Colombia had a strong night at the 2026 World Travel Awards — the voting-based prizes often dubbed the Oscars of the travel industry — with wins spread across three very different corners of the country's tourism offer.
The biggest story is Boyaca, a highland department most international visitors still overlook. Named South America's Leading Regional Destination for the second year running, Boyaca wins on the strength of its heritage towns and Andean scenery. Think Villa de Leyva's vast cobbled plaza, the handicraft workshops of Raquira, and the photogenic colonial villages of Mongui, Tibasosa and Iza. Nature lovers get Lake Tota — one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the region — plus the Oceta Paramo, a rare high-mountain ecosystem popular with hikers. It's a compelling alternative for travellers who want Colombia beyond the usual city-and-Caribbean circuit.
Cartagena de Indias, meanwhile, consolidated its reputation as the continent's go-to honeymoon city, taking the Leading Honeymoon Destination title. Its walled old town, colonial streets and nearby beaches are backed by a hotel scene that just picked up serious hardware: the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara was named both South America's Leading Hotel and Leading Heritage Hotel, and its Botero Presidential Suite won best suite in the region. The Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena added the Leading New Hotel award, a sign the city's luxury market is still growing.
Bogota scored in the business and design travel categories. The Agora Bogota Convention Center was named South America's Leading Meetings and Conference Centre, the JW Marriott took Colombia's Leading Conference Hotel, 101 Park House won Leading Boutique Hotel, and the B.O.G. Hotel picked up Leading Design Hotel. If your trip involves a conference — or you simply want a design-forward base in the capital — those names are worth noting.
There was also a national win: Colombia was named South America's Leading Youth Travel Destination for 2026, a title it has now held multiple times in recent years (2021, 2023, 2025). The category rewards exactly what backpackers and younger travellers have long known — you can combine big-city nightlife, Caribbean beaches, Andean mountains and coffee-region hikes in a single, affordable trip.
Why it matters: if you've been waiting for a nudge to look past the postcard version of Colombia, this is it. The awards flag three distinct itineraries — slow travel through Boyaca's heritage towns, a romantic Cartagena escape with serious hotels, and a Bogota base that works for both business and boutique-style city breaks. For couples, the Cartagena wins double as a shortlist of award-winning places to stay.
