The 40 Best Resorts in Mexico: 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards
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Unforgettable food. Cutting-edge design. Immersive experiences. These are some of your top criteria for judging what makes a quality hotel—not to mention a worthy resort, cruise, spa, or island. In tallying up the 575,048 votes cast in our 37th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, we were struck by both your eagerness to embrace the new and your reverence for tried-and-true classics. Your favorite hotel in the five boroughs is the two-year-old Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, but you also can’t stop returning to storied French Polynesian resort The Brando. You’ve jetted through the sprawling Istanbul International Airport, booked intrepid sailings to Antarctica, and fallen in love with historic yet innovative cities like Copenhagen. Read on to start planning your next round of travels—these are the best resorts in Mexico, as voted by our readers.
View all of the the Readers’ Choice Awards winners for 2024 here.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Atelier Playa Mujereshotel20. Atelier Playa Mujeres
Readers' Choice Awards 2023, 2024This five-star gem with a rolling green golf course and tequila tastings opened in 2020. Its butler service and rooftop amenities like El Cielo sky bar make it a new favorite for milestone trips like big birthdays and bachelorettes. The on-site Mexican cuisine feels at home here. Set away from the busier strip of Cancun, it's a hidden gem with lots of Spanish-speaking clientele and a smaller feel than you might know in this resort area.
Courtesy UNICO Riviera Mayahotel19. UNICO 20˚87˚Hotel Riviera Maya
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024At this all-inclusive, adults-only resort along the Riveria Maya, the food, spa treatments, and stellar views are the main attractions. Rooms and suites come with perks like private swim-up pools, outdoor spa tubs, and panoramic views, while the airy interiors feature wooden accents, hand-crafted furniture, and works made by local artists. Guests can opt for “local host” service: They will help arrange everything from a pillow menu request to an insider’s guide to the local food scene. Alternatively, take your pick from the five onsite restaurants—spanning Mediterranean, Mexican, Japanese, and European cuisines—including Cueva Siete, overseen by celebrity chef Xavier Perez Stone.
Hyatt Zilara Cancunhotel18. Hyatt Zilara Cancun
Readers' Choice Awards 2024When the kids head off to summer camp, and it’s time to hunt for your own fun in the sun, Cancun is one of the first places that comes to mind. And at this adults-only, all-inclusive resort, guests are treated to the longest stretch of shoreline along the beach town’s Zona Hotelera, getting a slice of the breezy Caribbean all to themselves. After lounging at the beach, guests still in the mood for a swim can take a dip at the infinity pool, or strike up a conversation with the lively bartenders at the swim-up bars. With 24/7 dining, fitness programs like water volleyball and aqua gym classes, and white glove service from the beach to your suite, the Hyatt Zilara Cancun will bring you back to the carefree joy of your playground days.
Courtesy Vidanta Riviera Mayahotel17. Vidanta Riviera Maya
Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024At this jungle paradise built for luxury, nothing was done halfway. Guests have access to more than a thousand acres of wild and manicured tropical land, dotted with gleaming swimming pools and flanked by beach. There are more than 15 bars and restaurants, a Jack Nicklaus–designed golf course, a lavish spa, and a dynamic water world called the Jungala Aqua Experience. Further proof that no stops were left un-pulled-out: Vidanta is home to the Riviera Maya’s resident Cirque du Soleil show, Joya. Guests can choose between five separate hotels on the property: The Grand Mayan, Grand Luxxe, The Grand Bliss, The Bliss, and Mayan Palace.
Edgardo Contreras/Courtesy JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spahotel16. JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2022, 2024Right in the middle of the action in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, the JW Marriott is an upscale escape that puts a premium on space and subtle luxuries. The majority of rooms have balconies and ocean views, and the ones with Club 91 perks have access to an all-day lounge. The impressive spa pays homage to Mayan vitality traditions, and the fitness center includes tennis courts and an Olympic-style swimming pool. Along with the beach, there are several other swimming pools, including free-form outdoor pools for families and adults and a 14-foot-deep dive pool with an artificial reef.
