By the Family All-Inclusive Resorts editorial team · Updated November 7, 2026
The Short Answer
For most families, the best Riviera Maya all-inclusive is Grand Palladium Kantenah, south of Puerto Aventuras. Its free kids' club takes ages 1 to 8 from 9 am to 5 pm, a fun zone covers ages 8 to 17, there is a children's water park, and its Family Selection rooms add a family butler and a family-only pool. It is about 90 minutes from Cancun airport.
- Big families or two families together: The Fives Beach Hotel, about 40 minutes from the airport, has two- and three-bedroom residences with full kitchens. See our family suites guide.
- Water slides: Ocean Riviera Paradise has a water park and a separate children's water park, and Barceló Maya Palace has a water park for children. See our water park guide.
- On a budget: Bahia Principe Explore Akumal or Riu Playacar. See our affordable family resorts.
If you'd rather keep the transfer under 45 minutes, look at Cancun instead.
The Riviera Maya's Areas Compared
| Area | Best for | From Cancun airport | Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playa del Carmen (Playacar, Xcalacoco) | A town nearby, residences | 40–50 min | No clubs for under-4s on our list |
| Puerto Aventuras to Kantenah | Big complexes, baby clubs | About 75–90 min | Long transfer |
| Akumal | Budget complexes | About 100 km | Longest transfer from Cancun |
Akumal resorts are closer to Tulum airport (TQO), about 63 km away by Bahia Principe's figure, if you can find a flight there.
Map of Riviera Maya Family Resorts
Playa del Carmen is at the top of the map; Puerto Aventuras, Kantenah and Akumal run south along the coast highway.
Map prices come from Booking.com and other partners through Stay22. Enter your dates on the map to see live rates.
Search all Riviera Maya stays →Best for Babies and Big Families
Clubs that start young, baby gear, and suites with two or three bedrooms.
Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa
Kantenah, near Akumal, Riviera Maya
Our top pick: for families with babies through teens, with a free kids' club from age 1, a children's water park and a three-bedroom suite.
Best for: Families with babies to teens
- Free kids' club from age 1
- Children's water park
- Three-bedroom suite and Family Selection rooms
More about this hotel
A family all-inclusive in the Grand Palladium Riviera Maya complex with a Baby Club, Mini Club and Teen Club, children's pools and a children's water park. The free kids' club takes ages 1 to 8 from 9 am to 5 pm, and a fun zone covers ages 8 to 17.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Ken Thomas, Public domain
The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences
Xcalacoco, north of Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya
For big groups who want a kitchen, with two- and three-bedroom residences near Playa del Carmen.
Best for: Big groups or two families
- Residences with full kitchens
- Aluxitos Kids Club (4–12) and Teens Club
- Baby tub, bottle warmer and sterilizer
More about this hotel
An all-suite resort of one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with full kitchens, north of Playa del Carmen. Two-bedroom residences sleep up to eight and three-bedroom ones up to ten, and the Aluxitos Kids Club takes ages 4 to 12.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Alfonzo Buscemi, CC BY 3.0
Best Water Parks
Resorts where the water park is part of the hotel, not a day trip.
Ocean Riviera Paradise
Xcalacoco, north of Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya
For kids who want slides, with a water park, a children's water park and a Teenclub.
Best for: Kids who want slides
- Water park plus a children's water park
- Daisy Club (4–12) and Teenclub
- 24-hour all-inclusive
More about this hotel
A large H10 resort near Playa del Carmen with a water park, a separate children's water park and a splash pool. The Daisy Club takes ages 4 to 12, there is a Teenclub, and food and drinks are available 24 hours a day.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Alfonzo Buscemi, CC BY 3.0
Barceló Maya Palace
Barceló Maya complex, km 266, Riviera Maya
For families who like a big complex, with a children's water park and a kids' spa.
