All photos courtesy Ritz-Carlton Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya has been one of Mexico‘s most visited stretches of Caribbean coastline for decades, attracting luxury travelers to its white-sand beaches, cenotes, high-end hotels, and the historic ruins of the Yucatan Peninsula.
What it has notably lacked, until now, is a Ritz-Carlton. That all changes in 2026, however, when both The Ritz-Carlton, Riviera Maya and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Riviera Maya open their doors. Set on a beautiful 220-acre property between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, the project is the luxury brand’s first foray into Mexico’s Caribbean region, and the first all-inclusive residential experience Marriott International has offered under the Ritz-Carlton name.
Underway since mid-2024, the first phase, which includes a 300-room hotel and 29 furnished private residences, is on track for a 2026 debut. When fully built out, the residential component will total 127 homes. With architecture and interior design by Sordo Madaleno, the site’s Mayan heritage has informed the design from the ground up.
The Ritz-Carlton Riviera Maya
The property occupies a long-held private parcel that had been owned by a single family for several generations, which accounts for its largely undisturbed state. And what a slice of real estate. Boasting 1,600 feet of crescent-shaped shoreline on the Caribbean Sea, with waters calm enough for reef snorkeling and paddleboarding directly off the beach.
Inland highlights include a mix of tropical jungle canopy, dense mangroves, and dunes. All told, the development has committed to preserving 85 percent of the surrounding jungle, with total protection of the mangrove forests and dune systems.
It’s also going to be easy to get to. Only 45 minutes from Cancun International Airport (CUN) with its direct flights from across the United States, and the recently opened Tulum International Airport is an hour away. For those arriving by road, Puerto Morelos is nearby, Playa del Carmen is a short drive south, and Tulum is accessible within about 40 minutes. Puerto Aventuras, the only marina on the Riviera Maya, is 15 minutes away, giving boaters a convenient base.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel
The Ritz-Carlton, Riviera Maya will have 300 rooms and suites, four swimming pools, and a family area called The Lagoon, a dedicated swimming and splash-play zone. Beyond the pools, the property includes The Spa, a Kids Club, a Teens Club, and The Racquet Club, which will offer professional-grade tennis and pickleball courts. The amenity list reflects an all-access model that the Ritz-Carlton brand has not previously offered, one designed to serve both leisure travelers and the private residence owners who share the site.
The food and beverage program is being developed by TalentChef, a resort hospitality consultancy, and it reads like a destination. Restaurant Central will serve as the dining hub, an open-air food hall with six distinct venues, including an on-site distillery, a wine cellar, and a speakeasy.
Separate from Restaurant Central, the property will include Bonfire, an open-fire grilling venue; Sagrado, a traditional Mexican bakery and cafe; The Excursion Lounge, geared toward quick meals on the go; The Farmhouse, a farm-to-table concept; Aldea, described as a minimalist indigenous food market; and The Beach Club, which will serve as the social anchor on the oceanfront.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences
The residential component of the project is divided into three distinct categories. Beachfront Estates are the most exclusive, limited to 13 five-bedroom homes positioned directly on the sand, each spanning more than 3,500 square feet across three levels with direct Caribbean Sea access.
Grand Residences make up the largest portion of the inventory, with 82 two- and three-level condominiums in three- and four-bedroom configurations starting at nearly 3,000 square feet, all with jungle views. Mangrove Cottages round out the offering with 32 one- and two-level two- and three-bedroom units ranging from 1,600 to over 2,000 square feet.
All residences come fully furnished, with custom-designed kitchens, premium appliances, private plunge pools, and terraces oriented toward the ocean or jungle. Pricing starts at $1.824 million. The first 29 buyers participated in IMI Worldwide Properties’ Friends and Family Insiders Program, which offered preferred preconstruction pricing before the public sale opened.
Private Concierge Services
Owners receive access to a dedicated private concierge, in-residence chef services, on-demand personal shopping, on-site childcare, tailored fitness training, and in-residence spa treatments. They also have exclusive access to The Catamaran Club, a residents-only beachfront enclave separate from the hotel’s public areas.
Local stone, wood, and organic finishes are used throughout, and pathways on the property are oriented to make use of natural light, including what the development’s materials describe as moonlight-reflecting white sand inspired by ancient Mayan navigation methods. The Mayan influence extends to structural decisions as well, with building heights and orientations deliberately calibrated to frame views of the surrounding jungle and coastline rather than dominate them.
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Bryan Dearsley is a luxury lifestyles writer, a prolific traveler, and a Co-Founder of the Riley network of luxury lifestyle websites.
