Riu Tequila Delivers a Real Treat

Upon arriving at this resort, we were immediately welcomed by the front desk concierge and were able to check in slightly early. After getting to our rooms, we were able to explore the resort!

This property features five restaurants, four main pools (and a kiddie pool!), a sand volleyball court and many open bars. There is a main dining hall, three specialty restaurants, a poolside grill and a 24-hour snack station that will cover all late-night cravings. One of the pools is adults-only, and this pool features a swim-up bar! This is where our party spent most of our time.

While this property is not located directly on the beach, it sits in a complex of other Riu properties that do have beach access. There is a golf-cart shuttle that will take you across the road to the nearby Riu Yucatán, and the Riu Tequila has their own sectioned space for you to enjoy the beachfront! You will also enjoy reciprocal access to their dining area if hunger strikes while lounging.

For any shopping needs such as sunscreen or souvenirs, there is a small shop right at the front of the property that will cover the basics. However, just a little further outside and to the left, there are many local vendors who are eager to sell their wares. Additionally, there is a highly rated tattoo shop inside the complex! Kin Tattoo Studio Playacar was on our list to check out. Four pristine tattoos later, I can say our party completely vouches for these guys. They put meticulous care into our designs and we all left happy customers.

While in the end we preferred the main dining hall to most of the specialty restaurants, the food overall was, in my opinion, a much higher quality than typical run-of-the-mill buffets. This was a pleasant discovery. To no one’s surprise, the Mexican dishes were easily the best of what we had! The bar program was exceptional and offered many options both with and without alcohol to make decisions easy. All the cocktails we ordered were delicious, and I enjoyed not having to think too much about what to drink!

All in all, we had a wonderful stay at the Riu Tequila. The staff are friendly, the views are beautiful, and I would look forward to returning anytime.

CUN (Cancun) Airport is the closest flight option to this property; however, it is still about an hour away from the resort and pre-scheduled transport is highly recommended. A taxi to this location would be exorbitant in cost.

Additionally, most of the resort staff do speak English and can address any major concerns easily!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Playa del Carmen. In need of further inspiration? Check out Ryan Arnold’s guide, 5 Days in Playa del Carmen: Beaches, Culture and Adventure.