These Are The 3 Trendiest Latin America Destinations For 2026

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Expedia just revealed some insightful nuggets sure to blow your mind.

If you had to guess where travelers are flocking in Latin America, you might nail the countries on the head, but the cities they’re scoping out are full of mystery.

Lucky for you, we are a seasoned group of travelers here at Travel Off Path, so we happen to be experts on these 3 surging destinations.

Brimming with vibrant culture, astounding nature, and unrivaled cuisine in their own respects, some of Latin America’s most underrated getaways are finally getting their due, even in the shadow of such popular cities as Mexico City, for example.

Without further ado, these are Latin America’s 3 trendiest destinations for 2026, according to Expedia’s latest data:

1) Toluca: The City Crawling Out Of Mexico City’s Shadow 🇲🇽

If you thought time capsule cities such as Puebla and Tepoztlan were the only worthwhile trips in close reach to Mexico City, you’ve been missing out on Toluca.

Long viewed as Mexico City’s secondary airport, that image is beginning to change and is now seen more as an underappreciated day trip, as tourists tend not to venture past the trajineras of Xochimilco or Teotihuacan’s pyramids.

But even that is set to change now too, with the newly launched train serving Mexico City and Toluca in just 45 minutes — something that would be impossible navigating constant gridlock traffic.

Travelers can still fly into Toluca (TLC) and reach Mexico City rather easily, but there are no nonstops from the U.S.

Once here, you’ll find a crowd-free cityscape anchored by a staggering cathedral, colorful, festive streets, incredible food as one expects south of the border, and stunning mountain backdrops (without the haze of its gargantuan neighbor).

Toluca is seeing a 225% surge in traveler interest, according to Expedia’s latest Air Hacks report.

2) Minas Gerais: More Travelers Exploring Brazil Beyond Rio 🇧🇷

Ever heard of Minas Gerais?

Chances are you haven’t. Minas Gerais (also commonly shortened to “Minas”) is the vast inland state of Brazil that’s become all the rage.

While Expedia claims it’s just beginning to surge, this region caught my eye years ago as I crossed off the sprawling city of Belo Horizonte and the UNESCO-protected town of Ouro Preto from my never-ending travel wishlist — and it was truly one of the most enjoyable solo trips in recent memory.

One sip of my first caipirinha instantly replaced my love for margaritas, and many fresh fruits I honestly can’t pronounce also replaced my love for acai bowls, the only Brazilian staple that’s a regular part of my diet.

Anthony Bourdain also helped put Minas on the map in a Parts Unknown episode, which drew him in for its legend of being the birthplace of traditional Brazilian cuisine.

There’s no better place to experience just that than Mercado Central, a maze of food stalls and various vendors.

Americans can avoid out-of-the-way layovers by flying nonstop from Orlando (MCO) via Azul Airlines.

Minas Gerais is seeing a 85% surge in traveler interest, according to Expedia’s latest Air Hacks report.

3) Guatemala: Endless Colonial Charm & Natural Wonders 🇬🇹

Guatemala somehow remains one of Latin America’s most unsung vacation destinations despite neighboring Mexico.

Heck, they even have Caribbean beaches with no crowds in sight!

The truth is most travelers visit Guatemala for its across-the-board affordability, welcoming locals, and boundless nature, where stunning lakes are more common than its coastline.

What may have deterred travelers from visiting is the capital, Guatemala City’s, less-than-stellar reputation in terms of safety, which pushed tourists toward nearby colonial charmers like Antigua and natural wonders, such as Lake Atitlan.

That said, Guatemala appears to be getting its due and I can attest that Antigua in particular is well worth a weeklong stay to make your base for nearby coffee farms, volcano hikes and nearby Maya sites like Iximche.

Of course, it helps that Guatemala is fairly easy to reach. Flight Connections claims there are 11 U.S. cities with direct flights to Guatemala City (GUA).

Guatemala is seeing a 45% surge in traveler interest, according to Expedia’s latest Air Hacks report.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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