Best family friendly all inclusive resorts in playa del carmen

Playa del Carmen is an amazing tropical destination for families. Not only is it a favorite destination among couples, friends, and large groups, but it’s also the perfect place to explore and find things to do with kids!

From swimming in cenotes to ziplining, exploring eco-parks to sampling traditional Mayan food, there’s a lot to see and do in Playa del Carmen. Before you start building your itinerary, it’s important to make sure you’re choosing a resort that has all amenities and activities you want, so that your trip can be as relaxing as possible.

If you thinking about booking a family vacation to beautiful Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, an all-inclusive resort is the way to go!

With an all-inclusive resort, you’ll usually just pay one, all-inclusive fee for your hotel room, food, drinks, and entertainment. Aside from a few special amenities, absolutely anything and everything you want while you’re there is included. No surprise fees or extra charges!

I’ve curated a list of the best all-inclusive family resorts in Playa del Carmen so that you don’t have to do the digging yourself. So, if you’re ready to book your dream destination vacation and take off to Playa del Carmen with your loved ones, this list is for you!

This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content. Thanks a lot!


Which All-Inclusive Resort In Playa del Carmen Is Best For Your Family?

All-inclusive resorts are great for families because it allows parents to be sure that everyone is safe, fed, and happy without having to worry about any extra charges for food or drinks.

To give you an at-a-glance summary of this comprehensive list of the best all-inclusive resorts in Playa del Carmen for families, I thought I’d take it one step further and provide you with some high-level guidance on what resort may be most suitable for your family.

The following is a summarized list of resorts most suitable for certain types of travelers:

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  • The Best All-Inclusive Resort for Families with Infants: Grand Velas Riviera Maya
  • The Best All-Inclusive Resort for Families with Young Children: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
  • The Best All-Inclusive Resort for Families with Teens: Hotel Xcaret Mexico

You may also like: 15 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Cancun for Families


What Is Included At An All-Inclusive Resort?

Each all-inclusive resort is different, but the majority of them function similarly in that the price you pay will often include the following:

  • a double-occupancy overnight guest room
  • food and beverage
  • Wi-Fi
  • daily entertainment
  • pool use
  • non-motorized watersports (kayaks, stand-up paddleboards)
  • fitness center and classes
  • kids lounge
  • kids activities
  • as well as any taxes and service fees

There is also typically some sort of private beach that hotel guests can access.

Depending on which all-inclusive resort you go with, some may also offer airport transfers, premium watersports (jet skis, scuba-diving), and unlimited top-shelf alcoholic drinks at the all-inclusive price.

Best family friendly all inclusive resorts in playa del carmen
Best family friendly all inclusive resorts in playa del carmen

What Is NOT Included At An All-Inclusive Resort?

It is important to know that the term “all-inclusive” doesn’t literally mean you get anything and everything that’s offered at the resort. Here are a few examples of things that typically cost extra:

  • There is usually a premium-level tier of guests that often have their own pool, lounge, and section of the beach. You’ll usually have to upgrade to some type of membership to use these parts of the property.
  • Spas and massages, golfing, and (sometimes) premium liquor usually cost extra.
  • Services such as laundry, transportation, tours and activities, motorized watersports are typically excluded.
  • Sometimes, personalized assistance (babysitting) has an extra cost. Other times it’s included.

This is why it’s so important to do your homework before booking a resort. You’ll want to know what their list of inclusions consists of and what their list of extra-cost activities/features consists of. If it’s unclear, simply reach out to the hotel to confirm.


Are All-Inclusive Resorts a Good Option For Families?

Families with more than two people may particularly be interested in opting for an all-inclusive resort. Not only does it make sticking to a budget super easy, but it also is a ton of fun for the kids too!

First, let’s start with the money aspect. With an all-inclusive resort, the stress of planning and budgeting virtually disappears because almost everything you and your kids want at the resort will be covered. You won’t have to worry about having your wallet and separately paying for each and every child’s requests. They can have it all!

Secondly, because so much of what kids/teens care about is included at an all-inclusive resort (food, drinks, water sports, poolside activities, kids club), you won’t need to worry about them being bored whatsoever.



8 Best All-Inclusive Resorts In Playa Del Carmen For Families

1. Hotel Xcaret Mexico

Best family friendly all inclusive resorts in playa del carmen
Courtesy of Booking.com

Price Range: $$$

Hotel Xcaret Mexico is one of the best all-inclusive resorts in Playa del Carmen for families due to its location and abundance of family-friendly activities.

What other park gives you unlimited and FREE access to all of Experiencias Xcaret’s nature parks and tours?

