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Best Family Resorts near Playa del Carmen and Tulum
Playa del Carmen and Tulum are relatively easy trips from the Bay Area, with 5 hour direct flights from SFO to Cancun. This area provides an amazing combination of natural and cultural treasures including protected reefs, white sand beaches, jungle, caves and Mayan ruins.
The trick with this area is finding the right family accommodations as many of the resorts focus on couples or even require that everyone be over 18.
Petite Lafitte. With a loyal following, this small resort (30 rooms and 15 bungalows) is right on the beach about 30 miles south of Cancun. Petite Lafitte appeals to families looking for a small, intimate getaway with convenient access to the beach. The food is highly rated and you can get packages for the meals. The service is outstanding and the pool is well-suited for kids. Hard to find, you’ll want to follow the directions on their website and try not to go at night. This is not a high-end, luxury resort but rather the kind of “home away from home” that people return to year after year. Ocean front cabanas between $395 and $465
Rosewood Mayakoba. Recently opened luxury resort in extraordinary 1,600-acre jungle and beach development featuring a remarkable maze of canals, lagoons and pools, a half-hour south of Cancún. Electric-powered launches or golf carts ferry guests to the 128 striking modern suites, most with private plunge pools, outdoor garden showers and expansive terraces or rooftop sundecks; however, only 16 overlook the splendid white-sand beach. Amenities include a lavish island spa beside a natural spring-fed pool and a Greg Norman-designed golf course; also snorkeling and diving, deep-sea and sportfishing, horseback riding, excursions to Mayan ruins. Rooms from $600.
Esencia. A small, intimate, luxurious and family-friendly property, you will never want to leave this retreat. There are 29 rooms on fifty acres and you will feel like you are in the jungle while you are just steps from the beach. The service is exceptional including afternoon tea and cookies for the little ones. Their “family-sized” rooms (1 and 2 bedroom) are not inexpensive but they do offer a couple bungalows that have two queen sized beds as well as their own plunge pool.
Rooms from $459.
Azul Beach Hotel. Azul Beach Hotel has an idyllic secluded setting and is within easy reach of Cancun as well as the quieter and more traditional fishing town of Puerto Morelos. There are a variety of accommodations to appeal to families of all sizes but this is not a family-only destination--couples go there too. While it is all-inclusive, the food is supposedly very good and with only 90 rooms, they are able to offer a higher level of food quality than resorts serving 300. This place has many loyal followers, particularly among families. Rooms from $373.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya. This definitely qualifies as the larger, all-inclusive resort. Grand Velas offers spacious accommodations, which are perfect for both families and couples. There are eight restaurants for guests to choose from offering one of the finest dining experiences on the Riviera Maya. The hotel has excellent facilities including swimming pools, fitness room, spa, boutique and water activities. There is a kid's club with lots of activities to keep children entertained through the day. Grand Velas is located on a great stretch of beach which is just south of Xcalacoco and only a short drive away from Playa del Carmen. Rooms from $600.
Posada Margherita. If you are interested in going a little more rustic, Posada Margherita is a small and friendly resort located on a beautiful stretch of beach in Tulum. It has a very highly regarded restaurant and it's within easy access of many dining options. There are eight cabanas that are idea for couples and small families; two of the rooms have additional beds and would work well for larger families. Although there are no electrical outlets there is 24-hour electrical lighting and the recent addition of surprisingly effective tower fans ensures that the rooms are kept cool in the evenings. They also offer room service, and wireless internet in the restaurant and surrounding beach area. From $130.
Ana y Jose. There is not a large number of family-friendly hotels in Tulum but Ana Y Jose welcomes children. Right on the beach, this resort offers well appointed rooms including air-conditioning, hairdryers, ipod docking stations, telephones and mini bars. Although still only a small hotel, it does have very good facilities that include an excellent restaurant, spa, swimming pool, car rental and excursions. It is a great choice for those seeking a less rustic stay on Tulum beach. Rooms from $248 US Dollars.
La Luna
Several experts on this area have commented on La Luna. A boutique hotel, it does offer accommodations for families. It provides the "Robinson Caruso" experience with villas right on the beach but in this version of Robinson Caruso there is a chef and restaurant. It doesn't offer a pool or air-conditioning but if you are looking to get away from it all, this is definitely worth a look. Rooms from $300 per night.
