Latin American Countries Attracting The Most International Tourists

Mexico attracts more international tourists than any other Latin American country by a wide margin, with about 47.8 million international tourists in 2025, up from about 45 million in 2024, according to INEGI. The Dominican Republic follows with nearly 12 million visitors in 2025 (air and cruise combined), and Brazil set a record of about 9.3 million international tourists the same year. Behind them come Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama and Cuba, a group whose exact order shifts from year to year with exchange rates, airline routes and politics. For the countries after the top two, our order mixes official arrival counts with how much each destination is growing, so read it as a guide to where travellers are going. It is not a strict league table.

What links the leaders is access. Mexico and the Caribbean sit a few hours' flight from the US and Canada, and the big South American countries have built up long-haul links to Europe through Madrid, Lisbon, Paris and Amsterdam, plus regional hubs in Bogotá, Lima, Panama City and São Paulo. Below, each country gets a card with its top draws, best season, how most visitors arrive and the honest downside. For entry rules, remember that visa requirements depend on your passport; check each country's official immigration portal before you book.

How we ranked these countries: Mexico's position comes from UN Tourism and Mexican government arrival figures, and the Dominican Republic's from its central bank and tourism ministry. The rest are ordered by recent arrival counts and recovery since 2019, with editorial judgement where figures are close or counted differently (some countries include cruise passengers and day visitors, others do not). Checked October 2026.

• Countries covered: 10
• Mexico arrivals, 2025: 47.8M
• Clear regional leaders: 2
• Peak for most: Dec to Apr

Top draws, best months and gateways for the 10 countries

Mexico tops Latin American tourism with its Caribbean coast, Maya ruins and Mexico City, best from November to April, followed by the Dominican Republic's Punta Cana resorts and Brazil, with Rio, Iguaçu and the Amazon. Trips range from one week in Punta Cana to two or three weeks in Brazil or Argentina. A side-by-side view of the ten countries, their headline attractions and the best months to go. Click a country for its full card.

The 10 most visited Latin American countries: full guide

Mexico

Mexico, the most visited country in the region and geographically part of North America, is in a league of its own for both beaches and culture. With about 47.8 million international tourists in 2025 (INEGI), it ranks among the most visited countries in the world, well beyond Latin America. A long land border with the United States brings millions of overland visitors, and Cancún International is one of the busiest airports in the region for international flights.

The Caribbean coast carries the biggest share: Cancún's hotel zone, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and the island of Cozumel, which is also one of the world's busiest cruise ports. Inland, the Maya cities of Chichén Itzá, Uxmal and Calakmul, and the freshwater cenotes of Yucatán, add a cultural layer. Mexico City has become a destination on its own, with the Museo Nacional de Antropología, the canals of Xochimilco, the pyramids of Teotihuacan and one of the world's great street food scenes. Oaxaca, Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende appeal to travellers looking for colonial architecture, crafts and mezcal, and the Day of the Dead in early November is a major draw.

Safety varies sharply by state, and travel advice from your government will name specific areas to avoid. Seaweed (sargassum) affects Caribbean beaches in the warm months.

• Top places: Cancún, Tulum, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Los Cabos
• Best time: November to April, dry season
• Gateways: Cancún, Mexico City, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta
• Budget: Low to high; street food is excellent value

First-time visitors to Latin America often start here. Read our Mexico guide and plan one inland city alongside the beach.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is the most visited country in the Caribbean and the number two in Latin America, with nearly 12 million visitors in 2025 including cruise passengers. Its success rests on Punta Cana, on the island's eastern tip, where an international airport opened right next to the resort strip and turned miles of coconut-palm beach into one of the world's biggest all-inclusive destinations, with golf among its draws.

Visitors come mainly from the United States, Canada and Europe, plus a large Dominican diaspora returning home. Beyond the Bávaro and Cap Cana resorts, Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone, a UNESCO site, holds the first cathedral built in the Americas. Samaná Bay hosts humpback whales between January and March, and Las Terrenas has a more independent, European-style beach scene. Puerto Plata's cruise terminal and the mountain town of Jarabacoa, with rafting and coffee farms, round out the options.

