Mile upon mile of soft white sand lines a Hotel Zone that’s home to the biggest and best brands in the world of luxury resorts. The Kempinski, the Hyatt, the Hilton, the Hard Rock Hotel: the level of competition, class, and sheer extravagance is fierce in Cancun, making this the best place in Mexico for an all-inclusive getaway. 

You can spend your entire vacation sipping on mezcal cocktails around the infinity pool or ordering margaritas to your beachfront cabana. Enjoy buffet breakfasts that are to die for, fresh seafood and steaks for lunch, and teppanyaki shows for dinner. However you love to spend your holidays, you’ll find it here once you’ve checked into one of the best hotels in Cancun. 

And if you prefer an adventure, then you’re covered. Jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards, and sailing boats traverse the Caribbean Sea, while Xcaret Park, Chichen Itza, and cenotes are all just a day trip away. If you’re looking for the best places to stay in Cancun, then we’ve got you covered. Find out more below!

Where to Stay in Cancun

Cancun is a place where everything is designed to make your vacation easy. And that even includes the planning stage, because when you’re deciding where to stay in Cancun, there’s only one choice on the table. The best hotels and resorts are all located on a long, sandy spit of land that overlooks the Caribbean Sea.

This is the Hotel Zone. Located on Isla Cancun, it is separated from Downtown Cancun by the Nichupte Lagoon, where you’ll find mangroves and crocodiles aplenty. Stretching for some 10 miles from the Punta Cancun lighthouse in the north to Punta Nizuc in the south, this is where you’ll be based during your Cancun vacation.  

Along this stretch of land that’s sandwiched between the lagoon and the sea, you’ll find classic all-inclusive resorts like the Hard Rock Hotel and The Pyramid. There are golf courses, shopping malls, and an endless stretch of white sand for you to enjoy. There are also Maya ruins, archaeological sites, and museums, all within walking distance of the hotels. 

If you’re planning a trip to Mexico’s Caribbean coastline, then keep reading as we countdown the 12 best hotels in Cancun! 

The 12 Best Luxury Hotels in Cancun, Mexico

1. Hard Rock Hotel Cancun

Have a rock ‘n’ roll vacation with a stay at the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun! This five-star hotel is one of the coolest hotels in Cancun, and you’ll feel like a rock star when you’re checking into an all-inclusive with no less than six Hard Rock-themed restaurants.

You’ll find the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun is located right on the beach between the lagoon and the Caribbean Sea. A gorgeous outdoor swimming pool overlooks soft white sand, where you can listen to your “Personalized Hard Rock Playlist” as you soak up the sun. 

Rooms at the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun are designed for the best rock and pop stars out there. Crack open a cold beer as you take in blistering views from your private balcony, or go overboard and order a bottle of champagne to sip in the in-room whirlpool (yes, every room features a hydro spa tub!) – just don’t smash up the LCD television as Led Zeppelin would!

The hotel’s unique “Sound of Your Stay Program” is a constant musical companion to your vacation, and you can tune into your favorite rock beats in the hot tub, listen to vinyl tracks in your suite, or reserve one of the hotel’s legendary electric guitars for a jam session. Upgrade to the “Rocky Royalty” level, and you’ll even gain added perks, like Rock Spa products, priority reservations, and an aromatherapy and pillow menu.

Frida Restaurant serves up Mexican buffets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun. Zen specializes in teppanyaki, Cia offers Italian cuisine, Toro grills up meats, and Pizzeto fires up the pizza oven all day long by the beach. And with this being the Hard Rock Hotel, you’re guaranteed to have exciting (and loud) entertainment nightly.

2. Royal Uno

The Royal Uno is a classic choice in Cancun’s Hotel Zone. This five-star all-inclusive is perfect for families and romantics alike, and given the location next to the Maya Museum of Cancun (and the two complimentary entrance tickets you receive to the museum upon check-in), it’s perfect for history buffs, too!

Spend your vacation lounging on the beach or ordering margaritas from your sun lounger and beating the heat with a tactical dip in the ocean-view swimming pool before gorging on seafood tacos from the Snack Shack. 

Kids and adults alike will love the hotel’s mini waterpark, while down on the beach, you can explore the coast by kayak or canoe. Book a session at the Alea Spa for the ultimate wind-down package, where facials, massages, and body wraps are all on the treatment menu.

