These 3 Resorts Were Just Ranked The Riviera Maya’s Best & Travelers Say They’re Worth Every Cent

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We at The Cancun Sun love when travelers vote with their hearts and their vacation time—and this year’s Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards make one thing crystal clear: the Riviera Maya is having a luxury moment.

Three standouts—The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection, and Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Isla Mujeres (Adults-Only All-Inclusive)—all landed among the Top 20 Resorts in Eastern Mexico for 2025, with St. Regis at #2, Etéreo at #5, and Almare at #6.

Here’s why readers say they’re worth every cent—and how to plan a smarter stay.

The St. Regis Kanai Resort (Playa del Carmen)

If your love language is design, this one’s a swoon. Suspended on stilts over protected mangroves and aligned to echo the Pleiades constellation, St. Regis Kanai is a masterclass in wow-factor architecture—plus butler service, destination dining, and sky-meets-sea views that feel painted on.

We covered its nature-forward debut and why it instantly reset the area’s luxury bar, so if you’ve been watching rates (they fluctuate with season), keep an eye on November—historically a sweet spot for value and weather.

Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection (Kanai)

Etéreo (Spanish for “ethereal”) is exactly that—serene, design-driven, and anchored in wellness with rituals and treatments inspired by Maya traditions.

Tucked inside the low-impact Kanai development, it shares a pristine stretch of coast with just a few ultra-lux neighbors, trading bustle for tranquility and elevated cuisine. If you’re the type who plans trips around restaurants and spa menus, Etéreo makes it easy to never leave the property. We’ve been tracking Kanai’s rise as the coast’s culinary hotspot, and the momentum is real. See our dining roundup for 2025 hotel standouts.

Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort (Isla Mujeres, Adults-Only All-Inclusive)

Prefer an island vibe? Almare brings polished Marriott Luxury Collection DNA to breezy Isla Mujeres—with the rare combo of adults-only and all-inclusive.

It’s a great pick if you want curated dining, beach-club energy, and access to Playa Norte’s sparkly turquoise water.

Getting there is half the fun: hop the Ultramar ferry (we break down the ports, pricing, and which terminal to choose in our guide below). For more on the opening and what to expect, start here.

How To Pick Between Them (Fast)

• You want next-level design + butler service: Book St. Regis Kanai. Time your stay for November to snag better rates and post-sargassum blues-and-whites. Our quick take on timing: This Is The New Best Month To Visit Cancun.
• You want quiet luxury + wellness: Choose Etéreo for spa-forward days and a cocooned Kanai setting with destination dining. We’ve tracked Kanai’s growth and why foodies are obsessed: 23 New Resorts, One Mega-Destination.
• You want island ease + adults-only AI: Go Almare and split time between resort perks and a golf-cart spin to Playa Norte. Plan your crossing with our step-by-step: How To Take The Correct Ferry To Isla Mujeres (Cost Guide 2025).

Practical Booking Intel We Tell Our Friends

• Sargassum: By mid-October, beaches rapidly clear; November–March is the most reliable “all-clear” window. We keep a week-by-week sargassum outlook and insider guides so you can plan with confidence, including when sargassum season actually ends.
• Isla Mujeres logistics: If you’re flying home early, use Puerto Juárez (earliest departures) instead of the Hotel Zone docks; it buys you precious buffer time. More Isla Mujeres tips here: Don’t Make This Major Vacation Mistake and a real-world cost breakdown: What A Day Trip Actually Costs In 2025.

Bottom Line

Readers just validated what we’re hearing from you in the comments and seeing on the ground: St. Regis Kanai, Etéreo, and Almare are the Riviera Maya’s current luxury sure-bets—each with a distinct personality, clear value proposition, and the kind of service that lingers long after wheels-up.

If you’re deciding where to splurge, start with the rankings, then match the vibe to your travel style. See the full 2025 list here for context (Maroma took #1 overall), and then come back to us for routes, weather windows, and on-the-ground tips to make it your best trip yet.