Best Central and South American City Hotels Ranked by Travel Experts Readers in 2023

As part of our annual World's Best Awards survey, T+L invites readers to rate their favorite hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more based on their global travel experiences. An increase of approximately 25% over voting levels before the epidemic, nearly 165,000 T+L readers participated in the 2023 survey. Approximately 8,500 distinct entities, including hotels, cities, cruise lines, and more, contributed to the total of over 685,000 votes. 

Based on their location and amenities, hotels were categorized as resort hotels, city hotels, or safari lodges. They were then graded using the following criteria: 

• Rooms/facilities 

• Location 

• Service 

• Food 

• Value 

As a scale from good to awful, respondents might select four options for each attribute: average, below average, great, or terrible. The averages of these answers make up the final scores.

Cusco, a city in Peru's Andes mountains that was once the Incan empire's imperial center, is home to three of the most beloved city hotels in Central and South America, according to readers. (These days, it's a common starting place for trips into the Sacred Valley.) The second-floor Monasterio, a Belmond hotel, took first place in the city. One voter raved about the hotel's spa and food, while another gushed about the huge and lovely suite they had beside the pool. At number four, you'll find the boutique house Casa Gangotena in Quito, Ecuador, another Andean center. Guests spoke about the hotel's on-site restaurant, stylish lobby, and prime position in the old town as reasons to visit. 

In addition to Cusco, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is the sole other city this year having more than one hotel. At number eight on the list is the Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, which has a breathtaking view of the world-famous beach. "Beautiful, classic, and enduring," said one visitor. In one of the most famous areas of the city sits the second, the most popular this year; it is a multicultural gem. 

Keep reading to find out which Central and South American hotels were voted most popular by readers.

Hotel Fasano Rio De Janeiro: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 

Philippe Starck's 89-room, ultra-modern hotel has "the best location and design," according to one reviewer. The land is in a highly desirable location, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the world-famous Ipanema Beach. Guests can lounge on lounge chairs or hit the bar for some socializing; either way, it's the rooftop pool where all the action is in Rio. Rooms decorated in a Bossa Nova style offer a sumptuous haven for when you need to get away from it all, with marble bathrooms and beachy neutral-toned mid-century furniture. 

"This wonderful hotel has the best location and design."