Riu Ventura Cancún: The New All-Inclusive on Playa Delfines With an Adults-Only Zone
The 30-Second Version
- Best for
- Families and couples who want a new resort, an open beach and an adults zone.
- Room to book
- Ocean-view room (388 sq ft) · Swim-Up (first floor) if you want a pool.
- Heads-up before you book
- Environmental tax at the front desk, full charge on early departure and mixed opinions on the food.
Rates change weeks ahead of time. Moving your arrival a day or two sometimes changes the final price quite a bit.
Contents
- What to know before you book
- What guests say
- Playa Delfines and getting there
- The adults-only zone on the 6th floor
- Which room should you book?
- Pools and beach
- When to go: weather, rain and sargassum
- Where to eat
- Activities, RIU Party and spa
- Excursions from Cancún
- What's not included
- Pros and cons
- Who is it for?
- Quick answers
- How to book without surprises
- Final verdict
What to know before you book
The practical details guests ask about most before paying, taken from the Booking.com listing and RIU's official press release.
What guests say
The resort has 4.2 out of 5 on Google (689 reviews) and 8.7 out of 10 on Booking.com (569 reviews). The gap between the two is part of the story: Booking.com, which only collects reviews from people who stayed, is more generous. Booking.com breaks its score down by category (October 2026):
Booking.com score by category (out of 10, 569 reviews)
What recent reviews praise most and criticize most
The most repeated positives: new and clean facilities, roomy rooms, friendly staff, well-equipped pools and kids area, constant entertainment and the short distance to the airport.
In recent Google reviews, the most frequent drawback is the food, with opinions split between guests who praise it and guests who expected more, plus some comments about organization and front-desk service. There are reviews from 5 stars down to 1, so it pays to go in with realistic expectations.
Category scores are the ones shown by Booking.com and change over time. Google does not break down topics for this resort, so the critical points are summarized from the most recent reviews and carry no counts.
Playa Delfines and getting there
Riu Ventura is on Boulevard Kukulcán, about 330 ft (100 m) from Playa Delfines and about 10 miles (16 km) from the airport, according to Booking.com, which rates the location 9.2 (9.4 from couples). The beach is open sea, wider and less crowded than the north end of the Hotel Zone.
There are a couple of restaurants nearby and the El Rey archaeological zone is 820 ft (250 m) away. For everything else, the resort is designed for staying put: 705 rooms spread across several buildings.
Check the transfer options available for your dates, number of passengers and luggage, and organize your arrival at the resort.
The adults-only zone on the 6th floor
This is what sets Riu Ventura apart from other family all-inclusives. According to RIU, the sixth floor has a pool for adults only and a sky bar with panoramic views of the Caribbean, a first among the chain's vacation resorts in Mexico.
So the resort is family-friendly downstairs and has an adults' retreat upstairs. For couples traveling without kids, or parents who want a break, that duality is one of the things guests value most.
Which room should you book?
There are 705 rooms, according to RIU, in a contemporary, bright style. These are the three options that best fit who is traveling:
Pick your room in 10 seconds
Option 1 · Families and groups
Friends and Family Room (430 sq ft)
For anyone traveling with kids or in a group who wants more space.
430 sq ft with partial ocean views, a balcony or terrace, air conditioning and a minibar, according to Booking.com. It offers several bed layouts, such as four large double beds.
Capacity: Booking.com presents it as a family room; confirm the exact capacity when you book.
If you want more space, there is also a 2-bedroom family room of 753 sq ft (according to Booking.com).
Option 2 · Guests who want a pool from the terrace
Swim-up room (first floor)
For going from your terrace to the water without leaving your room.
RIU counts 36 rooms with a private swim-up pool on the first floor, the first of this kind in a RIU vacation resort in Mexico.
Capacity: confirm the size and capacity of this category when you book.
Tip: there are few and they sell out; if you are interested, book ahead.
Option 3 · Couples who want to wake up facing the sea
Double room, ocean view or oceanfront (388 sq ft)
For anyone who puts the view first without paying for more space.
388 sq ft with a king bed or two large double beds, a balcony and ocean views, according to Booking.com; an oceanfront version also exists.
Capacity: designed for 2 adults (according to Booking.com).
Ask for the view when you book and confirm it at check-in.
Entry point: the 388 sq ft double room with an ocean view, with a balcony, minibar, coffee maker and safe.
Check Options for Your Dates →Pools and beach
The ground floor has four outdoor pools and a water area for the little ones, according to RIU; adding the adults' pool on the 6th floor, Booking.com counts 5. The layout spreads people out and keeps the resort from feeling crowded in a single spot.
The beach is Playa Delfines, with light sand and open sea, with waves that vary by day. It is not the calmest beach in Cancún, but it is among the widest and has fewer buildings around.
When to go: weather, rain and sargassum
December to April is usually the dry season and the most sought after. June to November brings rain, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking between August and October; the rainy months tend to be the lowest-demand ones.
Sargassum can reach the Mexican Caribbean coast and varies a lot from year to year, especially between spring and summer. It is worth checking recent reports a few days before you travel.
Where to eat
With All Inclusive 24 Hours, food and drink don't stop when the restaurants close. The resort combines a buffet with live cooking and several specialty restaurants; quality is where opinions split, so it is worth booking the à la carte restaurants early.
