I spent a memorable night at this hotel, and I definitely want to go back.
Highlights included the quality amenities, above-average dining, and a nice spa, but the real highlight was the exceptional staff who exceeded my expectations.
Here’s what I liked about the Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya in Mexico.
Booking Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya
Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya is an adults-only, all-inclusive property. As it’s a Category C resort, award rates range from 20,000 to 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
For my 1-night stay in late July 2026, the hotel charged 30,000 points, or $251, for a standard room. Spending 30,000 points would’ve meant redeeming Hyatt points at 0.84 cents each — far below our average valuation of Hyatt points at 1.4 cents each. Thus, I paid for my stay.
Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya Location
The hotel sits about 20 minutes north of Playa del Carmen and 35 to 40 minutes south of Cancun International Airport (CUN) in Mexico. A major highway serves this route, and it’s possible to reach the hotel by rental car or via numerous shuttle services.
The hotel’s location — and being set back from the highway — means reaching shops and restaurants off-property requires a taxi. There’s barely anything within walking distance. Given that the hotel is all-inclusive, though, that’s not an issue for most guests.
My Suite Was Top-Notch
At check-in, I was upgraded to a Club Level Junior Suite Oceanfront King, thanks to my Globalist status — the top tier in World of Hyatt. The suite covered 570 square feet and had an oceanfront balcony.
Along with a comfortable king bed, I had easy-to-understand light switches, dual nightstands and reading lamps, and a large TV hanging above an equally large dresser with a marble top that was an ideal place to put my suitcase.
The far side of the room had a sitting area, consisting of a loveseat and 2 padded chairs flanking a round, wooden table.
The suite’s highlight feature was a large balcony immediately in front of the beach and ocean. It was uncovered, and my balcony had a pair of recliners, a small table, and excellent views.
The hallway leading into the room was where I found the closet and the sliding door into the bathroom. The large closet had robes, hangers, an iron, ironing board, and a small safe.
The bathroom felt roomier than it actually was, due to an open central area between the shower box (to the right) and the door to the toilet (on the left). There were lots of hooks, dual sinks, tons of towels, and a shower with an interesting window into the bedroom.
While all rooms had some type of balcony, the walkways to the rooms were covered, providing shade and protection from rain.
Staff Was Great
I had positive interactions with numerous staff members during my stay. Some of them were truly memorable, though.
After a long drive from the guard booth near the highway, I arrived at the hotel’s lobby, where friendly employees rushed to help with luggage and give me a valet claim ticket. From here, an employee walked me through the large lobby and past the standard reception desk to an elite check-in area.
Guests staying in Club-level rooms and those with Globalist status could access this Club Lounge, where check-in and checkout were available, along with drinks and light bites at the bar.
Staff offered a cold towel and took my drink order while hotel employee Myriam checked me in. If Myriam could work at every hotel I visit, that would be perfect. Friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable, Myriam made small talk while checking me in.
Upon hearing that I was arriving from a disappointing stay at the Hyatt Vivid Playa del Carmen, Myriam went into overdrive. She booked me a complimentary spa visit to make my day better, ensured my room was ready, and upgraded me to the best suite available that day.
Next, I met Raul, my butler, who was available to help book dining reservations, answer questions, bring towels, and handle other tasks on my behalf. He gave me a tour of the property en route to my room, made sure the bellhops knew where to deliver my luggage, and made himself available.
Raul and Myriam shone again at checkout. I mentioned that I was heading down to Tulum and staying at a Vrbo rental. They drew a map with information about the best supermarket to get groceries at, told me where to find an ATM with the lowest transaction fees, and were just generally positive, helpful people.
The employees during my spa visit were also fantastic. They indicated that they’d heard my previous 24 hours weren’t great and checked on me throughout my time in the thermal circuit to make sure this day was better than the previous one.
Other employees were great, also. I really liked the staff at Lola Beach Restaurant during breakfast, and the bartender at the lobby bar was really friendly. The sushi chef was really funny during dinner, as well, and I liked him a lot.
Globalist Perks Were Good
Benefits for top-tier Globalists were really nice during my visit. For example, Globalists and those staying in Club rooms had a dedicated section at the beach, including lounge chairs and palapas for shade.
Those celebrating special occasions had ribbons on their doors, such as birthdays and anniversaries, and Globalists had a dedicated blue ribbon on their doors. I also received a welcome gift of chocolates, which arrived a few minutes after I got to my room.
Other benefits included Club Lounge access, exclusive chairs at the pool, a pillow menu, turn-down service in the evenings, and an exclusive breakfast offering at Lola Beach Restaurant, in addition to the buffet restaurant available to all guests.
As its name implied, Lola Beach Restaurant was right by the beach, including seating in the sand in addition to covered seating inside.
In addition to items like pancakes, fruits, and made-to-order eggs, the menu had Mexican fare like chilaquiles and huevos rancheros.
Some of the resort’s suites had swim-up access. These rooms were behind a privacy hedge to separate them from the main pool. These rooms were completely sold out during my stay, but Globalists can receive upgrades to them if there’s availability.
The Spa Was Beautiful
I not only loved my experience at the Zen Spa but also loved its setup. The entrance had an off-the-grid island vibe, but the lobby was very eco-chic. I really enjoyed the island hut vibe at the thermal circuit, while the changing rooms were massive and well-equipped.
Amenities
The Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya had 2 main pool areas, a hot tub, activities, games, a gym, and several shops.
There was also ample beach space at the resort.
A turtle had laid eggs on the beach the night before I arrived, and the hotel did a great job protecting the nest.
Food and Beverages Were Above Average
I couldn’t try them all during my 1-night stay, but the Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya had 9 restaurants and bars. Some allowed casual dress, while others required something fancier.
El Comedor, near reception, was the resort’s buffet restaurant, Social was the lobby bar, Olas was the poolside bar, and Capri Grille offered Italian food. Legends Sports Bar on the lower level had big screens and light bites, and Lola Beach Restaurant offered Mexican fare for dinner. Tempest was the Asian restaurant.
Tempest offered 3 different dining experiences: teppanyaki show cooking, a sushi bar, and seated dining from a menu. Each had a separate line to get a table, and teppanyaki seating required reservations.
I will note that the only vegetarian roll at the sushi bar had eel sauce, which does not normally contain any meat and is safe for vegans. But the chef said the eel sauce wasn’t actually vegetarian and had no issues customizing orders for guests.
Past the lobby bar, Coffee Republic served not just coffee but also ice cream, sandwiches, and desserts.
None of the dining or drinking venues blew me away. I wouldn’t make a special trip here for any of these restaurants, but they were above average compared to other all-inclusive resorts I’ve stayed at.
Final Thoughts
I truly enjoyed my stay at the Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya. My meals were pretty good, my suite was really good, and the employees were better than good. They were great.
This is a property I would easily return to. If you’re looking for a quality, adults-only, all-inclusive stay near Playa del Carmen, this resort is definitely worth a look.