Mexican Caribbean Destinations and Resorts Win Across 2026 World Travel Awards

Quintana Roo — Cancún’s beaches, Cozumel’s cruise port, Puerto Morelos’s cenotes and hotels across the Riviera Maya all earned recognition in the 2026 World Travel Awards, giving the Mexican Caribbean wins in categories ranging from adventure tourism to luxury resorts.

The awards were announced October 12 in Jamaica. The results include two levels relevant to the region: awards open to destinations and businesses across Mexico and Central America, and awards for Mexico alone. That distinction explains how Cancún could win the regional beach destination title while Cozumel won the national one.

Destinations Win for Different Kinds of Travel

Cancún had one of the strongest showings among destinations. It won the regional awards for Leading Beach Destination, Leading City Destination, and Leading Meetings and Conference Destination, as well as Mexico’s Leading Destination. The range reflects a city that attracts beachgoers, urban visitors and large events.

Other wins tell a broader story about why travelers choose the coast. Playa del Carmen was named Mexico and Central America’s Leading City Break Destination; Isla Mujeres took the regional island destination award; and Tulum won the region’s Most Romantic Destination title. Cozumel was named Mexico’s Leading Beach Destination, while its cruise port won the regional cruise-port category.

Puerto Morelos collected two national awards tied to experiences beyond the beach: Leading Adventure Tourism Destination and, for the Ruta de los Cenotes, Leading Nature-Based Tourist Attraction. Extreme Adventuring Cancun, whose park is located on that route, won both the Mexican and regional adventure tourist attraction categories.

Hotels and Tour Operators Add to the Tally

The winners span different styles of stay. Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach in Cancún won the regional hotel and conference hotel categories. Nearby, Hyatt Ziva Cancun took Mexico’s Leading Resort title, Kempinski Hotel Cancún won the national luxury hotel award, and The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun was named Mexico’s Leading Family Resort.

Costa Mujeres resorts also featured prominently. Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres won the regional all-inclusive resort category, while ATELIER Playa Mujeres took Mexico’s beach resort and conference hotel awards. On Isla Mujeres, Almare won the national adult-only all-inclusive resort title.

Along the Riviera Maya, Catalonia Royal Tulum won the regional beach resort award. Despite its name, the hotel sits on Xpu-Há beach, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Sandos Caracol was named the region’s Leading Green Hotel, and Palmaïa – The House of AïA won both the regional luxury wellness resort and Mexico’s luxury beach resort titles.

The Tulum area added two wins for Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya: the regional luxury all-inclusive resort category and Mexico’s luxury resort category. Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya won Mexico’s all-inclusive resort award. Elsewhere, La Casa de la Playa near Xcaret won the national boutique hotel title, Grand Residences Riviera Cancun in Puerto Morelos won for hotel residences, and Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya, was named Mexico’s Most Romantic Resort.

Tourism businesses were recognized, too. Cobá Sunset won the regional adventure tour operator award, while Xcaret won the Mexican category. Cancún-based Ekinox Tours won both the regional and national tour operator awards. WhatToDoInCancun.com took Mexico’s travel agency title, and Destination Mexico, which operates in the Mexican Caribbean and elsewhere in the country, won the national destination management company category.

These titles can help travelers discover a place or narrow a hotel search, but they do not measure every part of a trip. World Travel Awards explains that consumers and travel industry professionals vote online, with verified professionals’ votes given twice the weight of standard votes. Current prices, access, service and conditions still matter when deciding where to go.

Mexican Caribbean Winners at a Glance

The following local destinations, properties and tourism businesses appear on the official 2026 winners list. Businesses that won in more than one category are listed under each award.

Mexico and Central America awards

• Leading Adventure Tour Operator — Cobá Sunset
• Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction — Extreme Adventuring Cancun
• Leading All-Inclusive Resort — Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres
• Leading Beach Destination — Cancún
• Leading Beach Resort — Catalonia Royal Tulum
• Leading City Break Destination — Playa del Carmen
• Leading City Destination — Cancún
• Leading Conference Hotel — Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun All-Inclusive SPA Resort
• Leading Cruise Port — Port of Cozumel
• Leading Green Hotel — Sandos Caracol Nature Resort & Water Park
• Leading Hotel — Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun All-Inclusive SPA Resort
• Leading Island Destination — Isla Mujeres
• Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort — Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya
• Leading Luxury Wellness Resort — Palmaïa – The House of AïA
• Leading Meetings and Conference Destination — Cancún
• Leading Tour Operator — Ekinox Tours
• Most Romantic Destination — Tulum

Mexico awards

• Leading Adult-Only All-Inclusive Resort — Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Isla Mujeres
• Leading Adventure Tour Operator — Xcaret
• Leading Adventure Tourism Destination — Puerto Morelos
• Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction — Extreme Adventuring Cancun
• Leading All-Inclusive Resort — Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort
• Leading Beach Destination — Cozumel
• Leading Beach Resort — ATELIER Playa Mujeres
• Leading Boutique Hotel — La Casa de la Playa
• Leading Conference Hotel — ATELIER Playa Mujeres
• Leading Destination — Cancún
• Leading Destination Management Company — Destination Mexico
• Leading Family Resort — The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun
• Leading Hotel Residences — Grand Residences Riviera Cancun
• Leading Luxury Beach Resort — Palmaïa – The House of AïA
• Leading Luxury Hotel — Kempinski Hotel Cancún
• Leading Luxury Resort — Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya
• Leading Nature-Based Tourist Attraction — Ruta de los Cenotes, Puerto Morelos
• Leading Resort — Hyatt Ziva Cancun
• Leading Tour Operator — Ekinox Tours
• Leading Travel Agency — WhatToDoInCancun.com
• Most Romantic Resort — Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya