Hotel Riu Palace Costa Mujeres
Hotel Riu Palace Costa Mujeres rewards travelers who deliberately choose it over the Hotel Zone. Opened in December 2018 on the calm Bahia de Mujeres north of Cancun, it has a genuinely excellent beach, grounds spacious enough that it rarely feels crowded even when full, and the Palace tier's upgraded dining and furnishings over standard Riu hotels. The guest mix leans toward couples and families rather than spring breakers. Free access to the Splash Water World waterpark and the Pacha nightclub at the neighbouring Riu hotels, steps away, gives it an unusually wide range of options for both adults and children.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +A wide, uncrowded white-sand beach on the calm Bahia de Mujeres, with swimmable water that travelers consistently rate above the main Cancun Hotel Zone beaches
- +Several large pools with sea views, two of them with swim-up bars and a RIU Land kids' pool with slides, and enough space that finding a lounger is the norm rather than a towel war
- +Free access to the Splash Water World waterpark and the Pacha nightclub at the neighbouring Riu hotels a few steps away, plus RIU Pool Party afternoons at Riu Caribe twice a week with transfers included
- +Kayaks, pedal boats, bodyboards and snorkel gear are included, and there is a free trial dive in the pool for anyone curious about scuba
- +Six restaurants: the Spaces buffet with live cooking, Tastes (buffet lunch, steakhouse menu at dinner), Zarape for Mexican, Japan, Roma for Italian and Krystal for fusion, plus the Capuchino patisserie and 24-hour all-inclusive
- +The adults-only Elite Club by RIU adds oceanfront Junior Suites and Suites, private areas including its own pool, priority service and an exclusive a la carte breakfast, a resort-within-a-resort for couples
- +Over 600 rooms with balconies or terraces, swim-out suites for those who want them, free Wi-Fi throughout and free parking
Cons
- −The location is well north of Cancun's Hotel Zone and about 35 km from the airport (45 to 60 minutes by transfer), so taxis to the nightlife strip, malls and downtown restaurants are expensive and add up over a week
- −The a la carte restaurants generally do not take advance reservations, so guests describe lining up when they open if they want a table at Japan or Roma on a busy night
- −Open-plan bathroom design, with the sink area not separated from the bedroom and the shower visible from the sleeping area, creates privacy issues for travel companions who prefer separation
- −The main buffet can feel undersized during peak weeks (particularly Christmas and Easter), and the crowding undermines the otherwise relaxed atmosphere
- −Common areas and pool zones can be surprisingly noisy given the quiet location, and music levels at certain times draw complaints from guests seeking calm
- −Guests with food allergies report that buffet and restaurant staff are not consistently equipped for allergy requests, and allergen labeling is not reliable across venues
- −The Renova Spa is priced like an upscale US spa, which makes promotional spa credits worth less than guests expect
- −The property is large, and long walks plus elevator rides between rooms, the beach and the restaurants can tire guests with mobility limitations
Food is a common point of debate in traveler discussions. Six restaurants is a lot of range for an all-inclusive: the Spaces buffet, Tastes with its steakhouse dinner menu, Zarape, Japan, Roma and the Krystal fusion room, with drinks and snacks around the clock. The trade-off is Riu's no-reservations habit at the a la carte venues, which pushes guests to plan evenings around opening time. The adults-only Elite Club is worth pricing out if budget allows: oceanfront suites, private areas with their own pool, priority service and a separate a la carte breakfast take away much of the friction of a 600-plus-room resort. Rooms are large with balconies, and swim-out suites are available, though the open-plan bathroom design polarizes travelers.
This resort suits couples and families who want a premium beach stay without Hotel Zone crowds, and especially those who plan to stay on property, since the location makes spontaneous evenings in Cancun expensive. Isla Mujeres is a short drive and ferry ride away, golf courses sit about 5 km from the hotel, and the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre is nearby for sports-minded guests. Against other Riu Palace properties, it competes well with Riu Palace Las Americas on food and beach while giving up that hotel's easy access to central Cancun, and unlike Las Americas it welcomes children.
Common Questions
Is the Elite Club upgrade worth the extra cost?
How does the beach compare to other Cancun-area resorts?
Is the Splash Water World waterpark really included?
How do you get to Isla Mujeres from this resort?
How does Riu Palace Costa Mujeres compare to other Palace-tier Riu properties?
Is this a good option for families with kids, or is it better for adults?
Restaurants (6)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | Spaces |
| Mexican | Zarape |
| Italian | Roma |
| Japanese & sushi | Japan |
| Steakhouse | Tastes |
| International & fusion | Krystal |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
25 min drive · 9.7 mi
25 min drive · 9.7 mi
Playa Tortugas40 min drive · 16 mi
Playa Caracol40 min drive · 17 mi
20 min drive · 7.5 mi
45 min drive · 20 mi
More things to do (24)
- Catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres · excursion40 min drive · 16 mi
- Downtown Cancún (Parque Las Palapas) · town30 min drive · 12 mi
- Xoxi Cancún · adventure park50 min drive · 24 mi
- Whale shark swim (June to September) · excursion25 min drive · 9.7 mi
- Playa Delfines · beach55 min drive · 24 mi
- Playa Las Perlas · beach35 min drive · 13 mi
- Garrafón Park day trip (Isla Mujeres) · excursion35 min drive · 15 mi
- Croco Cun Zoo · wildlife60 min drive · 32 mi
- Riviera Cancún Golf · golf55 min drive · 24 mi
- Puerto Cancún Golf Course · golf30 min drive · 11 mi
- Playa Ballenas · beach50 min drive · 21 mi
- Playa Coral · beach50 min drive · 24 mi
- Museo Maya de Cancún · museum50 min drive · 22 mi
- Iberostar Cancún Golf Club · golf55 min drive · 23 mi
- Playa El Niño · beach20 min drive · 8.7 mi
- Ka'Yok' Planetarium · museum30 min drive · 13 mi
- Marina Puerto Cancún · marina30 min drive · 13 mi
- Parque Kabah · nature30 min drive · 13 mi
- Torre Escénica de Cancún · viewpoint35 min drive · 15 mi
- Playa Langosta · beach35 min drive · 15 mi
- Playa Gaviota Azul · beach40 min drive · 18 mi
- Playa Chac Mool · beach45 min drive · 19 mi
- Playa San Miguelito · beach50 min drive · 21 mi
- Playa Marlín · beach50 min drive · 20 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Cancun gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.4 · 5,829 reviews
“I have been here twice. Really amazing resort to go with a group. Miguel from the lobby bar makes the best cocktails, he made our trip memorable! All of the buffet wait staff were always very attentive. Rooms were modern, and cleaned well daily. They...”
“Like any fair review, it’s important to mention the good, the average, and what could be improved. I’m giving this hotel 5 stars because 4 would be unfair, although if possible, I would rate it a 4.5. Here’s why: I was there for a full week with my...”
“Oh God where do I started! We stayed here for 4 nights (couple) and it was amazing in every single aspect. The room is so spacious and we'll prepared, the services around the resort are amazing, everybody is nice (comparing with other resort we hav...”
