NIZUC Resort and Spa Is the All-Inclusive Dream Vacation You Deserve

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Cancun, Mexico might be known for its spring break parties, but it has a more grown-up side as well. Tucked away in a dreamy cove with crystal blue water—yet only a short drive from the airport—is NIZUC Resort and Spa. This hotel is perfect for anyone who wants to relax, forget about the outside world, have Instagram-worthy vacation pictures and feast on some of the best food a resort can offer. 

Parade was invited to attend an exclusive weekend event celebrating NIZUC’s 10-year anniversary. After staying at the resort, it's no surprise that NIZUC has been thriving for a decade, and they'll be sure to celebrate many more major milestones.

Their staff is attentive, greeting you with a fist over their heart and a smile, but they are not overbearing. They seem to appear when your drink is empty, yet when you're enjoying the sunset by the water, you feel like you have a private beach.

At their anniversary gala, they honored a current employee who has been working at NIZUC since day one. As travelers become more conscious of where their tourism dollars go, it was refreshing to see that this was a place that treated its staff so well that they would want to stay on staff for a decade.

Review of NIZUC Resort and Spa

The whole stay was rather dreamy and exactly what an overworked mom like myself needed. Even when it rained a bit, I took advantage of the couch on the balcony and drifted off listening to the rain pitter-patter on the trees and reflection pool below.

Every inch of the resort looks like the cover of an interior design magazine. Even the bathrooms were gorgeous and featured the NIZUC scent (yes, the resort has its own scent thanks to Aromaria interior fragrances and yes, you can get a candle of it).

The pools were large and overlooked the ocean. I got up at 7 a.m. on the morning of my return flight just to dip in the pool and soak in the view one last time. It was so worth it.

Want to know more? Read on below for the nitty-gritty details on what to expect when you book your stay.

Where It's Located

NIZUC is nestled in a secluded enclave of Punta Nizuc with swimmable beaches and gorgeous mangroves. (Fun fact: Punta Nizuc means “nose of the dog” in Mayan, which is why the logo is a Mayan-stylized dog.)

It’s conveniently located 15 minutes from the Cancun Airport, so you can get started on your vacation shortly after landing. They have a 29-acre property filled with amenities and gorgeous views. The beaches are accessible off the ocean suites. Near some of the residence suites and private villas, there is lush tropical greenery. (They also have golf carts to escort you to wherever you need to go on the grounds.)

Cost Per Night

Rates at NIZUC start at $700/night.

They also feature various deals on their site. Right now through December 19, you can get your third night free. If you stay for a week or more, you can get up to 35% off. They also have a Thanksgiving package that definitely beats getting snowed in at Grandma’s house.

Cuisine

The resort is home to “six world-class restaurants.” I was able to go to four of them during my stay and they didn’t disappoint.

Café De La Playa is a gourmet la carte breakfast. (While this was the weakest of the restaurants for me, personally, it's more of a commentary on how truly incredible the other restaurants were.) They had everything from French pastries (still thinking about the Tarte Tropézienne) to chilaquiles to typical American breakfast fare like eggs and sausage. All of those options upon waking up after a sun-soaked day was pure luxury.

Ni is a Peruvian fusion restaurant specializing in tapas and ceviches. Our group at lunch oohed and ahhed at each other’s plates and proceeded to scarf down food faster than any group meal I’ve seen. We shared a ceviche and had to order another one because it was incredibly fresh and gone within minutes. They have homemade plantain chips to scoop with and yes, they are worth their own mention and yes, we did order more of them as well. I got the grilled octopus anticucho, which was prepared perfectly.

Terra Nostra is a little more upscale than the other restaurants I went to. It mirrors an Italian beach club with its sophisticated atmosphere and infinity pool overlooking lush views. They specialized in homemade pastas and wood-oven creations with “the freshest seasonal ingredients.” We did a specially prepared six-course meal that had an incredible wine pairing. While what we had was unique to us, I feel like I can confidently recommend anything on the menu based on how divine it all was.

La Punta Grill & Lounge was my favorite. Now, could my judgment be blinded by the fact this restaurant is open air overlooking the adult infinity pool and the ocean? Yeah, probably. It’s designed to feel like “you're transported to Hemingway’s luxurious island estate.” But it also had some of the best food I had all weekend.

I went twice because I knew I needed to devour more of the menu. The first time, I split the fish and steak tacos with my husband (the real reason I brought him) and we got some guacamole and ceviche. The steak tacos blew my mind. So, of course, we split a tuna steak and rib eye the following day. It was a heavenly experience that I hope to one day recreate.

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Amenities

The resort has several water sports rentals that are included in your stay. We did some paddleboarding and saw several sea creatures while enjoying the sunset.

They have fitness classes (some for an additional cost), mind and body experiences, sushi classes, a tequila journey, two pools for adults, tennis, live music, cigar rolling, private dinners and more. 

Around the resort, you’ll find sunscreen for you to apply in case you forget yours, books to borrow and bug spray. (It does get a little buggy near the greener parts of NIZUC, so I do suggest using it!) I forgot one night and got bit but I was fine once I used their spray.

Spa Details

NIZUC has the first ESPA-branded spa in the Mexican Caribbean. The spa offers everything you can think of (and more). The architecture and style match the rest of the resort's sleek design with some added relaxation aspects. Upon entering the spa, there are pools of water with fish swimming listlessly without a care. Your tension starts to melt away watching them.

While staying at NIZUC, I was able to experience the hydrotherapy circuit which lets you experience all the elements in an “invigorating range of temperatures.” Really, it’s 60 minutes of going to different spa rooms (a sauna, steam room, showers, cold plunge, and pool with hydro-massages) which will leave you feeling renewed. I ended my spa experience with a massage and a dip in their spa pool.

I’m not sure how I ever left this place.

Who Should Visit?

The dreamy landscape and romantic atmosphere lends itself perfectly to all types of couples. I visited with my husband and we both agreed this trip was better than our honeymoon. You can really find your own place to wander off just the two of you. 

But NIZUC offers enough opportunities for those who want to mix and mingle as well. So a girls' trip or a chill bachelor party would also fit in well here. 

The resort also has many amenities for families with young kids and dogs (they can’t be named after a dog snoot and not cater to canines, after all!). They have a kids' club with scheduled activities and a kids' pool that is perfect for young children.

I do think that if your children are over ten or so, you might have a harder time finding something for them to do and you might be better off making it a parent escape. (After all, you deserve it.)

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