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Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Readers' 10 Favorite Cities in Central and South America of 2025

Well-preserved history, culinary prowess, and genuine connection—those are the qualities driving Travel + Leisure readers' votes when choosing their favorite cities in Central and South America for the 2025 edition of the World's Best Awards. And while they know the value of a trip or experience isn't inherently tied to dollar signs (or Colombian pesos, or Peruvian soles … you get the drift), they do gravitate toward cities where they feel like their time, energy, and, yes, money are all well spent. It tracks, then, that their picks in this region are dynamic urban destinations with strong cultural scenes, friendly residents, and a plethora of dining options. Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 T+L readers completed the 2025 survey. A total of more than 657,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Cities were specifically rated on the criteria below: Sights/landmarks Culture Food Friendliness Shopping Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. Plaza de Armas in Cuzco, Peru. Maria Ligaya/Travel + Leisure This year was nearly a clean sweep for cities in South America. Peru's capital, Lima (No. 4), remains a favorite for its eclectic architecture, vibrant arts and culture, and a gastronomic scene that's only getting better thanks, in part, to the buzzy Barranco neighborhood. In Colombia, No. 9 Cartagena was lauded for its affordable culinary and cultural offerings. 'There was so much to see and do, with its historical sites, museums, and the walled Old Town area,' says one reader. 'The people were enchantingly warm and friendly everywhere we went. Food and music in Getsemani and the Old Town area were excellent, with abundant choices that were very reasonably priced.' With 2024's No. 10 Panama City falling off the list, this year's Central America's sole honoree is No. 3 Antigua Guatemala—a fixture among T+L readers' favorites and 2021's No. 1. Like its South American counterparts, the city was a hit with World's Best Awards voters thanks to the breadth of experiences to be had, as well as the hospitality of its people. 'Beautiful city, stunning architecture, and excellent food. Warm, friendly locals and plenty to do in the area, from sightseeing to hiking volcanoes,' shares another voter. 'One of our favorite experiences was a visit to a local Mayan family's home where we prepared breakfast in their outdoor kitchen and learned about the textiles which the women craft.' But for the third year running, Cuzco emerged at T+L readers No. 1 pick. Read on to find out why. Cuzco, Peru Cityscape of Cuzco, Peru. Irjaliina Paavonpera/Travel + Leisure Once the seat of power for the Incan Empire, the Andean city serves as a common jumping-off point for trips to Machu Picchu, but it's worth a visit in its own right. 'Cuzco is a very cool city. The history goes back centuries and the ambiance is amazing,' summarizes one voter. 'It has layers, with restaurants and shopping in the center square and hiking and cultural adventures out toward the mountains. Nightlife and food is totally worth visiting for—there's so much to do and discover.' Grab a coffee before walking around to see Plaza de Armas and other historic sights in town, but set aside time for the hikes and ruins just outside the city. The 15th-century fortress Sacsayhuaman is a 15-minute walk from the plaza, while Vinicunca, the famed Rainbow Mountain roughly 3 hours by car, is worth a day trip. 1. Cuzco, Peru WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 90.33 2. Mendoza, Argentina Reader Score: 88.41 3. Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 84.95 4. Lima, Peru Reader Score: 84.71 5. São Paulo, Brazil Reader Score: 83.89 6. Buenos Aires, Argentina WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 82.75 7. Bogotá, Colombia WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 82.55 8. Quito, Ecuador Reader Score: 81.83 9. Cartagena, Colombia Reader Score: 81.80 10. Rio de Janeiro, BrazilReader Score: 80.74