Something shifted in how Americans travel this year. Instead of chasing the same postcard destinations, more people are booking flights to places that barely registered on outbound travel lists a few years ago. The data backs it up too, with year-over-year search and booking numbers in some countries jumping well beyond typical seasonal fluctuations.
Mexico
Mexico continues to pull ahead as the single most visited country by American travelers, and the momentum hasn’t slowed down heading into the back half of 2026. International arrivals to the United States in May 2026 rose 2.3 percent, driven by a 21 percent surge in Mexican visitors, while outbound travel from U.S. citizens also climbed, with Mexico remaining the top destination. That cross-border traffic runs both directions, and Mexico has kept its grip on American travelers since the pandemic reshuffled global tourism patterns.
Nearly 1.5 million Americans visited Mexico at one recent measurement point, up 39% compared with before the pandemic. Beach towns like Cancun still dominate booking charts, but Mexico City has quietly become a favorite for travelers wanting culture and food alongside sun. The proximity, affordability, and direct flight options make it an easy default for Americans looking to travel abroad without the long-haul commitment.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica has long been a favorite for eco-tourism, but one specific region is now driving a surge unlike anything the country has seen recently. Limón, Costa Rica, is ranked as the top-trending destination for U.S. travelers in 2026, having seen a 286% increase year-over-year. That’s not a modest uptick, it’s a near quadrupling of interest in a single year.
According to the report, Limón is an emerging ecotourism destination that is renowned for its national parks, volcanic landscapes, and lush rainforest. Travelers who already checked off the Pacific coast towns are now looking east, drawn by the promise of something less crowded. Skyscanner’s Lourdes Losada describes it as the Costa Rica for travelers who have already done Costa Rica, since Americans have mostly stuck to the Pacific side for decades.
Brazil
Brazil is having a genuine moment among American travelers right now, fueled partly by global sporting attention and partly by renewed interest in South America generally. This summer’s FIFA World Cup put a spotlight on global destinations, and booking data showed strong year-over-year growth for South America overall, with Brazil specifically up 175%. That kind of jump doesn’t happen without a real shift in traveler behavior.
Rio de Janeiro in particular has become a magnet for Americans seeking something beyond the usual European circuit. Rio de Janeiro saw growth of 109% as a booked destination compared to the prior year. Between the beaches, the nightlife, and improved flight connections from major U.S. hubs, Brazil is capturing travelers who might once have defaulted to Europe.
Czech Republic
Not every surge destination is tropical. The Czech Republic has emerged as one of the more surprising growth stories in European travel this year, largely because American travelers are actively avoiding the most saturated hot spots. New research found that many Americans are rethinking traditional European hot spots due to crowding concerns, with staples like Italy and Portugal still drawing travelers but growing more slowly in favor of less-visited destinations such as the Czech Republic, up 149%.
Prague has always had its admirers, but this level of growth suggests something bigger is happening beyond the capital. Budget-conscious travelers are finding that Central Europe offers the architecture and history of Western Europe at a fraction of the cost. As overtourism complaints grow louder in places like Venice and Barcelona, the Czech Republic is absorbing some of that redirected demand.
El Salvador
Few countries have rebranded themselves as dramatically as El Salvador. No country has flipped its tourism image harder, going from a place synonymous with crime headlines to one of the fastest-growing destinations in the world, with tourism up roughly 80% since 2019. That kind of turnaround takes sustained investment and a genuine shift in perception among would-be visitors.
Much of the momentum has come from El Salvador’s push around its “Surf City” branding, targeting a specific niche of adventure travelers rather than trying to compete broadly with Mexico or Costa Rica. Coastal towns that once saw almost no foreign tourism are now fielding steady waves of American surfers and digital nomads. The country’s smaller size means growth numbers can look dramatic even with relatively modest absolute visitor counts, but the trend line is unmistakable.
