Chile wins the “Oscars of Tourism” with four awards at the 2026 World Travel Awards

Imagine a red carpet made not of fabric, but of desert , volcanoes , glaciers , and ocean . Now imagine an entire country walking down it while the world applauds. That's what happened on Sunday, October 11, in Jamaica, where Chile took home four awards at the 2016 World Travel Awards , known as the "Oscars of Tourism."

Chile: A country for adventure

Few places on Earth offer such variety in such a small area. In Chile, you can wake up overlooking a salt flat under a sky full of stars, have lunch in a valley of vineyards, and end the day gazing at a glacier that creaks as if it were breathing.

This diversity explains why the country was once again chosen as the Best Adventure Tourism Destination in South America . It is their twelfth consecutive victory : since 2015, the year this award began, Chile has not relinquished the crown.

Twelve consecutive years are no coincidence. They are the result of mountains that beckon climbers, rivers that invite navigating, and forests that invite you to get lost, but also of thousands of people who transform that landscape into memorable experiences: guides, tour operators, entrepreneurs, and local communities who proudly open their territory.

And that is perhaps the greatest fortune for the traveler who arrives: there is no single way to experience Chile. You can explore it by bicycle, on horseback, by kayak, or on foot along mountain trails. Each region offers a different version of adventure, and all share the same promise of unfiltered nature .

Green, navigable and with soul

The second prize has an unmistakable color: South America's Best Green Destination . Chile had already won this title in 2024 and 2025, and retained it in 2026, confirming that sustainability has ceased to be a promise and has become a way of traveling. Caring for nature doesn't diminish the adventure; it enriches it.

The third one smells of salt and the horizon: Best Cruise Destination in South America . Fjords, channels, and southern routes that seem drawn on an old map make the country one of the most memorable voyages in the region. Anyone who sails these waters understands why travelers who reach the end of the world rarely return the same.

Best Tourist Office in South America 2026

The fourth award has a different feel. The National Tourism Service ( Sernatur ) was chosen as the Best Tourism Office in South America 2026 , a recognition it has received for the first time and which it competed for with the promotional agencies of Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia and Peru.

Behind the statuette lies a less visible but essential task: promoting the country, uniting the public and private sectors, strengthening destinations, and supporting the regions .

A constellation of winners

The gala also highlighted those who make the Chilean experience a reality. Tierra Patagonia was recognized as Best Adventure Hotel; Latam Airlines as Best Airline; and Explora as Best Expedition Company.

For its part, Hotel Las Torres Patagonia won Best Green Hotel; Explora Patagonia National Park won Best Lodge; and the Concha y Toro Wine Center won Best Tourist Winery.

Also shining were VIK Chile (Best Hotel in Wine Region), the Sheraton Santiago Hotel and Convention Center (Best Conference Hotel), the Aviva Water Park (Best Water Park) and the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve , awarded for its responsible tourism.

Chile continues to accumulate awards and is aiming for a world award.

With these achievements, Chile has now won 45 awards since 2015, 11 of which are global and 34 regional. It entered the competition with 19 nominations across 18 categories, a figure that speaks to a destination that defies easy categorization.

And the show goes on. Chile is already competing in eight categories of the world final, including World's Best City Destination for Santiago , World's Most Romantic Destination for the Atacama Desert , and World's Best Regional Adventure Tourism Destination for Pucón .

This is where you come in. Voting for the World Awards is open until October 30th , and every click is a way of saying that this country deserves to keep shining. You can vote for Chile at chileestuyo.cl/votaxchile .

The Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2026 will be held on Saturday, December 12th in Tanzania. There, Chile will have the opportunity to make history once again and solidify its place among the leading tourism destinations .

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