The World Travel Awards<\/mark><\/a> have revealed their 2026 winners for the Americas and the Caribbean<\/mark><\/a> during a ceremony held in Jamaica as part of World Travel Week Jamaica. The awards cover a wide range of categories, from hotels to airlines, but they also highlight the Latin American countries, cities and regions gaining visibility this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In South America, Peru <\/a><\/strong>stands out as one of the major winners. The country was named South America\u2019s Leading Destination<\/em>, as well as Leading Culinary Destination<\/em>, Leading Cultural Destination<\/em>, Leading Nature Destination<\/em> and South America’s Leading Contributor to Sustainable Tourism<\/em>. Machu Picchu<\/strong> also retained the title of South America\u2019s Leading Tourist Attraction<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These awards make it possible to present the country in a broader way, bringing together gastronomy, Andean cultures, the Amazon, heritage routes and nature-based experiences within the same narrative to create highly diverse journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chile <\/strong><\/a>distinguished itself in a different field. It was named South America\u2019s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination<\/em>, Leading Cruise Destination<\/em> and Leading Green Destination<\/em>. SERNATUR <\/strong>also received the award for South America\u2019s Leading Tourist Board<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These distinctions reinforce an already well-established image: desert, Andes, lakes, Patagonia, fjords, glaciers and vast open spaces. The cruise award also strengthens southern itineraries, while the \u201cgreen\u201d category supports the work carried out around nature and territories of high environmental value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our article: Machu Picchu: how to choose the right circuit according to season and traveler profile<\/a><\/em><\/strong> The 2026 awards also provide specific arguments for several South American cities. Buenos Aires<\/strong><\/a> stands out in categories related to business travel<\/em>, city breaks<\/em>, culture, festivals<\/em>, events<\/em>, meetings and conferences, and romantic travel<\/em>. The Argentine capital thus confirms a broad positioning that combines culture, events and MICE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Quito <\/strong>was named Leading City Destination<\/em>, reinforcing its image as a heritage-rich Andean capital. Rio de Janeiro<\/strong> won the awards for Leading Beach Destination<\/em> and Leading Sports Tourism Destination<\/em>, two categories directly linked to its coastline, outdoor lifestyle and ability to host major events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cartagena de Indias <\/strong><\/a>continues to hold a strong position for travel for two, with the award for South America\u2019s Leading Honeymoon Destination<\/em>. The city\u2019s historic centre also appears through several hotel distinctions: Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena<\/strong> was named South America\u2019s Leading Hotel<\/em>, its Botero Presidential Suite received the award for Leading Hotel Suite<\/em>, Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena<\/strong> was named Leading New Hotel<\/em>, and Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa<\/strong> received the title of South America\u2019s Leading Heritage Hotel<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Boyac\u00e1<\/strong> region won the award for South America\u2019s Leading Regional Destination<\/em>, while Colombia<\/strong><\/a> was named South America\u2019s Leading Youth Travel Destination<\/em>. The Medell\u00edn Convention & Visitors Burea<\/strong>u also received the award for Leading City Tourist Board<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Mexico & Central America region<\/strong>, Costa Rica<\/strong><\/a> won the awards for Leading Destination<\/em> and Leading Adventure Tourism Destination<\/em>. The Costa Rica Tourism Board<\/strong> was also named Leading Tourist Board<\/em>. These distinctions extend an image that has long been built around nature, adventure and outdoor experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mexico<\/a><\/strong> stands out through the variety of its award-winning destinations. Canc\u00fan<\/strong> received several titles: Leading Beach Destination<\/em>, Leading City Destination<\/em> and Leading Meetings & Conference Destination<\/em>. Mexico City<\/strong> was named Leading Business Travel Destination<\/em>, Playa del Carmen<\/strong> Leading City Break Destination<\/em>, Isla Mujeres<\/strong> Leading Island Destination<\/em>, Tulum<\/a><\/strong> Most Romantic Destination<\/em>, and Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1<\/strong> Leading Tourist Attraction<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Mexico, the message is different from Costa Rica\u2019s. The country does not stand out through a single positioning, but through the coexistence of several segments: business, beaches, culture, city breaks, romance, heritage and MICE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nPeru and Chile, two major South American stories<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nBuenos Aires, Quito, Rio and Cartagena: cities with well-established identities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Costa Rica, Mexico and Belize: three different ways to stand out<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n