7 Best Hotels in Cancún, Mexico

Tucked away on a beach sheltered by mangroves and facing the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, this stylish 29-acre resort has the most secluded location in Cancún. Choose from six swanky restaurants, including Asian-accented Indochine and Ramona, a modern Mexican alternative. Step into the Havana Lounge for a hand-rolled cigar paired with aged sipping rum. If you can pry yourself away from the glorious, uncrowded white-sand beach or two pools, there’s an ESPA spa with a list of pampering treatments. The 13 room categories range from suites with private plunge pools to villas with enclosed courtyards; integrating stone, wood, and slate, these Maya-chic accommodations include thoughtful extras like touch-screen phones and high-quality bath products.

One of the region's few boutique-style all-inclusives, this modern sugar-cube-like structure is stylishly decorated in creams and whites, and offers the perfect balance of luxury and comfort. The spacious suites, which fall into eleven categories, are equipped with large closets, rain showers, whirlpool tubs, stocked minibars, Bulgari bath products, and espresso machines; two-story beachfront casitas have the best views and come with a rooftop terrace and private plunge pool. On-site amenities include three pools; four gourmet restaurants; six stylish bars; a marina; and a 35,000-square-foot spa with a variety of hydrothermal therapies, including a crystal steam hammam, a Roman caldarium, and a Swedish sauna. 

This luxury resort, perched at the very point where Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico meet, caters to families and adults, and manages to do so by keeping them separate. The Turquoize adults-only tower offers such stylish touches as private hot tubs, swim-up suites, and a rooftop pool. An on-site microbrewery gives you options beyond the standard Dos Equis and Corona selections. A stay at the lower-rise family section allows access to the @Moods Lounge and Club and KidZ Club. No matter which part of Ziva you call home, your brightly lit room will have handcrafted furnishings and rainfall showers. 

What is perhaps Cancún's most luxurious adults-only all-inclusive has a chic, modern decor and caters mainly to couples who like to dress their best for evening meals at one of the various on-site eateries, including an impressive French restaurant with a seven-course tasting menu. Every room has an indoor whirlpool tub, a pillow menu, and Bulgari bath products; however, only about 60% of the rooms have full ocean views. The one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio means you're in for some serious pampering. To achieve the highest level of relaxation, pair your complimentary hydrotherapy session with the Kukulcán massage, a four-handed, 80-minute, Maya-inspired treatment.

Onyx pillars rising from two-tone marble floors, overshadowed only by a massive stained-glass ceiling illuminated from above, are your first indication of luxury at this adults-only resort, where every room has a terrace, hot tub, walk-in closet, and drop box for discreet room-service delivery. The nine eateries include a sushi bar, lobster house, and fine dining French restaurant. Reminiscent of a Greek temple, the spa features private relaxation rooms, heated waterbeds, and a 12-step hydrotherapy circuit. There are seven pools and a winding man-made river on-site; if you want a break from the water, cooking classes, Spanish lessons, dancing, archery, and more are offered. An 18-hole golf course is attached to the grounds.

Those who love the trappings of traditional luxury—stained-glass skylights, mahogany furniture, stunning floral arrangements—will feel at home at this all-suites hotel, which also has the award-winning Le Basilic restaurant and the enormous Gem Spa. The hotel's W shape means all rooms have ocean views in addition to marble floors, sunken living rooms, and infinity balconies; upgrading to the Grand Club Level gets you private check-in, an open bar, beach service, breakfast, and appetizers throughout the day. The beach here is quiet and calm, as the neighboring lighthouse and jetty cut the current. Families will be impressed with the numerous activities offered at the multi-zoned Kids Club. Note that the hotel's sheer size may seem daunting, but you'll be well attended to by multilingual concierges.

Rooms at this hotel, which caters mostly to families, have plenty of light and ample space, although some feel a bit dated—for a better experience, book an ocean-view villa. With six restaurants and three bars, the dining offer is a good deal, even if the offerings are nothing spectacular.