With direct flights from many U.S. cities and a seemingly endless variety of beachfront resorts (many of which offer all-inclusive rates), Cancun consistently ranks near the top for family vacation ideas any time of year, especially for family vacations in Mexico.
Of course, with so many family-friendly hotels squeezed into such a small area it can be overwhelming to choose the right Cancun resort for your vacation. The good news is that all these choices give you options.
The Best Cancun Resorts for Families
Whether you want a beachfront oasis for little kids or a Cancun vacation that’s tailored toward teens, here are the best family resorts in Cancun.
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1. Club Med Cancun (All Inclusive)
Once you land at Cancun International Airport, you won’t have to wait long to start your family vacation: Club Med Cancun is just a 15-minute ride away, and it ranks as one of the best Mexico all-inclusive resorts for families.
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Upon arrival, you’ll discover the plethora of amenities this tropical oasis has to offer: water sports (including windsurfing), pools, kids clubs for children as young as two, babysitting services, a spa, organized excursions, and perhaps best of all, Club Med’s signature flying trapeze experience. Accommodations at this Cancun resort include beachfront family suites with private balconies that sleep up to six guests.
2. Seadust Cancun Family Resort (All Inclusive)
Swimming with whale sharks is just one of the unique vacation experiences offered at the Seadust Cancun Family Resort. Other offerings at this family-friendly resort include multiple swimming pools, a water park, a baby club and kids clubs, mini-golf, zip lining, sports courts, and indoor entertainment ranging from live music to an onsite movie theater (perfect during a fleeting afternoon rain shower).
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Accommodations include family suites that sleep up to five guests, with either one king or two double beds and bunk beds for the kids, plus amenities like private balconies.
3. Paradisus Cancun (All Inclusive)
The Paradisus Cancun has one of the coolest resort amenities offered at any of the top Cancun resorts: a Family Concierge with upgraded amenities and services for guests traveling with kids. Located in a designated area of the resort, the Family Concierge has its own check-in lounge with activities and welcome gifts for kids, as well as Family Concierge Suites with kid-sized robes and slippers, kids bath amenities (including a bathtub filled with balloons upon arrival), and a mini-bar with kid-approved snacks and drinks.
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Even if you don’t opt for the Family Concierge, you’ll find so many special perks for kids, including kids spa services, a playground, family pools, kids clubs, and of course the beach. Other family-friendly offerings include an entire kids and teens activities menu at the kids’ club, and in-room perks like video games.
4. Grand Residences Riviera Cancun (All Inclusive)
For apartment-style accommodations at one of the best Cancun family resorts, head to the all-inclusive (and all-suite) Grand Residences Riviera Cancun. The all-suite resort boasts extra-spacious accommodations with kitchenettes or full kitchens, and in many cases washing machines, too.
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One-bedroom suites accommodate five guests; two-bedroom suites sleep eight; three-bedroom suites sleep 10, and the presidential suite can house up to 13. Pick your rate plan—All Inclusive, Room Only or Bed and Breakfast—and enjoy access to the resort’s beach, pools, restaurants and kids clubs.
5. Marriott Cancun Resort
For families seeking a non-all-inclusive hotel, the Marriott Cancun Resort is a long-standing favorite in Cancun’s Hotel Zone. With to access a pristine white-sand beach, multiple pools, a game room, and spa, it’s a great spot to bring the kids for a Mexico vacation.
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You can utilize the resort’s transportation services to enjoy local restaurants, though you’ll find nearly a dozen dining options right onsite, too. Families love this resort for its affordability, but if you’re looking for something more upscale, try the nearby JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa.
6. Moon Palace Cancun and Moon Palace The Grand (All Inclusive)
The expansive all-inclusive Moon Palace Cancun resort is divided into two sections: Nizuc and Sunrise. Sunrise is a standout among family-friendly Cancun resorts thanks in part to its proximity to the onsite water park. But Nizuc is also ideal for families, as it’s a bit quieter in comparison (and is also closer to the kids clubs).
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Regardless of which side you choose, you’ll have access to all of the resort’s amenities, including the beach, non-motorized water sports, pools and hot tubs, FlowRider surfing simulator, arcade, Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, spa, and restaurants.
