This Waldorf Astoria Cancun review comes at a turning point for the resort. The 173-room Hilton luxury property south of Cancún, now called Waldorf Astoria Riviera Maya, switched from room-only rates to an all-inclusive model on 1 October 2026 and becomes adults-only (18+) on 10 January 2027. It is best for couples and honeymooners who want five-star service, a soaking tub or plunge pool on every terrace, a big spa and a quiet beach, and who are happy to be about 30 km (19 miles) from the Hotel Zone. It is not the place for nightlife, and families can only stay until early January 2027.
Waldorf Astoria Riviera Maya (former Waldorf Astoria Cancun)
- All-inclusive since Oct 2026 with premium drinks, 24-hour in-room dining and daily minibar
- Every room faces the sea, with a balcony soaking tub or ground-floor plunge pool
- Malpeque open-flame grill, Chaya brasserie, JA’O cantina and Peacock Alley lounge
- Waldorf Astoria Spa: 40,000+ sq ft with 21 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms
Hilton’s secluded 173-room luxury resort behind a mangrove preserve, all-inclusive since 1 Oct 2026 and adults-only (18+) from 10 Jan 2027.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Quick Verdict
A secluded, design-led luxury resort set behind a mangrove preserve. It has 173 sea-view rooms, Malpeque as its signature grill, a spa of more than 40,000 sq ft and two oceanfront infinity pools. The new all-inclusive plan includes premium drinks, dining at most venues, 24-hour in-room dining and a daily-refreshed minibar, which makes it far easier to budget than before. Book it for a romantic, low-key escape with Hilton Honors points in play. Skip it if you want restaurants and bars within walking distance, or if you are traveling with children after 10 January 2027.
Waldorf Astoria Cancun Review: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Every room faces the sea and has a balcony soaking tub or a ground-floor plunge pool
- All-inclusive since October 2026, with premium drinks and 24-hour in-room dining
- Waldorf Astoria Spa: more than 40,000 sq ft and 21 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms
- Quiet, private setting about 10 miles (16 km) from Cancún airport
- Rated Four-Star by Forbes Travel Guide for 2026; earns and redeems Hilton Honors points
Cons
- Remote: Cancún’s Hotel Zone is about 30 km (19 miles) north and Puerto Morelos is a drive away
- Only a handful of restaurants compared with big all-inclusives
- Becomes adults-only on 10 January 2027; no kids club on site before then
- The open-sea coast here can receive heavy sargassum from roughly May to October
Waldorf Astoria Cancun Is Now Waldorf Astoria Riviera Maya: What Changed
Hilton opened the resort in November 2022 as Waldorf Astoria Cancun, the brand’s first hotel in the Mexican Caribbean. It later renamed it Waldorf Astoria Riviera Maya. The bigger change came on 1 October 2026, when Hilton announced the switch to all-inclusive for this resort and Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya. These are the changes we confirmed in October 2026 from Hilton’s announcement and travel-industry coverage.
| Item | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Waldorf Astoria Cancun | Waldorf Astoria Riviera Maya |
| Meal plan | Room-only or breakfast; every meal and drink paid separately | All-inclusive since 1 October 2026 |
| Drinks | Paid per drink | Unlimited premium drinks; open bar 11 am–11 pm |
| In-room | Paid room service and minibar | 24-hour in-room dining and a minibar refreshed daily |
| Activities | Mostly paid | Daily program, including oceanfront yoga, Mayan breathwork, artisan workshops and agave tastings |
| Age policy | All ages | All ages until 9 January 2027; adults-only (18+) from 10 January 2027 |
| Airport transfers | Paid | Private round-trip CUN transfers on eligible direct bookings |
Hilton says reservations made before the change keep their original terms. Guests who booked room-only rates for stays after the switch receive the new inclusions at no extra cost, according to The Points Guy. Reservations that include anyone under 18 and arrive on or after 10 January 2027 will not be honored as booked. Hilton says the resort will help those guests find another hotel, so contact Hilton early if this applies to you. Specialty dining and some experiences will likely still cost extra. Ask for the current inclusions list before you book.
