With its rich cultural traditions, white sand beaches, and delicious cuisine, Mexico deserves a spot on every family vacation ideas bucket list. And whether your Mexico vacation plans take you to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, or any other beloved vacation spots, the most popular choice for families is often one of the best Mexico all-inclusive resorts.
With travel on the uptick, families are looking further afield than the usual family vacation spots in the U.S. again. As you look ahead to your 2022 travels, here are the Mexico all-inclusive resorts that’ll have you packing your bags for a memorable family trip.
FAMILY TRIPS: 11 Best Cancun Resorts for Families with Kids and Teens
1. Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya – Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Pool and beach area at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya (Photo: HRH)At the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, you can have your cake and eat it too with both adults-only and family-friendly resort experiences. Your big debate: Visit the expansive outdoor pools or the private beach?
CLOSER TO HOME: 15 Most Kid-Friendly Family Resorts in the U.S.
Kids will enjoy the ninja obstacle course, trampolines, and indoor concrete skatepark at the 29,000 square foot Woodward Riviera Maya action-sports facility. There’s also the Roxity Kids Club with daily activities for kids ages four to 12, plus the Rockaway Bay water park with high-speed slides for teens and adults, and smaller slides for the little ones. Snorkeling and kayaking are other fun options.
The adults-only section of the resort, called Heaven, includes the Hard Rock signature Rock Spa with 75 spa treatment rooms and a variety of spa services, four restaurants, and seven bars and lounges, including a premium service nightclub.
2. Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts Riviera Maya – Playa del Carmen, Mexico
AquaNick water park at the Mexico all-inclusive Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts Riviera Maya (Photo: Karisma Hotels)Like its sister property in Punta Cana, the newly opened Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen is an all-inclusive beach resort designed with kids and families in mind. The centerpiece is a massive six-acre outdoor water park called AquaNick, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Interactive game shows, character breakfasts, and plenty of Nick-themed dining options abound.
MAKE MEMORIES: 10 Best Places to Go with Kids in 2022
Adults will love the spa facilities and two swim-up bars, not to mention the fact that every room has a pristine ocean view and its own infinity pool. The resort is just a 30-minute drive from Cancun, and airport transfers are available. Your family may never want to leave the resort, but if you do, you can arrange day trips to popular attractions like the archeological ruins at Tulum or Chichen Itza right from the hotel lobby.
3. Barceló Maya Grand Resort – Quintana Roo, Mexico
The Barceló Maya Grand Resort is comprised of six resorts in total: the all-suite, adults-only Barceló Maya Riviera; the all-suite, AAA Four-Diamond Barceló Maya Palace; Barceló Maya Tropical; Barceló Maya Colonial; Barceló Maya Beach; and Barceló Maya Caribe.
Combined, there are 27 restaurants, 24 bars, 14 pools, three theaters, three water parks, a 33,000-square-foot spa (including a kid’s spa with specialized spa treatments), and bowling alley. Not to mention this spa resort has bragging rights for being the first and only Riviera Maya resort with its own amusement park, too.
CARIBBEAN DREAMING: The 12 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Jamaica
At this Mexico all-inclusive resort’s Ventura Fly and Ride Park, the options go way beyond ordinary amusement park zip lines. Try the AquaZip, which ends with a splash landing; Tarzania, a zipline/rollercoaster that suspends you below a rail as you soar 1,247 feet through the air; or the plane coaster, the bungee swing, the parachute landing, and more!
Then there’s Ventura Ride, where kids and adults can show off their skills in Polaris Ace vehicles on a closed off-road circuit. And after you catch your breath, the whole family can chill at the all-inclusive resort’s mile-long white sand beach.
4. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit – Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico
Beach and pool at Grand Velas Riviera Maya (Photo: Grand Velas Riviera Maya)You know a resort is family-friendly when there’s a Baby Concierge package that comes with a travel crib, stroller, baby seat, baby bath, and just about anything else on your baby packing list for travel (think bottle warmers and a menu of baby foods). And at Grand Velas, there’s also a Kids Club for those ages four and over, and a place for teens to meet up as well. Babysitting services are also available.
SUNNY ESCAPES: 10 Best All-Inclusive Beach Resorts in the World
With so many entertainment options for the kids, parents have plenty of opportunity to enjoy some guilt-free down time at the spa or on the beach. And Grand Velas also has five restaurants (AAA four-diamond rated) and a 24-hour personal concierge (essentially a butler) who will make excursion recommendations for your family and take care of dinner reservations, notifying all restaurants of dietary needs and restrictions. No wonder many consider it one of the best all-inclusive beach resorts in the world.
5. Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort and Spa – Playa Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico
The Family Selection at the five-star beachfront Mexico all-inclusive Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort and Spa is like a hotel inside of a hotel, catering to families with personalized services and premium accommodations (including the Family Selection Ambassador Suite, which offers even more room, more luxuries, and more comfort). Amenities within the family area include private check-in and check-out, a personal Family Host assistant throughout the stay, a welcome kit for children, and preferential restaurant reservations.
NO PASSPORT NEEDED: 17 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the U.S. for Families
There are kid’s clubs and entertainment options for babies (ages one to three), toddlers, preteens, and teens, offering everything from X-Box games and a pool table to an art room, trampoline, and kiddie park. Tennis lovers will enjoy the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre on property. There are also three pools, swim-up bars, and a kid’s water park.
6. Club Med Cancun – Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Aerial view of Club Med Cancun (Photo: Club Med)There’s no shortage of water-based activities (sailing, scuba diving, water games, and more) at Club Med Cancun, the only Cancun resort with three private beachfront spaces. Feeling adventurous? There’s also a flying trapeze and archery.