Courtesy Generations Riviera Maya/Photo by Moris Morenohotel15. Generations Riviera Maya
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2016, 2020, 2024Opened in 2014 by Karisma Hotels & Resorts, this 144 all-suite spot has mastered the art of being family-friendly without all that elbow-jostling; with some of the largest rooms in the Mexican Caribbean, sliding walls that allow guests to determine the amount of space they need, and big bathrooms with two sinks and a hot tub. A dedicated butler service takes care of the unpacking and settling in, and even books local activities like kayak lessons. No detail is too small: strollers, cribs, even child-size robes and slippers, are there for the taking. The resort represents a happy marriage of casual and comfortable without getting too boisterous, starting with an airy lobby. There are milkshakes for the young, and wine tastings through a partnership with Santa Rosa-based Jackson Family Wines for parents. If you feel like getting some quiet time, drop the children off at the Eko Kids Club and head over to the adults-only El Dorado resort right next door, where vegetables are harvested from the resort's own 76,000 square-foot hydroponic greenhouse.
Courtesy Jason Dewey/St. Regis Kanaihotel14. The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya
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Hot List 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2024When viewed from above, the St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya looks like a deconstructed Olympic logo—a series of curvaceous shapes sitting on over a mile of private beach. It’s meant to be a celestial schematic (inspired by the 1,000-plus stars in the constellation Pleiades), with gleaming, ultramodern white buildings hovering over protected mangroves. While the scale may seem overwhelming at first, the genius of its indoor-outdoor architecture reveals itself throughout one’s stay. Every thoughtfully designed, Mayan-inspired room has a view of the sea; there are elevated wooden walkways in lieu of cement paths; and the whole place is surrounded by a ridiculous amount of greenery. The generous footprint allows for a variety of tastes and needs to be accommodated—solo travelers, honeymooners, girlfriends on getaways, extended families—with minimal overlap. There are multiple beach clubs, a kids’ club, and seven dining options (and dedicated butlers to help you manage it all). But the pièce de résistance here is the spa: It’s like a boutique resort within the resort, and you could easily spend the entire day there, whether getting pampered or not. Offerings include separate men’s and women’s outdoor aqua-thermal circuits with pools and a menu of treatments that incorporate ancient Mayan traditions. Best yet, the spa can be experienced even if you’re not staying on property. Similarly, St. Regis guests can easily pop over to the Edition or the Etéreo (an Auberge resort), the hotel’s neighbors in this gated development.
Courtesy Karisma Hotels & Resorts/©2014 Paul Dyerhotel13. El Dorado Maroma
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2024Fronting one of the prettiest beaches in the world, just 10 minutes north of Playa del Carmen, one of the best of nearly a dozen Karisma hotels stands out for its impeccable sand and incredible staff. Favorite picks of the 72 accommodations are the Royal Swim Up Suites with direct access to the main pool via a lazy river. All are spacious and romantic, flaunting a creamy orange and deep purple paint job. Breakfast and lunch at Sabores or Papitos Gourmet Beach Club can be followed by dinner at the Japanese-centric Kiyoko or Mediterranean-inspired Mio Cuccina Italiana restaurants. There's no need to bring bucks or bibs, this being the all-inclusive, adults-only set up that it is.
Courtesy Viceroy Hotels and Resortshotel12. Viceroy Riviera Maya
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Staying at the Viceroy Riviera Maya is a vacation in the truest sense of the word: Palapa villas with lots of wood and rattan (many with private pools and outdoor showers) are connected by meandering pathways that fan out to lush, fragrant gardens. And it’s all fronted by seven miles of glorious, white sand beaches. Just remember that you are in the jungle, so be sure to keep your eye out for wily spider monkeys.
hotel11. Palafitos - Overwater Bungalows
Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2024Evoking images of resorts in the Maldives or South Pacific, Palafitos Overwater Bungalows lets guests sleep, well, over the water in individual, thatched-roof villas. (For something extra special, book the Elite Overwater Bungalow, which comes with glass floors and a private plunge pool.) You can swim in the surrounding Caribbean waters directly from your room, but venture a bit further to discover the resort's other offerings, which include scuba diving lessons and camel rides in the desert. The included dining options range from Mexican to Peruvian cuisine, with Caribbean influences all around.
Banyan Tree Mayakobahotel10. Banyan Tree Mayakoba
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023, 2024After its recent $50 million expansion, this is the star of the Mayakoba development in Playa del Carmen, with 34 private beachfront pool suites and a brand-new beach club with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. Beneath wooden pergolas and linen umbrellas of the Sands Beach Club, city dwellers on a seaside escape bask in the balmy Yucatán air before the languid Caribbean waters of Riviera Maya. The development includes a waterway lined with mangroves perfect for kayaking excursions, over two miles of biking and walking trails, and a Greg Norman-designed, 18-hole golf course. The resort has its very own turtle field since, where four of the seven species worldwide come to nest on the beaches of the complex.