Location: Mangroves, the Highway and the Hilton Next Door
The resort sits off Federal Highway 307, between Cancún and Puerto Morelos, on 100 acres of coastline behind a mangrove nature preserve. Hilton puts it about 10 miles (16 km) from Cancún International Airport and about 19 miles (30 km) south of the Hotel Zone. The transfer is short, but the Hotel Zone, downtown Cancún and Puerto Morelos all need a car or taxi. Our Cancun airport transfers guide explains how to book one safely. Its neighbor is the family-friendly Hilton Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort, and the two share meeting and event space. See our Hilton Cancun All-Inclusive review for that resort.
The beach faces the open Caribbean, with white sand, turquoise water and non-motorized water sports. This coast is exposed to sargassum, and seaweed mats have been reported here between about May and October. Check our Cancun sargassum guide before booking those months. If the Puerto Morelos reef is part of the appeal, our guide to resorts for snorkeling from the beach covers the area.
Rooms, Soaking Tubs and Plunge Pools
There are 173 rooms, including 34 suites, and every one faces the sea. A common claim online is that every room has a private plunge pool. That is not quite right. According to Forbes Travel Guide and Hilton, rooms on floors two to six have a soaking tub on the balcony, while ground-floor rooms have plunge pools. Ten units (nine rooms and one suite) have swim-up patios onto a private pool. The oceanfront presidential suite has two plunge pools. Interiors are by Hirsch Bedner Associates, with art by Victoria Villasana, and Ocean View rooms measure about 675 sq ft.
| If you want… | Ask for… |
|---|---|
| Your own pool to swim in | A ground-floor room with plunge pool or a swim-up room |
| Views and privacy from above | An upper-floor room with a balcony soaking tub |
| Space for a special occasion | One of the 34 suites |
For more resorts with this kind of setup, see our list of the best Cancun resorts with private plunge pools.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Dining and Bars
- Malpeque: the signature restaurant, built around open-flame grilling and a raw bar. It is included in the all-inclusive plan.
- Chaya: an all-day brasserie and the main breakfast spot.
- JA’O: a contemporary Mexican cantina for lunch, which also serves the pool area.
- Peacock Alley: the lobby lounge, a Waldorf Astoria tradition. There is also a pool bar and BonbonOm.
That is a short list by all-inclusive standards. On a week-long stay, expect to repeat restaurants, or plan a dinner or two off-site. Under the new plan, Hilton says dining at most venues and in-room dining are included, while specialty meals and events may carry a charge.
Spa and Pools
The Waldorf Astoria Spa is the resort’s standout facility. It covers more than 40,000 sq ft, with 21 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, a salon, a sauna, a thermal area and its own outdoor pool. Treatments draw on local ingredients and Mayan healing traditions. Spa treatments are not listed among the all-inclusive inclusions, so budget for them. If spa time is the reason for your trip, compare it with our picks of the best Cancun resorts with hydrotherapy spas. Outside, two multi-level oceanfront infinity pools anchor the grounds.
