Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancún
Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancun is, for practical purposes, a new resort. The converted property officially rebranded to join Iberostar on November 1, 2025, opening as a five-star all-inclusive with 444 rooms, every one of them with a jacuzzi, across pool-view, ocean-view, swim-up and family suite categories. It sits on Bahia de Petempich in Puerto Morelos, and guests consistently call out the clean, well-kept pools, fresh-feeling facilities, and a staff whose attitude gets singled out as exceptional. Be careful with older reviews under this address: anything before the November 2025 rebrand describes a different operation.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Effectively a new resort: the converted property officially joined Iberostar on November 1, 2025, so nearly everything written about it under this name covers less than a year of operation
- +Every one of the 444 rooms has a jacuzzi, a minibar restocked daily, bathrobes and slippers, and swim-access categories include the Premium Swim Up Suite plus pool-walkout junior and one-bedroom family suites
- +Location in the quieter Puerto Morelos corridor is a genuine sweet spot, calmer than the Cancun Hotel Zone yet only about 20 minutes from the airport
- +Five pools plus a splash pad with a lifeguard on duty, and early reviews single out how clean and well kept the whole property feels
- +Real dining variety for the size: Martinette (Mediterranean), L'Olivetto (Italian), Nopal (Mexican), La Brisa (Caribbean grill), the El Muelle buffet and a 24-hour Star Cafe, with five bars
- +Four age-banded kids clubs open daily, from the Kangaroo Club for ages 0 to 3 up to the Dolphins Club for 10 to 12, all included in the all-inclusive plan
- +Staff service and dedication draw exceptional praise from guests, and the team's attitude is repeatedly called the thing that makes the stay
- +A full included activity program: archery, rifle shooting, tennis, yoga, Pilates, aquafit, pool table and ping pong, with a spa offering sauna, Turkish bath and a relaxation zone
Cons
- −The beach is the weak point, with a quite minimal sandline on Bahia de Petempich
- −Sargassum is a seasonal issue on this stretch of coast, heaviest from late spring into early autumn, and no raking program fully controls it
- −A fair list of things costs extra: motorized water sports, child care, spa treatments, golf packages, laundry, parking and the doctor on call
- −Some maintenance issues from the pre-conversion buildings were reported in the first months after the November 2025 rebrand, so not everything was refreshed at once
- −The Puerto Morelos corridor location means nothing is walkable, and every off-resort outing needs a taxi or organized transport
- −The three a la carte dinners run 5:30pm to 10pm with a Casual Elegance dress code, so pack at least one smarter outfit and plan your nights
- −Under a year of track record under the Iberostar flag means reviews from before November 2025, or of other Iberostars nearby, may not match what you find
The day-to-day setup is generous for the price tier. Six venues cover Martinette for Mediterranean, L'Olivetto for Italian, Nopal for Mexican, La Brisa as a Caribbean grill, the El Muelle buffet for all three meals and a 24-hour Star Cafe, with five bars including two pool bars and a Star Prestige lounge and pool bar for the premium category. Five pools and a splash pad spread the crowds out, the kids clubs run in four age bands from babies to 12, and the activity program covers archery, rifle shooting, tennis, yoga, Pilates and aquafit. The spa is open 9am to 8pm with a sauna, Turkish bath and jacuzzi. The honest weak spots: the beach's sandline is minimal, sargassum arrives in season, and a list of extras from water sports to child care costs more.
This resort suits families and couples who want a fresh, well-serviced five-star all-inclusive near the airport and are willing to trade beach quality for room quality. If a wide, swimmable beach is the top priority, look further south or at Playa Mujeres instead. The location keeps things calm: about 20 minutes from Cancun airport, a short drive from Puerto Morelos town's restaurants and reef, and roughly half an hour from both the Hotel Zone and Playa del Carmen. Puerto Morelos is its own municipality, so check the local lodging tax at check-in rather than relying on Cancun or Playa del Carmen figures.
Common Questions
Is this really a new resort? I've seen older reviews under this name.
What are the restaurants and is there a dress code?
How is the beach?
Which room category should I book?
Is it good for kids?
Are there extra costs beyond the all-inclusive rate?
Restaurants (4)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | El Muelle |
| Mexican | Nopal |
| Italian | L´Oliveto |
| Mediterranean & Spanish | Martinete |
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
Playa Delfines35 min drive · 17 mi
45 min drive · 23 mi
25 min drive · 7.7 mi
Museo Maya de Cancún40 min drive · 19 mi
Puerto Morelos Town Square and Malecón25 min drive · 7.7 mi
Leaning Lighthouse of Puerto Morelos25 min drive · 7.7 mi
More things to do (24)
- Catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres · excursion50 min drive · 24 mi
- Xoxi Cancún · adventure park25 min drive · 8.9 mi
- Playa Tortugas · beach50 min drive · 24 mi
- Croco Cun Zoo · wildlife14 min drive · 4.8 mi
- Riviera Cancún Golf · golf30 min drive · 13 mi
- Playa Coral · beach30 min drive · 13 mi
- Playa Ballenas · beach40 min drive · 20 mi
- Iberostar Cancún Golf Club · golf40 min drive · 19 mi
- Moon Palace Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 9.0 mi
- Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden · nature25 min drive · 8.3 mi
- Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden · nature25 min drive · 8.3 mi
- Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf35 min drive · 15 mi
- Playa Maroma · beach35 min drive · 17 mi
- Playa Delfines Lookout · viewpoint35 min drive · 17 mi
- El Rey Ruins · ruins35 min drive · 18 mi
- Parque Kabah · nature40 min drive · 19 mi
- Ka'Yok' Planetarium · museum40 min drive · 19 mi
- Playa San Miguelito · beach40 min drive · 20 mi
- Iberostar Golf Club Cancún · golf40 min drive · 19 mi
- Playa Marlín · beach40 min drive · 21 mi
- Yamil Lu'um · ruins45 min drive · 21 mi
- Torre Escénica de Cancún · viewpoint45 min drive · 23 mi
- Playa Langosta · beach45 min drive · 23 mi
- Playa Chac Mool · beach50 min drive · 23 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★ 4.8 · 276 reviews
“We brought a group of 21 for a work retreat and had an absolutely incredible experience. From the moment we arrived, every single person we encountered was accommodating, friendly, and genuinely helpful. Our planner, Victoria, did a phenomenal job or...”
“Beautiful resort...we a family of 4 with two kids (6 and 1) had an amazing time here. This was our first time in Mexico and in an all inclusive resort and I must say we as a family loved it very much. The staff was very courteous and friendly, always...”
“I'll start by saying that I don't normally like all-inclusive resorts, my wife wanted to get a break from work and found this place in Mexico and off we went on our adventure Dec 7th for 6 nights! It's not even 1/2hr to the hotel which I liked and wh...”