You read that right–this includes all the eco-parks like Xcaret, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xenses, Xavage, Xoximilco, Xel-Há, and Xenotes, as well as each of their dining plans! Together, these parks/activities will add up to 200 experiences of adventure, culture, and a whole bunch of fun!

The massive, 900-room Hotel Xcaret is an upscale yet friendly and welcoming all-inclusive resort that draws equal parts families and couples.

The resort is located directly on the beach in Playa del Carmen, which makes it an ideal choice for those who want a relaxing getaway with their kids. There are also plenty of on-site activities for kids to enjoy, including swimming and snorkeling, as well as a kids’ club with organized activities.

Adults will especially love the free yoga and meditation, the 10 restaurants that include an international buffet, Mexican, and Asian options, and the 8 bars around the resort. There is also a spa with cave-like treatment rooms, and three gyms.

Resort Highlights: Hotel Xcaret Mexico

  • 20-minute drive to Playa del Carmen
  • Free access and transportation to Xcaret, Xenses, Xplor, Xavage, Xoximilco, and Xel-Ha parks
  • 900 rooms
  • 10 restaurants (international buffet, Mexican, Asian, including an eatery by a Michelin-starred chef for an additional fee)
  • 8 bars including a swim-up bar
  • Several pools, caves, coves, an infinity pool with a swim-up bar, kids’ pool with waterslide, and even a river to kayak in

2. Paradisus Playa Del Carmen

Best family friendly all inclusive resorts in playa del carmen
Courtesy of Booking.com

Price Range: $$

Paradisus Playa Del Carmen is a high-quality, family-friendly resort in the Riviera Maya that features direct access to a wonderful white-sand beach. In fact, it’s one of the best all-inclusive resort options in the area for families!

Kid-friendly features at the property include a pirate ship playground and a kids zone. The little ones will have a ton of fun at the tropical-themed water park boasting three swimming pools, giant water buckets, and five water slides.

DEAL ALERT: XCARET SINGLES DAY SALE! Get 25% off tours and admissions! Use code SINGLES22. The deal lasts until 11/11 so get on it!

The Paradisus Playa del Carmen also offers a Family Concierge program that includes a private pool and lounge, butler service, a private beach area, and lots of in-room perks that children will love.

The Family Concierge rooms are even specially designed to offer superior comfort and greater privacy and are the perfect setting for the ultimate family vacation experience.

Adults need not worry because the resort has its fair share of bars and activities to enjoy!

In addition to a great on-site spa, adults can enjoy tasting sessions for fine wines and tequila, develop culinary skills in sushi classes, learn how to make authentic guacamole, dance at a pool party complete with a live DJ and so much more.

And while Paradisus Playa del Carmen is great for people traveling with families, their sister resort, Paradisus La Perla, is a top option for travelers looking for an affordable adults-only all-inclusive resort near Playa Del Carmen.

Resort Highlights: Paradisus Playa Del Carmen

  • 12 minutes by car from Playa Del Carmen
  • Kid-friendly all-inclusive resort
  • 501 guest rooms
  • 3 large pools, plus a fun water park with a pirate ship
  • 14 restaurants
  • 9 bars, 1 coffee shop
  • Family Concierge section includes lounge, private pool, and in-room perks

3. Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Best family friendly all inclusive resorts in playa del carmen
Courtesy of Booking.com

Price Range: $$$$

Grand Velas Riviera Maya is a top-of-the-line all-inclusive resort option for families if you’ve got a bit more budget to play around with. This luxury resort has a kids club, a kids pool, and everything else you need for a great family vacation.

The resort offers many on-site activities for children such as:

  • A kids club where they can play games and go on field trips with other children their age.
  • An inflatable water park with slides and pools that will keep them entertained all day long.
  • A large beach area where they can build sandcastles or splash around in shallow waters while building their confidence as swimmers before heading into deeper water (or if they prefer not to swim at all).

Adults and parents will love this resort too.

You’ll be able to savor gourmet cuisine from renowned chefs at one of the property’s 8 restaurants, go sunbathing at the beach, lounge at one of the 5 outdoor swimming pools, or get some much-needed relaxation in their top-notch spa.

If you’re a foodie, you’ll be glad to know that one of the restaurants even has its own AAA Five-Diamond award! And if that’s not enticing enough, their spa is also one of the largest in the country!

Other luxury perks include butler service, various activities throughout your stay, and non-motorized sports — all of which are included in the all-inclusive price at Grand Velas Riviera Maya.