Stay inside a big resort and you will see very little of the country. Road travel between regions is slow, and taxis from resorts are expensive.

• Top places: Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Samaná, Puerto Plata
• Best time: December to April
• Gateways: Punta Cana, Santo Domingo
• Budget: Mid-range packages; higher in Cap Cana

For a beach holiday with easy logistics, it is hard to beat. More on our Dominican Republic page.

Brazil

Carnival country, Brazil, is the largest country in Latin America, strong on both nature and cities, and the leader in South America for international arrivals, with record numbers in recent years. Argentina is its biggest source market, followed by the United States, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, and European visitors arrive through São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Rio is the icon: Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, and Carnival, held in the days before Lent, when samba schools parade through the Sambadrome. Iguaçu Falls, on the border with Argentina, is one of the world's great waterfalls. Salvador da Bahia offers Afro-Brazilian culture and the colourful Pelourinho district, and Manaus is the gateway to Amazon lodges. The Pantanal wetland is one of the best places on Earth to see jaguars, especially between July and October.

Distances are enormous and domestic flights add up. Petty theft is a real risk in big cities, so carry little and keep phones out of sight on the street.

• Top places: Rio de Janeiro, Iguaçu, Salvador, Amazon, Pantanal
• Best time: September to March; Carnival in February or March
• Gateways: São Paulo Guarulhos, Rio de Janeiro Galeão
• Budget: Moderate; Carnival week is very expensive

Give it a big multi-region trip. See our Brazil guide and book Carnival stays a year ahead.

Argentina

Tango and glaciers sum up Argentina, which draws visitors with a rare combination: a European-feeling capital, wine regions in the Andes, and some of the wildest landscapes on the continent in Patagonia. Neighbouring Brazil, Chile and Uruguay supply many of its visitors, and long-haul tourists arrive from Europe and the US.

Buenos Aires is the start, with tango in San Telmo, the Recoleta Cemetery, the colourful houses of La Boca and steakhouses that open late. Mendoza is the home of Malbec wine, set against the Andes. In Patagonia, El Calafate is the base for the Perito Moreno Glacier, El Chaltén is Argentina's trekking capital beneath Mount Fitz Roy, and Ushuaia is the departure port for most Antarctic cruises. The Argentine side of Iguazú Falls gives the closest walkways to the Devil's Throat.

Argentina's economy changes fast, and prices and exchange rules can shift within months. Check the latest situation for cash and cards before you go, and plan internal flights, since Patagonia is far from the capital.

• Top places: Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Patagonia, Iguazú, Salta
• Best time: October to April; Patagonia best December to March
• Gateways: Buenos Aires Ezeiza
• Budget: Varies with the economy; Patagonia is pricier

Food, wine and trekking are the reasons to go. Read our Argentina guide before planning internal flights.

Chile

Chile is a long, narrow country squeezed between the Andes and the Pacific, and that shape gives it an extraordinary range of landscapes. Most visitors come from neighbouring Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, with steady long-haul traffic to Patagonia from Europe and North America.

Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia is the headline, with the granite towers and the W and O treks; refugios and campsites must be booked in advance. In the north, San Pedro de Atacama is the base for the driest non-polar desert on Earth, salt flats, geysers and some of the clearest night skies in the world. Santiago and the colourful port city of Valparaíso, plus wineries in the Casablanca and Colchagua valleys, fill a few days. Rapa Nui (Easter Island), a five-hour flight from Santiago, has the famous moai statues.

Expect wild weather in Patagonia, with strong winds even in summer. Book Torres del Paine accommodation months ahead for December to February.

• Top places: Torres del Paine, Atacama, Santiago, Valparaíso, Easter Island
• Best time: October to April
• Gateways: Santiago
• Budget: Moderate to high

Adventure travellers will be in their element. See our Chile page and book Patagonia early.

Colombia

Known for its Caribbean coast and its coffee, Colombia has been one of the region's fastest-growing destinations over the past fifteen years, as its security situation improved and its reputation changed. Bogotá's El Dorado airport is now one of the busiest hubs in Latin America, with direct flights to Europe and North America.