Luxury rooms at the Royal Uno offer ocean or beachfront views from private balconies. Queen or king-size beds with pillow-top mattresses are just begging to be slept in, while smart TVs and all-inclusive room service make these rooms an easy place to relax. 

OS is a family-friendly restaurant that serves an ever-changing buffet daily, Palotinte offers an eclectic a la carte Mexican menu, Miamare is Italian-themed, and Aora has Asian-fusion dishes that are guaranteed to delight. If you need an evening away from the kids, then book a table at Kukul Cantina, an adults-only steakhouse where the cocktails and live music don’t end until the early hours of the morning.

3. Canopy by Hilton Cancun La Isla

The Canopy by Hilton Cancun La Isla is one of the coolest hotels in Cancun. Facing out over the Nichupte Lagoon, rather than the Caribbean Sea, this is one of few five-star hotels in the Hotel Zone that isn’t all-inclusive. 

Instead, this quirky boutique hotel brings the feel of a modern five-star urban hotel to the sunny surroundings of La Isla. If you need a break from the endless cocktails and buffet lunches, then you’ll love the laid-back refinery when you check into your “Just-Right” room, where colorful murals adorn the walls, a “hanging chair” is made for relaxing, and the intuitive Canopy Beds induce a sense of sleep like no other. 

Your luxury room offers a beautiful view of the lagoon, but at sunset, we recommend making your way to the rooftop terrace. Here you’ll enjoy one of the best panoramas in Cancun as the sun lowers itself over the horizon. You can order handcrafted cocktails, coffee, or fresh smoothies on the rooftop, where you’ll also find an outdoor swimming pool and an indoor fitness center. 

Downstairs, the Azulinda Cafe and Bar serves up a uniquely artisanal selection of cakes, snacks, and beverages sourced from the local markets. At Canopy Central, you can enjoy the plush sofas and open-plan setting as you catch up on emails, plan your itinerary, or just sit back with a latte. 

4. Live Aqua Beach Resort

Strap in for an adults-only ride to paradise when you check into your luxury, five-star suite at the Live Aqua Beach Resort. Perfectly situated among the famous resorts of the Hotel Zone, this is one of the top hotels in Cancun.

This is a beach resort that intends to satisfy your senses, whether that’s through gourmet food, expert massages, or the perfect combination of soft linens and sumptuous mattresses in the bedroom. The stylish rooms feature colorful murals, handmade wooden headboards, and soft, feather-down pillows that you can complement with your choice of scents from the aromatherapy menu. 

Molton Brown toiletries are the perfect choice for your luxury bathroom, while mood lighting and remote-controlled curtains add to the sense of elegance. Take things up a notch with a session in the Feel Harmony Spa by Live Aqua, where you can choose between Swedish Massages and Bamboo Scrubs. 

The outdoor swimming pool, overlooking the Caribbean Sea, needs little introduction, while Head Chef Cesar Germain serves up a storm of world-class cuisine across the Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, and Sushi restaurants. 

5. The Pyramid Cancun

The Pyramid Cancun, with its almost brutalist architecture, is one of those Cancun hotels that always divides opinion. Some love it, and some loathe it, but what you can’t deny is that this pyramidal-shaped resort is one of the most recognizable sights on the Cancun skyline.

The Pyramid Cancun’s architecture is intended to emulate that of the ancient Maya. The four sides of the hotel are angled upwards, like that of the Temple of Kukulcan in Chichen Itza, while the hotel’s peculiarly flat rooftop sticks out abruptly, head and shoulders above the rest of the resorts in the Hotel Zone.

It’s certainly unique, but the Pyramid Cancun is also a five-star all-inclusive hotel with a mass of outdoor swimming pools, as many as 20 bars, and endless options for entertainment, both day and night (is anyone up for a burlesque show?). From your luxury room, you’ll have wonderful views over the Caribbean Sea, while tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course, and a fully equipped fitness center help you work off those excess calories.

You’ll need to, because the Pyramid Cancun has 24 restaurants and snack bars serving up everything from seafood tacos to steaks. At Benazuza, you can enjoy a romantic Mexican meal in a refined setting, the Black Hole offers an unusual degustation menu, and The White Box serves up Mediterranean classics. And, of course, there are many, many more restaurants for you to choose from during your stay!

6. Secrets The Vine Cancun

One of the best Cancun hotels for adults only is Secrets The Vine Cancun. This five-star resort is located in a stunning beachfront tower, and you’ll love taking in the supreme panorama from your private balcony as you sip on a welcome margarita after check-in.

