinidad's colonial charm
Valladolid
Colonial Charm Meets Cenote Magic
7.0
Founded in 1543, the city is more than 230 years older than the United States. The Convent of San Bernardino de Siena was built from 1552 to 1560. Cenote Zací is a freshwater pool near the centre. People swim there and a restaurant is on site. Chichén Itzá is about 40 kilometres west.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Visit Convento de San Bernardino de Siena museum
  • 💦 Swim in the stunning Cenote Zaci in town
  • 🏘️ Explore colorful streets of Valladolid’s historic center
Bocas del Toro
Tropical Bliss in Panama
7.7
Columbus visited this coast in 1502 and named the main island Isla del Drago. It is now called Isla Colón and holds Bocas Town. The province name means mouths of the bull. Locals speak Bocas del Toro Creole, a unique form of English. Red Frog Beach and Starfish Beach are popular stops.
Highlights:
  • 🐸 Spot elusive red frogs in their rainforest habitat
  • 🌟 Relax on the pristine sands of Starfish Beach
  • 🤿 Snorkel vibrant coral reefs at Isla Bastimentos Marine Park
Nicaragua
Tropical beauty with volcanic charm
6.7
Lake Nicaragua, ranked the 20th largest lake in the world, laps the shore of Granada. Spanish settlers founded the city in 1524. Its colonial buildings earned it the nickname La Gran Sultana. The dormant Mombacho volcano blew most of its cone into the lake and formed the 365 Islets of Granada.
Highlights:
  • 🛶 Kayak around the tiny islets of Lake Nicaragua
  • 🏘️ Wander through the colorful colonial streets of Granada
  • 🏂 Hike up Cerro Negro volcano and try volcano boarding
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