Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya Just Went All-Inclusive: Here’s My First-Look Review

The author was a guest of Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya and the Mexican Caribbean Tourism Board. All opinions are the author’s own, and neither Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya nor the Mexican Caribbean Tourism Board had any input in any part of this review.

As one of Hilton’s flagship luxury brands, Conrad is known for delivering design-forward properties, luxury experiences, and excellent service. Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya in Mexico is the brand’s first dedicated all-inclusive resort, having fully transitioned to the concept on October 1, 2026.

I experienced the new all-inclusive concept as a guest a few days prior to the official change. Would the brand maintain its identity or lean into monster buffets and circus performances? I was excited to visit with a friend to see how Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya embraced the challenge.

Booking Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya

Cash rates at Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya are as low as $542 with taxes in the low season and run over $1,400 in high season (late November to February). Rates include accommodations for 2 guests; children ages 5 to 12 are charged an additional $150 per night, and additional guests ages 13 and older are charged $300 per night. Eligible cash reservations of 4 or more consecutive nights include private round-trip airport transportation and a “bespoke wellness, nature, or family experience.”

Standard room rates start at 135,000 Hilton Honors Points per night, with plenty of availability outside of holidays.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is a fantastic card to hold when booking this property. The card’s automatic Hilton Honors Diamond elite status opens the door to space-available room upgrades, and you can utilize the card’s Free Night Reward certificate, up to $200 in resort statement credits (semiannually, up to $400 back per year) on eligible purchases, and a $100 credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties with a 2-night minimum stay.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

Welcome Offer

Best Points Offer Yet! Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 01/13/2027.

200,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,000

Annual Fee

$550

APR

19.74%-28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
• 7x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com, car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other eligible purchases

Cons

• High annual fee of $550 (rates & fees)

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Card Highlights

• Best Points Offer Yet! Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 01/13/2027.
• Enjoy complimentary Diamond status with your Card. Diamond status gives you a 100% Bonus on Base Points you earn on every stay, Premium Wi-Fi and space-available room upgrades at select properties, executive lounge access at select properties, and more.
• Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants.
• Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
• $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That's up to $400 back annually.
• $200 Flight Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline, through AmexTravel.com, or through the Amex Travel App™ using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
• CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster at 60+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $219 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Hilton Honors Aspire Card.
• Earn up to 3 Free Night Rewards with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Receive one complimentary Free Night Reward each membership year. Earn a second Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend $30,000 or more on purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Earn a third Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend an additional $30,000 in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
• $100 Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria^® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad^® Hotels & Resorts properties when you book a 2 night minimum stay with your Card at HiltonHonorsAspireCard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page, or call Hilton Honors at 855-292-5757 with the proper booking reference.
• Hilton Honors Aspire Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
• $550 annual fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74%-28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The hotel also offers similar benefits for bookings through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts.

Ceiba Club

Starting January 10, 2027, the property will offer dedicated adults-only accommodations and areas for guests who book the Ceiba Club. All suites are part of the Ceiba Club. These guests will also have exclusive access to Autor, Ceiba Lounge, and Chiringuito Carbon.

A sampling of room rates for the lowest-priced Ceiba Club room found rates 11% to 19% higher than the equivalent standard room.

Location of Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya

The property is 40 miles from Tulum International Airport (TQO), a 60-minute drive, but guests are more likely to fly into Cancun International Airport (CUN), which is 60 miles away and a 75-minute drive. Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya shares a street entrance with Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort, and guests can use a buggy service to travel between the 2 resorts.

Lobby and Check-In

After a quick golf cart transfer from our stay at the Hilton Tulum next door, my friend and I arrived at a stunner of a lobby. The space was open and airy, with massive wood louvered doors, and the dark floor had alternating glossy and matte herringbone tiles that led to a reflecting pool. I loved the design aesthetic of the space.