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Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmenhotel9. Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen
Readers' Choice Awards 2024There's a serene aura that surrounds the design of the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen, with its terraced infinity pool that seems as if it feeds directly into the ocean. The highlight of the guest rooms here are the balconies which perch over the crystalline waters of Playa del Carmen and the emerald branches of the property’s mangrove trees. Some even come with plunge pools for guests looking for a quiet spot to unwind anytime. While the bathrooms are spa-like with granite, striped marble, and teak wood details, you’ll feel all your knots melt away at the expert hands of Cenote Spa.
Mi Amorhotel8. Mi Amor
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2021, 2024Set on a rocky outcrop overlooking the beach in Tulum, this adults-only boutique hotel is filled with romantic little nooks from which to take in the sun and surf: egg-shaped chairs dangling over the pool, cushioned daybeds in private gazebos, hammocks slung from private patios. You’ll want to leave the sliding doors in your guestroom open to invite in the sea breeze. At the onsite restaurant, timeless classics from Mexico’s coastal regions are served at brunch every day and feature on the intimate dinner menu. Spa treatments include ground coffee exfoliation, chocolate mud wraps, and flower baths. Best of all, you’re about a 35-minute walk from the Mayan ruins of the Tulum archaeological site.
Courtesy Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancunhotel7. Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023, 2024Expect "a bit of Caribbean heaven" at this all-inclusive beach resort 20 minutes southwest of Puerto Morelos. Suites, some of which are swim-in/swim-out, are surrounded by 12 small pools and have views of "the most beautiful white sand beach." "Staff pamper you but respect your privacy." Sit under a palapa and enjoy seafood at Oceana; Himitsu has four teppanyaki grill tables. The 13,000-square-foot spa is "a wonderful refuge"—try the Papaya Passion, an exfoliation with papaya seeds and oils in a Vichy shower.
Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collectionhotel6. Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023, 2024Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection is only a 30-minute drive from the Cancún airport, but this slice of heaven on the Riviera Maya feels light-years away from the chaos. The resort is incredibly family-friendly, but not in a way that sacrifices any of its sophistication. It’s the type of place where you stay put and enjoy everything it has to offer, like luxurious spa treatments, unique culinary experiences, and pool and beachside lounging, unless you’re going on one of the excursions organized by the hotel, which range from water activities, like cenote exploration and sailing to a tour of the local archaeological zones. Every single one of the 75 rooms is ocean-facing, with floor to ceiling sliding glass doors framing the view, and leading to private terraces perched above the mangroves. Couples and families with young kids looking for an easy, peaceful escape would do well to book a stay at this intimate property.
Victor Elias/Waldorf Astoria Cancunhotel5. Waldorf Astoria Cancun
$$$ | Hot List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2023, 2024For all the resorts that crowd Mexico’s east coast, the Waldorf stands out for its truly white-glove service and amenities that make it hard to leave the property. There are infinity pools aplenty, acres of pristine coastline, and that most glorious asset of all, the feeling of complete privacy in one of the country’s most bustling vacation spots. The decor, a soothing sea of creams and sand hues, spotlights Mexican artisans and highlights materials like tropical woods and local stone. The vibe here is palpably slow—no rushing from one activity to the next, just relaxing. And there are enough private cabanas to go around—you can forget about the dreaded visit to the pool at dawn to reserve a great spot. There are also dozens of lounge chairs facing the beach for when the ocean is your dip du jour. With comfortable yet polished rooms, an excellent spa, and a clutch of bars and restaurants serving excellent riffs on traditional dishes and drinks, this is Cancun like you’ve never seen it.
