Riu Palace Kukulkan Adults Only - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

1396 reviews

• 

  Cancún trip

  This all inclusive adults only resort is lovely. Beautiful grounds and beach. Food is average and no waits for us at any of the 5 restaurants or buffet. Friendly staff. Not a wild party resort. The only thing I didn’t like was the room layout. We had a jr ocean view suite. The toilet is a separate room, the shower is a separate room separated with a wooden divider. The soaking tub is right next to the bed with no partition or screen to close off for privacy. I often get up sooner than my husband and there was no way block the lighting from him.

  Apr 24, 2025
• 

  The best resort i have ever been to. Service unmatched & stunning, new, on a beautiful section of the pristine beaches.

  The people who work here are what makes this hotel feel like home. Most welcoming, kind, hard working people there to make your stay the best vacation. From the check in to the daily AND NIGHTLY entertainment team/staff and waiter staff at every single restaurant, to the amazing man bbq cooking over a hot grill every day to make your hot dogs and burgers and ribs just how you like them with the biggest smile, to the hand sanitizer man standing near the bbq food with a smile on his face (sooo impressed by this because no one wants dirty pool and beach hands on their food because someone didnt wash up before eating lol! The nightly entertainment alone would cost $70+ per person if you left the resort and that is the other main reason i always stay at a riu. Its always a fun party but they always have the 18+ foam pool party spring break hotel and then their family oriented hotel and then their elevated party hotel for adults only lol! The riu caribe is for the 18-25 crowd btw lol. This riu though is for the 30+ crowd family, couples or group trips! So much fun at the daily entertainment by the pool & the dancers and musician performers at night were absolutely excellent!! I hope they pay them well because honestly the day and night entertainment is the main draw for us. The food was great at all the specialty restaurants. Italian, mexican, steak…the buffet was also great for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I would say the only note is I really wish they would put some rooms with two queen beds instead of a couch even. The doubles are a little too small to comfortably fit two grown adults especially when my parents are over 70 lol. But other than that the water and beach was in a great spot. No water like cancun water. Its not more than a 10 minute uber to the coco bongo senor frogs area of the hotel zone but this wasnt our first time in cancun so we didnt have to leave the resort. Next time we will stay longer and do some day trips but this time we didnt want to miss a minute of that food, beach and pool life that wasnt going to be better anywhere else quite frankly. Thank you to every single person at riu kukulkan. We will be back because of you! Ps…please start having your own hotel guest only white party on Wednesday nights and maybe a late night DJ night on Saturdays? That open area above the elite pool area looks like a great spot for a weekend outdoor nightclub under the stars vibe for those wanting to have a night dance party! Gracias! We’ll be back!

  Apr 24, 2025
• 

  April Trip

  I honestly cannot find an area that I would rate below excellent. My wife and I stayed in a garden view king room that had a slight view of the ocean and city-view Cancun (Ferris wheel). We chose not to upgrade to Elite and do not feel it is necessary or worth the extra cost. Room: clean, spacious, and refrigerator re-stocked daily. Resort: I have been to several bigger resorts and even though this is considered a smaller resort, it didn't feel cramped by no means. The restaurants, pools, bars, and restrooms are spaced perfectly. The buildings, grounds, and bathrooms are very clean and upkept. Restaurants: The food overall was very good, including the buffet. We also ate at Pepe's Grill (poolside) and the Steak House and Italian Restaurants. Bars: Very good selection of liquor (Tito's, Absolut, Maker's Mark, Jack Daniels, Fireball, Captain Morgan) and several options for beer including Dos Equis, Tecate, and Coors Light to mention a few. Plus all of the fruity and slushy drinks you want. Many options for tequila! Pools: 3 different pools to choose from for non-elite members. We spent most of the time in the swim-up pool but ventured into the activity pool. The only negative of the swim-up pool for us is that it was only 3 ft. deep. Service: Impeccable and friendly. Bar tenders and servers do an excellent job of taking care of you. Location: We chose private transportation and it is less than a 25-30 min. drive from airport.

  Apr 24, 2025
• 

  No ocean swimming or walking on the beach

  Very nice resort, pools are great, entertainment good, food good, especially at the steak house, great accommodating staff. Our only disappointment was that all week the waves were very intimidating so no swimming for us which I normally do when on vacation. Also, really no beach walking either as it is that sugar sand stuff. Wish I had known this before booking.

  Apr 23, 2025
• 

  Truly Fantastic Service.

  The Riu Palace Kukulkan EXCEEDED expectations! I have been to dozens of resorts all over Cancun and the Riviera Maya. The food was excellent for an all-inclusive at this price point; the best I have had. I was able to get top shelf liquor (Patron, Bulleit Bourbon, Tito's) while not being in the "elite" club. The hotel is very compact, and it is just steps to the beach-- super easy to get beach chairs in the morning. Love that their umbrellas easily move around and surrounded by palm tress. For people who don't like walking or want to be able to easily get to other parts of Cancun this hotel is for you. They kept the place IMMACULATE. Seriously someone was always cleaning and the service was exceptional-- most beach waiters came by often and dishes were swept away before you might even be done! In full transparency, the music for the hotel was not to my taste. It was more of a mix of rock music, 80's/90's. When they had dance music it was more hip hop. The pool scene was very lively but the beach area was more calm. Would have preferred more loungy or chill music throughout. Not a lot of international tourists, mostly Americans, take that as you will-- but all the guests were incredibly friendly; everyone was very happy to be there. Took the party bus one day for one of the Riu Parties-- a fun experience. Met a friend there who was staying at one of the other Cancun Riu's and went to visit it the next day. It was like a different world, crowded, dated, subpar food-- that was NOT a hotel I would stay in, so I definitely think the Riu Palace is the best in its class.

  Apr 23, 2025