World Travel Awards 2023 for South and Central America: Who are the Winners?

On August 26th in Saint Lucia, the 30th edition of the World Travel Awards for the Americas and the Caribbean took place. These globally recognized awards highlight destinations, cities, and attractions that have stood out in the tourism sector. Here’s a look at the winners for South and Central America.

South America Zone

Peru takes home a total of 10 awards, including the most coveted, South America’s Leading Destination 2023, as well as South America’s Leading Culinary Destination, South America’s Leading Cultural Destination, and South America’s Leading Tourist Attraction for Machu Picchu.

Colombia stands out as the country that received the most awards during the ceremony, with a total of 12 awards including:

• South America’s Leading Green Destination
• South America’s Leading Youth Travel Destination
• South America’s Leading Cultural City Destination: Santiago de Cali
• South America’s Leading Beach Destination: San Andrés
• South America’s Leading Business Travel Destination: Bogotá
• South America’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre: Ágora Bogotá Convention Center
• South America’s Leading Cruise Port: Port of Cartagena de Indias
• South America’s Leading Festival and Event Destination: Barranquilla
• South America’s Leading Tourist Board: ProColombia

Ecuador, for its part, stands out in 11 categories including:

• South America’s Leading City Destination: Quito
• South America’s Leading City Break Destination: Guayaquil
• South America’s Leading City Tourist Board: Guayaquil
• South America’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination: Guayaquil
• South America’s Leading Whale Watching Destination: Ecuador
• South America’s Leading Airport: Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito

Chile‘s Atacama Desert receives two major awards as Leading Adventure Tourism Destination and Most Romantic Destination in South America.

Among other notable awards, San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina stands out as Leading Honeymoon Destination, Brazil as South America’s Leading Cruise Destination, and Leading Sports Tourism Destination for Rio de Janeiro. Finally, Paraguay is awarded as South America’s Leading Nature Destination.

Mexico and Central America Zone

The 2023 winners (Credit: World Travel Awards)

Costa Rica wins 11 trophies, including Mexico & Central America’s Leading Destination 2023, Best Conference and Meeting Destination, and Leading Meetings & Conference Centre for the Costa Rica Convention Center in San José, and finally Leading Tourist Board 2023.

With a total of 15 awards, mainly thanks to its hotel facilities which have been distinguished, Mexico is the most awarded country in this region. Among the awards it received are:

• Mexico & Central America’s Leading Beach Destination: Tulum
• Mexico & Central America’s Leading Business Travel Destination: Mexico City
• Mexico & Central America’s Leading City Break Destination 2023: Acapulco
• Mexico & Central America’s Leading City Destination: Cancún
• Mexico & Central America’s Leading Cruise Port: Port of Cozumel
• Mexico & Central America’s Leading Airport: General Juan N. Álvarez International Airport, Acapulco

Belize wins two awards, a first at the World Travel Awards, Leading Adventure Tourism Destination 2023 and Mexico & Central America’s Leading Dive Destination.

The World Travel Awards 2023 once again rewarded excellence and innovation, highlighting the continuous efforts of countries, cities, and attractions to offer unforgettable experiences to travelers in South and Central America. These awards reflect hard work and a passion for tourism, and they will undoubtedly inspire many travelers to discover or rediscover these exceptional destinations.

The full list of 2023 winners