Hotel Riu Tequila
Family-friendly resort in Playa del Carmen. Classic, Family Resort.
Atmosphere
Amenities
Traveler Insights(153 discussions)
Hotel Riu Tequila is the adults-only Riu in Playacar — the gated resort development south of Playa del Carmen — and its single most important fact for booking decisions is that it is not beachfront. The beach requires a 10-minute walk. travelers says this clearly and repeatedly. If you're considering this property primarily for direct beach access, redirect your search to Catalonia Playa Maroma or Riu Palace Las Americas instead.
With that established: the Playacar location is a genuine asset. Playa del Carmen's 5th Avenue shopping, beach clubs, and restaurant scene are close enough to make off-resort days easy and rewarding. The Riviera Maya location gives better cenote and ruins access than Cancun-area properties. Cross-resort access to Riu Yucatan (family) helps mixed groups with varying adults-only preferences. And the adults-only classification means a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere than Riu's standard family properties.
The food gets harsh reviews in some threads — one travelers commenter called it 'ghetto vibe' and 'crappy food.' These assessments may reflect specific visit conditions, but food quality isn't a selling point here. This is a budget adults-only property in a great location for exploring the Riviera Maya — book it for the Playa del Carmen access and the price, not for the resort experience itself.
Pros
- +Adults-only Riu in the Playacar area with access to Riu Yucatan (family) next door
- +Playa del Carmen proximity — excellent access to 5th Avenue shopping, restaurants, and nightlife
- +Riviera Maya location with cenote and ruin excursion access better than Cancun-area properties
- +Nature access — travelers specifically calls out wildlife in the jungle-integrated design
- +Good for groups who want to explore Playa del Carmen by day and return to resort
- +Affordable Riu pricing for an adults-only Riviera Maya property
- +Access to Playacar's gated residential area — quieter than the main Playa town
- +Cross-access to Riu Yucatan when families are traveling together
Cons
- −NOT beachfront — the beach requires a 10-minute walk and travelers is unambiguous about this
- −Food quality harshly described by some as 'ghetto vibe' with 'crappy food' in a 2020 review
- −Both Tequila and Yucatan called 'concrete masses forced over the jungle' by one reviewer
- −The adults-only designation is the main selling point; remove that and it's a standard budget Riu
- −Spring break programming can overtake the 'adults-only' atmosphere
- −Limited pool space compared to larger Cancun Riu properties
- −Playacar is further from Cancun airport (60–75 min) than Hotel Zone alternatives
- −Entertainment and nightlife on-property limited versus Cancun alternatives
Common Questions
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“Absolutely loved this hotel! The staff were really friendly, efficient and work really hard. Room was very spacious and cleaned every day with mini bar being topped up every 2 days. It was a 5 minute walk to the beach or you can take a golf buggy dow...”
“First time in Mexico and can’t wait to go back! Rooms are amazing and being on the ground floor was a bonus and no bugs etc! The location of the pools to the main area and restaurants was fantastic and you can get to everywhere very easily . The bea...”
“Our connected room was perfect. Rooms were clean and the air conditioning in the rooms was lovely. Staff was friendly and helpful. Restaurants had variety which was nice. My tip for the freshest food for buffet and a la carte is to go closer to when...”