Chile has been named South America's Leading Adventure Tourism Destination at the World Travel Awards every single year from 2015 through 2025 — eleven consecutive titles. For 2026, Chile is nominated once again, with regional voting closed on June 12, 2026 and winners to be announced at the gala later in the year. If it lands the title, that's twelve in a row.
So what makes this country a perennial favorite? The answer is geography.
Few places on Earth pack this much variety into a single border. From north to south, Chile runs roughly 4,300 km, which means you can structure a trip around almost any adventure you can name:
That range — desert, mountain, forest and fjord in one country — is exactly why Chile keeps topping the list.
The awards are a useful signal, but they don't plan your trip. The difference between a good Chilean adventure and an unforgettable one is usually local knowledge: which trail closes in the afternoon, when the geysers are at their best, how to acclimatize before the altitude. That's where traveling with local experts pays off.
Not sure where to start? See our best South America destinations for 2026, or plan a Patagonia trek.
It has won South America's Leading Adventure Tourism Destination at the World Travel Awards every year from 2015 to 2025, and is nominated again for 2026.
Extreme geographic diversity — desert, high Andes, forests and Patagonian fjords — all within one country.
Patagonia: roughly October–April. Atacama: year-round. Andes skiing: June–September.