Review of Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort: What To Know Before Booking

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

Although the convenience of an all-inclusive property is hard to beat, the challenge for resorts is often delivering an amazing room, excellent dining, and quality amenities to go with that all-in-one-place ease.

I explored Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort, a beachfront property in the lush mangrove jungles of Tulum, Mexico, with a friend in September 2026. Would the resort be a great choice for a girls trip or better suited for a family vacation? The answer might surprise you!

Booking Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort

Cash rates at Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort are as low as $410 with taxes and fees in the off-season and run as high as $800 in high season (late November to February). The daily rate includes all meals, drinks, snacks, and a stocked minibar.

Standard room rates are often available from approximately 100,000 Hilton Honors Points per night, though redemption rates vary by date. That said, this resort is an ideal candidate to use a Free Night Reward certificate with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The property is also eligible to redeem the card’s up to $200 in resort statement credits (semi-annually, up to $400 back per year) on eligible purchases.

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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

I stayed in an Enclave Ocean View – 2 Queen Beds room, where rates are about 30% to 70% higher than a standard room, depending on dates. Enclave benefits include preferred room locations, Enclave Concierge access for private check-in and checkout, an upgraded minibar, a souvenir beach bag and welcome amenity, access to an exclusive pool area, and access to an exclusive dining venue (Chiringuito Cocomar).

Hot Tip:

Guests who book directly through Hilton can earn Hilton Honors Points on eligible stays, access member-exclusive pricing, use Points & Money redemptions, and enjoy the benefits associated with their Hilton Honors status.

Location of Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort

The resort is about 60 miles from Cancun International Airport (CUN) and 40 miles from Tulum International Airport (TQO). Driving distances from each airport are roughly the same (75 minutes vs. 60 minutes), so let the best flight deal be your guide.

The resort is somewhat isolated with its sister property, Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya, an All-Inclusive Experience. The streetfront entry is the same for both resorts, and guests can use a golf cart to travel between the 2.

Check-In

Guests check in at the open-air lobby after receiving a mezcal- or tequila-based welcome drink. Enclave guests are escorted to a smaller reception area 1 level down to check in.

Enclave Ocean View – 2 Queen Beds

My Enclave Ocean View room with 2 queen beds, room 1309, was located in Casa 1, closest to the main building. Upon entering the room, I was met with an open-concept bathroom, which I find receives mixed reviews depending on your travel partner. My friend and I were immediately thinking through how to manage privacy in such an open space.

The bathroom’s open shelving system featured the minibar, snacks, Nespresso machine, and a closet with robes and slippers. The side facing the beds had shelving and a safe.

We found the open shelf between the beds and the bathroom a bit awkward when showering, so we placed a towel over the opening to create more privacy.

The vanity had a single sink, and the toilet and shower were in separate cubicles with frosted glass. The shower featured only a rainfall showerhead (no handheld wand) and included bath amenities from Persea, a Mexican company.

The beds were firm and comfortable, with feather pillows. Between the beds was a nightstand with a wireless-charging-capable alarm clock, and the wall panel featured a USB-A charging port and standard outlets.

Across from the bed was a padded wooden bench with shoe storage, a large flat-screen TV, and a marble dining table with 2 dining chairs. These were the only chairs in the room, so this became the work and lounge area.

The Enclave welcome amenities included a burlap beach bag, a beach towel, and chocolate treats.

The balcony featured a view of the 2 Enclave pools, Cocomar, and the bay beyond.

Unfortunately, the water view was somewhat obstructed by palm trees, and the balcony was noisy because of the air-conditioning systems atop Cocomar.

Hot Tip:

Guests can wait for a golf cart at the entrance to each Casa building to transfer to various parts of the resort, but the Enclave rooms in Casa 1 are as close as you can get to the main building, just a few steps away.

Food and Beverages

Guests can choose from 13 food and beverage outlets. During my September visit, not all venues were open every day (the schedule is available here).

Breakfast was available at Cocomar, Maxal, and Vela Norte (buffet) during my stay, but Vela Sur (buffet) also rotates in as an option. Lunch was served at La Churreria, Cocomar, Lobby Bar, Pool Bar, Seasalt, Vela Norte (buffet), and Vela Sur (small street food station). Vela Sur 360, a bar near Vela Sur, was also open for drinks during the day.

Dinner was available at Cocomar or Lobby Bar without a reservation, and at Auma (steakhouse), La Luce (Italian), Maxal Mexican Chop House, and Noriku (Asian) with a reservation. Room service and grab-and-go dining at Azulinda Cafe were available 24/7.

Vela Norte

I ate at the Vela Norte buffet both mornings of my stay. The windows were temporarily covered due to construction.