Courtesy Hotel Esenciahotel4. Hotel Esencia
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Gold List 2018, 2019, 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2024Right on Xpu-ha beach, the best stretch of white sands on this part of Mexico's Caribbean coast, Esencia is one of those hotels that is spoken about in hushed tones by bohemians in the know, none of whom want to let this secret get out. But those who do make it here discover a small, natural beauty of place set on a palm-swaying estate on the edge of the tumbling sea. There are hammocks to laze in, and a dimly lit spa where lotions and potions made from garden herbs are crushed into poultices to smooth out knots. For snorkeling among rainbow-colored fish, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is a five-minute hop on the hotel’s catamaran. There are ceviches and tiraditos to try at Mistura, a restaurant with views of the moon-dappled sea, and a wooden beach bar that does the best Margaritas in Mexico. Then there are the rooms. The interiors of the house, originally built as a hideaway for an Italian duchess, have splashes of fifties art and huge bedrooms with generous terraces. There are brand-new Jungle Rooms with plunge pools and beach suites that are a study in white. All in all, it is perfect.
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Victor Eliashotel3. Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya
$$$ | Hot List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023, 2024The most distinctive part of Hilton’s luxury debut on Mexico’s Riviera Maya is its chameleon-like approach to hospitality. Yes, with its 349 rooms, acres of pools, 11 restaurants, and kids’ and teens’ clubs, the Conrad is the type of resort whose (large bronze) gates a traveler would be content to pass through only twice: right before check-in and right after checkout. Spiritually, though, it aligns more closely with the smaller-scale properties 30 minutes north in Tulum that seek to connect guests with the surrounding destination. Honoring the Mayan cultures that have occupied this stretch of Caribbean coast for centuries, a traditional sacbe, or “white road”—the name of the ancient roadways Mayans created to travel by moonlight—cuts through the jungled grounds. In the lobby, a soaring art installation takes a cue from Mayan macramé. And at the cenote-inspired spa, a traditional four-hands massage is second only to a jalapeño margarita in the open-air bar as a way to immediately shed any lingering real-life stress remaining after a dip in the sea.
Durston Saylorhotel2. Rosewood Mayakoba
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Once you arrive at this gorgeous ecological enclave in the Riviera Maya, don't expect to rush anywhere—chances are, you'll want to gape at the interior details, like hunks of Yucatán limestone and renewable wood, as well as wooden lattices and glass doors that punctuate the guest rooms. On your Rosewood Mayakoba to-do list should be the Sense spa, which sits on its own private island overlooking limestone lagoons. Try out one of its unique Mayan-influenced treatments, like the Cenote Temazcal Purification—you'll start by meditating in the garden, and work your way to a detoxifying steam bath, scrub, and massage.
William Jess Lairdhotel1. Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya: First In
$$$ | Hot List 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024This palm-studded resort has been one of the most beloved destinations on the Riviera Maya since it opened in 1995. Rooms overlook the palm tree-lined pool, the Caribbean Sea, or both, and feature more of those beautiful tiles, along with whitewashed walls hung with regional textiles. Every detail is designed to keep guests rooted in the Yucatán Peninsula: Even the in-room bar, which is far from mini, is stocked with local spirits like pox, a Mayan liquor made of corn, sugarcane, and wheat, and Mayalen Guerrero mezcal in a beautiful bottle. While the property is spectacular, you shouldn’t miss the chance to explore the surroundings, which include a network of cenotes reached through underground caves.
Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collectionhotel20. Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection
$$$ | Hot List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2023, 2024Everything about this property is seemingly curated to feel more like a boutique hotel than a resort. It’s normal to stumble upon things like a sound bath experience on the beach led by a local bohemian who infuses jazz with the singing bowls or a sombrero making class. The on-site boutique, a Fashionkind outpost (which opened last December) co-owned by Nina Farran and Sophia Bush, includes leading designers from across Latin America, with a special focus on those local to Mexico. The design by Paul Duesing and Glazier Le Architects, sporting stone walls that continue from the balcony to the interior of the room with pebble-floored rain showers clad in colorful tiles almost entirely Mexican made and also supports local and regional makers, artisans, artists, and purveyors, solidifies the POV of being a boho-fresh, intentional, and barefoot sanctuary for those in-the-know. Don’t get me wrong, it still feels like a resort—just a resort that is focused on what is important to today’s customer.
Christian Horan/Courtesy Viceroy Los Caboshotel19. Viceroy Los Cabos
$$$ | Hot List 2017 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024The Viceroy has taken over this stunning Miguel Ángel Aragonés–designed resort—which started life as the Mar Adentro—and it enjoys a location that's just minutes from the town of San José del Cabo. Built from glass and concrete, the hotel has eight different buildings for guest rooms, all offering unbroken views of the ocean beyond. Rooms feel like a dreamscape, with floor-to-ceiling windows and private outdoor spaces, and the villas even have rooftop pools. Decor is mostly white, with light wood accents, letting the stunning natural setting speak for itself.
