The village of Colonia Tovar in Venezuela is unique in that, although it is located in the hills of South America, it has a noticeable German influence. This can be seen particularly in the town's architecture and is the reason many choose to visit. Despite the small size of the village, those who stop by will have a few hotels to choose from, each with its own advantages.
From the outside, the Posada Don Elicio, although built in 1980, is clearly influenced by the Tudor school of architecture, as is much of Colonia Tovar. The rooms are classical in design, with four-post beds, satin white drapes, and antique wooden chairs and desks. Although the hotel goes for old-world European design, the large windows and plant life throughout the lobby fit the tropical environment in which the town is located. Coffee and croissants are placed outside each room in the morning, and guests have the opportunity to eat dinner at the gourmet on-site restaurant, which, like the rest of the hotel, combines European styles with local ingredients.
Although the German influence may not be as apparent at the Hotel Bergland in Colonia as it is at the Posada Don Elicio, the lodging was founded by two German immigrants back in 1964. The main building houses 15 standard rooms, and sprinkled around the estate are eight different cabins, each designed to accommodate families of four. Located in the hills, the hotel offers panoramic views of the town. It has its own bar and restaurants and is located just a three- minute walk from the center of the village, where shopping and other tourist activities are available.
Like Posada Don Elicio, Hotel Selva Negra, exists within a modern, Tudor-style main structure and, like the Bergland, is made up of several adjacent structures along a green, hilly landscape. The rooms at the Selva Negra are more modern than the exterior would suggest, with leather couches and modern appliances, such as hair dryers in the bathrooms. The food offered at the hotel includes a large buffet of local and Venezuelan delicacies, and the dining room is decorated with colonial artifacts, such as old clocks and telephones. Business conference rooms are also available at the Hotel Selva Negra.