Croatia
Croatia has been building its American fanbase for years, and 2026 numbers suggest that pattern is accelerating rather than leveling off. Croatia is drawing more Americans each year, with 18% growth centered on Dubrovnik, Split, and the surrounding islands. The Adriatic coastline offers a Mediterranean experience without quite the same price tag or crowd density as Italy or the French Riviera.
Game of Thrones tourism helped put Dubrovnik on the map initially, but the appeal has broadened well past that single draw. Sailing trips through the islands have become particularly popular with American travelers looking for a mix of relaxation and adventure. Direct flight connections from the U.S. remain limited, which paradoxically may be helping Croatia avoid some of the overtourism strain hitting its neighbors.
Montenegro
Montenegro sits just south of Croatia geographically, and it’s increasingly sharing in that regional momentum. Montenegro is seeing growth of 17%, with Kotor Bay standing out as an emerging destination among American travelers. For a country of its size, that kind of interest represents a meaningful shift in visibility.
Kotor’s fjord-like bay and walled old town give it a dramatic visual appeal that photographs well and travels fast on social media, which likely plays some role in the growing curiosity. Prices remain noticeably lower than in Croatia just across the border, making it an attractive add-on for travelers already planning a Balkan itinerary. The country’s smaller airports and less-developed tourism infrastructure mean the experience still feels relatively undiscovered compared to its neighbors.
Greece
Greece remains one of the more established European favorites, but American interest is spreading well beyond Santorini and Mykonos this year. Greece is seeing 16% growth, with islands beyond Santorini gaining traction among American visitors. That diversification matters, since it suggests travelers are seeking the Greek island experience without the peak-season crowds that have made the most famous spots increasingly expensive and congested.
Lesser-known islands are picking up direct ferry connections and small boutique hotels catering specifically to this shift in demand. Travelers who want the whitewashed buildings and turquoise water without the Instagram-famous crowds are finding what they’re looking for further off the beaten path. Mainland destinations, including parts of the Peloponnese, are also seeing a modest bump as Americans extend their itineraries beyond just island-hopping.
Panama
Panama is positioning itself less as a beach destination and more as a business and events hub, and that strategy appears to be paying off. Panama is ramping up its meetings and events game, with big 2026 congresses part of a wider push to fill new hotel rooms and convince visitors to stay extra days in the city or at beach hotspots like Bocas del Toro and the San Blas Islands. That dual approach, business travel feeding into leisure extensions, is a smart way to capture visitors who might otherwise never have considered Panama for vacation.
Panama City’s skyline offers a metropolitan experience that surprises many first-time visitors expecting something smaller or less developed. Travelers can turn a cheap Copa Airlines itinerary into a mini-vacation that mixes rooftop-pool skylines with castaway-style islands without flying halfway around the world. The canal remains a draw on its own, but it’s increasingly just one stop on a broader Panama itinerary rather than the whole trip.
Belize
Belize has quietly built one of the more compelling pitches to American beachgoers looking for an alternative to Mexico’s increasingly crowded coastline. Belize is coming in hot for 2026, already named one of the best off-the-beaten-path destinations thanks to its rainforest, Mayan ruins, and the second-largest barrier reef in the world. That reef access alone gives Belize a genuine edge for divers and snorkelers who want world-class marine life without traveling to more remote parts of the globe.
The country’s tourism board has been leaning hard into new flight routes, including growing low-cost and regional connections from the U.S., making it easier and often cheaper to swap Mexico’s beaches for Belize’s cayes. English being the official language removes a barrier that some travelers weigh heavily when choosing a destination. Small resort towns like Ambergris Caye have expanded their capacity without losing the laid-back feel that originally attracted visitors.
The pattern across these ten countries points to a broader recalibration in how Americans think about travel. Crowded, expensive hotspots are losing some of their automatic appeal, while destinations offering similar experiences at lower cost, with fewer crowds, are picking up the difference. Whether that shift holds through the rest of 2026 will depend partly on flight prices and partly on how well these countries manage to keep the experience fresh as more visitors arrive.
