This Riu Palace Las Americas review is for adults who want a classic, palace-style 24-hour all-inclusive on Cancún’s calmer north-facing beach, within walking distance of the Punta Cancún nightlife strip. The hotel at Km 8.5 has been adults-only (18+) since it reopened on 22 October 2016 after a US$12 million renovation, and it usually prices below the Hotel Zone’s luxury tier. Skip it if you want brand-new rooms, swim-up suites or a quiet corner of the coast.
Hotel Riu Palace Las Americas - Adults Only
- Steps away from Cancun’s nightlife hub (Coco Bongo, Mandala) while remaining tranquil inside
- Palatial neoclassical architecture with grand marble columns and stained glass cupolas
- Playa Caracol setting offers calm, swimmable Caribbean waters sheltered from heavy surf
- Exchange privileges allowing guests to visit other RIU resorts and attend RIU Parties
Exhibiting majestic neoclassical palace architecture near the heart of Punta Cancun nightlife, Riu Palace Las Americas is an adults-only classic with calm swimmable waters on Playa Caracol.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Quick Verdict
Riu Palace Las Americas is the RIU to pick when location and calm water matter more than novelty. You get round-the-clock food and drinks, six named restaurants including a steakhouse and a Japanese restaurant, three pools (two of them infinity pools) and the Renova Spa, all on the north-facing side of the Hotel Zone, where the sea is usually gentler than at Km 12 or beyond. The hotel opened in 2004 and was last fully refurbished in 2016, so expect classic décor with domes, chandeliers and marble rather than RIU’s newest design. For a modern adults-only RIU, look at Riu Palace Kukulkan instead.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Adults-only (18+) with RIU’s 24-hour all-inclusive
- Km 8.5 on the north-facing side: usually calmer water than Km 9.5–22
- Walking distance to Punta Cancún’s clubs, bars and restaurants
- Sea-view Jacuzzi Suites (61 m²) with a whirlpool on the terrace
- Three pools, two of them infinity pools, a swim-up bar and the 24-hour Lounge 24
- RIU Party events at Riu Caribe with transfers included; free parking and Wi-Fi
Cons
- Opened in 2004; last full refurbishment in 2016
- RIU lists no swim-up rooms and no club-level rooms here
- Punta Cancún is the party hub, not a secluded setting
- Renova Spa treatments and beauty services cost extra
- RIU’s own FAQ is inconsistent on details such as check-out time and restaurant count
Riu Palace Las Americas review: key facts (October 2026)
We checked RIU’s official hotel page, room list and FAQ, RIU’s own blog and the October 2016 reopening coverage in October 2026. Where RIU’s pages contradict each other, the table says so.
| Detail | Riu Palace Las Americas |
|---|---|
| Address | Blvd. Kukulcán Km 8.5, Mz 50, Lote 4, Punta Cancún |
| History | Opened 2004; reopened 22 October 2016 as adults-only after a US$12M renovation |
| Size | 372 rooms at the 2016 reopening (RIU now says “over 350”) |
| Age policy | Adults only, 18+ |
| Meal plan | RIU 24-hour all-inclusive |
| Restaurants | Don Roberto buffet, Los Arcos, Krystal, Sakura, Fiesta Mexicana, Black & White; Capuchino café |
| Bars | 6, including the 24-hour Lounge 24 and a swim-up bar |
| Pools | 3: two infinity pools; one with hydromassage area and swim-up bar |
| Check-in / out | 3:00 PM / 12:00 PM (RIU’s FAQ also says 11:00 AM; confirm) |
| Airport (CUN) | About 20 km; 30–45 minutes, per RIU |
| Parking | Free for guests |
Location and beach: Km 8.5 at Punta Cancún
Location is the main reason to book this hotel. It sits at Km 8.5, just before Punta Cancún, the point where Cancún’s “7”-shaped Hotel Zone turns from north-facing to east-facing. The beach here faces north, toward Isla Mujeres, and is usually calmer and easier for swimming than the open-sea stretch from Km 9.5 to 22, where waves and red or yellow flags are common. North-facing beaches also tend to fare better with sargassum, though none is immune in the warmer months.
Step outside and you are in the busiest part of the Hotel Zone: the Punta Cancún club strip, with Coco Bongo and the big dance clubs, is within walking distance, as are restaurants, shops and the R-1 and R-2 buses. That is ideal if you want to go out a few nights; it is less ideal if you want silence. Our Punta Cancún guide covers the area, and our Cancun nightclubs guide explains which clubs are worth the cover.
Rooms and suites
RIU publishes room sizes for this hotel, which makes comparisons easy:
- Junior Suite: 35 m² (about 377 sq ft) with a sofa, also sold in sea-view, connecting (two rooms) and accessible versions.
- Junior Suite with sea view: 35 m² with a balcony or terrace facing the sea or side sea, the best value choice for most couples.
- Suite Jacuzzi with sea view: 61 m² with a private whirlpool on the terrace overlooking the sea, the honeymoon pick.
- Suite with sea view: 70 m² with a separate lounge area, for those who want the most space.
The 2016 refurbishment lightened the colors but kept the palace style: domes, glass chandeliers, wooden details and marble floors. Rooms come with bathrobes, and RIU says premium-brand drinks are served in the bars and in-room minibars. RIU lists no swim-up rooms and no club-level category at this hotel.
Dining and bars
RIU’s 24-hour all-inclusive means food and drinks are available at any hour, which is useful after a night out at Punta Cancún. RIU names six restaurants (its FAQ mentions both six and seven venues):
- Don Roberto: the international buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an expanded terrace since 2016.