Secrets The Vine Cancun aims to provide “Unlimited Luxury” during your stay. Each of the 497 rooms is marvelously appointed with teak furnishings, custom-made headboards, and Italian porcelain floors, while the bathrooms feature soaking tubs encased in white glass. 

Best of all, though, is the 24/7 concierge service, which you can access and organize through the interactive tablet and connectivity app that you’ll be given on arrival. Uniquely, the app also provides you with unlimited phone calls abroad, too, so you can easily keep in touch with your family and friends while you’re living it up in Cancun. 

Soak up the heat in the sauna and steam room at Secrets Spa by Pevonia, treat yourself to a Full Body Polish or a Seaweed Wrap, then enjoy the sunshine around one of the hotel’s three outdoor swimming pools. With nine restaurants, bars, and cafes to choose from, the unlimited luxury continues in the form of gourmet cuisine at this hotel. 

There are pool bars, beach bars, and wine bars where you can make the most of your all-inclusive package while enjoying classy cocktails and a refined selection of vintages, both Mexican and international. 

The Barefoot Grill serves tasty snacks around the swimming pool, while the Bluewater Grill offers steaks perfectly paired with red wines for dinner, and the Sea Salt Grill serves the fresh catch of the day straight from the fishermen’s nets.

7. Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun 

One of the best Cancun resorts is the Grand Fiesta Americana. Located by Punta Cancun, right in the heart of the Hotel Zone, this sprawling resort has an unbeatable beachfront and offers beautiful views from high-rise balconies. 

This is an all-inclusive experience at its finest. Couples can book romantic private dining experiences on the beach, moms and dads can whisk their children off to the Kidz Club, and adventure travelers can explore by kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. Spend all day lounging under the beach or poolside cabanas, embrace the treatments and massages at the Gem Spa, and enjoy nightly entertainment shows after a gourmet dinner. 

And you will love the culinary selections available in the Grand Fiesta Americana’s restaurants. Tuscany serves Italian favorites like cacio e pepe, seafood risotto, and spaghetti carbonara, Torii has a team of teppanyaki chefs putting on brilliant performances while cooking excellent Japanese cuisine, and Havana is an Argentine grill house serving tomahawk steaks and Caribbean lobster alongside classic sides like mac and cheese.

8. Hyatt Zilara Cancun

With its whitewashed walls, calm, cream interiors, and a Greco-Roman-inspired facade, the Hyatt Zilara Cancun whisks you across the Atlantic Ocean with its Mediterranean vibes. But you’re in Cancun, not Corfu, and as you gaze out across the Caribbean Sea from your Ocean Front Suite, you’ll love sipping on mezcal cocktails as you plan the evening’s culinary journey into tacos, mole, and pozole. 

This five-star all-inclusive has one of the best selections of “local” restaurants in the Hotel Zone. With no less than six buffets and a la carte dining experiences to choose from, we suggest starting with a sunset tequila at the beachfront Tequileria Bar to kick things off. Habaneros serves up light bites in a casual setting, while you can reserve a table at Marie Marie for a fine dining experience.

Cantina La Adelita has the classic Mexican atmosphere you’re here for, while Punta Vista Restaurant cooks up fresh seafood straight from the Caribbean Sea. There are cafes, a lobby bar, a swim-up bar, and a Teppanyaki Cooking Show, but the best of the best is reserved for the “Chef’s Plate” experience, where haute cuisine is served in a private dining room, accompanied by sommelier-picked wines.  

The 310 luxury rooms at the Hyatt Zilara Cancun offer beautiful views from private balconies, while the best suites feature private, swim-up plunge pools. Handcrafted furniture, soaking tubs, luxury toiletries, and more ensure a super comfortable stay. When you’re not in your luxe room, lounge in the beach cabanas, work out in the Sky Gym, or unwind with Mayan-inspired treatments at the Zen Spa. 

9. Nizuc Resort & Spa

Perfectly located at Punta Nizuc, you’ll love the refined yet peaceful surroundings of Nizuc Resort & Spa, where you can escape the hustle of the Hotel Zone while enjoying five-star luxury. 

Nizuc Resort & Spa is a little different from the classic hotels found to its north. For starters, you don’t need to book an all-inclusive package, which means the restaurants and bars are focused on quality, rather than quantity. Secondly, the resort isn’t trying to emulate Las Vegas or the Mediterranean. Instead, the Nizuc Resort & Spa has been inspired by the local, Maya history, which is something of a rarity in Cancun.

