The Best Cities in Mexico and Central and South America in 2016
Ellie Nan Storck headshot
By Ellie Nan Storck July 06, 2016
Rosewood in San Miguel de Allende
Credit: Dave Lauridsen
From Mexico, through Central America, and to the farthest reaches of South America, visitors to this part of the world can encounter dozens of dynamic cities.
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 lines, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.
For the 11th year in a row, Cuzco and Buenos Aires appeared on the list, though the latter fell in rank, ousted by newcomers like Oaxaca and Mendoza.
Five of Mexico's cities made this year's list, a stat at least partially explained by a fresh crop of notable hotels and resorts.
But it’s not typical resort destinations that captivated our readers in 2016. It was quiet, colonial cities like Mérida and inland destinations like Oaxaca that impressed travelers seeking Mayan archaeological sites, embroidered textiles, and regional food.
Read on for the full list of unforgettable Mexican and Central and South American cities.
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 lines, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.
For the 11th year in a row, Cuzco and Buenos Aires appeared on the list, though the latter fell in rank, ousted by newcomers like Oaxaca and Mendoza.
Five of Mexico's cities made this year's list, a stat at least partially explained by a fresh crop of notable hotels and resorts.
But it’s not typical resort destinations that captivated our readers in 2016. It was quiet, colonial cities like Mérida and inland destinations like Oaxaca that impressed travelers seeking Mayan archaeological sites, embroidered textiles, and regional food.
Read on for the full list of unforgettable Mexican and Central and South American cities.
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No. 10: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Credit: Getty Images
Score: 82.72
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No. 9: Bogotá, Colombia
City buildings are seen from Cerro de Monserrate in Bogota, Colombia
Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images
Score: 82.789
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No. 8: Guadalajara, Mexico
Mexico, Jalisco, Guadalajara
Credit: UIG via Getty Images
Score: 85.303
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No. 7: Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza Argentina
Credit: Itsmemarttin, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Score: 85.369
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No. 6: Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala
Credit: Anadolu Agency / Getty Images
Score: 85.917
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No. 5: Mérida, Mexico
Merida
Credit: Volunteer Abroad UBELONG via Flickr.com / CC BY-NC 2.0
Score: 86.286
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No. 4: Mexico City, Mexico
Downtown Mexico City hotel
Credit: Luis García
Score: 86.632
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No. 3: Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca
Credit: Lindsay Lauckner Gundlock
Score: 88.56
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No. 2: Cuzco, Peru
Cuzco, Peru
Credit: Getty Images/Robert Harding World Imagery
Score: 88.958
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No. 1: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Rosewood in San Miguel de Allende
Credit: Dave Lauridsen
Score: 91.191
The city has seen a significant transformation in the past few years, drawing in expats and tourists with its global food scene and beautiful Spanish-colonial architecture. A UNESCO World Heritage site, San Miguel de Allende possesses a certain mountain-town charm that not all cities have: its friendly local feel is matched only by its energy and festivals. As one T+L voter described, “the plaza is their living room. [It's] an art lover’s paradise.”