Check-in desks were on each side of the lobby, and we were quickly greeted and offered a seat and a welcome drink in the unique platform sitting area. This level of personal touch, having the check-in process completed while we were seated and relaxed rather than standing at a desk, was much appreciated.

We arrived around 11 a.m. to meet a tour departure time, and our room was not ready. We left our bags with the bellman, and they were placed in our room by the time we returned.

Ocean View Guestroom With 2 Queen Beds

Our room was on the third floor of Casa 3, close to the main building. I immediately loved the room’s vibe, with dark tile floors, natural wood accents (including a live-edge headboard), plentiful artwork, and a gorgeous ocean view. The large flat-screen TV was mounted on a room partition, which provided some privacy for the vanity of the open-concept bathroom. A small nightstand between the beds had an alarm clock, a phone, lighting controls, standard AC outlets, and a USB-A input.

Beyond the beds, a large club chair and table were set across from a dining table with 2 chairs, where we found a welcome amenity: fresh fruit and juice. At the entrance to the room was a minibar area with a Nespresso machine, an electric kettle, bottled water, and glassware. Cabinets revealed a variety of snack mixes and a drink cooler with bottled water, Modelo beer, and Coke products. There were water-refilling stations throughout the property, as well.

The balcony was a stunner, with 2 chairs, a table, and a private tub for enjoying the view.

Bathroom

The reverse of the room partition, facing the vanity, had a mural of a jaguar with 2 towel hooks. The vanity was flanked by closets, with the shower to the left and a toilet room to the right. The amenities were a mix of Byredo Mojave Ghost and C.O. Bigelow. As 2 friends sharing a room, having the bathroom exposed to the bedroom made changing or using the toilet awkward.

The shower was expansive, with the gorgeous view as the focal point. It featured a rainfall showerhead, a handheld wand, and a stool. For privacy, you could close exterior shutters over the window.

Amenities

Beach and Pools

The private cove beach was small, and the water was calm. The beach received regular sargassum removal during my stay. Beach beds were available under palapas, and other loungers with umbrellas were set up.

Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards were available to use. Hammocks, in-water swings, and beach volleyball were also set up along the beach. A conservation area was cordoned off to protect turtle nests.

The property has 5 pools, highlighted by a stunning central pool with in-water loungers and nearby cabanas. The end of the pool features a firepit and a pair of hot tubs.

Other long infinity pools were in front of casas 3 and 6.

Ceiba Club

Ceiba Club has its own pool, which was under renovation during my stay. It also has a sandy area with loungers perched above the cove.

Conrad Spa Tulum

The spa offers a variety of massage, facial, and body services. We enjoyed the water ritual, with access to the sauna, steam room, plunge pools, and hydrotherapy pool.

Kid and Teen Activities

The kids club is for ages 4 to 12 and offers daily programming for crafts and games.

The separate teens corner has video games, air hockey, pool, and sports games.

Day Activities

Every day had a variety of scheduled activities, such as crafting workshops and games. I also enjoyed a walk on the Sacbe Trail through a small part of the jungle mangrove, where I stumbled upon coatis and agoutis.

Hot Tip:

You can read an online guide to the resort and find a schedule of daily events.

Fitness Center

The gym has standard treadmills and ellipticals, along with a spin cycle room, stretching tools, and upper- and lower-body weight machines. The hotel also offers daily bike tours and a schedule of fitness classes.

Entertainment

This is not the type of resort with a grand schedule of circus acts and impersonators, but there was a nightly DJ set and, occasionally, a Latin trio.

Nearby Excursions

The resort’s location puts you in the heart of many attractions, and an easy way to see them is to coordinate an excursion. My friend and I were booked on the Tulum Adventure with Aventuras Mayas ($134 per person), which visits the Tulum Archaeological Zone, a cenote, and a lagoon for snorkeling.

Hot Tip:

Eligible stays of 4 consecutive nights or longer may include 1 selected resort experience or destination excursion per stay, such as a cenote experience.

