The author was a guest of Hyatt Zilara Cancun. All opinions are the author’s own, and Hyatt Zilara Cancun had no input in any part of this review.
After a yearlong renovation, Hyatt Zilara Cancun debuted a new identity in May 2026. The property reenvisioned its rooms, public spaces, dining, and programming while keeping the experience familiar for returning guests.
My June 2026 visit with my husband to this adults-only all-inclusive in the heart of Cancun’s Hotel Zone was special — it was a great time to relax, unwind, and indulge. I’ll walk through our experience, how sargassum may impact your stay, and what to look forward to.
Booking Hyatt Zilara Cancun
Hyatt Zilara Cancun is part of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection brand. As a Category E hotel (the second-highest for all-inclusives), the lowest award rate starts at 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night. With cash rates as low as $464, that’s a value of 1.3 cents per point, which is just below our valuation of Hyatt points at 1.4 cents each. Rates could be as high as 75,000 points per night, but in the year ahead, I didn’t see anything higher than 55,000 points per night ($1,140 cash).
If you ’re paying with cash, consider swiping The World of Hyatt Credit Card to earn up to 9x points on Hyatt stays and other benefits.
Location of Hyatt Zilara Cancun
The hotel is in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, about 12 miles from the Cancun International Airport (CUN). A car transfer should take under 25 minutes. The hotel can arrange a transfer from $118, or you could book a shared transfer with Amstar for $17 per person one-way.
1. The Team Was Spectacular
Hotel staff doesn’t always leave a lasting impression with me, but the team at Hyatt Zilara Cancun was so well-trained and consistent in their service delivery that I’m still thinking about it post-visit.
Part of the brand’s corporate culture is a hand-over-heart gesture of gratitude performed by every single team member. It was so persistent that I tried to catch team members not doing it … and I wasn’t successful. I even found myself unconsciously thanking someone with this gesture. I was impressed by how well the hotel executed this so soon after reopening, undoubtedly with new team members.
Beyond smiles and cordial conversation, I also found hidden excellence in moments like never having to open the door myself at the Spices buffet. I popped in and out several times, and from out of nowhere, team members were always ahead of me to open the door.
2. The Fresh Room Felt Like Home
If you’ve ever walked into a room and thought, “This is just what I want my house to look like,” that’s the vibe I got immediately at Hyatt Zilara Cancun. We stayed in an Oceanfront Junior Suite King, though it’s worth noting that all rooms are suites with ocean views.
I loved the muted blues and oranges that complemented the soft brown woods, the recessed lighting, and the bedside light fixtures. The heavy wool rug contrasted well with the coolness of the stone floors. For an updated room, all of our tech needs were met, with plenty of universal outlets and USB-A and USB-C inputs. Side chairs and a table at the foot of the bed were ideal for dropping bags and putting on shoes.
Across from the bed was a large TV, a luggage stand, a desk area, and a stocked complimentary minibar. At the entrance was a double closet with hanger storage, drawers, shelves, a safe, a steamer, iron supplies, an umbrella, robes, and slippers.
Bathroom
The spacious bathroom features sliding doors for varying degrees of privacy. I liked the shower’s frosted glass for privacy and the inclusion of a small stool. Even better, the solid door to the toilet closet delivered total privacy.
Balcony
The balcony offered wonderful views of the sea, the beach, and the pool. We were able to easily get a sense of the day’s sargassum levels, how rough the sea might be, and how busy the pool area was. For those who fancy a private dip, the jetted tub had a slight privacy screen.
3. You Can Still Enjoy a Beach With Sargassum
The Caribbean expects one of the worst sargassum seasons on record (Source: Mexico Daily News), but the stinky brown seaweed didn’t detract much for me.
We walked for an hour north and south of the resort along the beach, and the hotel had one of the cleanest stretches of water for swimming. During our 3-day stay, I did not observe any significant clean-up. It’s my understanding that this is the government’s responsibility, and the hotel did not appear to be clearing its own area.
If you just want to enjoy the waves crashing and the bluest water you’ve ever seen, there are plenty of umbrellas with loungers, as well as cabanas for rent (including double-decker cabanas — a prerenovation favorite).
4. Spacious Pools for Relaxing
The heated pools had full sun for the early and mid parts of the day, and I loved that they plunged into full shade in the afternoon.
The northern pool was where activities such as poolside trivia and the foam party took place. The southern pool was more chill and had a swim-up bar. There was an afternoon DJ, but the music was never invasive.
I admired the luxe padded loungers. Signage indicated that unattended items would be removed after 60 minutes, but I never saw people aggressively trying to claim loungers.
I appreciated that there wasn’t a complicated towel system — simply grab and return.
5. We Looked Forward to Every Meal
We had such a great first lunch at Pier 12 that we found ourselves poring over menus in the Hyatt Inclusive Collection app (iOS, Android) to plan our next meals.
Pier 12
Pier 12 is right over the beach and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We found everything on the Mediterranean and seafood-leaning menu fresh and tasty, with well-paced service. The grouper crudo at lunch and the scallops at dinner were so delicious that we quickly ordered a second round.
Spices
Spices offers a buffet for breakfast and lunch. Outrageous might be the best word to describe these expansive spreads. For breakfast, in addition to Western standards, there were plenty of savory items, like chimichangas, chicken tinga, and tamales. There were 8 prepared egg options for those who didn’t custom order.
Breakfast offered a variety of Mexican options, including made-to-order chilaquiles and tacos, along with charcuterie, pastries, and fruit.
Lunch was equally colorful with more than enough to choose from. From ceviche and burgers to pizza and nachos, there was something for every taste.
Highlights
Despite the World Cup being underway, the sports bar Highlights was surprisingly empty during the day. The primary screen is the biggest I’ve ever seen. The menu has pub standards like nachos, wings, and stuffed jalapenos, with a handful of smash burgers (including vegetarian).
Other Dining Outlets
- Aurelia — the lobby bar
- Bugambilia — the Mexican restaurant, open for dinner only
- Cantina del Mar — the beach bar
- Casa del Café — the all-day coffee shop with baked goods, sandwiches, and ice cream
- SĪLÙ A Silk Road — the Asian restaurant, open for dinner only (reservations required for teppanyaki)