- Los Arcos (Italian), Sakura (Japanese) and Krystal (fusion).
- Fiesta Mexicana (Mexican) and Black & White (steakhouse).
- Capuchino: the lobby café for pastries and ice cream.
RIU lists six bars, including Lounge 24, which serves drinks and snacks around the clock, and the swim-up bar at the pool. Guests can also join RIU Party events held several times a week at Riu Caribe, with transfers included. Do not expect free dine-around at other RIU hotels: RIU’s official pages for this hotel do not mention it, so ask the front desk before counting on it.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Pools, spa and activities
There are three pools. Two are infinity pools looking out over the Caribbean, and one has a hydromassage area and the swim-up bar. Free sun loungers line the beach, and the hotel has a small pier. The Renova Spa offers massages and treatments at extra cost, alongside a sauna and whirlpools; the gym is free.
Included activities, according to RIU, cover RiuFit classes, beach volleyball, kayaks, snorkel gear and an introductory scuba lesson in the pool, plus a daily entertainment program with live music and nightly shows. It is a sociable, not rowdy, adults-only hotel: the late-night energy is outside the gates.
Who should book Riu Palace Las Americas, and who should skip it
- Book it if you are a couple or group of adult friends who want calm water, a 24-hour all-inclusive and nightlife you can walk to.
- Book the Jacuzzi Suite for a honeymoon or anniversary on a mid-range budget.
- Skip it if you travel with children (try Riu Palace Peninsula), want contemporary design and a club level (Riu Palace Kukulkan), or want a secluded beach far from the clubs (look at Costa Mujeres or the southern Hotel Zone).
Riu Palace Las Americas vs Riu Palace Kukulkan
| Las Americas | Kukulkan | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Punta Cancún (Hotel Zone Km 8.5) | Middle Hotel Zone (Km 12) |
| Price level | Upper-Upscale | Upper-Upscale |
| Best for | Adults who want classic European palace architecture, calm beach water and nightlife in walking distance | Adults, couples and friend groups wanting RIU's newest, most modern adults-only Cancun resort |
| Pool | 3 outdoor pools with hydromassage loungers and oceanfront swim-up bar | 4 pools; one with a swim-up bar, one reserved for Elite Club |
| Beach & Wave Conditions | Calm, sheltered Playa Caracol beach with gentle swimmable waves and soft sand | Wide soft sand beach; turquoise water with moderate rolling surf and oceanfront palapas |
| All-Inclusive & Taxes | 24-hour all-inclusive | 24-Hour All-Inclusive (gourmet dining, mixology bars & Mexican taxes included) |
| CUN Transfer & Parking | CUN airport about 30–45 min | CUN airport about 20–30 min (15–20 km) |
| Check-in / out | 3:00 PM / 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM / 12:00 PM |
| Rates | Check Las Americas Rates | Check Kukulkan Rates |
Sources (2)
Both are adults-only (18+) Palace hotels with RIU’s 24-hour all-inclusive. Riu Palace Kukulkan opened in November 2022 at Km 12, opposite La Isla shopping village, with a contemporary design, four pools and an optional Elite Club. Its beach faces the open Caribbean, so expect waves. Las Americas wins on calmer water and walk-to nightlife; Kukulkan wins on newer rooms and the club level. Families should read our Riu Palace Peninsula review, and our RIU Palace trio comparison puts all three side by side. For a cheaper adults-only RIU in the same area, see our Riu Cancun review and our list of the best cheap all-inclusive resorts in Cancun.
Costs and fees to expect
Las Americas sits in the upper-upscale bracket, usually below Cancún’s luxury adults-only resorts. Compare the same dates and room type, and budget for:
- Hotel taxes: 16% IVA + 5% state lodging tax (ISH) = 21% on the room rate, usually already in all-inclusive quotes but worth checking.
- Environmental sanitation fee: about 82 MXN per room per night (~$4–5 USD), paid at the hotel at check-in.
- VISITAX: a one-time state fee of about 285 MXN per foreign visitor (~$15–17 USD), paid only on visitax.gob.mx. Exemptions change, so check the portal.
- Extras: spa and beauty treatments, the romantic beach dinner RIU sells as an add-on, excursions and nightclub covers.
Before you fly, check travel.state.gov: the US State Department rates Quintana Roo at Level 2, “Exercise increased caution” (last updated May 2026). Our Cancun taxes, VISITAX and tipping guide has the details.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Riu Palace Las Americas adults-only?
Yes. It has been adults-only (18+) since it reopened on 22 October 2016 after a full renovation, making it RIU’s first adults-only hotel in Cancún.
Is the beach at Riu Palace Las Americas good for swimming?
Usually, yes. At Km 8.5 the beach faces north toward Isla Mujeres, which is generally calmer than the east-facing Hotel Zone. Always check the daily flags.
Can you walk to Coco Bongo from Riu Palace Las Americas?
Yes. The hotel is at Km 8.5, and the Punta Cancún club strip with Coco Bongo is within walking distance along the boulevard.
How big are the rooms at Riu Palace Las Americas?
RIU lists Junior Suites at 35 m² (about 377 sq ft), the Suite Jacuzzi with sea view at 61 m² and the Suite with sea view at 70 m².
Does Riu Palace Las Americas include the RIU Party?
RIU says guests can attend the RIU Party events held several times a week at Riu Caribe, with transfers included.
How far is Riu Palace Las Americas from Cancún airport?
RIU puts it about 20 km from Cancún International Airport, typically 30 to 45 minutes by transfer.
Still deciding? Browse all our Cancun resort reviews.
