Hotel Quinta Ladera

Hotel Quinta Ladera is a calm alternative to the tower hotels of Medellín. The Michelin Guide, which includes it in its selection for Medellín, describes a sustainably built, 20-room boutique hotel that stands out precisely because so many of the city's leading hotels are high-rises. Its atmosphere is listed as modern and quiet.

The design is built around greenery. Courtyard gardens and trees are lit at night, and the rooms that face the garden have the feel of a treehouse. Interiors combine terracotta-tiled floors with white wood-beamed ceilings, and many of the decorative pieces were made by Colombian artists and artisans, from woven baskets and ceramics to watercolours and oil paintings. A reflecting pool with a hammock beside it adds to the sense of calm.

Rooms have tangerine or olive-green accent walls and potted plants, and modern bathrooms stocked with organic products and artisan-made towels. Some rooms have French doors opening onto private, tree-shaded patios with stone bathtubs; ask for one of these when booking if you want the hotel's most distinctive accommodation.

Food is served in an all-day café and restaurant with a French influence. Breakfast mixes traditional Colombian dishes with freshly baked almond croissants. Services include a 24-hour front desk, room service, a concierge, a lounge, a jacuzzi, spa treatments on request, a shuttle service, luggage storage and a doctor on call. The hotel is wheelchair accessible, entirely non-smoking and pet-friendly, although charges apply for pets, and there are adjoining rooms for families.

Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out is at 11:00, earlier than at many hotels, so plan your departure day accordingly. Guests aged 12 and over are treated as adults for booking purposes. If your reservation includes an experience or activity, contact the hotel's customer service before arrival to arrange it.

The hotel suits couples, families and travellers who want a quiet, design-led base with a garden rather than a nightlife hotel. It is on Calle 5G in El Poblado, and the Michelin Guide notes that it is well placed for the city's museums. Rates on the guide are shown in US dollars, so check the final price, including any taxes, when you book.