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World's Best

The 10 Best City Hotels in Central and South America in 2022

The best city hotels in Central and South America, according to Travel + Leisure readers, introduce travelers to local history, cuisine, and warm service.

By Samantha Falewée

Updated on October 14, 2022

Monestario, Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco, Peru — Photo: Courtesy of Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco

The multifaceted cultures and experiences of Central and South America hold a special appeal for travelers. As in past years, luxury resorts nestled amid bustling metropolises on the South American continent swept the category. Travel + Leisure readers voted for their favorite picks and applauded hotels' historic ties, central locations, and warm, welcoming service, from Buenos Aires to Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L invites its readers to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels (including safari lodges) were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

South America dominated the category this year, with three countries in particular earning praise from travelers. In Peru, Cuzco lays claim to both the No. 1 winner, Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, and No. 5 JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, a boutique property in a restored 16th-century convent. Another Belmond property, Miraflores Park in Lima, earned the No. 6 spot. In Argentina, three urban hotels made the list. One voter called the No. 8 Alvear Palace Hotel in the capital city "the best place to stay in the country." Nearby, the Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, which earned the No. 7 spot, curates exhibitions of contemporary Argentine art, from photography to sculptures, as well as Ibero-American works.

Colombia's Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena earned the No. 4 spot. Guests appreciated the views from the hotel's guest rooms, which look out onto a tropical courtyard or the Caribbean Sea, as well as its location in the historic El Centro neighborhood. One voter called it their favorite hotel behind the old city walls, while another wrote it encapsulated "the best of everything Colombian, located in a beautiful historic city."

We'd be remiss not to call out the W Santiago in Chile, which won the No. 2 spot, with several readers sharing positive anecdotes from the 190-room hotel. COVID-19 cleaning protocols were also praised. "The housekeeping service is excellent," noted one voter.

Read on to find out what set the No. 1 Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel apart from its peers and made it the top city hotel in Central and South America for 2022.

1. Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cuzco, Peru

Monestario, Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cuzco, Peru — Monestario, Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, patio, Cuzco, Peru. Courtesy of Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco

Located in a former 16th-century monastery with all the furnishings of a modern-day stay, this 126-room property has been on the World's Best list more than 15 times in the awards' 27-year history. Guests are encouraged to slow down and savor local life – and traditional coca tea – as they adjust to the city's high altitude. Religious artwork pays homage to the building's past life, while a daylong Pisco-and-opera experience combines cocktail tastings and dinner at El Tupay restaurant with a live opera performance.

Score: 97.87

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