When you walk through the Zona Colonial, you walk on cobblestones that have been there since the 1500s. The streets are narrow and shaded by old stone walls, making them cool even on hot days. It is like stepping inside a history book.
The Catedral Primada de América - the First Cathedral of the Americas - stands on the main square. It is the oldest cathedral in the Western Hemisphere, finished in 1541. People still gather in the square to chat, eat ice cream and listen to music just as they have done for hundreds of years.
Many of the buildings have thick walls and high ceilings built to keep out the heat. Wooden balconies with flowers hang over the streets, and colourful doors open onto cool inner courtyards with fountains and shady trees.
The Zona Colonial is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means the whole world has agreed it is so special and important that it must be protected and cared for. Craftspeople, artists, restaurants and families all live and work in the neighbourhood today.