All photos courtesy Kimpton Tres Rios Riviera Maya
Kimpton Hotels is set to open its first-ever all-inclusive resort this summer. The location for this much-anticipated luxury property? Mexico’s Riviera Maya, of course.
The opulent Kimpton Tres Rios will welcome its first guests this summer, just north of Playa del Carmen, and marks a significant shift for the IHG Hotels & Resorts-owned brand, best known for its design-forward boutique city hotels. For luxury travelers planning a Caribbean getaway, it’s an exciting new option in the high-end all-inclusive market.
What sets this resort apart from most luxury all-inclusives in the region? Well, it all boils down to location. Rather than a standalone beachfront property, Kimpton Tres Rios is set within the 326-acre (132-hectare) Tres Rios Nature Park, a functioning ecological preserve where three freshwater rivers wind through jungle, mangrove forests, and coastal dunes before reaching the Caribbean. The park is home to over 90 animal species and 120 plant species. Rates start at $249 per person, per night, based on double occupancy, with IHG One Rewards members able to book using points.
Suites, Pools, and the Kej Spa
The resort has 355 suites across more than 20 accommodation categories. Options range from mangrove-view rooms to ocean-view swim-out suites with direct balcony access to a private plunge pool. Adults-only suites are available for those looking to avoid the family-oriented sections of the property. All rooms come with fully stocked minibars and 24-hour room service. The design uses regional materials throughout, including national marbles and Chukum, a natural resin traditional to the Yucatan, alongside Mayan stone facade elements on the exterior.
Four swimming pools serve the property, including a rooftop pool. The spa, called Kej Spa, covers 10,000 sq ft (929 sq m) and is built around indigenous-inspired treatments. Among the signature offerings is the traditional Temazcal ritual, a pre-Columbian sweat lodge ceremony.
The facility also offers hydrotherapy, massages, and beauty treatments that combine modern methods with practices tied to local culture. For those who want to stay active, the fitness center runs morning yoga sessions and aqua aerobics classes, and the park’s eco-trails are accessible for early morning walks.
Seven Restaurants and the Nature Park
The dining program covers a broad range of cuisines across seven restaurants, all included in the all-inclusive rate. Kotori is the resort’s Asian fusion concept. Sabina takes a contemporary approach to traditional Mexican food and features a large mural by Oaxacan artists Raúl Prieto and Bouler documenting the region’s biodiversity. Bacetto, housed in the property’s chapel building, serves rustic Italian dishes alongside reimagined cocktails.
Other venues include a steakhouse, a Mediterranean restaurant, an outdoor Mexican street food spot with a traditional comal, and Raíces, the resort’s main buffet. Five bars and lounges round out the food-and-beverage operation, including an adults-only rooftop bar, a poolside bar, a sports bar, and an all-day coffee bar serving organic coffee and fresh juices.
Outside the resort buildings, the Tres Rios Nature Park is the property’s most distinctive feature. Guests can kayak along the park’s three freshwater rivers, which cut through mangrove forests before reaching the sea. Guided snorkeling and diving trips are available along the coastline, and hidden cenotes within the park grounds can be accessed on foot via the ecological trail network.
The property also maintains a native plant nursery on-site. For families, the Club Aventuras kids’ program runs daily activities including arts and crafts, outdoor games, and supervised nature exploration. Spanish lessons and cooking classes are available for guests of all ages, as is beach access for non-guided water activities.
Tips & Tactics
Kimpton Tres Rios is managed by Playa Hotels & Resorts, the same company behind the Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara resorts in the Dominican Republic, which are considered benchmarks for the high-end all-inclusive format in the Caribbean.
IHG One Rewards members can book using points at an entry rate of 86,000 points per night. The property is pet-friendly, though the resort advises that the nature park environment makes it better suited for guests traveling without animals. Check-in is at 3:00 PM; checkout is at 12:00 PM. Free Wi-Fi is included throughout the property.
For further details, Kimpton Tres Rios.
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Bryan Dearsley is a writer on luxury lifestyles, a prolific traveler, and a Co-Founder of the Riley network of luxury lifestyle websites.
