Photo courtesy Alila Mayakoba
The Riviera Maya is about to get a serious upgrade. Two major five-star hotel brands are opening new properties along Mexico’s Caribbean coast in 2026, each bringing a different take on luxury to one of the most popular resort corridors in the Western Hemisphere.
Alila Mayakoba opened its doors in February, and the Kimpton Tres Rios is due to welcome guests later this year. Together, they represent a combined investment of well over a thousand new rooms and suites across the region.
For tourists planning a trip south, the timing matters. Competition between high-end brands tends to push standards up and, often, introductory rates down. And with the new Tulum International Airport now operational alongside Cancun International Airport, reaching the Riviera Maya from major North American cities has never been easier. These luxury resort openings signal that the region is moving firmly away from its all-inclusive-only reputation toward something more layered.
Alila Mayakoba
The first to open is Alila Mayakoba, which welcomed its first guests in February 2026. Operated by Hyatt, this is the Alila brand’s first property in Latin America and the Caribbean, built on the site of the former Andaz Mayakoba.
The resort occupies 60 acres (24 hectares) within the Mayakoba resort community, a 595-acre (241-hectare) enclave south of Playa del Carmen that already includes Fairmont and Banyan Tree properties. The Alila Mayakoba has 182 rooms, suites, and villas, with nearly 40 percent classified as suites. Many come with private plunge pools overlooking mangroves and freshwater canals.
Six dining venues include Na Cocina Local, an all-day restaurant built around Yucatecan ingredients, and Ninguno Taqueria, a beachside spot serving elevated tacos and tostadas. The Spa Alila features a temazcal (a traditional Mayan sweat lodge) and open-air hydrotherapy. This is an adults-only property, and its focus on wellness and environmental design sets it apart from the larger, busier resorts on this stretch of coast.
Kimpton Tres Rios, Riviera Maya
Kimpton Tres Rios takes a different approach entirely. Located north of Playa del Carmen within the 340-acre (138-hectare) Tres Rios Nature Park, this is IHG’s first all-inclusive resort under the Kimpton brand. The property is a full renovation and rebrand of the former Hacienda Tres Rios, now offering 355 suites across 20 room categories. Options include adults-only suites and ocean-view swim-out rooms with direct pool access.
Dining spans seven restaurants and five bars, with highlights including Kotori (Asian fusion) and Sabina (modern Mexican). The 10,000 sq ft (929 sq m) Kej Spa offers hydrotherapy and treatments blending contemporary and traditional techniques. What makes this property unusual is its setting: guests have direct access to eco-trails, kayaking on freshwater rivers, and snorkeling in cenotes within the nature park itself.
Families are well catered for with the Club Aventuras kids’ program and a pool area with slides and splash zones.
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Bryan Dearsley is a luxury lifestyles writer, a prolific traveler, and the founder of the Riley network of luxury lifestyle websites.
