This marks the ninth time the tourism icon has received the award in this category, having been recognized in eight previous editions.
With this distinction, Machu Picchu reaffirms its standing among the region's leading tourist attractions, thanks to its extraordinary Inca architecture, historical and cultural significance, and integration with the natural surroundings of the Andes and the Amazon.
According to information released by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), the recognition is one of the six awards won by Peru in the South American edition of the 2026 World Travel Awards.
The country also received awards for "South America's Leading Destination," "South America's Leading Culinary Destination," "South America's Leading Cultural Destination," "South America's Leading Nature Destination," and "South America's Leading Contributor to Sustainable Tourism."
Recognized nine times
Machu Picchu received this award in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
With the 2026 recognition, Machu Picchu has now received the award nine times in "South America's Leading Tourist Attraction” category.
The sanctuary is one of the most prominent symbols of Peru's heritage.
The Inca citadel was declared a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site on December 9, 1983, and named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World on July 7, 2007.
Architecture, history, and biodiversity
Built in the 15th century during the reign of Inca Pachacutec, the citadel stands out for its stone structures, agricultural terraces, plazas, temples, fountains, and drainage systems, which demonstrate the Inca civilization’s engineering expertise.
The Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary covers an area of 32,302.5 hectares. It protects the llaqta (citadel), along with various archaeological monuments and valuable ecosystems.
Its natural wealth includes a wide variety of orchids, birds, and mammals, including the spectacled bear, puma, and white-tailed deer. This combination of archaeological heritage and biodiversity is one of the destination’s distinguishing features.
Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Rogers Valencia highlighted that the six awards won at the 2026 World Travel Awards reaffirm the country's commitment to developing a competitive, sustainable, and inclusive tourism sector.
Meanwhile, the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Exports and Tourism (PromPeru) carries out promotional activities in international markets to showcase the diversity of destinations and tourism experiences the country has to offer.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), these awards help strengthen Peru's image as a tourist destination and represent an opportunity to attract more visitors interested in