After a full refurbishment, Riu Hotels & Resorts reopened its Riu Caribe hotel in Cancun on June 29. The all-inclusive resort, located next to the newly opened Riu Palace Peninsula, was renovated in several phases, with the final stage including the lobby, gardens, pools, bars and theater. The total amount invested in the project was $12 million.
The hotel has 506 fully renovated rooms which now offer flat-screen TVs, laptop-size electronic safes and wireless Internet access in addition to new furniture and linen. The bathrooms have also been renovated to incorporate the new look now featured in all Riu hotels, including a shower cabin to replace the tub. The new lobby bars offer a terrace and space for live musical performances. In addition, the hotel also has a new lounge bar and a new indoor theater.
A new pool brings the property’s total number of swimming pools to three, including one with a swim-up bar and another with a children’s play area that compliments the resort’s RiuLand kids club and playground. Other features of the newly renovated resort include a buffet, pizzeria and three a la carte restaurants; a Renova Spa complete with fitness center, sauna and Jacuzzi, two tennis courts, table tennis, beach volleyball and rifle shooting; as well as water activities such as windsurfing, catamaran, kayaking, body boarding and snorkeling.
All-Inclusive entertainment/nightlife
- Daily entertainment and activities program
- Riu Evening Program shows, or live music and dance including Caribbean Night
- Use of game room and video-game consoles
All-Inclusive activities and equipment
Water sports
- Windsurfers
- Snorkeling gear
- Sailboats
- Kayaks
- Body boards
- One scuba-diving lesson in diving tank
- Use of swimming pool/scuba diving tank/spa tub/lounge chairs/towel service
Land sports
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Ping-pong
- Aerobics
- Paddle court
- Use of fitness center/sauna/steam bath
- Not included: On-site bicycle rentals
Classes/instruction
- Aerobics
- Introductory scuba-diving lesson
- Spanish
- Salsa
- Not included: Scuba-diving courses/certification
All-Inclusive children’s activities
A Kids’ Club provides supervised daily programs for children 4–12 year with activities including:
- Beach and pool games and contests
- Face painting >
- Arts and crafts
- Sand-castle building
- Use of children’s section of pool
- Use of playground
- Use of children’s air-conditioned clubhouse
What to expect: The Riu Caribe All Inclusive caters to both families and couples, with the latter divided between young and middle-aged adults. While activities run day and night, guests use the long beach and expansive pool deck for rest and relaxation. A large atrium lobby has a lounge that is often lively from after lunch until midnight.
Amenity highlights: Two bridges cross the long pool, which also features a children's section and shallow areas for lounge chairs. The beach is powdery white sand, washed by the turquoise Caribbean, and the resort’s north or bay side of Cancún Island means the water is usually calm. Thatch palapas and palm trees provide shade on the beach and by the pool.
Insider tip: Nichupté Lagoon, a vast, placid body of water separating Cancún Island from the mainland, lies just across the boulevard fronting the resort. The resort's upper-floor corridors are popular spots for sunset photography of the lagoon and its mangrove forests.
Property Amenities
The majority of amenities, activities, and gratuities at the Riu Caribe are included in the room rate; guests will not be charged extra for the majority of amenities and activities (scroll up to the All-Inclusive Details section for more information).
A health spa provides various massage techniques, including shiatsu, Swedish, and aromatherapy; reflexology; body treatments, facials; waxing; and Roman baths for one person or two (surcharges for all spa services and treatments). The spa includes men's and women's saunas and steam rooms and features a relaxation lounge with a 10-person spa tub. Poolside and beachside massage are also available (surcharge). An air-conditioned fitness center contains cardio and weight machines in addition to free weights. A salon offers hair and nail care, and a hair-braiding station is next to the pool (surcharges for all services).
An Internet center contains several computers with internet (surcharge). A 24-hour lounge contains a self-service bar, snacks, pool and game tables, a television, and video games (surcharge for video games). Other video game consoles as well as a pool table are located in the lobby. Guests of this all-inclusive Cancun resort can leave children age 4–12 in a supervised, air-conditioned kids' clubhouse with a shaded playground.
Activities and entertainment include after-dark shows produced by the staff in an open-air theater with amphitheater seating under canvas roofs; Spanish and salsa lessons; poolside fashion shows; beach soccer and volleyball; and pool volleyball.
Local artisans, including a cigar roller, occasionally set up tables on the marble floors of the four-story-atrium lobby so that guests can browse and shop. Also in the lobby are gardens, a parakeet cage, games area, and expansive lounge. A shop off the lobby sells gifts, clothing, snacks, and sundries. The resort purifies its water.