Who Should Book and Who Should Skip
| Book it if you are… | Skip it if you are… |
|---|---|
| A couple or honeymooners wanting privacy and polished service | Traveling with children on or after 10 January 2027 |
| A Hilton Honors member looking for a luxury redemption | Looking for a big buffet-and-theme-night all-inclusive |
| A spa-focused traveler | Wanting to walk to bars, shops or a town |
| Flying in for a short stay and wanting a quick transfer | Traveling in peak sargassum months and set on swimming in the sea every day |
Waldorf Astoria vs Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun
| Waldorf Astoria | Le Blanc | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | South of Cancún, Highway 307 toward Puerto Morelos | Middle Hotel Zone (Km 10) |
| Price level | Ultra-Luxury | Ultra-Luxury |
| Best for | Couples, honeymooners and Hilton Honors members wanting quiet five-star luxury near the airport | Couples, honeymoons and discerning travelers seeking AAA Five Diamond gourmet all-inclusive dining |
| Pool | Two multi-level oceanfront infinity pools plus a spa pool; private plunge pools in ground-floor rooms | 3 outdoor oceanfront infinity pools including heated third-floor terrace pool |
| Beach & Wave Conditions | Open-Caribbean beach south of Cancún; non-motorized water sports; sargassum reported roughly May–October | Expansive powder-white sand beach; open Caribbean ocean with energetic waves and daily grooming |
| All-Inclusive & Taxes | All-inclusive since 1 Oct 2026; 21% hotel taxes and local environmental fee apply; spa extra | All-Inclusive (all Mexican taxes, 24-hr butler service & top-shelf spirits included) |
| CUN Transfer & Parking | About 10 mi (16 km) from CUN Airport; private transfers on eligible direct bookings | 20-min private transfer from CUN Airport |
| Check-in / out | — | 3:00 PM / 12:00 PM |
| Rates | Check Waldorf Astoria Rates | Check Le Blanc Rates |
Sources (1)
Once it goes adults-only, the Waldorf competes directly with Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun. Le Blanc is an adults-only all-inclusive with butler service at Km 10, in the heart of the Hotel Zone. Choose Le Blanc for location and a long-established all-inclusive operation. Choose the Waldorf for a newer building, seclusion, private soaking tubs and Hilton points. Read our Le Blanc Spa Resort review. If you want similar seclusion with families welcome and pay-as-you-go dining, our NIZUC Resort & Spa review is the one to read.
Costs and Fees Beyond the Rate
- Hotel taxes: 16% IVA + 5% state lodging tax (ISH) = 21% on the room rate. This is usually already in all-inclusive quotes, but always worth checking.
- Environmental sanitation fee: about 82 MXN per room per night (~$4–5 USD), paid at the hotel at check-in in Cancún. The resort lists a Puerto Morelos address, so the local amount may differ; confirm it at check-in.
- VISITAX: a one-time state fee of about 285 MXN per foreign visitor (~$15–17 USD), paid only on the official portal, visitax.gob.mx. Third-party sites overcharge, and exemptions change, so check the portal.
- Likely extras: spa treatments, specialty dining and events, excursions, and airport transfers if your booking does not include them.
Our Cancun taxes, VISITAX and tipping guide covers all of these. Before you fly, check travel.state.gov. The US State Department rates Quintana Roo at Level 2, “Exercise increased caution” (last updated May 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waldorf Astoria Cancun all-inclusive?
Yes, since 1 October 2026. The resort, now called Waldorf Astoria Riviera Maya, includes dining at most venues, unlimited premium drinks, 24-hour in-room dining, a daily-refreshed minibar and a daily activities program. Before that it sold room-only and breakfast rates.
Is Waldorf Astoria Cancun adults-only?
From 10 January 2027, yes. Only registered guests aged 18 and over will be accepted. Before that date, children can still stay.
Does every room at Waldorf Astoria Cancun have a plunge pool?
No. Every room has a sea view and either a balcony soaking tub (floors two to six) or a plunge pool (ground floor). Nine rooms and one suite have swim-up access to a private pool.
How far is Waldorf Astoria Cancun from the airport?
About 10 miles (16 km) from Cancún International Airport. Plan on roughly 20–30 minutes by car. Eligible direct bookings under the all-inclusive plan include private round-trip transfers.
Is Waldorf Astoria Cancun in the Hotel Zone?
No. It is about 19 miles (30 km) south of the Hotel Zone, off Highway 307 between Cancún and Puerto Morelos, next to Hilton Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort.
Keep Planning
Planning a honeymoon? Compare the Waldorf with our best Cancun resorts for couples and honeymoons, or browse every Cancun hotel review.