Courtesy J.W. Marriotthotel18. JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2024Nevermind Cabo's reputation for attracting wild spring breakers: This hotel is closer to the less touristy San José del Cabo, not Cabo San Lucas, and it attracts a refined crowd to match. No matter the visitor—young couple, multi-gen family, groups of adults, parents traveling with little ones—this hotel is set up to cater to them. With five pools, six restaurants, a top-notch spa, and a Greg Norman–designed golf course, the complex, all clean lines and clear views, is for visitors coming to Cabo to indulge—but not by partying the night away.
Courtesy Auberge Resortshotel17. Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024The only private beach resort in Los Cabos, Esperanza couldn't feel further from the freewheeling streets of downtown Cabo San Lucas (though it's only a 15-minute drive, in case a craving for cheap strawberry-mango margaritas strikes). This 57-room hotel sits right on the rocky Cabo coast, meaning every room, suite, and infinity pool—several room categories come with their own—promises stellar views, and a constant soundtrack of crashing waves. Inside, the rooms have a soothing blend of crisp white linens, light wood-beamed ceilings, and massive windows, and are all spacious enough to spend the day in. But with a world-class spa, fitness center (which also offers a full schedule of workout classes), and experiences that include sea foraging and a tequila tasting course, you'd rarely be tempted to do so.
Courtesy The Cape/Photo by Francisco Estradahotel16. The Cape, A Thompson Hotel
$$ | Hot List 2016 Readers' Choice Awards 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024A mod-Mexican restaurant from Enrique Olvera, four bars with note-perfect cocktails (over 100 and counting), two pools, an amazing spa, and not a trace of hacienda-style architecture—in short, just what Cabo needed. Kudos to Thompson Hotels for introducing a place in an otherwise crowded market with uninterrupted views of El Arco and the Bahía San Lucas horizon. Mexico City architect Javier Sanchez has combined a relaxed 1960s Southern California-meets-Baja aesthetic. It’s refreshingly grown-up, perfect for couples, but without an ounce of pretension. Every room has a balcony to view the Pacific (some with private plunge pools and butler service), plus Cabo’s only rooftop lounge to relish each and every sunset.
Courtesy The Luxury Collectionhotel15. Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos
Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024“Transformative travel” is the buzzword at this contemporary oceanfront resort. The location gives it easy access to adventure expeditions around Baja California, downtown San José del Cabo, and the Marina in Cabo San Lucas. But it’s also a place for an inner journey, starting with sublimely comfortable rooms with plush beds, marble floors, custom furnishings, and barely-there barriers between indoor and outdoor living. Many rooms have secluded patios, views of the Sea of Cortez, private plunge pools, and, that ultimate indulgence, the outdoor shower. There’s an extensive spa, and a 24-hour fitness center. The diverse dining options include Cascabel, a showcase of modern Mexican cuisine with live cooking stations devoted to different regions.
Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa Cabo San Lucashotel14. Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa Cabo San Lucas
Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2020, 2021, 2024Set on the world-famous Médano Beach, Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa Cabo San Lucas has everything you would expect from one of the best resorts in Mexico. You know you've landed somewhere special the moment you enter the nine-story atrium lobby, with chandeliers and saltwater aquariums. The luxury continues in the 460 suites, which have stunning views of the Sea of Cortez and outdoor terraces or balconies. But the main draw here might be the Desert Spa, a 31,000-square-foot spa boasting hydrotherapy centers and a full-service beauty salon, and a menu that features every type of facial and massage you could imagine.
Photo by Graciela Cattarossihotel13. Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection
$$ | Hot List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Cabo San Lucas is a town full of resorts that are either too fusty, too fancy, or too family-friendly, but Chileno Bay is the rare option that feels both sophisticated and hip. Follow the throng of weekending thirty-somethings to the resort's cool open-air restaurant, or to a little taco shack on the beach with an excellent selection of small-batch mezcal. The beach that the hotel is on is probably the only real swimming beach in Cabo—no small thing, since it can be kind of painful to be at a "beach resort" and not be able to take a dip in the ocean. (Cabo's waters are notoriously choppy, rough, and not swimmer-friendly).
