Baja California Sur took home the “Best Destination in Mexico” title at the tenth annual Food and Travel Reader Awards on March 29. The ceremony, held in Puerto Vallarta, marked the first time the event moved outside Mexico City in its decade-long history.
The state was not the only local winner. Casa Maat at the JW Marriott Los Cabos also earned the Best Beach Boutique Hotel award, giving the southern tip of the Baja peninsula two trophies in a single night.
A Record Year for Nominations
The 2026 ceremony featured more than 180 nominees across 33 categories, plus special recognitions. Organizers introduced new categories this year focused on the wine industry and content creator participation, a nod to the growing influence of food and wine tourism in Mexico.
The dual win adds to an already strong run of recognition for the region. In December 2024, Los Cabos won Best Destination in Mexico at the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards for the second consecutive year. According to the Los Cabos Tourism Board, the destination’s promotional strategy has earned more than 30 awards over the past two years from organizations including Virtuoso, Travel + Leisure, and Global Traveler.
Gastronomy and Wine Drive the Region’s Brand
The Food and Travel award specifically ties into the region’s push to position itself as a gastronomy and wine destination, not just a beach resort corridor. Los Cabos has invested heavily in culinary tourism, with farm-to-table restaurants like Flora Farms and Acre drawing international attention. The broader Baja peninsula, from Valle de Guadalupe’s wine country in the north to the seafood kitchens of La Paz, has built a reputation as one of Mexico’s top food regions.
The new wine industry categories at this year’s ceremony align with that trajectory. Baja California and Baja California Sur together produce the vast majority of Mexico’s wine, with the peninsula’s Mediterranean climate supporting a growing number of boutique vineyards.
Baja California Sur is also nominated in six categories at the upcoming “Lo Mejor de México” awards from México Desconocido magazine. Los Cabos holds a nomination in the Best Experience to Live At Least Once in a Lifetime category, with winners to be announced at the Tianguis Turístico conference in Acapulco on April 29.
The Food and Travel Reader Awards story was first reported by The Cabo Post.