Cartagena's walled old town, a UNESCO site, is the romantic highlight, with colonial balconies and nearby Caribbean islands. Medellín, once notorious, is now known for its cable cars, street art in Comuna 13 and mild spring-like weather. The Coffee Triangle around Salento and the Cocora Valley, with its towering wax palms, offers farm stays. Tayrona National Park and the multi-day trek to the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) near Santa Marta add adventure.

Some rural areas remain unsafe, and travel advice changes. Use registered taxis or ride apps, and avoid flashing valuables in cities.

• Top places: Cartagena, Medellín, Bogotá, Coffee Triangle, Tayrona
• Best time: December to March; July and August
• Gateways: Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena
• Budget: Good value

Culture and value are the strong points. See our Colombia guide.

Peru

Peru's tourism is built around one site, Machu Picchu, the 15th-century Inca citadel above the Urubamba Valley and one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Visitor numbers are capped by daily ticket quotas, so tickets for the citadel and the Inca Trail permits sell out months ahead in peak season.

Most trips run Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, with time to adjust to altitude in Cusco. Lima is one of the great food capitals of the world, known for ceviche and Nikkei cuisine. Lake Titicaca, the Colca Canyon with its condors, Arequipa's white colonial centre and the Nazca Lines add depth, and Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado are gateways to the Amazon.

Altitude sickness is common in Cusco and Puno. Take the first day slowly, skip alcohol on arrival and try the coca tea that most hotels offer in the lobby. Many travellers sleep lower down in the Sacred Valley first and move up to Cusco later. Strikes and road blockades sometimes disrupt travel to Machu Picchu, so keep a buffer day.

• Top places: Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lima, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa
• Best time: May to September, dry season in the Andes
• Gateways: Lima
• Budget: Moderate; Machu Picchu trains and tickets add up

History and food lovers should go. Read our Peru guide and buy Machu Picchu tickets first.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is the most visited country in Central America and an eco-tourism pioneer, a model for nature tourism built on wildlife and adventure. About a quarter of its land is protected in national parks and reserves, and it is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth. Most visitors come from the United States and Canada, on short flights to San José and Liberia.

Classic routes link the Arenal Volcano area, with hot springs and hanging bridges, the cloud forest of Monteverde, the Pacific beaches of Guanacaste and Manuel Antonio, and the Caribbean coast at Tortuguero, where sea turtles nest between July and October. Wildlife sightings, from sloths and toucans to scarlet macaws and humpback whales, are part of almost every day. Ziplining, rafting and surfing add adrenaline.

Costa Rica is more expensive than its neighbours, and roads are slow, with travel times longer than distances suggest. The green season, May to November, brings afternoon rain but lower prices.

• Top places: Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Guanacaste, Tortuguero
• Best time: December to April; green season for value
• Gateways: San José, Liberia
• Budget: Mid to high for the region

Families and nature lovers do well here. See our Costa Rica guide.

Panama

Panama, known for its canal, its islands and a hub capital, punches above its size. Panama City's Tocumen airport is the hub of Copa Airlines, connecting the Americas, and many travellers who change planes there now plan stopovers. The country also receives large numbers of cruise passengers transiting the canal.

The Panama Canal's Miraflores Locks visitor centre lets you watch giant ships rise and fall through the locks. Casco Viejo, the old town, is a UNESCO site of restored colonial buildings, rooftop bars and plazas. The San Blas Islands (Guna Yala), run by the Indigenous Guna people, offer simple stays on tiny palm islands, and Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean side has a laid-back island scene. Boquete, in the highlands, is known for Geisha coffee and hiking on Volcán Barú.

Panama City is hot and humid year-round, and traffic is heavy. Visits to Guna Yala follow community rules and fees, so book through a reliable operator. Boat crossings to the islands can be rough, and accommodation there is basic, often with shared bathrooms and limited electricity, which is part of the appeal for many travellers.

• Top places: Panama Canal, Casco Viejo, San Blas, Bocas del Toro, Boquete
• Best time: December to April, dry season
• Gateways: Panama City Tocumen
• Budget: Moderate; uses the US dollar

A stopover or short trip suits it. Add two or three days between flights through Tocumen.