Courtesy Rosewood Hotels & Resortshotel12. Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024A meandering network of terraces, suites, pools, and bars make up this Mexican-Mediterranean resort overlooking the Sea of Cortez. Beyond the rooms, which feature terra-cotta fireplaces and hand-carved cedar doors, guests can look forward to personal butler service and a fresh fruit basket each morning. But the Ty Warner mansion, named for the resort’s owner and founder of Beanie Babies, wildly outdoes it all: The exclusive, 28,000-square-foot estate sits at the water’s edge. Guests who book it can request a fireworks display to watch as their personal chef prepares dinner.
Villa del Palmar Flamingos Beach Resort & Spahotel11. Villa del Palmar Flamingos Beach Resort & Spa
Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2024The soft sands of the “Mexican Riviera” stretch about 200 miles along the Pacific Ocean. They line the coastal state of Nayarit, a compact region with a mix of tropical and adventure recreation that’s increasingly made it one of Mexico’s top destinations. Villa del Palmar Flamingos Beach Resort & Spa is an all-inclusive, family-friendly stay located in the heart of the Riviera Nayarit, with everything you need right next to some of the country's best beaches. There are tons of activities to discover in the region, but you don't really need to leave the resort to fill your days with fun. Whether you want to go whale watching or take a Spanish-language or cooking class, Villa del Palmar has you covered.
Villa La Estancia Beach Resort & Spa, Los Caboshotel10. Villa La Estancia Beach Resort & Spa, Los Cabos
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2024Romance is dialed up to an 11 at this Hacienda-style Los Cabos resort. Suites both behold the panoramic views of the verdant gardens and deep turquoise Sea of Cortez and preserve quiet intimacy with covered balconies. Offering more than the splendid afternoons you could spend bronzing on the beach, couples can book massages at the 31,000 square foot Desert Spa, strike up friendly competition with other guests on the pickleball and tennis courts, and take the adventure out to the water with kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkels. For guests bringing little ones along, the resort also offers babysitting services so parents can spend quality time with each other.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts/©2013 Carlos Martínhotel9. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024At this 1,500-acre hidden oasis north of Puerto Vallarta, no request is too outlandish—readers have shared stories of dedicated servers, like one who walked into the ocean, in his uniform, to bring them their drinks. Red-roof garden casitas are done in a sea-and-sand palette, with Mexican art and louvered doors. Meanwhile, the state-of-the-art 18-hole Jack Nicklaus course at Pacifico takes the game to the extreme: Be prepared to swing for a hole that's on an island 200 yards offshore.
Villa La Valencia Beach Resort & Spa Los Caboshotel8. Villa La Valencia Beach Resort & Spa Los Cabos
Readers' Choice Awards 2023, 2024Los Cabos' azure blue waters come to life at this luxe property's infinity pool deck dotted with white umbrellas and lounge chairs beckoning for a day in the sun. Opened in February 2022, its a stunning newcomer that's quickly become popular for its sprawling beachfront, 308 suites (some of which have balcony hot tubs), and five-star service. Shiny amenities meet waterfront relaxation at this rising-star resort. Don't miss the winding lazy river for some unwinding—it's the largest in Cabo.
Villa La Estancia Beach Resort & Spa Riviera Nayarithotel7. Villa La Estancia Beach Resort & Spa Riviera Nayarit
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2021, 2023, 2024Located on the northern edge of Nuevo Vallarta, this family-friendly resort is centered around a grand bi-level pool with a swim-up bar and access to the calm waters of Flamingos Beach, while the spacious rooms and suites feature Spanish Colonial–inspired furnishings. Within the resort, guests can join cooking classes (to learn how to make paella, guacamole, or ceviche), take dance or Spanish language lessons, or work up a sweat playing beach soccer, pool volleyball, or water polo. Don’t miss the elegant Mexican steakhouse La Casona’s lobster night, which features such dishes as lobster confit salad with hibiscus jelly and mesquite-grilled lobster tail—or, for something even more romantic, book a sunset table for two right on the sand, lit by the warm glow of flickering torches.