Best for: Families wanting a big complex
- Children's water park and mini-club
- U-Kids Spa for children
- Family Junior Suites
More about this hotel
The family hotel of the Barceló Maya complex, about 5 minutes from Puerto Aventuras, with a water park for children, a mini-club and a kids' spa. Family Junior Suites are set up for parents with children, and one of the three pools is for adults only.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Maryifezue, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bahia Principe Explore Akumal
Akumal, Riviera Maya
For budget-minded families, with a kids' water park and a two-bedroom family suite.
Best for: Budget-minded families
- Kids' club and kids' water park
- Two-bedroom family suite
- About 63 km from Tulum airport
More about this hotel
A renovated beachfront family resort in the large Bahia Principe complex at Akumal, with a kids' club and a kids' water park. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom family suite sleeps up to four adults and one child.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Francesco Lo Bello, CC BY 3.0
Best on a Budget
Lower-tier resorts that still have something specific for kids.
Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya
Akumal, km 256, Riviera Maya
For families on a budget who want a lazy river, though the kids' club ages aren't published.
Best for: Families on a budget
- Sirenios Kids Club
- Lazy river and children's pool
- Three large pools
More about this hotel
A Sirenis resort near Akumal with three large pools, a lazy river and a children's pool. Younger kids have the Sirenios Kids Club, and parents get a quiet pool of their own.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
Hotel Riu Playacar
Playacar, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya
For families who want Playa del Carmen nearby, with children's pools with slides.
Best for: Families wanting a town nearby
- Children's pools with slides
- RIU Land kids' club
- On the beach in Playacar
More about this hotel
A beachfront family Riu in Playacar, on the south side of Playa del Carmen. Kids get children's pools with slides and the RIU Land kids' club, and the town is close for an evening out.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Riviera Maya Family Resorts at a Glance
Prices change by date and room type, so check your own dates on Booking.com before you decide.
-
Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & SpaKantenah, near Akumal, Riviera Maya · Mid-rangeFamilies with babies to teensCheck prices -
The Fives Beach Hotel & ResidencesXcalacoco, north of Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya · SplurgeBig groups or two familiesCheck prices -
Ocean Riviera ParadiseXcalacoco, north of Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya · Mid-rangeKids who want slidesCheck prices -
Barceló Maya PalaceBarceló Maya complex, km 266, Riviera Maya · Mid-rangeFamilies wanting a big complexCheck prices -
-
-
Hotel Riu PlayacarPlayacar, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya · BudgetFamilies wanting a town nearbyCheck prices
| Hotel | Location | Price level | Best for | Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa
Family resort
|
Kantenah, near Akumal, Riviera Maya | Mid-range | Families with babies to teens | Check prices |
|
|
The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences
Residence resort
|
Xcalacoco, north of Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya | Splurge | Big groups or two families | Check prices |
|
|
Ocean Riviera Paradise
Family resort
|
Xcalacoco, north of Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya | Mid-range | Kids who want slides | Check prices |
|
|
Barceló Maya Palace
Family resort
|
Barceló Maya complex, km 266, Riviera Maya | Mid-range | Families wanting a big complex | Check prices |
|
|
Bahia Principe Explore Akumal
Family resort
|
Akumal, Riviera Maya | Budget | Budget-minded families | Check prices |
|
|
Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya
Beach resort
|
Akumal, km 256, Riviera Maya | Budget | Families on a budget | Check prices |
|
|
Hotel Riu Playacar
Beach resort
|
Playacar, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya | Budget | Families wanting a town nearby | Check prices |
Hotel details checked on November 7, 2026.
Getting to the Riviera Maya's Family Resorts
- Playa del Carmen area: 40 to 50 minutes from Cancun International Airport (CUN). The Fives gives about 40 minutes for its Xcalacoco location.
- Barceló Maya and Kantenah: Barceló puts Barceló Maya Palace about 48 miles (77 km) from the airport, and Palladium puts Grand Palladium Kantenah about 90 minutes away. Palladium's shuttle costs extra.
- Akumal: Bahia Principe's resorts at km 250 are about 100 km from Cancun airport and about 63 km from Tulum airport.
- With small children: a 90-minute transfer after a flight is long for toddlers, so pack snacks and ask for car seats when you book a private transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to help you choose where to stay.