14 Best Hotels in The Riviera Maya, Mexico

Named after the Maya sun god, Kin Ahau, this beachfront property has rooms ranging from simple Balinese huts to palapa suites with 20-foot vaulted ceilings, enormous decks, and two-person hammocks that make you forget the day of the week. Suites are in two-story buildings, and top-level rooms have vaulted ceilings and sprawling ocean views, while those on the ground floor open onto the sand. The more affordable huts offer jungle views and portable air-conditioning units on request. Yoga and aerial dance classes are available for an extra fee. For a sunny nap with an ocean breeze, head to one of the beach beds or shaded hammocks dotting the sand.

This small, eco-friendly resort hotel caters to the yoga and meditation set, with three spacious, second-floor yoga studios—one with sweeping beachfront views. Rooms are small and simple, with large, firm, comfortable beds draped in gauzy mosquito nets, open bathrooms, and decks or balconies that open to the sand. A small pool, spacious deck set with sun beds and tables, and small, health-conscious restaurant overlook the beach.

A pair of curvaceous buildings contains stylish condo rentals, each complete with a fully equipped kitchen, washer-dryer, and Balinese furnishings. In El Taj Oceanfront, luxurious touches range from stone showers to private whirlpool tubs and rooftop barbecues. Across the street at El Taj Beachside, a lap pool set off by tree-trunk columns winds through a quiet courtyard. You can make your own meals in each condo's designer kitchen or dine at nearby Plank, where El Taj guests receive 15% off. Guests also receive 15% at the Magic Hands spa and free access to The Gym, including fitness classes. El Taj is also one of the few pet-friendly properties in Playa del Carmen.

On the shores of Laguna Bacalar, Rancho Encantado’s property is dotted with freestanding Maya-themed casitas, each of which is uniquely decorated with murals and hammocks and can comfortably sleep four people. Some are on the water and some are closer to the road; the newest are tucked away in a garden in between. Pick a room away from the road, or your nights may be marred by the sound of trucks zooming by. Rooms 8 and 10 have the most privacy. You can swim and snorkel off the private dock leading into the lagoon or tour the ruins in southern Yucatán, Campeche, and Belize. A large breakfast is included in the rate, and guests have free use of kayaks and paddleboats.

On the powdery shores of Xpu-Há, this boutique inn has four chic rooms named after the four elements, all with hardwood floors, thatched roofs, and beds draped in white curtains. Rooms on the top floor have unobstructed ocean views, while those on the ground floor have private plunge pools; the two-story villas have their own infinity pool and are the only category that allows children. Patios with two-person hammocks face the sea, but if you want to get closer, head to the tiny palapas in the sand where silk curtains hang over thatched umbrellas for added privacy. Since a car is needed to reach restaurants in Playa del Carmen, most guests opt for the half-board package, which includes breakfast, dinner, a bottle of wine, and a couples' massage.

This lavish, adults-only resort was designed around the surrounding jungle and has a great beach, nonstop activities, and terrific food for a resort in its price range. Activities like snorkeling, diving, kayaking, aqua aerobics, water polo, and pool volleyball can keep you occupied for the duration of your stay. The marble-floor lobby has bamboo furniture and a central waterfall underneath a giant palapa roof. Rooms have pleasant wood furniture and private terraces with views of the lush foliage. Three large pools, separated from the outdoor hot tubs by an island of palm trees, look out onto the spectacular beach. The food is exceptional and varied, with everything from Spanish tapas to fruit smoothies.

This chic little hotel set right in front of the lagoon offers its guests creature comforts, an excellent restaurant, and lots of tranquility. Rooms are equipped with both air-conditioning and ceiling fans and are decorated with handcrafted furniture made of local wood. On-site amenities include a snack bar, a swimming pool, and a private dock.

Back in the 1960s, Pablo Bush Romero established this resort as a place for his diving buddies to crash, and it still offers pleasant accommodations and a congenial staff. The ocean view trumps the room decor, which is simple and functional. Multi-unit bungalows are surrounded by gardens and standard rooms in the three-story building have pool or bay views. There are also two restaurants and a large swimming pool here.

Built for ecological sustainability, Las Ranitas (the Little Frogs) generates its own electricity through wind-powered generators and solar panels. Each chic and very private room has an ocean view, gorgeous tile headboards, and fabrics from Oaxaca. Terraces overlook gardens and ocean, and jungle walkways lead to the breathtaking beach. Yoga classes are held at 10 am in a fitness studio, and several swimming pools have been added to the property. There are 11 categories of rooms, so choose carefully.

This eco-friendly hotel, just a block from the lagoon shore, offers a laid-back atmosphere and personalized service. Rooms are small but simply and tastefully decorated, while the swimming pool is a piece of art divided into five parts, including a diving pit. The Waah restaurant and the Luuk bar provide interesting dining and wining experiences.  

This boutique beach property—complete with oceanfront pool and exquisite accommodations just steps from the secluded white sand—is one of the area's best. Each room has an indoor–outdoor lounge area, a king-size bed with Egyptian cotton sheets, air-conditioning, and cable TV; some also have luxuries like dual showerheads, additional queen-size trundle beds, and personal plunge pools that can be cooled or heated. Kayaks, snorkel equipment, and bikes are free for guests, and a private dock is the perfect place for a romantic dinner, wedding reception, or sunset cocktail—all of which the hotel would be happy to arrange.

Named after the famous pirate, this warm and family-friendly resort has multiunit cabanas plus freestanding bungalows on the beach's north end that are more private and charming. The A-frame bungalows are actually more like mini log cabins with pine furnishings from Chiapas and small lofts accessible by a ladder; each sleeps five and has a porch that faces a sandy path leading to the beach. The older units, simply decorated in shades of blue and white, have balconies, and some are practically flush with the ocean. An on-site animal refuge and a games room with Ping-Pong and billiards appeal to children.

What used to be a fishermen's village is now a hip hotel consisting of thatched-roof bungalows that make great use of local woods and offer rustic-but-classy luxury and an overall feeling of authenticity. A lively atmosphere around the beach and restaurant sets the tone for the rest of the place. 

On wild Punta Piedra (Rock Point), Zamas has small, rustic cabanas—with palapa roofs and ocean views as far as the eye can see—jungle-side rooms overlooking a garden, palapas facing a coconut grove strung with colorful hammocks, and two spacious private houses that sleep up to 11. Comfortable beds, tile bathrooms, beautiful murals, and bright Mexican colors make them a chic-bohemian alternative for budget travelers. Committed to sustainability, Zamas provides biodegradable bath products, runs on solar power, has a gray-water system, and employs local staff. The restaurant, known for its powerful margaritas, has an eclectic Italian-Mexican-Yucatecan menu, romantic views of the coast, live music five times a week during high season, and tasty portobello jerky. Ping-Pong, foosball, a selection of paperbacks, two small cenotes, several shops featuring local handicrafts and women's wear, and a dive shop round out the property. If you're looking for off-the-beaten-track activity suggestions, the owners are a wealth of information.