In terms of the property’s layout, the guest suites are spread across three buildings, one of which is adults-only. All 539 guest suites feature free WiFi, private spa tubs and jetted tubs, as well as premium bedding and pillow menus for that added touch of hospitality.

On top of getting a ton of space (rooms are well over 1,200 sq ft) You can opt for suites with a range of additional features such as private terraces, plunge pools, and unbeatable views.

This hotel is hands-down one of the most upscale options on this list. It doesn’t come cheap, but is well worth the cost.

Resort Highlights: Grand Velas Riviera Maya

  • 15-minute drive to Playa del Carmen
  • 539 guest suites
  • Property is located on a gorgeous white-sand beach
  • 3 pool complexes with swim up bars
  • 8 restaurants serving outstanding buffet and a la carte food
  • Bars serve premium domestic and international liquor
  • Free non-motorized water sports
  • 2 kids’ clubs with daily activities and a teens’ club

You may also like: Mexico All-Inclusive Packing List: 60 Essential Things To Bring With You

4. Fairmont Mayakoba

Best family friendly all inclusive resorts in playa del carmen
Courtesy of Expedia

Price Range: $$$$

If you’re looking for another luxurious resort option that is just south of Playa del Carmen, you should consider the ultra-luxe Fairmont Mayakoba. While this resort doesn’t automatically come all-inclusive for all its guests, all-inclusive plans are available.

Fairmont Mayakoba offers luxurious accommodations with private pools and swim-up suites. The resort has a variety of restaurants and bars with a focus on local cuisine.

They’ve got everything here for you and the kids: five palm-lined pools, 10 different dining venues, crystal-clear fresh-water canals you can tour by boat, and 240 wild acres of lush mangrove forest to explore, filled with exotic monkeys, coatis and macaws!

At the resort, you can dive or snorkel the world’s second-largest coral reef, go ziplining or jet skiing, or indulge in a resort spa retreat while the children spend an active day at the Kids’ Club. They even have family cooking classes for your whole family to learn traditional Mexican kitchen dishes!

Youngsters will love spending time at the Discovery Club & Adventure Camp, a professionally designed curriculum that engages children from the ages of 5 to 11 years old with a variety of outdoorsy, active, cultural, and educational activities, arts and crafts.

In fact, these programs are meant to spark creativity while teaching kids about the local culture and history, nature, and traditions. There is also a seasonal Teens’ Club with events and outings.

The best part about this hotel is that children 5 and under eat free from the children’s menu and kids at the age of 6 to 12 dine for half price!

Resort Highlights: Fairmont Mayakoba

  • 20-minute drive to Playa del Carmen
  • AAA Five Diamond luxury resort
  • 401 rooms and suites
  • Property is located on a gorgeous white-sand beach with shaded loungers
  • 5 pools, plus a waterslide and whirlpool
  • 3 top-quality restaurants in partnership with a celebrity chef
  • 4 bars, including a beach, pool, lobby, and tequila bar
  • Free non-motorized water sports
  • Kids’ Club, seasonal Teens’ Club, and babysitting services

5. Playacar Palace

Best family friendly all inclusive resorts in playa del carmen
Courtesy of Booking.com

Price Range: $$

Playacar Palace is another wonderful all-inclusive family resort in Playa del Carmen, perfect for families with kids of all ages.

Set beside the harbor, the Playacar Palace is perfectly situated for ferry trips to Cozumel. Plus, it has its own quiet white-sand beach while being just a few minutes walk from town as well as a mall with restaurants, bars, and shops. The ever-popular Fifth Avenue is easily within walking distance.

Kid-centric amenities include a small kid’s pool area, daily kids’ activity programs, and scheduled daycare activities such as arts & crafts projects or themed games.

Older kids and adults will love the available water sports like windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) lessons, and more.

Rooms at the Playacar Palace have a modern, upscale vibe featuring marble floors, two-person hot tubs, and carved-stone wall hangings that add to the overall airy atmosphere.

Perhaps the best part about staying at the Playacar Palace is the fact that guests have access to all facilities at sister Palace Resorts in Cancun, Cozumel, and the Riviera Maya. That’s 3 resorts for just one price!

Resort Highlights: Playacar Palace

  • Located in the heart of Playa del Carmen
  • 201 rooms and suites
  • Large outdoor pool with kiddy section and poolside bar/cafe
  • 3 restaurants serving Italian, Asian, and buffet-style cuisine, including a late-night lounge serving small plates and cocktails
  • Spa offering massage treatments, hydrotherapy pools, and steam room
  • Access to Palace Resorts in Cancun, Cozumel, and Riviera Maya
  • Kiddy pool and kids’ club

6. Royalton Riviera Cancun

Best family friendly all inclusive resorts in playa del carmen
Courtesy of Booking.com

Price Range: $$

Have you ever heard of a resort within a resort? Well, at Royalton Riviera Cancun, that’s what you get. In fact, you get to choose between three sections of the resort, each offering a unique experience tailored to your desired vacation style.

