Matador Network's 2025 Travel Awards Spotlight 12 Must-Visit Gems.

As 2025 winds down, Matador Network, the travel publisher has revealed the winners of its annual Travel Awards, spotlighting 12 exceptional destinations and airlines. Half were selected by the site's team of world-travel experts using rigorous ranking criteria, while readers voted for the other six. This year introduces a fresh category: Best Wildlife Destination, celebrating spots where nature thrives dramatically.

"It's the end of the year, a perfect time to reflect and give thanks for the incredible experiences we've savored," says Matador Network CEO Ross Borden. "No matter if you're a globe-trotting pro or plotting just one epic trip for 2026, these winners are primed to deliver unforgettable journeys."

Expert Picks: Where the Pros Are Heading

Matador's in-house experts crowned these standouts:

• Next Big Destination: Estonia. Long overlooked, it's surging thanks to improved flights and sustainable tourism pushes—like Tartu earning European Capital of Culture status in 2024.
• Best Adventure Destination: Oaxaca, Mexico. Mountain biking in the Sierra Norte meets coastal surfing for non-stop thrills.
• Best Sustainable Destination: Madeira, Portugal. This Portuguese island exemplifies climate-smart tourism amid lush landscapes.
• Best Wellness Destination: Türkiye. Hammam rituals, thermal baths, seaside strolls, and leisurely breakfasts define everyday rejuvenation.
• Best Wildlife Destination: Baja California, Mexico. Desert mountains plunge into Pacific and Gulf waters, creating a road-trippable wildlife haven.

Readers' Choice: Crowd Favorites That Resonate

Matador's global audience voted these as must-visits:

• Next Big Destination: Albania. Affordable coasts pair with untamed mountains.
• Best Adventure Destination: Patagonia, Argentina. Trek multi-day trails, ice hike, whale watch, and road-trip without exhausting the wonders.
• Best Sustainable Destination: Costa Rica. A perennial leader in eco-balance.
• Best Wellness Destination: Rotorua, New Zealand. Geothermal geysers, mud pools, and hot springs bubble right into the cityscape.
• Best Wildlife Destination: Nairobi National Park, Kenya. Lions, rhinos, and giraffes roam just 30 minutes from Nairobi's skyscrapers.

Costa Rica: A Sustainability Powerhouse

Costa Rica's Readers' Choice win for Best Sustainable Destination underscores its decades-long mastery. "Costa Rica has long been the place the Matador team points to when we talk about what sustainable travel looks like in practice," says Nickolaus Hines, Matador Network's editorial content director. He recalls his first visit in 2016: "I arrived without knowing the full context of how forward-thinking the country is on balancing tourism, culture, and environmental preservation. It only took a day speaking with locals to understand why it's a global leader."

Nearly a decade on, that ethos draws travelers craving eco-resorts, boutique hotels, national parks, beaches, and adventures that honor local life—like last year's expert pick, Nosara, for Wellness Destination. "This award recognizes places that take a holistic, long-term view of sustainability—from national policy to what happens on the ground at hotels, tour operators, and protected areas," Hines adds. "Very few align those pieces as successfully as Costa Rica, and this reader recognition reflects the work Costa Ricans have done for decades."

"When there's always somewhere new to go, the hardest question isn't 'Where next?', it's 'Why there?'" Hines notes. "Our winners prove they deliver the experiences people crave."

View the 2025 Matador Network Travel Awards.