Cancun has always been the epicenter of the all-inclusive dream. But these days, the scene feels different — more elevated, more ambitious, and buzzing with new energy. From bold debuts to reimagined classics, these are the five resorts everyone is talking about in and around Cancun.
Nowhere else in the Caribbean has defined the modern all-inclusive quite like Cancun. For decades, it’s been a place of beachfront towers and endless buffets, of spring break escapes and family vacations. But the latest wave of resorts is something else entirely — resorts that blur the line between luxury hotels and lifestyle destinations, places that are as much about design and dining as they are about sun and sand. Cancun has grown up, and with it has come a new roster of properties that are changing the way travelers think about the Caribbean coast of Mexico.
Spend a few days here and you’ll feel the momentum. A massive new arrival like AVA is rewriting the scale of what an all-inclusive can be (and it is big). Chic hideaways like Hotel Mousai and Garza Blanca bring a gourmet, design-forward edge. Brands like SLS are blending urban glamour with coastal calm in Playa Mujeres. And when Marriott plants its flag with its first-ever fully branded all-inclusive, you know something is shifting. The buzz isn’t just hype — it’s the sound of Cancun transforming before your eyes, of a destination moving confidently into a new era of luxury, energy, and reinvention.
AVA Resort Cancun
It feels like a city unto itself, a sleek stretch of modern architecture rising along the turquoise shoreline. AVA is the new headline-maker in Cancun, where every room faces the sea and every corner feels like a spectacle. Six pools shimmer in the sunlight, some lively with swim-up bars, others quiet for adults-only escapes. Inside, the resort surprises with its playful spirit: bowling lanes, laser tag, arcades, even a small theatre. Families find endless distractions, while adults slip into the hydrotherapy circuit or retreat to the spa. At night, the property turns culinary — from French to Pan-Asian to a steakhouse that could hold its own anywhere. AVA isn’t just another resort, it’s a statement: Cancun can be both fun and unapologetically chic. Rooms from $371.
SLS Playa Mujeres
Ten miles north of Cancun’s bustle, the vibe shifts. At SLS Playa Mujeres, the all-inclusive formula is distilled into something far sleeker — part Miami glamour, part Riviera sanctuary. Swim-out rooms spill into turquoise pools. The spa sprawls for 20,000 square feet of thermal baths and serene corners. Days here move between tranquil pools and long lunches at internationally inspired restaurants, cocktails on the sand, and nights of artful dining. It’s a resort that thrives on atmosphere — bold design, curated experiences, and the feeling that you’ve discovered something just a little more exclusive than the norm.
It was an ambitious thing to turn this brand into an all-inclusive — but they pulled it off. You can find an entry-level room for $432 right now, according to Google Hotels.
Hotel Mousai Cancun
The Mousai is adults-only, and it was built for intimacy. A 2024 debut, it is perched as the sophisticated counterpart to its sister Garza Blanca, it’s a haven with suites that feel like private apartments, rooftop terraces that hang over the Caribbean, and a design language that leans ultra-modern.
Couples retreat to rooftop infinity pools, sip cocktails in poolside lounges, and lose track of time in suites that stretch past 2,000 square feet. The dining is equally seductive — refined, international, and unapologetically indulgent. Mousai is where you come not just to vacation, but to cocoon in design and romance. $523 per night in September.
Garza Blanca Cancun
The energy is brighter here. Families splash in ocean-view pools, couples retreat to private jacuzzis, and the air is alive with the rhythm of gourmet dining. Garza Blanca is the sister property to Mousai, and it thrives on variety: innovative Mexican cuisine one night, Japanese fusion the next, steaks, raw seafood, rooftop cocktails. Rooms are made for lingering, from stylish swim-up suites to expansive two-bedroom residences. The spa hums quietly in the background, offering yoga sessions and ocean-facing treatments. For all its sophistication, Garza Blanca keeps a family-friendly soul, making it one of Cancun’s rarest finds: a resort that works equally for couples and kids. Serious value: $261 right now.
Marriott Cancun, An All-Inclusive Resort
It feels like the beginning of a new era. Marriott’s first fully branded all-inclusive (which re-emerged last year) is a gleaming, 14-story arrival in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, with 450 rooms and a design that signals big brands are rethinking the category. The amenities are designed to surprise: three pools, a lazy river, nine restaurants ranging from theatrical teppanyaki to authentic Mexican. By day, families drift through pool circuits and casual bites; by night, there’s fine dining, cocktails, and curated cultural programming. It’s polished, familiar, and full of energy — and it’s already become one of the most talked-about resorts on the strip. $244 per night.
The coolest addition? A creative partnership with the popular, modern take on the toy store, CAMP called CAMP Club.
How Do I Get to Cancun?
Flying to Cancun is as simple as it gets. Cancun International Airport is one of the busiest in the region, served by every major U.S. carrier and dozens of international airlines. From the East Coast, you can be in the air for just three to four hours — with nonstop service from hubs like New York, Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte and Washington, D.C. From the Midwest, Chicago, Dallas and Houston have multiple daily options, while the West Coast connects through Los Angeles, Denver and Phoenix.
Miami to Cancun right now is as low as $218 right now, according to Google Flights.
Canadian gateways like Toronto and Montreal send steady service south year-round, and Europe links in from cities like Madrid, Paris and London. With more than 500 flights a day in peak season, Cancun is one of the easiest destinations to reach anywhere in the Caribbean — a place where boarding a morning flight means sipping your first margarita by lunch.