Cold items included fruits, baked goods, charcuterie, cheeses, smoked and raw fish, a juice bar, a salad bar, and a mimosa bar.

Hot items included a made-to-order egg station, prepared eggs, griddled items such as pancakes and French toast, breakfast meats, and savory dishes such as picadillo, ropa vieja, and chicken tinga.

Lunch had a live tacos al pastor station, sushi, poke bowls, hot dishes like pork guisado and Veracruz-style fish, pizza, charcuterie, and desserts.

Maxal

I had asked the man who checked us in at the Enclave desk for his favorite restaurant, and he said Maxal without hesitation, so we made reservations there for our first dinner.

We enjoyed small bites to start, including the tuna tostada, braised bone marrow, and pibil duck tacos. For entrees, I had the tender beef short rib with borracha sauce, and my friend had the catch of the day over plantain puree. We finished with a dessert pairing of cheesecake and pineapple tart.

Auma

The next night, we had dinner at Auma, the steakhouse. We went heavy on starters, with beef carpaccio, charred carrots, shrimp cocktail, grilled octopus, and French onion soup. The carpaccio was so delicious that we ordered another round.

For mains, we both had the tenderloin, and we finished with a brownie with ice cream.

Cocomar

Cocomar is exclusively for Enclave guests and offered a much calmer vibe than Seasalt. We enjoyed a late seafood lunch here, with an emphasis on aguachile, octopus, and shrimp.

Seasalt

This casual outdoor spot was busy for lunch on our first day, so we returned to Seasalt the next day to lighter crowds and ordered a trio of ceviches and aguachile, scallop tacos, and grilled shrimp.

Azulinda Cafe

Azulinda Cafe was under renovation and had been temporarily relocated to the former Enclave Lounge. This space was open 24/7 and featured grab-and-go snacks, fruit, pastries, and coffee. Ice cream, prepared sandwiches, and coffee could be ordered.

Activities

Beach and Pools

There was 1 primary beach area set up for entering the water. The main seating area was set up near the main building, with a separate section for Enclave guests near Casa 1. The loungers were identical. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards could also be checked out from this area.

Near the main pools were additional loungers and beach beds on the sand, though you could not enter the water from this area.

The resort has 9 pools, including 2 for Enclave guests. Pools have plenty of seating and shade, including padded beds.

The family pool had a splash park with a slide structure. This pool had a rougher texture than the other pools, which I presume is meant to reduce slipping and falls, but I would advise kids to wear water shoes if they have tender feet.

Kids Activities

Next to the family pool was a ninja-style outdoor play structure with swings and netted obstacles.

The nearby kids club for ages 4 to 12 had a daily schedule that included activities such as water time, cupcake decoration, karaoke, and arts and crafts.

The separate teen club had air hockey, foosball, ping-pong, and a gaming zone with XBOX (a schedule of activities is here).

Day Activities

Kids aren’t the only ones who can enjoy a little fun in their day. A schedule of activities for adults includes bike tours, fitness classes, beach volleyball, dance lessons, crafts, and pool games.

Fitness Center

The gym had a variety of treadmills, stationary bikes, ellipticals, and strength-training equipment.

Hot Tip:

Spa services are available at the Conrad Spa Tulum, located between the Hilton and Conrad properties.

Entertainment

Nightly entertainment featured DJs, singers, dancers, and even a Michael Jackson impersonator.

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 lagoon snorkeling.

Tulum Archaeological Zone

Chichen Itza is about 2 1/2 hours from Tulum, yet similarly fascinating ruins are less than a 20-minute drive from the hotel. These walled Mayan ruins overlook the sea and served a different sacrificial purpose than those at Chichen Itza, which we learned all about on our guided tour. The remnants of various buildings and temples were easy to navigate and very picturesque.

Cenote Estrella

Our tour next visited a cenote, a natural cavern filled with water. The cave was filled with stalagmites and stalactites, with bats racing back and forth. Guests were suited up with snorkel masks and lifejackets and explored from one side of the cenote to the other, seeing the various fish species.

Yal-Ku Lagoon

The tour ended at a brackish lagoon, with calm snorkeling to see various tropical fish. We had the entire area to ourselves, and it was a lovely way to end the day.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed my stay at Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort and found it ideal for both adults and families with kids. As Hilton’s largest resort in the Caribbean and Latin America region, there was plenty of space without feeling crowded.

The Enclave room category delivered a premium location with exclusive pool, beach, and dining services, which would come in clutch during busier seasons. I liked how easy it was to walk to the main building for dinner and activities. An entire stretch of the property was dedicated to families, with the family pool, play structure, and kid and teen clubs all near each other — and right next to a buffet restaurant, bar, and churro stand!