RIU Hotels and Resorts is temporarily closing two of its Palace brand hotels on Mexico’s Caribbean coast as part of an extensive renovation in the region.
The company confirmed the planned closures of Cancun’s Riu Palace Peninsula and Playa del Carmen’s Riu Palace Mexico this year, with each resort scheduled to undergo extensive upgrades before reopening later this year.
This comes after Riu opened its highly anticipated new resort, Riu Ventura, in Cancun.
Rio Palace Peninsula, Cancun
Riu Palace Peninsula, located in Cancun Hotel Zone, will be closed starting April 6 for renovations. The beachfront all-inclusive hotel is scheduled to reopen on July 25, 2026.
One of RIU’s established addresses in Cancun, the resort features more than 500 rooms and suites, several swimming pools and a variety of restaurants. On-site restaurants include fusion cuisine at Krystal, Japanese cuisine at Kabuki, Mexican specialties at Tamales, a steakhouse, a buffet restaurant and a 24-hour lounge. Bars are spread throughout the property, from the lobby area to the pool area.
RIU has not publicly detailed the full extent of the work, but the temporary closure marks a comprehensive refurbishment of guest rooms and public spaces as the brand continues to update its Mexican Caribbean portfolio.
Rio Palace Mexico, Playa del Carmen
Riu Palace Mexico, located south of the Playacar neighborhood in Playa del Carmen, will also be closed for renovations from May 4, 2026. The property is scheduled to reopen on September 5, 2026.
The beachfront all-inclusive hotel has long operated as a family-friendly resort within the gated community of Playacar. Upon reopening, the hotel will transition to an adults-only concept, bringing a noticeable change to the hotel’s location.
The resort now features several specialty restaurants, several swimming pools, and direct access to Playacar’s white sand beaches. The relaunch as an adults-only hotel will align more closely with RIU’s couple-focused hotels in the region.
The dual closures highlight RIU’s continued investment in the Mexican Caribbean region. Existing resorts undergo regular renovations to remain competitive in the high-density all-inclusive markets of Cancun and Playa del Carmen.
