The Best Swim-Up Suites in the Riviera Maya

The Short Answer

Our top pick is The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences at Xcalacoco, just north of Playa del Carmen. It is an all-inclusive beach resort of apartment-style residences, and its swim-up units come with one, two or three bedrooms, each with direct access to the pool. The two- and three-bedroom versions sleep up to 8 and 10, and there are kids' and teens' clubs. The one-bedroom swim-up doesn't take children, and the resort doesn't say whether the pool is shared.

• Family on a mid budget: Ocean Riviera Paradise, a 24-hour all-inclusive with a water park, whose swim-up junior suites are in the building closest to the beach.
• Family on a budget: Bahia Principe Explore Akumal, with swim-up junior suites that have two double beds.
• Adults only: Barceló Maya Riviera (18+), whose swim-up rooms are in its Premium Level. Hotel Riu Palace Mexico in Playacar has Elite Club swim-ups with a private pool, but Riu closed it for renovation in 2026 and said it would reopen in September 2026; check that your dates are bookable.

If you want the most choice and don't mind a resort strip, compare these with the Cancun and Costa Mujeres resorts, which are closer to the airport.

Riviera Maya Swim-Up Suites Compared

Pool types use each hotel's own wording. "Direct pool access" usually means a pool shared with other rooms. *Riu closed it for renovation in 2026 and said it would reopen in September 2026; check that your dates are bookable.

Map of Riviera Maya Swim-Up Resorts

Puerto Morelos is at the top of the map, Playa del Carmen in the middle and Akumal to the south.

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 Families and Groups

Family resorts with swim-up rooms, from family suites to multi-bedroom residences. Check the age rules for each room type.

Best Budget Swim-Up

The simplest way to get a swim-up room on this coast.

Adults-Only Swim-Up Resorts

Both are adults only. Riu Palace Mexico has the private pools, but Riu closed it for renovation in 2026 and said it would reopen in September 2026; check that your dates are bookable.

Riviera Maya Swim-Up Resorts at a Glance

Prices change by date and room type, so check your own dates on Booking.com before you decide.

• 
  The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences

  Xcalacoco, north of Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya · Splurge

  Big families and groups

  Check prices
• 
  Ocean Riviera Paradise

  Xcalacoco, north of Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya · Mid-range

  Families on a mid budget

  Check prices
• 
  Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancún

  Puerto Morelos, Riviera Maya · Mid-range

  Families with young kids

  Check prices
• 
  Bahia Principe Explore Akumal

  Akumal, Riviera Maya · Budget

  Families on a budget

  Check prices
• 
  Barceló Maya Riviera

  Barceló Maya complex, km 266, Riviera Maya · Mid-range

  Couples on a mid budget

  Check prices
• 
  Hotel Riu Palace Mexico

  Playacar, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya · Mid-range

  Couples in Playa del Carmen

  Check prices

Hotel		Location	Price level	Best for	Prices
	The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences Residence resort	Xcalacoco, north of Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya	Splurge	Big families and groups	Check prices
	Ocean Riviera Paradise Family resort	Xcalacoco, north of Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya	Mid-range	Families on a mid budget	Check prices
	Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancún All-inclusive resort	Puerto Morelos, Riviera Maya	Mid-range	Families with young kids	Check prices
	Bahia Principe Explore Akumal Family resort	Akumal, Riviera Maya	Budget	Families on a budget	Check prices
	Barceló Maya Riviera Adults-only resort	Barceló Maya complex, km 266, Riviera Maya	Mid-range	Couples on a mid budget	Check prices
	Hotel Riu Palace Mexico Adults-only resort	Playacar, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya	Mid-range	Couples in Playa del Carmen	Check prices

Hotel details checked on November 5, 2026.

Weather and Water Temperature

• Hot all year: the Riviera Maya stays warm in every month, and June to November brings most of the rain.
• Sea temperature: off Cancun, just to the north, the sea averages about 79 °F from January to March and about 84 °F from June to October.
• Hurricanes: the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10.
• Pool privacy: most swim-up rooms here open onto shared pools. If you want your own water, Riu Palace Mexico's Elite Club suites (check that your dates are bookable after its 2026 renovation) and Ocean Riviera Paradise's separate private-pool master suite (not a swim-up) are the options on this page.

Getting to the Riviera Maya

• From Cancun airport (CUN): Puerto Morelos is about 36 km south of Cancun. Riu puts Riu Palace Mexico in Playacar at about 55 km from the airport.
• Playa del Carmen: about 30 km south of Puerto Morelos. Xcalacoco, home to The Fives and Ocean Riviera Paradise, is north of central Playa del Carmen.
• Akumal and Tulum: the newer Tulum airport (TQO) is closer for the southern resorts. Bahia Principe gives its resort at highway km 250 as about 100 km from Cancun airport and about 63 km from Tulum airport.
• By train: a Tren Maya station opened near Puerto Morelos in March 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to help you choose where to stay.

Which Riviera Maya resort has the best swim-up suites?

The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences at Xcalacoco, whose swim-up residences have one, two or three bedrooms with direct pool access and sleep up to 3, 8 and 10. For a mid-range family stay, Ocean Riviera Paradise has swim-up junior suites in the building closest to the beach.

Is the Riviera Maya better than Cancun for swim-up suites?

Cancun, especially Costa Mujeres, has more of the swim-up resorts we list and is closer to the airport. The Riviera Maya suits you if you want to be near Playa del Carmen or Tulum, or if you need a multi-bedroom swim-up residence like those at The Fives.

Which Riviera Maya resort has the best swim-up suites for adults?

Barceló Maya Riviera, an 18+ hotel whose swim-up rooms are in its Premium Level. Hotel Riu Palace Mexico in Playacar has Elite Club swim-up suites with a private pool on the terrace, but Riu closed it for renovation in 2026 and said it would reopen in September 2026; check that your dates are bookable.

Are there swim-up rooms for big families in the Riviera Maya?

Yes. The Fives Beach Hotel has two- and three-bedroom swim-up residences that sleep up to 8 and 10, though its one-bedroom swim-up doesn't take children. Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancún has swim-up suites for two adults and two children.

How far is Playa del Carmen from Cancun airport?

Riu gives about 55 km from Cancun airport to its hotel in Playacar, Playa del Carmen. Puerto Morelos is closer, about 36 km south of Cancun.