Vidanta Riviera Maya: A Dream Destination
If you are debating on visiting Riviera Maya but do not want to stay at an all-inclusive resort, I highly recommend Vidanta Riviera Maya just 25-minutes south of the Cancun airport. They offer a variety of room types to accommodate a wide range of budgets. Plus, with a 1000-acre property, they’ve got tons to do right on-site. From the beautiful stretch of beach to unique dining experiences to impressive shows like Joya by Cirque du Soleil your family will stay entertained for days. I recommend spending at least 4 days here.
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Grand Luxxe
If you can afford it, stay in the Grand Luxxe section of the resort. (There are 6 hotels here to choose from.) Here everything is slightly elevated including a private pool area with a hot tub, a well-equipped fitness center, a decadent spa, and access to the exclusive Beach Club. We loved our room. We had access to the connecting lock-out room as well giving us two master bedrooms both had large walk-in showers and huge jacuzzi tubs. The patio was huge with a dining table, lounge chairs, and a shallow pool.
Beach Club
Our favorite place to spend our time was the Beach Club. This high-end pool has room for everyone to feel exclusive. We went here everyday and each time we got our own cabana with lounge chairs and outlets so I could charge my phone. It felt very private, was never crowded, and had a super chill vibe. There’s even a bar cart roaming around ready to make you an Aperol spritz! My only regret is not spending more time here.
Jungala Water Park
There’s a fairly new waterpark located on property called Jungala. It has large body slides and tube rides. There is a large lazy river with a bar halfway through it so clever. Drinks are an additional cost. There is also a large kid’s area. Our favorite part was the hot tub and our private cabana. The cabana had waitstaff so we could order lunch. Plus, the cabana area also had it’s own private bathrooms which was much appreciated. How often do you see a nice clean bathroom at a waterpark! The waterpark is an additional cost but the hotels golf carts will take you over to the entrace. Buy tickets in advance.
Joya Cirque du Soleil
I had heard there was a Cirque du Soleil show in the area but I was surprised to find out it was part of Vidanta. The show is incredible. I don’t want to give it away but if you’ve seen any of their other shows know this one is just as good. We arrived early to enjoy the 3-course menu for dinner. There’s also an option for dessert and drinks to be added to your tickets. When you do the dinner you are right up close which we liked. Although, I recommend not sitting in the front row unless you want to end up on stage. Purchase tickets in advance.
Wellness Refuge Spa
Eden and I LOVED the spa so much we spend over 3 hours there. It started with hydrotherapy where we enjoyed a steam room, sauna, hot tubs, foot shower while walking on rocks, heated lounge chairs, and more. After a busy few days, it was a dream for us to be able to slow down. After hydrotherapy, we were taken to our room. We shared a treatment room that kicked off with some sort of interesting Mayan spa welcome. Then we had an 80-minute full body massage that was divine. Adding the spa to your visit is a must. We visited the newer spa in the Grand Luxxe area. I believe there is another spa on the property but did not have the chance to see it. We also didn’t see any monkeys which was a bummer.
Le Petit Chef
Le Petit Chef is an extremely unique dinner show that exceeded all my expectations. There’s a projector that projects the chef onto the table, and he walks you all through your dinner. It’s colorful, entertaining, and educational. Plus, the food was good. I did the pairing, which included one beer, tequila, a cocktail, and some wine. I thought the pairing was just okay, so if you are on a budget, do the dinner only. If you are traveling with kids, this will be one of the highlights of your trip.
Waves n’ Tacos Auténtica Taquería
One of our favorite eateries in the Salum area of the resort is Waves n’ Tacos Auténtica Taquería. Their tacos al pastor are delicious. Plus, they’ve got 4 or 5 salsas to choose from on every table. Their guacamole is excellent too. The other places to eat were good too, but this just happened to be our favorite. I go to Mexico to eat Mexican food, not hamburgers.
Personal Chef
One of the coolest options you have when you stay in a room with a full kitchen is to have a private chef. The chef will come to your room and make breakfast or dinner. We had a chef whip up our breakfast one morning and it was incredible. It was a ton of food and a lovely setup. For breakfast, each person gets to pick a main dish. Everything else you see in the photo comes with the experience too. They will wrap up the leftovers and your fridge will be full.
Salum
The Salum area is a bohemian area mixed with shopping, restaurants, cafes, and sometimes entertainment. We only managed to catch the shops open once since we spent most of our time at the pool or doing other things in the evening. At night, the steps light up in a bunch of different colors and is neat to see.
White Sand Beaches
Due to the massive size of the resort, the stretch of beach is massive too. I never had to wait for a seat because there are just so many places to hang out and sit. The beach in front of the main pool area has swings, cornhole, and other games. The beach near the Grand Luxxe has tons of chairs and tucked away between the beach and the pool are hammocks and other cozy spots to sit.
All in all, our experience at Vidanta Riviera Maya was wonderful. And I am sure you can see why I chose Riviera Maya as one of my 2025 Best Family Vacation Destinations.
Check current rates for the Grand Mayan portion of the property here. To stay in the same section we did, the Grand Luxxe area, you can check the rates here.
