Hotel Review: Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection
Pressing the reset button in the Riviera Maya
Looking back, our trip to Etereo arrived at a time that allowed me to take a deep breath during a season when I could not seem to come up for air. I was 7 months pregnant with our second daughter and had spent the first 5.5 months of pregnancy getting sick 3+ times a day. I was finally in a place where I was feeling a bit more normal. I had also had such a circus going on at work that my mind was not a very sane place to be, and I needed to press the reset button in a big way — without Outlook or Slack notifications exploding my phone.
Arriving in the paradise that is Etereo was exactly what I needed. This trip was designed to be our last getaway as a family of three before baby sister’s arrival, and our plan was to never leave once we arrived at the resort. Spoiler alert: mission accomplished.
Our daughter was so excited to see the beach when we arrived that we rushed down for the last hour and a half of light before the sun when down. She happily plopped in the sand to make “sand angels” and ran into the water with her bucket dumping and refilling over and over again. Watching her joy and seeing the beautiful water were an instant exhale.
From that arrival moment, our stay was picture-perfect and we rinsed and repeated the exact same schedule each day:
7:00 am: Coffee from the Chu Chu coffee cart before my husband and daughter were awake. I brought my coffee to a pool lounger and watched the sun come up solo. My version of heaven.
8:00 am: Breakfast at Itzam (and dare I say it, the best hotel breakfast I’ve ever had?)
9:00 am: Arrival to the beach, lots of time in the sand + water, and a mid-morning homemade popsicle
11:30 am: Pool by mid-day for swimming and a poolside lunch (the fish tacos were out of this world)
2:00 pm: Patio time for reading, napping and afternoon cocktails while our daughter was napping
6:00 pm: Early dinners at Che Che and Itzam, lots of wondering around all of the magnificent areas of the property after dinner
I’ve now had the privilege (and it certainly is one) of staying at several Auberge properties, and it is hard to describe my level of fangirl enthusiasm for the experience and style of hospitality they provide. When you reach the ultra-luxury category that this type of property falls under, you inevitably have high expectations for differentiated experiences — and they manage to nail it every time.
Instead of a copy-and-paste experience that can become predictable with some other 5-star brands, Auberge carries their signature style but applies so many touches that are specific to the place, making you feel like you are in a perfectly designed luxury home. Extra-spacious rooms and verandas, rain showers, plunge pools, décor made from local materials, local specialties on the restaurant menu, and even local customs (in this case Mayan traditions) all add up to something you know you can’t get anywhere else.
Insider tips you won’t read on the hotel website:
The perfect beach for young children: A very pleasant surprise (that is hard to see from hotel pictures) was how ideal the beach was for young children. A jetty has been built to shield the beach from waves, and the depth at the main part of the beach made it a natural wading pool for our daughter. The sand is also perfect sugar sand for sandcastles.
Ground floor rooms: We loved our room on the ground floor because not only did we have an oversized patio and plunge pool, but we also had a small grassy area that our daughter loved too. A struggle families with young children often have is getting stuck in nap jail in a dark, quiet hotel room and our patio was the perfect place to be while our daughter napped.
Get your coffee fix at Chu Chu: I was the first guest in line each morning of our stay at the Chu Chu coffee cart, conveniently located right outside the main block of rooms. They had the most delightful selection of local-style pastries, and the Mexican chocolate lattes are 10/10.
Other dining options: The St. Regis and EDITION Hotels are next door if you want to grab a meal at another resort or want a brief change of scenery. The EDITION features Toro by award-winning Chef Richard Sandoval.
The details
Location: Located just 24 miles from the Cancun airport in the exclusive enclave of Kanai — completely removed from the chaos of Cancun.
Perfect for: Anyone looking for a luxe yet relaxed getaway where you never need to leave the hotel. It is great for families, couples trips, and girls' getaways.
Rooms: There are 75 generously sized rooms, all with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the ocean.
Restaurants: The property features three restaurants:
Itzam, the main spot for breakfast and dinner, offers Mexican cuisine with a Mayan twist.
Che Che serves Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) dishes and also provides incredible poolside sushi.
There is also a small beach restaurant called Changarro that has ceviches, tostadas, and killer seafood tacos.
You’ll also find Chu Chu, a coffee cart near the gift shop, and Quéchulada, a poolside smoothie stand.
Family: Kids' club is available for children 4+. Babysitting services are also available.
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Current offers:
3rd or 4th night free (blackout dates apply)
Kids under 10 eat free through 10/31/2025
VIP perks if you book with me:
Daily breakfast credit
$100 property credit
Early check-in/Late check-out (subject to availability)
Room upgrade (subject the availability)
If you’re interested in booking Etereo with VIP perks, contact me to get started.
More information:
Looking for a property in the Riviera Maya for under $500? Consider these options instead
For a complete listing of Auberge’s collection of properties in Latin America, check out this article
Professional photos are courtesy of Etereo