Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Mexico: The Ultimate All-Inclusive

Luxurious stay at Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya

We arrived at Cancun International airport during our winter vacation to the Mayan Riviera. Hotel RIU Palace is located an hour and a half away from Cancun, so planning hotel transfers usually requires a charter bus that can be reserved in advance. Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya is one of many Riu-brand hotels that line the peninsula’s coastline. We arrived at a beautiful white stucco palace inspired by Spanish Moor architecture. Hotel Riu Palace hotels offer the brand's highest level of luxury. This hotel literally has everything you could need or imagine, with the added benefit of the all-inclusive program, and world-class service. If you have a love for the lavish, then this is the hotel for you. It boasts luxury design influences that make guests feel like royalty.

There are several included hotel amenities, gourmet dining as well as additional food and beverage locations. The five a-lá-carte restaurants include something for everyone, catering to various tastes and sensitivities. During my stay I really enjoyed the #RiuGetTogetherParty — a nightlife-inspired lineup of DJs suitable for all ages— as well as the RiuFit live fitness classes, and there’s also a free entry at The Hotel Riu Tequila nightclub. The beachfront hotel property is surrounded by beautiful gardens and pools. There is an adult pool, which features a swim-up pool bar, with pool seats so you can enjoy a cool beverage while taking a cool dip in the sun. There are included water sports including bodyboarding, snorkeling, a free scuba pool less and for additional costs scuba equipment rental. There is also RiuLand, a kids program for kids starting at 4 years old. Another thing that was amazing was my spa day at the Renova Spa, which includes a number of beauty services, therapeutic massages, relaxation pools and steam baths at an additional cost. For golf lovers, there is access to golf at neighboring Resorts.

Activities & adventures in Playa del Carmen

XCARET: An eco-nature park and preserve. This park sits on acres of lush Mexican jungle, and is family-friendly with features like a lazy river experience that spans the entire park. Numerous wildlife interactions and tours like scuba, snorkeling and shark encounters. There is plenty of dining onsite available and the ending of the day's visit is wrapped up with a theatric performance of The Mexican Historical origin story spanning from the times of the Mayans through today. The XCARET Brand also offers a number of other parks and experiences down the Mexican coast.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on Playa del Carmen. In need of further inspiration? Check out Tamara Stampone’s guide, Planning Your Stay: Resorts on Medano Beach, Cabo.