Best Akumal All-Inclusive Resorts

Located along a long stretch of pristine beach with turquoise waters, Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort is a luxury all-inclusive with a relaxed and calm vibe. Most guests spend their days reading on the beach, resting on hammocks stretched between palms, or taking cooling dips in the ocean-facing relaxation pools. A whirlwind 2014 renovation added a spa and wellness center and a handful of spots to eat and grab a drink: there are currently four a la carte eateries (no reservations needed), a large buffet restaurant, a 24-hour snack bar, and a sushi bar, as well as several bars. It also seriously upgraded its rooms, all of which are Junior Suites with upscale decor, outdoor hot tubs, large bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, stocked minibars, coffeemakers, and oceanfront views; Penthouses sport incredibly spacious rooftop terraces with magnificent, uninterrupted views of the water.

The 420-suite Luxury Bahia Principe Sian Ka'an is a quiet and relaxing adult-only resort with a boutique feel. The most exclusive offering within the Mayan Riviera's Bahia Principe resort complex, Sian Ka'an has three restaurants, a snack bar, and four bars, plus a private off-site beach area with a beach bar and water sports. It's an ideal resort for couples, as all rooms have top-shelf minibars, 24-hour room service, and luxe amenities -- and are located in semi-private spots within lush garden grounds. Some have private decks with hot tubs. However, Sian Ka'an is not located directly on the beach (it's a 15-minute shuttle ride away). To stay directly on a long, beautiful beach, consider Akumal Bay Beach.

Riviera Maya's Grand Palladium resort complex consists of five separate resorts: Kantenah, Colonial, White Sand, Riviera, and Royal Suites (which has nonreciprocal access across all resorts). The 422-room Grand Palladium Kantenah shares space with Colonial (and White Sand with Riviera), but guests staying in any of these four resorts has access to all the features, food, drinks, and entertainment of the others. Accommodations range from slightly dim but authentically decorated contemporary Standard Rooms to chicer suites; some rooms have outdoor showers. But even partial ocean views are scarce, and not guaranteed. For that, you'll be better off at Akumal Bay Beach, where all rooms are sleek Junior Suites with oceanfront views.

Sharing space with Grand Palladium Kantenah in a massive five-resort complex, the upscale Grand Palladium Colonial gives guests the same all-inclusive experience as Kantenah, with more food and drink options than you can count on both hands, all-day and night activities, soft sand and coral rock beaches, wildlife, huge hydrotherapy-based spa with gym (access for a fee), and relaxing nature-filled grounds. The majority of the Colonial's 414 rooms are decorated with upscale Colonial Caribbean style. All rooms have comfy beds with lots of pillows, minibars, flat-screen TVs, and private outdoor space. However, there is a fee for high-speed Wi-Fi (true at Kantenah and all of the Grand Palladium resorts); Wi-Fi is free throughout Akumal Bay Beach and Luxury Bahia Principe Sian Ka'an.

Spilling onto a picturesque stretch of white sand and rocky coral beachfront, Luxury Bahia Principe Akumal Don Pablo Collection is a 758-room resort offering a top-notch all-inclusive experience. There are 13 different restaurants and bars, including beach bars, pool bars, buffets, and a la cartes. Other features include a rejuvenating and relaxing hydrotherapy spa; kids' club; and two sparkling beach-view pools. Rooms have attractive, beachy colonial style (though it feels a bit simple for a "luxury" property), ample amenities including toiletry kits, stocked minibars (with top-shelf liquor), butler service, and pillow menus. The complex's other Luxury status property, the Sian Ka'an, is more luxurious and often costs about the same -- but it is for adults only. Like the Grand Palladium resorts, there is a fee for Wi-Fi here.

Grand Bahia Principe Tulum is your typical large all-inclusive resort with a beautiful beach and a slight party vibe. The second largest property in a four-resort complex, it has 978 rooms that are simple and slightly dated, but spacious. All feature minibars and private outdoor space. With two pools, a spa, 10 restaurants and bars, Dolphinarium, and access to the golf club and Hacienda shopping plaza, this place is packed with everything you expect to find at a large upper-middle-range resort. For proximity to family-friendly features, check out sister property Grand Bahia Principe Coba, and for an indulgent adult-only escape, upgrade to Sian Ka'an.

With 1,080 rooms, the Grand Bahia Principe Coba is the largest resort in the property's Riviera Maya complex. Geared toward families, this upper-middle-range resort has features such as baby, kids', and teens' clubs; a water park playground; kids' menus; and special amenities kits in Family Suites. Simple, colorful rooms are spacious enough for small families, but can adjoined for larger parties. With two pools, a spa, 14 restaurants and bars, and access to the golf club and hacienda shopping plaza, this place is packed with features -- but there's no direct beach access. But while sister property Grand Bahia Principe Tulum is on a picturesque stretch of white-sand beach with turquoise waters, Coba is a 10-minute shuttle ride away from the sand.

Operating from 2006 to late 2014 as two individual resorts that were large in their own right, the now-combined 948-room Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Hotel & Spa is truly massive, giving guests double the fun, food, and space. Today, the single resort is a true mega-resort all-inclusive. Located along a rocky section of coastline and within lush jungle grounds, the scenery is beautiful. Rooms have a contemporary and sleek geometric decor, spacious bathrooms with jetted tubs and spa showers, big beds, and sitting areas. Between the pools, lazy river, beach games, enormous spa (one of the area's best), gym, dolphin discovery, and multiple restaurants, there's no shortage of things to do, though waiting for the trams to take you from point A to B can get annoying. Rates are typically competitive for a four-pearl resort, but those seeking a more intimate experience may want to compare prices with Akumal Bay Beach.

Conveniently located between Highway 307 and a beautiful stretch of beach, the 112-room Grand Oasis Tulum features five pools (two with swim-up bars), private beach area, a small buffet, six a la carte restaurants, and eight bars. Over half of the simple, modern rooms face the garden, but the real gems are the few Ocean Front Rooms sporting personal beach decks, hot tubs, and chic decor. Though Grand Oasis' spa has a wide selection of treatments and a traditional Mayan sauna, it's small and can't compare with Grand Sirenis' enormous, high-tech, hydro-therapy based facility with state-of-the-art treatments.