World's Best

Travel + Leisure Readers' 5 Favorite Islands in Mexico and Central and South America of 2023

The Galapagos ranked highest among readers’ favorite islands in Mexico and Central and South America in our annual "World’s Best Awards" survey for 2023.

By

Lila Harron Battis

Published on July 11, 2023

How Voting Works

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 ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Islands were specifically rated on the criteria below:

Natural attractions/beaches
Activities/sights
Restaurants/food
People/friendliness
Value

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.

What Readers Loved

Ambergris Caye took the second-place spot this year, and with good reason — Belize’s biggest island is well-known as the place to go for superlative diving and snorkeling thanks to its proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef and the Great Blue Hole, beloved by none other than Jacques Cousteau. For those seeking an easygoing tropical beach destination, Belize’s Caye Caulker — just to the south of Ambergris — came in at No. 3, with one reader highlighting its “laid back vibe” with “friendly people and great food.” Another recommended the tarpon-feeding experience, as well as the chance to kick back and enjoy “cheap and delicious” barbecued lobsters on the beach.

Mexico’s Isla Mujeres (No. 4) was another favorite, with one reader calling it a “great getaway,” thanks in part to its setting from the more touristed beaches of Cancun and Tulum. “I’d go back over and over,” gushed one traveler. “Worth every dime,” wrote another, “We had the best vacation with the best food.”

In Honduras, readers loved Roatan Island (No. 5), which one reader called out for its “gorgeous, clean, well-patrolled beaches with crystal clear water,” and multiple readers recommended it as a destination for snorkeling, diving, and fishing. Several travelers thought it a great day-trip spot for wildlife lovers, calling out its “many animal sanctuaries” and opportunities to see both “animals and natural beauty.”

No beach getaway, no matter how magical, can compare with a once-in-a-lifetime escape to one of the most ecologically unique corners of the world. Perhaps that explains why the Galápagos Islands is, for the 21st time, T+L readers’ favorite set of islands in Mexico and Central and South America.

The Winner

Galápagos Islands: Ecuador

Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) at the beach of Espanola island — guenterguni/Getty Images

Readers’ reports of traveling the Galápagos shared a common refrain — this is the kind of place you “must go see once in your lifetime,” as one adventurer put it. “The Galápagos are on many people’s bucket list, and for good reason,” said another reader. “They live up to the hype.” The island archipelago is synonymous with fascinating wildlife — it’s globally renowned for such endemic species as giant tortoises, penguins, sea lions, fur seals, and Darwin’s legendary finches. The Galápagos are a birder’s dream, with 80 percent of the land birds found exclusively within this island chain, and for those with an interest in marine life, the geography of these islands means travelers can spot both reef-dwellers and deep-water creatures, including rays, reef sharks, marine iguanas, green turtles, and multiple whale and dolphin species. One reader summed it up well: “Where nature, wildlife, science, and history meet. An extraordinary experience.” Or, as a more exuberant traveler phrased it, “It’s the Galápagos! It’s all amazing!”