Puerto Vallarta – October 07, 2026 -- Puerto Vallarta has been ranked the Second Best Small City in the World and the top small city in Latin America in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2026, based on votes from 798,867 readers. It is the second consecutive year the Mexican Pacific destination has held a top spot in the ranking.
The city placed behind Victoria, Canada, and ahead of Florence, Italy, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and Lucerne, Switzerland.
Readers cite beaches, cobblestone streets, and the Romantic Zone's nightlife
Condé Nast Traveler pointed to Puerto Vallarta's Historic Center, its culinary scene, art, and sea excursions to Yelapa, Banderas Bay, and the Sierra Madre Occidental as reasons for the ranking.
Two local restaurants earned spots in the MICHELIN Guide Mexico 2026
ICÚ received a Bib Gourmand distinction for strong cuisine at good value, and Pancho's Takos was added to the Guide's recommended list. Both are part of Jalisco's 13 selected restaurants statewide, which also include Xokol and Alcalde in Guadalajara, each awarded one MICHELIN Star.
The destination picked up nominations across four major industry awards
Puerto Vallarta received four nominations at the Travvy Awards 2026, including Best Destination and Best Culinary Destination, and three nominations at the Ángel del Turismo Awards 2026 tied to meetings and conventions tourism, with that ceremony set for October 29, 2026, in Puebla. At the Magellan Awards 2025, it won Best Culinary Destination and Best LGBTQ+ Destination, a category it also topped in GayCities 2026 for the Romantic Zone's hospitality and atmosphere.
Tripadvisor placed the city among Mexico's top five destinations
In the Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026 list, Puerto Vallarta ranked among the country's top five destinations, and its Malecón boardwalk was named among Mexico's top attractions.
The city's airport now connects travelers to 55 destinations
Puerto Vallarta offers 27,504 hotel rooms across 456 lodging properties. Puerto Vallarta International Airport serves 15 domestic and 40 international routes, including 24 to the United States and 16 to Canada.