Peru has done it four times running. The country was named South America's Leading Destination at the World Travel Awards 2026, extending a streak that began in 2023 — and it didn't stop at one trophy. PROMPERÚ, the country's tourism promotion agency, counted six wins in total across the regional categories.
The haul covers an unusually wide spread. Beyond the headline destination award, Peru took top marks as South America's Leading Culinary Destination, Leading Cultural Destination, Leading Nature Destination and Leading Contributor to Sustainable Tourism. The sixth gong went to a single site: Machu Picchu, voted South America's Leading Tourist Attraction.
If that list reads like a ready-made itinerary, that's rather the point. Peru is one of the few countries where you can genuinely build a trip around any one of those pillars. The food scene — long centred on Lima's celebrated restaurants but increasingly interesting in markets and highland kitchens — draws on ingredients from three drastically different environments. The cultural side pairs world-famous Inca archaeology with traditions that are still lived, not just displayed. And the nature award reflects the fact that a single holiday can move from Pacific desert coastline to Andean peaks to Amazon rainforest.
Machu Picchu's win needs little explanation. The 15th-century Inca citadel in the Cusco region remains the country's defining image, and its appeal isn't just the stonework — it's how the buildings sit within the dramatic mountain setting around them. It's still the anchor for most first-time visitors, whether reached by train from Cusco or on foot via one of the Inca trails.
The sustainability award is arguably the most interesting of the lot. PROMPERÚ tied it to protecting natural and cultural heritage while making sure tourism revenue reaches local communities — a real consideration in a country where fragile sites and ecosystems absorb heavy visitor numbers. For travellers, it's a nudge toward operators and routes that spread the benefit: community-run lodges in the Sacred Valley, lesser-visited ruins around Cusco, and Amazon stays that employ local guides.
For anyone weighing up a South America trip, this is a useful signal. Few destinations let you eat exceptionally well, walk through serious history and completely change ecosystems within a couple of weeks — Peru's sweep across food, culture, nature and sustainability categories reflects exactly that range. PROMPERÚ says it will keep pushing the country internationally, so expect Peru to stay prominent on award lists and itineraries alike.
Details via Living in Peru.
