No destination has been hotter in the Caribbean Basin in the last three years than Cancun, the Mexican Caribbean’s tourism epicenter. The pandemic has only seemed to deepen travelers’ love affair with the area, with more and more new flights coming in and new hotels seeming to pop up every week. 

Navigating Cancun’s massive hotel stock can be a challenge, though, with so many resorts and so many different tourism enclaves to choose from. 

We’re here to help, gathering our favorite resorts from what we would call “greater Cancun.” That means Cancun and its hotel zone, Costa Mujeres, Playa Mujeres and what has recently come to be called the “Riviera Cancun” around nearby Puerto Morelos. 

Note that we stopped at Puerto Morelos going south, leaving the broad selection of resorts in the Riviera Maya for another feature. 

So where should you stay? Check out our top resorts for your next Cancun vacation. 

Grand Residences Riviera Cancun Choosing our favorite resort in and round Cancun was no easy feat. We had to balance quality, design, amenities and service, along with value. That brought our staff to one choice: the Grand Residences, Royal Resorts’ beloved resort in Puerto Morelos. This 144-room property, a member of Wyndham’s registry collection, boasts beautiful, large rooms and suites; an impressive beach and poolscape; excellent, authentic bars and restaurants and, most importantly, some of the best service our editors have seen at any resort in the Caribbean, period. It’s as complete a resort as you’ll find anywhere and a worthy pick for our favorite among Cancun resorts.