The 274 luxury rooms, suites, and villas are spaced out across 29 acres of tropical rainforest, creating the feel of a Maya city of old. From your private balcony, terrace, or swimming pool, you’ll have views of mangroves, lush gardens, or the Caribbean Sea. All rooms feature natural, sustainable materials, including wooden wardrobes and wicker furnishings, while the villas offer both indoor and outdoor showers for a truly immersive experience. 

The hotel is home to the only ESPA-branded spa in the Caribbean Sea, with a signature Nizuc Thermal Experience intended to channel the heat, steam, and fire of a traditional Temazcal ceremony. 

The hotel’s reflective pool is the perfect setting for a romantic dinner, or you can enjoy a private dining experience on the soft white sands of the beachfront. Ramona Restaurant serves classy Mexican fare, Indochine is inspired by Eastern flavors, and Ni offers a taste of Peruvian cuisine. 

10. Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun

One of the best hotels in Cancun is Le Blanc Spa Resort. This glorious, five-star resort is an adults-only all-inclusive stay, and its beachfront location, infinity pool, and fine-dining cuisine make for the perfect Cancun escape. 

Beautifully appointed rooms feature lagoon or ocean views from private balconies and panoramic viewing windows, while king-size beds, BVLGARI toiletries, and a Lavazza coffee machine all come as standard. You’ll love the rainfall showers, and you’ll be surprised when you hear that every room features a double jacuzzi tub with massage jets!

This is all-inclusive luxury at its best, and even the most basic package at Le Blanc Spa Resort includes a personal butler service, nightly turndown, and a minibar that’s replenished daily with top-shelf spirits and branded drinks. Fine dining and expert mixology is at the heart of this resort’s ethos, with high-end restaurants serving up traditional French, Italian, Japanese, and Mexican cuisine. 

11. Kempinski Hotel Cancun

The Kempinski Hotel is one of our all-time favorite Cancun resorts. Bringing a touch of Old-World European class to the Caribbean Sea (the Kempinski group is one of the world’s oldest luxury hotel brands!), you’ll love how this five-star hotel shimmers with class on the white sands of the Hotel Zone.

The sleek facade of the Kempinski Hotel would be more at home in Berlin or Warsaw than here, but that’s exactly what makes this one of the most unique resorts in Cancun. Elegant, wrought iron balconies offer superb views of the azure waters below, while vaulted ceilings, chandeliers, and stained glass windows bring 19th-century Europe to Mexico.

Luxury rooms feature soft carpets and refined furniture, while bathrooms are marbled, with deep soaking tubs, walk-in rain showers, and Salvatore Ferragamo amenities. You can spend the day soaking up the Cancun sun around the outdoor swimming pool or down on the beach, where shaded cabanas line the soft, white sands. 

At Fantino, you’ll dine on sumptuous Mediterranean fare that could be served to applause in a Greek hotel, while the Club Grill offers fine dining cuisine to the tune of live jazz piano music. Casitas cooks up steaks paired with fine wines on the beachfront, and D-Lounge serves cocktails and sashimi late into the night.

12. Hyatt Ziva Cancun

The Hyatt Ziva is one of the most beautiful Cancun hotels. This five-star all-inclusive has an unbeatable location on the northern tip of Punta Cancun, where the hotel’s sleek, modern design melts seamlessly into white sands and turquoise waters. 

The fantastic location ensures that a stay at the Hyatt Ziva feels like a secluded stay outside the Hotel Zone, even if you’re just a short walk from the rest of the malls, resorts, clubs, and restaurants that make Cancun such a buzzing destination. Look out from your private balcony, and you’ll see nothing but sand and sea stretching toward the horizon, while the swim-up bars and infinity pools are guaranteed to wow.

Spend the day relaxing in the Hyatt Ziva’s spa, where you can enjoy a massage under the palm fronds of the beach cabanas before completing a hydro circuit of the indoor spa pool. Beer lovers rejoice because this is the first all-inclusive in Cancun with an on-site microbrewery, while foodies have no less than eight restaurants to choose from, including a French bistro, an American diner, and an Italian restaurant. 

That completes our list of the 12 best Cancun hotels! Did we miss any cool resorts in Cancun? Comment below so we can add them to the list!

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