Accessibility

While the resort does have mobility-accessible rooms, those with mobility concerns may want to review the property layout before their stay. Golf carts can whisk guests around the property upon request, as most dining takes place in the main building.

When it came time to depart, we chose to wheel our bags from our room to the lobby. That was, until we reached the grand stairs leading from the pool level to the lobby. We could only locate an outdoor lift. Hopefully, the property will consider installing an upscale, full-size elevator between its lobby and restaurant levels in the future.

Food and Beverages

The Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya features 11 restaurants and bars, with 2 of these specifically for Ceiba Club guests starting in 2027.

Autor

Autor offers curated tasting menus that draw on the region’s flavors. At the time of my visit, the tasting menu was available for MX$2,850 (about $154), with wine pairing for MX$2,850. Starting in 2027, dining here will be included for Ceiba Club guests and an additional charge for all others.

Our tasting menu of over 10 courses started with a taste of the “family meal” typically shared by kitchen staff ahead of a shift: a sope with beans, cream, and cheese. The next courses featured seasonal fruit, tuna crudo with jicama, grilled corn, fried cheese, 2 interpretations of mole, totoaba fish, and short rib. Each course was accompanied by a detailed explanation of the ingredients and the rationale for choosing the dish.

A trio of dessert courses included cinnamon and walnut cake, chocolate treats, and a variety of sweet treats to finish.

Bottom Line:

The tasting menu was well-paced, and the serving sizes were never overwhelming.

Maratea

Maratea is a Mediterranean dinner restaurant with flavors that touch on North Africa, Greece, Italy, and the Middle East.

Breakfast is typically served as a buffet at Arbolea, but during my low-season visit, it was served at Maratea.

There was a small counter buffet with charcuterie, cheeses, cereals, and fruit. Guests could also order from an à la carte menu that included pancakes, coconut French toast, chia pudding, smoked salmon bagel, classic molletes, chilaquiles, enchiladas suizas, avocado toast, and eggs.

Dinner at Maratea started with a unique bread service: Parmesan was shaved from a wheel and added to a dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. We filled our table with starters, including salmon carpaccio, beef tartare, tuna crudo, burrata, and Galician-style octopus. We barely had room for our entrees: lamb tagine and langoustine risotto. Service was excellent, and we enjoyed seeing our servers from the previous night at Autor.

Ultramar

Ultramar offers a menu of all-day bites and was a relaxing alfresco destination for lunch. We enjoyed a plate of sustainable catch tiradito, guacamole, ceviche, and tacos.

Chaak Bar

Chaak Bar opened late afternoon into evening and was a destination for live sports and relaxing. The activities team also hosted agave-tasting events here.

Cafetal

Cafetal is an all-day cafe that serves coffee, juices, prepared sandwiches, baked goods, and ice cream.

Other Dining Options

• Arbolea is the primary breakfast buffet restaurant, though breakfast was served à la carte at Maratea during my visit.
• Chiringuitos Carbon, Crudo, and Leña serve alfresco drinks and snacks but were closed during my visit. Carbon will be for Ceiba Club guests only starting in 2027.
• Kengai is a Japanese izakaya and teppanyaki dinner restaurant.
• Ukai is a sushi dinner restaurant.
• In-room dining is also available.

Service

The representative who checked us in was extremely friendly and personable, and that’s how I found most of the employees I interacted with throughout my stay. I also appreciated the small service touches, like this Conrad cord wrap that housekeeping left after turndown service.

Final Thoughts

Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya‘s transition to an all-inclusive concept elevates the luxury brand in the area’s crowded all-inclusive space. It delivers what guests to the area are after: the convenience of having food and beverages included in a stay, while meeting the high-end expectations Conrad is known for.

In just a few months, Ceiba Club will debut as an adults-only resort-within-a-resort with exclusive access to dining and amenities. That said, the property still has multigenerational appeal, with activities and tastes to suit the entire family.