My Honest Review of the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun

The Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is a new(ish) all-inclusive resort that opened up in 2021. I recently stayed there over the 2024 Thanksgiving week, and in this Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun review, I'm giving my honest take on this resort.

Where Is the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun Located?
This Hyatt Ziva is located about 20 miles south of Cancun in Puerto Morelos, so a heads up that if it says 'Riviera', it's usually not located in the city or main hotel zone but rather farther out along the cost. My husband and I arrived at night. After taking a turn off the highway, we found ourselves on a rough road leading to the coast where the resort is. Unfortunately, whoever was in charge of maintaining this road didn't prioritize fixing potholes. At one point, we thought we might be stuck after our driver hit a massive pothole. Considering that, it wouldn't surprise me if drivers took turns opting out of rides to and from this resort.

Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun Check-In Process
We finally made it to the Hyatt Ziva, and it's definitely a fancier resort. The lobby area where you're dropped off is upstairs, and then downstairs is where you'll find the amenities and the entrance out to the pool. Check-in was pretty easy, but we did have to wait a bit for the bellhop to bring up our luggage. 

Initially, we were only given one room key because the resort was so busy that they didn't have extras. We had to wait until the next afternoon to get one. If you're staying with another person, it helps to have an extra room key, so I hope the Hyatt Ziva prioritizes ordering more room keys for guests in the future. 

​Pros: What I Like About the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun

• Good food - Overall, I'd say the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun had a solid assortment of foods. You've got lots of different options to choose from, including Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean, French, American, and Italian.
• Nice staff - Mexico is the best when it comes to hospitality, so it was no surprise that the folks working here were lovely. Shout out to Timo, one of the servers by the pool!
• The rooms - Our room was incredible! It was not only huge, but had a massive bathroom space complete with a jacuzzi and a large balcony that had a sofa on it.
• All-inclusive - Unlimited food and drinks? Sign me up! I rarely go to all-inclusive resorts anymore, but it was a nice perk not having to reach for my purse every time I wanted to order something.
• The waterpark - This was one of the unique things about the resort that I really enjoyed. They have an actual waterpark area that includes a play area for young kids as well as four big water slides (though only three were in use when I was there). Best of all? There was hardly any wait, so you could ride them as many times as you'd like. 

Cons: What I Didn't Like About the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun

• Guests hoarding pool chairs - This drove me absolutely nuts. As early as 7:00 a.m., people started saving pool chairs. Eventually, we decided if we wanted something halfway decent, we'd have to do the same. But it was so frustrating since we never got a space near an umbrella. 
• Few umbrellas - Speaking of umbrellas, there's a small handful of them around the pool, and if you want to sit beside one, you'll need to wake up near the crack of dawn. I wondered if the lack of umbrellas was to entice people to pay extra for their cabanas, which you can see in my Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun photos above.
• No beach - This was one of the most depressing beaches I've ever seen. It's basically a sliver of sand filled with rocks and/or seaweed. Plus, don't expect those turquoise waters here; we didn't see that.
• Poor entertainment - For a five-star resort, this place didn't have the kind of entertainment I was hoping it would. Sure, they offered karaoke, live bands, and occasional 'shows', but nothing substantial. I've seen other resorts with larger entertainment teams that included dancers who performed in nightly themed shows similar to the type you might see on cruise ships. I don't know if resorts are trying to move away from this or it's just this one. 
• The location - As I mentioned, the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun isn't in Cancun proper, so if you want any type of nightlife, you'll have to Uber or taxi to Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Considering how bored I felt at night, it would have been nice to at least have somewhere to walk around.
• Restaurant wait times - Things were probably more chaotic than usual considering how busy the resort was during this week, but I still didn't think they organized restaurant seating well. Often, there was a long line for the specialty restaurants, and you couldn't make a reservation to help alleviate these issues.

Who Should Stay at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun All-Inclusive?

• Families with kids
• Couples who want to just lounge around
• Travelers who like the idea of just spending the week only at the resort 

Who Shouldn't Stay at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun All-Inclusive?

• College and young friend groups who want more of a party vibe
• People who want to be able to explore more on their own

FAQs About the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun
1. What was the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun before?
The Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is under four years old, but based on my research, it used to be a Secrets resort.

2. How far is Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun from the airport?
The Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is roughly 20 minutes away from the Cancun airport.

3. Does Hyatt Ziva Cancun have a lazy river?
No, this Hyatt Ziva resort doesn't have a lazy river. Instead, it has a kids water park and larger water slides for older kids, teens, and adults. 

4. Is the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun in the hotel zone?
No, the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is located about 30 minutes south of Cancun's hotel zone, so it's kind of out in the middle of nowhere. Basically, you need to drive to get anywhere from there. However, there is a Hyatt Ziva in the Cancun hotel zone that my husband and I did check out during our trip. I liked the Hyatt Ziva in the Cancun hotel zone way more since it had the turquoise blue waters and a larger beach.

5. Does Hyatt Ziva Cancun have a waterpark?
Yes! This was actually one of my favorite features of this resort. They have a smaller waterpark for young kids and then bigger waterslides for older kids, teens, and adults. The waterpark wasn't busy either, even while the resort itself was full of people, so there's no long lines to use the water slides.

6. Is the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun adults only?
Nope, the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun all-inclusive resort is for people of all ages. There were plenty of kids there during our stay. 

Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.