* Swimming pool - outdoor
* Poolside bar
* Swim-up bar
* Swimming pool - children's
* Full-service health spa
* Massage - treatment room(s)
* Spa tub
* Steam room
* Sauna
* Billiards
* Fitness equipment
* Pool table
* Restaurant(s) in hotel
* Bar/lounge
* Parking (free)
* Parking garage
* Parking (secure)
* Limo or Town Car service available
* Banquet facilities
* Meeting rooms (small groups)
* Ballroom(s)
* Conference room(s)
* Event catering
* Audio-visual equipment
* Number of rooms: 505
* 24-hour front desk
* Security guard
* Multilingual staff
* Currency exchange
* Beauty services
* Babysitting or child care
* Tour assistance
* Hair salon
* Gift shops or newsstand
* Shopping on site
* Children's club
* Dry cleaning service
* Laundry facilities
* Arcade/game room
* Television in lobby
* Elevator/lift
* Number of floors: 10
* Supervised child care/activities
* Wedding services
Rooms
The majority of amenities, activities, and gratuities at this Cancun resort are included in the room rate; guests will not be charged extra for the majority of amenities and activities (scroll up to the All-Inclusive Details section for more information).
* Cable/satellite TV
* Balcony
* Ceiling fan
* Air conditioning
* Climate control
* Blackout drapes/curtains
* Direct-dial phone
* Bottled water in room (complimentary)
* Minibar
* Wake-up calls
* Housekeeping (daily)
* Extra towels/bedding on request
* Complimentary toiletries
* Hair dryer
* Shower/tub combination
* Child care (in room, surcharge)
* Electronic/magnetic keys
* Television - Satellite service
* Iron/ironing board on request
* In-room safe
* Television
* Window opens
* Clock radio
* Desk
* Rollaway beds on request
* Cribs (infant beds) available on request
Dining
The majority of meals and beverages, plus all gratuities, at the following restaurants, snack spots, and bars are included in the room rate for this resort (scroll up to the All-Inclusive Details section for more information).
Albatros - Located in the center of the complex. Glass-walled, sea-view restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets. International cuisine.
Gaviotas - Casual, open-air, beachfront restaurant/bar under soaring thatch roof. Lunch buffet. Afternoon snacks. A la carte dinner. Dinner reservations required. Dress code: long pants for men.
Shangri-la Restaurant: Japanese food, buffet for dinner.
Sample menu for Gaviotas
Appetizers:
- Salad Bar
- Soup of the day
- Surf and Turf
- Seafood Zazuela
- Boguinet with Lemon Sauce
- Beverages:
- Sodas
- Wine
- Beer
- Desserts:
- Sweet buffet bar selections
Maria Margarita - Air-conditioned, linen-service restaurant featuring colonial decor, pool-view glass wall, Mexican cuisine. Dinner only. Reservations required. Dress code: long pants for men.
Pizzeria - Open-air spot above beach serving pizza and drinks.
Lobby Bar - Open from mid-morning to midnight, with outdoor terrace. Live music on occasional evenings.
Swim-up bar - Open from late morning.
Theater bar - Near the beach, this bar offers refreshments during evening theatre performances.
Snack bar
Sample menu for Maria Margarita
Appetizers:
- Salad bar
- Soup of the day
- Main courses:
- Grilled Top Sirloin
- Half-chicken with Mustard
- BBQ Smoked Ribs
- Beverages:
- Sodas
- Wine
- Beer
- Desserts:
- Baked Alaska flambé
Recreation
The majority of recreational activities and facilities described below are included in the room rate for this resort (scroll up to the All-Inclusive details section for more information).
Two tennis courts plus kayaks, small sailboats, and snorkeling gear are available along with an introductory scuba diving lesson in the resort's dive tank. Jet Skiing and parasailing are available on the beach (surcharges for both). Also available are snorkeling trips and beginner and certified diver packages that include reef, wall, and/or cave dives (surcharges for all).
Cancún has two 18-hole golf courses—Cancún Golf Club, 2 km (a mile) away, and Hilton Cancún Golf Club, 11.5 km (7 miles) away.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or near the hotel; fees may apply.
* Golfing nearby
* Snorkeling on site
* Surfing/boogie boarding nearby
* Swimming on site
* Sailing on site
* Personal watercraft on site
* Windsurfing on site
* Boat launch nearby
* Volleyball on site
* Aerobics on site
* Scooter/Moped Rentals nearby
* Parasailing on site
* Helicopter/airplane sightseeing nearby
* Horse riding/rental nearby
* Fishing nearby
* Playground on site