Buffet with live cooking
The main option for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with live stations.
Kaori
Asian specialty restaurant.
Agave
Mexican cuisine in a themed setting.
Rimini
Italian cuisine, with pasta and classic dishes.
Kulinarium and Steakhouse
Kulinarium serves fusion food; the Steakhouse is the à la carte meat restaurant.
Pepe's Food, Tiki Taco and Sports Bar
Grill-style snacks, Mexican tacos and American-style dishes with drinks 24 hours a day.
Activities, RIU Party and spa
During the day there are activities for all ages and RIU Land supervises the little ones. At night, guests have access to the RIU Parties, themed parties held at the Riu Caribe with four weekly themes: White, Jungle, Pink and Neon, according to RIU.
Renova Spa offers treatments and massages at an extra charge, and the resort has a full gym.
Excursions from Cancún
Excursions are not part of the all-inclusive. From the resort you reach the region's classic parks and day trips. Before booking, check what each activity includes, whether it offers pickup, its cancellation policy and whether there is space for your dates.
Xcaret Park Excursions
A natural park with an underground river, cenotes and Mayan culture; compare options and check what is included and the pickup.
Isla Mujeres Catamaran Tours
A catamaran crossing with a swim stop, beach time and free time; a classic trip from Cancún.
Check the tours and activities available for your dates.
What's not included
So there are no surprises on arrival, this is what falls outside the rate:
- Transfers to and from Cancún airport
- Excursions outside the resort
- Renova Spa (treatments and massages at an extra charge)
- The environmental sanitation tax, which is paid at the front desk
Pros and cons
✓ What works very well
- Adults-only pool and sky bar on the 6th floor, a real differentiator
- New resort (December 2025), with clean facilities and roomy rooms
- Playa Delfines, wide and with fewer buildings around
- About 10 miles from the airport
- RIU Land and access to the RIU Parties at the Riu Caribe
✗ What to know first
- The food divides opinions, especially on Google
- Environmental tax at the front desk and a full charge if you leave earlier than booked
- No cribs or extra beds, according to Booking.com
- Open sea: not the calmest beach in Cancún
Who is this resort for?
✓ Ideal for
- Families with kids who want a new resort and well-spread pools
- Couples who want all-inclusive with an adults-only zone
- Groups who want variety without leaving the resort
✗ Not for you if...
- You want a very calm-water beach
- Dining is the most important part of your trip
- You travel with a baby and need a crib in the room
Quick answers before you book
Is Riu Ventura all-inclusive?
Yes. It is an all-inclusive resort from the RIU chain under the «All Inclusive 24 Hours» concept: meals, drinks and snacks at any hour, plus daytime and nighttime activities.
When did it open and how many rooms does it have?
RIU opened it on December 9, 2025, according to its official press release. It has 705 rooms, 36 of which are swim-up rooms on the first floor.
How far is it from Cancún airport?
Booking.com places it about 10 miles (16 km) from Cancún International Airport. The transfer is not included, so it is best to book it before you travel.
Does it have an adults-only zone?
Yes. The sixth floor has a pool for adults only and a sky bar with Caribbean views, according to RIU. The rest of the resort is family-oriented.
How many pools does it have?
Booking.com counts 5 pools. According to RIU, there are four outdoor pools on the ground floor, a children's water area and the adults-only pool on the sixth floor.
Which restaurants does it have?
According to RIU, there is a buffet with live cooking, the Asian Kaori, the Mexican Agave, the Italian Rimini, the fusion Kulinarium and a steakhouse, plus Pepe's Food, Tiki Taco and a sports bar. Booking.com counts 8 restaurants.
Is it good for kids?
Yes. Children of any age are welcome and there is RIU Land, the kids club, plus a children's play area. Booking.com says no cribs or extra beds are available.
Are there extra charges on arrival?
Booking.com says the environmental sanitation tax is paid at the front desk in Mexican pesos, at 82.11 MXN per room per night. Photo ID and a credit card are also required at check-in.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 3:00 p.m. to midnight and check-out is from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Booking.com warns that in case of early departure the resort charges the full amount of the stay.
Can guests go to the RIU Parties?
Yes. Riu Ventura guests have access to the RIU Parties, which are held at the Riu Caribe, according to RIU.
When is the best time to go?
December to April is usually the driest season and the most sought after. June to November brings rain and the Atlantic hurricane season; sargassum varies by year.
What ratings does Riu Ventura have?
Google 4.2 out of 5 (689 reviews) and Booking.com 8.7 out of 10 (569 reviews), checked in October 2026.
How to book without surprises
- Get your transfer sorted: it is about 10 miles from the airport and not included.
- Have pesos or a card ready for the environmental tax (82.11 MXN per room per night) and a credit card for check-in.
- Check the cancellation policy of the rate before paying: the resort charges the full stay if you leave early.
- If you travel with a baby, confirm the crib situation with the resort, because Booking.com says there are none.
Final verdict — 4.2 / 5
The resort has 4.2 out of 5 on Google (689 reviews) and 8.7 out of 10 on Booking.com (569 reviews), checked in October 2026. It is not the resort for anyone after a very calm beach or signature dining. But for families, couples and groups who want a new resort close to the airport, with an adults-only zone that is rare among RIU's vacation resorts in Mexico, it is a solid option.
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