Cerro Alegre

By Lauren Yero

Cerro Alegre is a quiet, cheerful hill full of upper-class colorful English houses and gardens, many of which have been converted into small hotels and hostels. William Bateman, a well-to-do Englishman, was the first to build a house on this hill, and as fellow English immigrants began to follow his lead, the face of Cerro Alegre as a colorful, well-constructed place to live began to take shape. On this hill and the neighboring Cerro Concepción, you’ll find many of the city’s independent art galleries and top-quality artisan shops. This hill has a more moneyed feel than many of the others, so don’t be surprised if you turn the corner to find a Colonial-style mansion or Yugoslavian palace standing in your path. You’ll also notice that the surroundings take on a decidedly meditative turn with ashtanga yoga studios dotted along the streets, Tibetan prayer flags hung in every other doorway, and the Om symbol painted prominently across doors and walls all over the cerro.