Where to stay and what to do on your trip to Cancun Mexico! The Excellence Riviera Maya Cancun should definitely be on the top of your list of places to stay.
Riviera Maya Cancun
For my husband’s 30th birthday I gave him a Surprise Vacation to the Riviera Maya Cancun. Today I am sharing with you all the details of our trip and all the reasons why you should plan a trip too!
Cancun All Inclusive Resorts
Doing an online search for Cancun all inclusive resorts can be seriously overwhelming! There are plenty of places that boast the best private beaches, the best entertainment and the friendliest staff. Our favorite Cancun resort is The Excellence Riviera Maya. Like the reviews say, it really is the best all-inclusive resort.
This trip was the second time we’ve vacationed at The Excellence Riviera Cancun in two years, and it is to-die-for! In fact, I was having SUCH a good time, I didn’t get very many pictures of the resort. BUT… no fear – I still have some great info. I’ll show you some pictures from their website of what is waiting for you if you decide to travel to Mexico.
P.S. I am in no way affiliated with The Excellence resort. I’m just an average gal that needed a Vay-Cay, and chose to review this all-inclusive resort for you all.
This is us! I had to snap a pic as soon as we arrived so I could document the super fun shirts that I had made for the big event! Haha!
The Excellence Riviera Cancun
Let me tell you more about the resort. The service, the rooms, the beach, the food, the entertainment… I rate this 5 out of 5 stars, and would rate it higher if I could.
The service. I could go on and on about the service. We NEVER met anyone impolite, or rude. Every staff member treated us like “gold,” and went above and beyond to make us happy.
The Entertainment. At The Excellence, there’s entertainment EVERY NIGHT at their outdoor theater. The warm, beachy breeze flows right through and it is always a good time. Our favorite show this trip was the magic/comedy show. It was hilarious and so much fun.
On our way back from dinner one night, we were passing by the theater and caught the last part of a cool circus show. I wish we would have been able to see the whole thing because it was super entertaining. (Maybe another reason to go back???)
And did I mention all the shows are totally FREE? Everything is included in your stay – no reservations needed. Even though all the seats are awesome, they are first come, first serve, so plan accordingly.
Other Caribbean Travel Guides
- Things To Do In Costa Maya, Mexico
- Best Things To Do In Roatan, Honduras
- Fun Things To Do In The Cayman Islands
More Helpful Info – Excellence Riviera Cancun
- Of course it’s all inclusive, so you can get any amount of food/drinks you want, for the entire stay. And they really have a large variety of selections. You should really try my favorite mocktail – the Dirty Monkey.
- They offer free internet all over the resort. {Not in just a little lobby area} You can access it from your room or sitting by the pool.
- The rooms are super clean and they visit your room every day and tidy up and restock the mini fridge and bar with drinks and snacks. If you stay out too late the night before and want to sleep all day, just put the “Do Not Disturb,” sign on your door. Them, when you go out for the evening, slip the “Housekeeping,” sign in your door.
- I visited the spa both times I’ve stayed here. Each time has been outstanding. Spend an hour in the water circuit before your spa treatment, and feel like a million bucks when you leave.
Looking for the Perfect Cancun Restaurant?
The Excellence has a ton of restaurants to choose from, and they are ALL delicious. We frequented The Lobster House often, just because the food was so amazing and the workers were so incredibly nice.
Another BIG reason I prefer the Excellence Riviera resort over others – NONE of their restaurants require reservations. Nothing is more frustrating than a resort restaurant telling me to reserve a table the day before I want to dine there. What if I’m not in the mood the next day for sushi, or steak? Maybe I want a pizza at the Italian restaurant. At The Excellence, you can decide where you want to go at the last minute. Perfect.
Top 5 Things To Do In Cancun
Explore ancient ruins, snorkel by coral reefs, swim with dolphins, play a round of golf on a championship course. Or do nothing and still have the time of your life! We literally hung out by the pool almost every day. But let me share with you a list of fun things to do in Cancun if you want to venture out!
1. Cancun Fishing
There is nothing like deep-sea fishing in Cancun! Known for their prime fishing grounds, Cancun fishing excursions provide you with your fishing license, all necessary fishing gear + an experienced crew that will assist you in reeling in marlin, tuna and mahi-mahi.
2. Swim With Dolphins Cancun
Head to Isla Mujeres and swim with dolphins in the Caribbean Sea – not a pool or an aquarium! While many excursions only allow you to pet the dolphins in waist high water, the Dolphin Royal Swim is the only dolphin excursion where two dolphins will lift you out of the water!
3. Golf in Cancun
The Riviera Maya is fast becoming a premier destination for golfers. Take advantage of access to 4 prestigious golf courses – The Moon Palace, Playacar Golf Club, Mayakoba Golf Club and Play Mujeres Golf Club. More details HERE.
4. Cancun Ruins
You can’t go to Cancun and not explore the amazing Mayan ruins! A day trip to the sites of this ancient civilization might be the highlight of your trip to Mexico.
- CHICHEN ITZA was voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World and is one of the most visited archeological sites in Mexico.
- COBA is home of the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan and one of the few that the public is allowed to climb. Definitely make your way up its 120 steps – the view from the top of the jungle is spectacular!
- TULUM is an ancient fortress city along one of the prettiest beaches in the Mayan Riviera. The structures sit on the edge of a cliff and the views of the sea are amazing!
5. Xplor Adventure Park Cancun
Zip line over the Mayan jungle, swim and raft in underground rivers, paddle with your hands aboard rafts, walk in ancient caverns and caves, ride amphibious vehicles… do I have your attention yet??? Xplor adventure park in Riviera Maya is a unique underground world for adventure junkies. Details HERE
Disclaimer – We are in no way affiliated with any of the companies linked above, nor are we getting paid to feature them.
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Ok I better quit. Seriously. I could go on and on. I know I’ve probably missed a ton of great points and things that you should know, but if you have any questions, leave us a comment in the section below and I’ll do my best to answer!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR – Jessica is a creative mom of two boys and author of the site Fantabulosity! Jessica was the Travel Contributor on Somewhat Simple in 2014. Visit Fantabulosity for recipes, fashion, party ideas, home decor and organization tips, and encouraging stories + videos about real life!
We are going on our honeymoon here in December, I’d love any additional recommendations or tips you have. We can’t wait!
We are possibly thinking about going to the Riviera Maya for our honeymoon in the winter. We haven’t ever really done a vacation or anything and want a place that speaks some English, has good food choices, all-inclusive, nice suits, and a list of activities to do and things to see while we are there for a week. Caves, zip line, ATV or jungle type tours, entertainment, and relaxation… any recommendations if we do decide to go to the Riviera Maya?
Thanks
Hi Jessica!
My husband and I are planning a trip to cancun in November and our seriously considering the Excellence because of your post. I wanted to ask for any more tips you may have on upgrades and how to save money? Thanks so much!
Hi Sarena! That is excellent! (No pun intended, ha!) I will be sending you an email shortly with some tips and tricks! Thanks for letting me know! In the meantime, check out the other post that I did about this resort on my blog: http://fantabulosity.com/big-30th-birthday-surprise/
love your birthday t shirts. so cute. have never gone to riviera maya, but i’d like to!
Thank you! Oh gosh, I sure hope you get a chance to go some time. It is truly paradise! Unbelievable! Thank you so much for coming by and checking it out! 🙂
I need a vacation! For reals, this is very tempting!!!
If you decide to go, let me know!!! My head is FULL of things about this resort! You need a vay-cay!
Looks amazing!
It totally is! Well… I’m not actually sure “amazing,” is even a good enough word! 🙂