For something more luxurious, consider the all-inclusive Moon Palace The Grand (located on the same resort grounds as Moon Palace Cancun), where you’ll enjoy the property’s most luxurious accommodations—think swim-up suites and family suites for six people.
7. Wyndam Alltra All-Inclusive Resorts Cancun
One of the most family-friendly Cancun resorts in the Hotel Zone, Wyndam Alltra All-Inclusive Resorts Cancun (formerly Panama Jack Resorts Cancun) features two separate kids clubs for kids ages four to 12 and #Hashtag for teens ages 13 to 17. There’s also live entertainment, swimming pools with waterslides, a spa, and of course a beautiful stretch of beach.
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There are 14 food and beverage dining options onsite, and organized activities include a turtle release program (August through November). Babysitting services are available for kids ages four and older.
8. Hyatt Ziva Cancun (All Inclusive)
This Cancun resort is especially perfect for multigenerational family vacations. Parents and kids can stay at the kid-friendly Hyatt Ziva Cancun while grandparents enjoy the adjacent adults-only Hyatt Zilara. Together, everyone can come together at the beach, swimming pools, organized activities (such as Spanish lessons and a virtual golf experience), live entertainment, and onsite restaurants.
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Room options include swim-up suites and ocean-front rooms with private balconies. Don’t forget to make a reservation at Chevy’s, which offers a table inside a replica classic Chevy and serves burgers, fries, shakes, and other classic American diner fare.
9. Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun All Inclusive
Aside from its multiple pools (one with a pirate ship theme), beach, kids programming, spa, chic guest rooms, and variety of dining options, maybe the best perk at Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun All Inclusive is the poolside Mexicana parties. Once a week, staff members wear traditional Mexican dress and share music, games, and local treats with guests.
10. Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach (All Inclusive)
The all-inclusive resort Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach offers lagoon-like pools where you can while away the day on a float, stopping at the swim-up bar for a fruity cocktail or mocktail along the way. You can also relax on the beach, eat authentic Mexican cuisine at La Joya, or hop a ferry to Isla Mujeres for the day.
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But what truly sets hotel apart from other Cancun resorts is its world-class spa (with a 10-treatment Hydrotherapy Ritual) and its Coral KidZ Club, which feels more like an interactive museum (think digging for “fossils” and shopping at a make-believe grocery store) than it does a typical resort kids club.
11. Hard Rock Hotel Cancun (All Inclusive)
The all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Cancun has something for every type of family, from couples seeking a romantic retreat to parents traveling with children and pets (Hard Rock Hotel Cancun is pet-friendly).
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Standout amenities at this tropical oasis include the Music Lab, where you can join a jam band, be a DJ, star in your own music video, and lay down tracks in a recording studio; in-room Crosby record players; complimentary Fender guitars to play during your stay; and music-inspired treatments at the Rock Spa.
A five-star beachfront Cancun family resort, the Hard Rock also offers stunning pools, a kids’ club, golf, and a handful of upscale restaurants, each specializing in a different cuisine.
12. Hilton Cancun (All Inclusive)
The first-ever all-inclusive resort touting the Hilton brand name, Hilton Cancun puts families at the forefront with dedicated amenities such as a splash pool and aquatic playground, kids club with a separate space for teens, an outdoor jungle gym, fun activities that meld the local culture and environment, a drool-worthy dessert parlor, and Family Two-Bedroom Suites that offer both convenience and safety.
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Families will also appreciate the high food quality and variety that caters to even the pickiest eaters. Another attractive perk is the property’s adjacency to Hilton’s five-star Waldorf Astoria Cancun, which opens up options to those who want to splurge on a fine dining experience or spa treatment.
Things to Do with Kids Outside of the Cancun Resorts
Want to get beyond the best Cancun resorts and see the rest of the Riviera Maya? The Mexican state of Quintana Roo is brimming with more spots to check out, including Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres.
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Each offers a slightly different vacation vibe. Along the famed Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen feels like a hip fishing village and offers some of the coast’s best diving and snorkeling. Farther south, Tulum is known for its Maya ruins, cenotes, and relaxed beaches.
Whether you’re visiting other destinations in Quintana Roo while using Cancun’s Hotel Zone as your home base or mixing in overnights at other family-friendly Mexico hotels, this stretch of Caribbean coast provides a memorable vacation for every member of the family.