The trick with this area is finding the right family accommodations as many of the resorts focus on couples or even require that everyone be over 18.
Petite Lafitte. With a loyal following, this small resort (30 rooms and 15 bungalows) is right on the beach about 30 miles south of Cancun. Petite Lafitte appeals to families looking for a small, intimate getaway with convenient access to the beach. The food is highly rated and you can get packages for the meals. The service is outstanding and the pool is well-suited for kids. Hard to find, you’ll want to follow the directions on their website and try not to go at night. This is not a high-end, luxury resort but rather the kind of “home away from home” that people return to year after year. Ocean front cabanas between $395 and $465
Rosewood Mayakoba. Recently opened luxury resort in extraordinary 1,600-acre jungle and beach development featuring a remarkable maze of canals, lagoons and pools, a half-hour south of Cancún. Electric-powered launches or golf carts ferry guests to the 128 striking modern suites, most with private plunge pools, outdoor garden showers and expansive terraces or rooftop sundecks; however, only 16 overlook the splendid white-sand beach. Amenities include a lavish island spa beside a natural spring-fed pool and a Greg Norman-designed golf course; also snorkeling and diving, deep-sea and sportfishing, horseback riding, excursions to Mayan ruins. Rooms from $600.
Esencia. A small, intimate, luxurious and family-friendly property, you will never want to leave this retreat. There are 29 rooms on fifty acres and you will feel like you are in the jungle while you are just steps from the beach. The service is exceptional including afternoon tea and cookies for the little ones. Their “family-sized” rooms (1 and 2 bedroom) are not inexpensive but they do offer a couple bungalows that have two queen sized beds as well as their own plunge pool.
Rooms from $459.
Azul Beach Hotel. Azul Beach Hotel has an idyllic secluded setting and is within easy reach of Cancun as well as the quieter and more traditional fishing town of Puerto Morelos. There are a variety of accommodations to appeal to families of all sizes but this is not a family-only destination--couples go there too. While it is all-inclusive, the food is supposedly very good and with only 90 rooms, they are able to offer a higher level of food quality than resorts serving 300. This place has many loyal followers, particularly among families. Rooms from $373.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya. This definitely qualifies as the larger, all-inclusive resort. Grand Velas offers spacious accommodations, which are perfect for both families and couples. There are eight restaurants for guests to choose from offering one of the finest dining experiences on the Riviera Maya. The hotel has excellent facilities including swimming pools, fitness room, spa, boutique and water activities. There is a kid's club with lots of activities to keep children entertained through the day. Grand Velas is located on a great stretch of beach which is just south of Xcalacoco and only a short drive away from Playa del Carmen. Rooms from $600.
Posada Margherita. If you are interested in going a little more rustic, Posada Margherita is a small and friendly resort located on a beautiful stretch of beach in Tulum. It has a very highly regarded restaurant and it's within easy access of many dining options. There are eight cabanas that are idea for couples and small families; two of the rooms have additional beds and would work well for larger families. Although there are no electrical outlets there is 24-hour electrical lighting and the recent addition of surprisingly effective tower fans ensures that the rooms are kept cool in the evenings. They also offer room service, and wireless internet in the restaurant and surrounding beach area. From $130.
Ana y Jose. There is not a large number of family-friendly hotels in Tulum but Ana Y Jose welcomes children. Right on the beach, this resort offers well appointed rooms including air-conditioning, hairdryers, ipod docking stations, telephones and mini bars. Although still only a small hotel, it does have very good facilities that include an excellent restaurant, spa, swimming pool, car rental and excursions. It is a great choice for those seeking a less rustic stay on Tulum beach. Rooms from $248 US Dollars.
La Luna
Several experts on this area have commented on La Luna. A boutique hotel, it does offer accommodations for families. It provides the "Robinson Caruso" experience with villas right on the beach but in this version of Robinson Caruso there is a chef and restaurant. It doesn't offer a pool or air-conditioning but if you are looking to get away from it all, this is definitely worth a look. Rooms from $300 per night.
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