Cuba

Cuba was once one of the Caribbean's fastest-growing destinations, but arrivals have fallen in recent years because of economic crisis, shortages and US travel restrictions. Canada remains its biggest source market by far, followed by Cubans living abroad and visitors from Europe and Russia.

Havana is the cultural heart: Habana Vieja's restored plazas, the Malecón seafront at sunset, live music in every bar, and 1950s American cars working as taxis. Trinidad, a colonial town on the south coast, and the tobacco valley of Viñales, with its limestone mogotes, are the best side trips. Varadero and the northern cays are the resort areas.

Power cuts and shortages of fuel and basic goods affect daily life and some hotels. Carry cash, bring your own medicines and toiletries, and read recent reviews before booking.

• Top places: Havana, Trinidad, Viñales, Varadero
• Best time: November to April
• Gateways: Havana, Varadero
• Budget: Low for resorts; cash essential

Culture and music lovers, and anyone after Havana nights, will get the most out of it. See our Cuba page.

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Why Mexico and the Caribbean lead Latin American tourism

Proximity to the world's biggest outbound travel market, the United States, is the main reason. A flight from Chicago or Toronto to Cancún or Punta Cana takes three to four hours, the same as a domestic trip within the US, while reaching Buenos Aires or Santiago means an overnight flight of ten hours or more. Mexico also counts millions of overland visitors crossing from the US, which pushes its totals far above any other country in the region.

The large all-inclusive resort industry in Mexico and the Dominican Republic adds a second advantage: easy, pre-paid holidays that appeal to families and first-time visitors. South American countries compete on a different offer, with longer, more adventurous trips built around Patagonia, the Andes, the Amazon and big cities, and they draw a larger share of their visitors from neighbouring countries. Colombia and Peru show how fast that can grow when security improves and airlines add routes.

How tourist arrivals are counted in Latin America

Comparing countries is harder than it looks, because each one counts visitors in its own way. The standard measure used by UN Tourism is international tourist arrivals: visitors who stay at least one night. Some national statistics offices publish total visitors instead, which adds cruise passengers who come ashore for a few hours and same-day visitors who cross a land border to shop. For Mexico, the difference is huge, since millions of border crossings each year are day trips from the US. For the Dominican Republic, Panama and the Caribbean coast of Mexico, cruise passengers make a big difference to the totals too.

Residents living abroad are another variable. Countries with large emigrant communities, such as the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Cuba, receive many citizens returning home to visit family, and some count non-resident nationals separately from foreign tourists. Exchange rates matter as well: when the Argentine peso falls, visitors from Brazil, Chile and Uruguay pour across the border to shop and eat out, and the numbers jump within a single season. That is why rankings for the countries after Mexico and the Dominican Republic change from one year to the next, and why we treat the lower half of this list as a close group with no fixed order.

Tips for planning a trip to Latin America

Check the entry rules for your passport before planning a trip to Latin America, because visa requirements differ by nationality and some countries need online forms or tourist cards. Ask a travel clinic about vaccinations too: yellow fever vaccination is recommended for parts of the Amazon.

• Check entry rules for your passport. Visa requirements across Latin America differ by nationality. Some countries need online forms or tourist cards; check each official portal.
• Ask about vaccinations. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for parts of the Amazon and may be required when travelling between some countries.
• Respect the altitude. Cusco, La Paz and parts of the Andes are above 3,000 m. Plan a slow first day and drink plenty of water.
• Carry some US dollars. Dollars are widely accepted or used in Panama, Ecuador and El Salvador, and they help in Cuba and Argentina.
• Mind the seasons. The dry season differs by region: winter months in Mexico and Central America, May to September in the Andes.
• Learn basic Spanish. Outside resorts, a few phrases help a lot. Brazil speaks Portuguese.

Ready to plan? Compare flights to the region's main hubs and hotels on bookingMentor, and check the visa section for general guidance.

Planning a trip to Mexico? Read our Mexico travel guide or search flights.