Villa del Arco Beach Resort & Spahotel6. Villa del Arco Beach Resort & Spa
Readers' Choice Awards 2024The star feature of a Mexican beach resort, is of course, its prime placement near the ocean. This property elevates the scenery even further by overlooking the El Arco rock formation, an iconic 200-foot-tall granite arch that has graced many Cabo postcards. There’s plenty of opportunity to hop into the fast-paced and active lifestyle of the resort town, but coming back to Villa del Arco and Medano beach feels like a world away from it all with its low-key vibe that tends to attract families looking for a break from their busy everyday, vacationers looking for some winter sun, and older couples.
Courtesy St. Regis Punta Mita Resorthotel5. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024At this decade-old resort in a gated community along the Pacific, the tile-roofed casitas have Mediterranean-Mexican style with creamy whites accented by lime green and fuchsia tones and colorful handcrafted tiles. There’s a wide array of restaurants and bars, from the fine-dining Carolina to Sea Breeze for fish tacos and ceviche to the Avocado Vegan Bar. The staff here seems to work magic, whether that's charging taxi fares to your hotel bill or getting a doctor to make a house call to your room.
Victor Eliashotel4. Conrad Punta de Mita
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2024Set on a mile of white-sand beach, the resort slid under the radar when it first opened, mostly due to timing. One of the leading luxury brands of the Hilton Hotel Group, it first began welcoming guests back in September 2020. Now, it's slowly picking up buzz as frequent travelers to other Mexican beach regions—say Los Cabos or Oaxaca—are eager to find a new destination to explore. Located in Riviera Nayarit where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sierra Madre Mountains, Conrad Punta de Mita is set amidst towering palm trees in the Litibú gated community. When guests stay here, they have access to top-notch golf courses, clay tennis courts, and six miles of sprawling golden beach.
Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mitahotel3. Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico
$$$ | Hot List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2024This is not your parents’ Four Seasons. Formalities, like a front desk, have disappeared, and the traditional concierge has been replaced with guides who can help arrange everything from dinner reservations to surf lessons. The all-inclusive model means the entire stay is blissfully transaction-free, and the intimate scale—at just 30 guests, the size is also a shift for the brand—allows for unscripted experiences such as mezcal tastings with local distillers. And the tented suites are what it takes to persuade travelers to book a hotel in Punta Mita that isn’t right on the beach. Terraced into 48 acres of forested Pacific-facing cliffs, this adults-only luxury tented resort was designed by sustainably minded safari-tent pioneers Luxury Frontiers. Each of its 15 spacious rooms has an indoor soaking tub, an outdoor shower, and a private plunge pool with sunset views. Taking in and getting out into nature is at the heart of Naviva, but a visit to the two spa pods is a must for treatments informed by Mesoamerican traditions, like the five-hour Refuge Retreat. It includes a copal cleansing and Mayan mud massage, plus post-pampering time to soak in the pod’s oversized palm-shaded tub. Guests have access to the amenities at sister property Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, just next door, but it’s doubtful you’ll want to leave this jungle oasis.
Davis Gerber/Cuixmalahotel2. Cuixmala
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024Cuixmala, a private estate south of Puerto Vallarta with 12 suites, three private villas, and 10 casitas, sits on a private beach backed by a 30,000-acre nature preserve. It doesn’t have a kids’ club, but who needs one when the whole family can go horseback riding and fishing, or watch sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach? It’s no coincidence that this is where James Goldsmith chose to headquarter his private vacation retreat; environmental conservation was one of his main causes, and before his death, he donated the surrounding wild land to the National Autonomous University of Mexico’s Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve. Today, the Reserve is home to 1,200 species of plants, 270 species of birds, and more than 150 species of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The Cuixmala Ecological Foundation focuses on research, as well as the protection of species and ecological processes within the Reserve, and sustainable practices within the resort.
Blake Marvinhotel1. Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Enveloped by short, craggy hills on 24 pristine acres of Baja California beachfront, the upscale spot is practically floating in open waters, and in fact, it’s tricky to distinguish the hotel’s infinity pool from the brilliant blue body of water behind it. This Mediterranean village–inspired enclave gives off a rustic beach vibe that makes you feel like you just stumbled upon the place, and luckily so. Suites are outfitted with hand-carved wood, locally made ceramic tiles, and plunge pools hanging off private ocean view-terraces. Another selling point? The exceedingly attentive staff, plus a personal concierge program—you'll have someone dedicated to making your vacation dreams come true, including planning romantic evening cruises and early morning massages at your request.