Encompassing the entire property are some pretty spectacular stretches of pool, modern amenities throughout, and of course because no all-inclusive vacation is complete without delicious food, the Royalton Riviera offers its guests a choice of 9 restaurants and 12 bars!

Guests of the resort can enjoy a private beach area and tennis courts. Other facilities offered at the property include entertainment staff, a nightclub, and even grocery deliveries.

For the kiddies, the resort has its own splash playground as well as other children-friendly activities. Kids will love a fantastic getaway in the large animal splash park where they can meet Mike the Knight whose nightly mission is to entertain kids with games and live shows.

While the beach surrounding the Royalton Riviera has received some underwhelming reviews due to the seagrass, it meets the definition of a white sandy beach. Overall, this resort for all ages is a great option for a family vacation, offering everything and more that you would need during your stay.

Resort Highlights: Royalton Riviera Cancun

  • 45 minutes by car from Playa Del Carmen
  • 840-room mega-resort
  • 9 restaurants include a steakhouse, Japanese, Italian, Mediterranean, and Mexican restaurants
  • 12 bars including a disco, beach bars, and a lobby bar
  • 11 pools, some with ocean views and swim-up bars
  • Kiddy splash park
  • Included non-motorized water sports and daily entertainment

7. Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort

Best family friendly all inclusive resorts in playa del carmen
Courtesy of Booking.com

Price Range: $$

If you’re looking for a luxury resort smack dab in the middle of Playa del Carmen that is both family-friendly and offers a good range of activities and amenities, the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort is a great option.

While this resort doesn’t automatically come all-inclusive, all-inclusive packages are available, granting you unlimited food and select beverages, savings on spa treatments, and more.

This resort offers a wide variety of activities and amenities that are sure to appeal to every member of your family. There are plenty of things for kids to do here, but there is also plenty to keep adults entertained as well. The property includes tennis courts, pools, jacuzzis, water slides and more!

The kids camp, Camp Hyatt Tortuguita, is for children ages 4 to 12. This area has a small outdoor playground with picnic tables, a large Jenga set, and other outdoor games curated to teach kids the local culture of Mexico. There are also a nap room and a movie room with a karaoke machine.

For teens, there is an area called #Hangout. This area is for teenagers to hang out and features a movie room, dining area, an open arcade area / game room with table games like air hockey and ping-pong, and a gaming room with all the gaming consoles you could think of.

Adults will especially love the spa, The Cenote Spa. This spa is so unique to the Grand Hyatt in Playa del Carmen as it features a manmade cenote covered by a flat-topped domed structure covered in vines. In addition to its creative design, there are a good number of features including a steam room, sauna, lap pool, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The rooms are a sight to see, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows featuring amazing views. When you’re not in your room, you and the family can enjoy the 3 oceanfront outdoor pools, 2 restaurants serving steak specialties and international cuisine, 3 bars, and a fitness center.

Resort Highlights: Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort

  • Located in the heart of downtown Playa del Carmen
  • 314 rooms and suites
  • All rooms are large and airy, all have balconies or terraces
  • 3 ocean-front outdoor pools, infinity-style
  • 2 restaurants with high-quality food
  • Optional half-board and full-board meal plans available
  • Kids club and teens club

8. Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya

Best family friendly all inclusive resorts in playa del carmen
Courtesy of Booking.com

Price Range: $$$

If you’re looking for a large resort with lots of activities on-site, look no further than Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. The Hard Rock Hotel is a famous chain of hotels and resorts, most well-known for its thematic amenities surrounding music. If you didn’t know, they’re a very highly regarded hotel.

Lucky for you, they have an all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel located right in Riviera Maya (in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico)! It’s located near the mid-point between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, making both towns relatively convenient to visit on the same trip.

While its amenities and services are largely based around its music origins, with a unique music lab for kids to experience the rockstar lifestyle, there is more to the Hard Rock Resort than just musical activities.

In fact, there’s fun for the whole family to enjoy. From infinity pools and spa treatments to luxury golf courses and high-end restaurants to satisfy those vacation cravings, the Hard Rock is a perfect blend of action/adventure and relaxation/leisure for adults.

The resort has an enormous pool complex with water slides, swim-up bars and even a lazy river ride!

