The results are in for the 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, and one Brazilian property has been crowned the best hotel in all of South America. It sits in Minas Gerais, one of Brazil's largest states and a region that also features on Condé Nast Traveller's list of the best places to go in 2026 — so if you're plotting a Brazil trip next year, the state now has a double reason to make your itinerary.
The winning hotel is the work of Philippe Starck, the French designer whose name alone pulls in design lovers from around the world. It's positioned as a contrast to the grand-dame grandeur of the Copacabana Palace — think contemporary design flair rather than old-world formality. Rankings are based on percentage satisfaction scores from readers, so this is crowd-sourced praise rather than a critic's whim.
Peru, however, is the quiet overachiever of the year. The country landed eight hotels on the South America list, more than any other nation. The standout is Cirqa by Andean in Arequipa, a Relais & Châteaux property ranked third overall. It's housed in a structure built from sillar, the pale volcanic rock that gives Arequipa its distinctive look — the city's historic core is famously constructed from it. If you're heading to Colca Canyon or flying on to Lake Titicaca, Arequipa makes a natural stop, and Cirqa gives it a genuinely high-end place to sleep.
Chile rounds out the podium. The Singular Santiago, Lastarria Hotel came in at number two — a boutique city hotel in the leafy Lastarria neighbourhood, with a rooftop that looks out over the Andes on clear days. It's a strong pick for a Santiago city break either side of a Patagonia or Atacama trip, and The Singular's other property in Puerto Natales is a favourite base for Torres del Paine.
Why it matters: hotel awards like these are a useful shortcut when you're booking somewhere new and the online reviews are a wash. The spread here is telling, too — Brazil for design-led luxury, Peru for heritage conversions at scale, Chile for city stays with a view. The Central America list runs alongside it, so travellers with Guatemala, Costa Rica or Panama on the horizon have a second ranking to mine. If one trip is taking shape in your head, the practical move is to anchor it around one of these award-winners and build out from there.