EXTENDED FAMILIES: The 12 Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Families of 5+
If your mood is chill, you can get private oceanfront massage spa services on the beach. And, the new Amazing Family Program offers all manner of entertainment, like life-sized board games, family story time, beginner yoga, treasure hunts, and pickleball.
7. Grand Residences Riviera Cancun – Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Aerial view of Grand Residences Riviera Cancun all inclusive resort (Photo: Grand Residences Riviera Cancun)Whether you’re two or 92, there’s something for you at the Grand Residences Riviera Cancun. Three themes prevail at this Mexico all-inclusive resort: culinary, adventure, and relaxation. The resort’s vast array of amenities (think pillow choice options and a bottle of tequila or mezcal in every room) and activities (e.g., cultural experiences for younger guests at the drop-off Kids Club, Spanish language and/or cooking classes, guided yoga on the beach, bike tour through the downtown uncrowded area) offer big fun for multigenerational family vacations.
EXPECTING PARENTS: 7 Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Couples on a Babymoon
Keep the action going with tennis, Zumba, table tennis, dance contests, bingo, and domines. Another plus: The resort works alongside local tour operators to craft personalized snorkeling, cenotes, and water experiences in the Caribbean Sea to allow families to get back to enjoying nature—including exploring the world’s second largest coral reef (a quick drive from Grand Residences). Private round-trip car service to and from the airport is included for all guests.
8. Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun – Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun (Photo: Karisma Hotels and Resorts)The new Margaritaville Island Reserve in Cancun is an oceanfront resort that combines all the amenities of a world-class Mexico all-inclusive resort with Margaritaville’s famously relaxed vibe. There’s a fully outfitted fitness center, and activities like stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling, scuba clinics, cooking and cocktail classes, dance lessons, yoga, Aqua Fit, beach soccer, and volleyball abound.
NO KIDS ALLOWED: 10 Best Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean
The Parakeets Kid’s Club has supervised daily activities for children ages four to 12 years old, where activities include cooking classes, mad lab experiments, piñata making, dancing, pajama parties, and movie nights.
9. Playa Viva – Petatlan, Mexico
Playa Viva is located on a private beach along Mexico’s Pacific Coast (Photo: Playa Viva/Kev Steele)If mega hotels aren’t your thing, consider the family- and dog-friendly Playa Viva Mexico all-inclusive resort, located on its own private beach along Mexico’s Pacific Coast. At this boutique all-inclusive, kids can boogie board, make sandcastles, and visit the on-site farm and garden to feed the pigs or collect eggs for breakfast. The entire family will enjoy horseback riding on the beach, kayaking in a lagoon, and learning to surf or snorkel at nearby reefs. Parents can begin the day with complimentary morning yoga.
ROMANTIC ESCAPES: The 10 Best Mexico Resorts for a Couples Getaway
The hotel is situated at the base of the Sierra Madre Mountains on the Pacific Coast of Mexico and has 200 acres of nature preserve, including a turtle sanctuary where families can watch baby turtles get released into the ocean.
When you’re ready to relax, a variety of spa services await—as do cooking lessons, shore fishing, and hiking trails. Nearby excursions include snorkeling, visits to a local farm, shopping, a Temazcal sweat lodge, and more. Meals, snacks, and most beverages are included.
10. The Black Bass Lodge – Punta Abreojos, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Sunset at the Black Bass Lodge in Baja California Sur (Photo: Black Bass Lodge)Looking for an off-the-grid Mexico all-inclusive experience? The tiny Black Bass Lodge might be the property for you. Book this beachfront villa (it sleeps up to 15 guests with four private rooms) and you can literally have the place to yourselves.
ALOHA STATE: The 4 Best Hawaii All-Inclusive Resorts for Families
Stays include a private chef, all meals, and cleaning service. This little resort is ideal for whale watching, hiking, biking, horseback riding, remote fishing, surfing, exploring tide pools, and enjoying walks along the beach. A private yoga instructor is available upon request, too.
11. Viva Wyndham Maya – Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Aerial view of the all-inclusive Viva Wyndham Maya in Mexico (Photo: Viva Wyndham Maya)At Viva Wyndham Maya, kids ages four to 12 have their own pool, sand box, swings, and endless activities, not to mention extended hours from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Kids Club. And when the whole family wants to hang out together, there’s dancing, trapeze, cooking lessons, oceanfront pools, paddle boarding, water aerobics, climbing wall, ceramic painting, kayaking, windsurfing, and tennis, among many other activities.
When night falls, there’s entertainment at the theater, and before the show kids get a chance to show off their talent at the Mini Show with dance choreography they put together during the day.
BAHAMA-BOUND: The 8 Best Bahamas All-Inclusive Resorts for Families
The resort has connecting rooms for large families, and cribs are available upon request. You’ll have no worries about mealtime, either, as there are a variety of restaurants with many options for kids. When you’re ready to venture beyond the resort, downtown Playa del Carmen is just a short lift away.
Another popular nearby attraction is Xcaret, an eco-archaeological park that offers the opportunity to swim in underground rivers, float in lagoons, see exotic animals in their natural habitats, snorkel in cenotes, browse through a botanical garden, or visit a cool coral reef aquarium. Other options include snorkeling with dolphins or a visit to the famous pyramids at Chichen Itza.
More from FamilyVacationist:
- 10 All-Inclusive Resorts Even Teenagers Will Love
- 8 Best Aruba All-Inclusive Resorts for Families
- 6 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Florida for Families