They also have tons of restaurants and bars within walking distance from their rooms so there’s almost no need for anyone in your family to leave the property during their stay here. That ultimately means more time spent together as a family!

They also offer free daily entertainment like yoga classes at dawn, swimming lessons, dance classes, and live music every night.

Looking for more family-friendly features? Well, there’s an awesome teens’ lounge and kids’ club for the younger family members. In fact, the hotel operates a license with Hit Entertainment, which allows popular children’s characters such as Barney and Thomas the Tank to be featured in the resort’s shows.

Resort Highlights: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya

  • 28 minutes by car from Playa Del Carmen
  • 687 rooms
  • 6 restaurants, including Mexican, Asian, Italian, and buffet options
  • A swim-up bar and a lobby bar
  • 3 pools, including a beachfront pool with waterslide, plus kiddy splash area
  • Man-made beach
  • Free daily activities, plus a teens’ lounge and kids’ club

  • 3-in-1 Discovery Combo Tour: Tulum Ruins, Reef Snorkeling Plus Cenote and Caves: see some of the Yucatan’s absolute best features, all in one day!
  • Chichen Itza All-Inclusive, Tequila tasting, Cenote Swim, Buffet & Valladolid: a whole day tour that combines culture, history, nature and food–I loved this tour!
  • Xcaret Day Trip with Transportation: one of the best eco-parks in the entire world, it’s so worth a visit–don’t miss the Mexico Espectacular show at the end of the day!
  • ATV Tour, Ziplines and Cenote Swim with Lunch and Transportation: a great tour for adventurous travelers that want a good mix of adrenaline and nature


My Favorite International Travel Planning Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when planning out a trip abroad. The sites/companies listed here typically have the best overall value, offer deals, beat out other competitors, and offer great customer service when needed.

  • Booking.com | Honestly, this is my go-to accommodation booking site. This site has free cancellation and no prepayment required on reservations which is huge for me. It also has amazing abilities to filter accommodation options by rating and price. Honestly, it’s shaved off so many hours of endless research for me and has made booking hotels and other accommodations a breeze.
  • Get Your Guide | Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for all things tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
  • Go City | Go City offers great value-for-the-money attraction passes in various destinations around the world. Whenever I want to play tourist in a city, I always check to see if Go City operates in that city. The money you can save with this pass is unreal (as opposed to buying admission tickets for various attractions separately).
  • Rome2Rio | This is my go-to transportation resource when I’m already traveling and need to figure out how to get from point A to point B. Rome2Rio is a super useful tool when you have absolutely no idea how to get around between cities, between countries, or even between continents! Just type in your starting point and destination and it’ll show you how to get there by plane, train, bus, ferry & car – as well as an estimate of how much it’ll cost you.
  • SafetyWing – Safety Wing is a travel medical insurance provider that offers affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those heading abroad.
  • World Nomads – Also a great travel insurance company if you’re looking for the most comprehensive travel insurance out there. Their coverage is very comprehensive, making it a good choice if you are more adventurous and plan on partaking in thrill-seeking activities or plan on moving around with lots of electronics and expensive gear.

I hope that this list of the best all-inclusive resorts in Playa del Carmen for families was helpful. If you choose to visit one of these amazing resorts, I’d love to hear about your experience!

Good luck, and most of all, have fun making memories with your entire family!

Looking for more Mexico travel tips? Read more:

  • Where To Eat In Playa Del Carmen: Our 8 Favorite Restaurants And Local Eats
  • How To Get From Cancun To Playa Del Carmen: A Detailed Guide!
  • 27 Best Things To Do In Playa Del Carmen For An Unforgettable Vacation
  • The Best Time To Visit Playa Del Carmen: A Month By Month Guide

Is Playa del Carmen good for families?

From relaxation to adventure, Playa del Carmen has something for every family. There are even some great Playa del Carmen day trips that you should consider to see more of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Which is better Tulum or Playa del Carmen?

Tulum is more the destination of choice for those looking for an off-the-beaten-path, back-to-nature adventure where everything is much more rustic, small-scale, and low-key than in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen is the better choice for those looking for a little more action and modern accommodation than in Tulum.

Which is better Playa del Carmen or Cancun?

All in all Playa del Carmen has more of a beach town feel while Cancun of a city. Playa has also a strategic location very much closer to everything while from Cancun, it takes longer to reach the main tourist destinations in the surroundings.

Which Riu is best in Mexico kids?

Riu Dunamar: Best for Families On top of the on-site water park, kids' splash playground, and a lot of water activities on the beach, the Riu Land Kids is an awesome addition that makes it easier for everyone to have a blast.