Guide · Updated October 24, 2026 · Includes notes from Levi's June 2026 stay at RIU Palace Costa Mujeres; other resorts are research only. Prices change, so confirm the final total before you book.
Beach first. Crowds last.
Stay north of Cancun, and choose your room as carefully as your resort.
Why Costa Mujeres instead of Cancun
Costa Mujeres starts where Cancun's Hotel Zone ends, about 20 minutes north, on the mainland facing Isla Mujeres. It's a stretch of large, newer all-inclusive resorts and golf courses rather than a town. A sandbar keeps the water shallow and calm for a long way out, which is great for swimming and for kids.
The Hotel Zone is where most first-time visitors end up, and it shows: it's busy, built-up and very touristy. In Costa Mujeres the beach is quieter, the resorts feel more spread out, and you spend your time relaxing rather than fighting crowds.
What you gain
- Quieter beaches and calmer water
- Newer, larger resorts
- A short ferry ride to Isla Mujeres from Punta Sam or Puerto Juárez
What you give up
- Restaurants, shopping and nightlife outside the resort
- Longer, pricier taxi rides to Cancun and sights
- About 45 minutes from Cancun airport, versus 20–25 for the Hotel Zone
If you mostly want to stay put, eat well and enjoy the beach, Costa Mujeres is the better choice. If you want to go out every night, the Hotel Zone or Playa del Carmen fits better.
Featured resort: RIU Palace Costa Mujeres
A large, upscale all-inclusive on the beach, with around 670 rooms in four-storey buildings. Typical cost: about $125 per person per night all-in in June (low season), and roughly $210 per person in our October 24 price check.
Strengths
- Food. Beyond the main buffet, the resort has Mexican, Italian, Japanese, fusion and steakhouse restaurants, a grill, and a pastry and ice-cream shop.
- A beachfront setting with five pools, swim-up bars and plenty of loungers.
- Good value for an upscale all-inclusive, especially in low season.
Watch out for
- Room location. Rooms near the front of the resort mean a walk to the pool and beach every time.
- Open-plan bathrooms in some rooms.
- Little to do outside the resort without a taxi.
I stayed here in June 2026. The food was excellent, but my room was near the front, so ask for one close to the pool and beach.
How to get a better room
- Ask, when you book and again at check-in, for a room close to the beach and main pools.
- Compare the price of an ocean-view Junior Suite with the standard room. Being closer to the water can be worth more than a bigger room.
- Swim-up suites put you right at a pool, but check which pool and how far it is from the beach.
- The Ocean Front Suites with private terrace pools are for guests 18 and over.
Good to know
- Families: RiuLand kids' club for ages 4–7 and 8–12. Guests can use the Splash Water World water park at Riu Dunamar next door (recommended for ages 12+, minimum height 1.20 m).
- Adults: two relaxation pools, the gym and steam bath are 18+. The Renova Spa costs extra.
- Nights out: Pacha nightclub is next door. RIU also runs transport to its party events at Riu Caribe in Cancun.
Sources: RIU Palace Costa Mujeres (official) · Mexican Caribbean tourism board: Costa Mujeres
See RIU Palace and nearby resorts: photos, prices and availability
Photos, guest ratings and live all-inclusive prices for RIU Palace Costa Mujeres and two neighbors worth comparing, from our booking partner Stay22. Change the dates to see your own prices. Booking through the map may earn Conteluma a commission at no extra cost to you. A resort that is sold out for your dates won't appear.
See photos and live prices for these resorts. The map loads from Stay22 and uses affiliate tracking, so it needs your OK first.
What it costs, and when to go
The $125 per person per night figure is a June price. June is low season on Mexico's Caribbean coast: it's hot, hurricane season starts on June 1, and sargassum seaweed can wash up on some days. In our October 24 check of our partner's map, using its default three-night sample dates, RIU Palace showed about $420 a night for two, roughly $210 per person. Expect higher prices again from mid-December through Easter.
- Best value: late May to early July, and September to mid-November (watch the hurricane forecast and buy travel insurance).
- Highest prices: Christmas and New Year, February, Easter and US spring break.
- Sargassum: it varies year to year and beach to beach. Resorts usually clear their sand each morning, but the water can still be affected. Check recent guest photos before you book.
Costs to plan for
- Visitax: Quintana Roo's state tourist tax for foreign visitors, about 280–300 Mexican pesos (roughly $15–$18) per person in 2026. Pay online at the official Visitax site before you fly; airport staff may ask for the QR code.
- Environmental fee: a small per-room, per-night charge the hotel collects at check-in or checkout. The amount varies by municipality, so ask your resort.
- Airport transfer: it's about 45 minutes from Cancun airport. Book a shared or private transfer in advance rather than taking a taxi from the curb.
- Tips: all-inclusive doesn't mean tip-free in practice. Small tips in pesos or dollars for housekeeping, bartenders and waiters are appreciated.
- Extras: spa treatments, some premium drinks and excursions cost extra. Ask what's included before you plan on it.
Use the trip cost calculator to add flights, transfers and extras to your resort price, or the true-cost calculator to compare two resorts' real totals.
Two nearby resorts to compare
On the same stretch of beach and worth pricing against RIU Palace for your dates.
| Resort | Why compare it | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres All Suites & Spa | All-suite, all-inclusive resort on a long stretch of beach, with two pools and a spa. | Which suites face the sea, and what's included in the all-inclusive plan. |
| Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres | Five-star, family-friendly all-inclusive with several pools and a kids' club. | The price difference for your dates, and how far your room is from the beach. |
Five checks before you book
- Ask for a room close to the beach and main pools, in writing if you can.
- Compare the all-inclusive total for your exact dates and number of guests, including taxes.
- Check what's included: à la carte restaurants, premium drinks, room service and the spa.
- Look at recent guest photos for sargassum and building work.
- Pay your Visitax online and book your airport transfer before you fly.
More help: hidden hotel fees checklist · refundable vs. nonrefundable rates · Marriott vs. Hilton status
Levi's notes are from his own paid stay in June 2026. Resort facts come from RIU's official website and the Mexican Caribbean tourism board; prices and ratings in the map come from our booking partner. The photo shows Isla Mujeres, not the resort.