Definitely one of my favorite hotels in the Cancun area, and the gorgeous turquoise water alone is reason enough to stay here. Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets sits dramatically on a cliffside at the southern tip of Isla Mujeres, about 35 minutes by boat from mainland Cancun. Guests depart from Marina Hacienda del Mar aboard a private catamaran for a scenic and incredibly beautiful ride across the Caribbean to the resort.
Opened in May 2023, the adults-only, all-inclusive property is part of Hyatt's ultra-luxury Impression by Secrets collection. There are 125 suites, four tiered infinity pools, seven dining options, five bars, and four wedding locations. The setting is the real showstopper. The resort overlooks brilliantly clear, seaweed-free water, with photo ops around every corner. It's easy to understand why Luxury Travel Advisor named it the "Most Instagrammable Hotel in the World" for the second year in a row.
It's also much more intimate than a typical all-inclusive, with butler service and a low-density design. The property also incorporates sustainability, including solar-powered infrastructure and the elimination of single-use plastics.
My suite had one of the most gorgeous balconies I've ever had at a hotel. Every room comes with its own private dipping pool, along with a spacious terrace with a sitting area and hammock. Inside, my suite featured a king bed, dual sinks, a rain shower, blackout curtains, and an in-suite tablet. Thoughtful extras included a hat, beach bag, and yoga mat.
I enjoyed the resort's Endless Privileges® experience, which includes butler service from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 24-hour concierge service. Dining requires no reservations, includes 24-hour room service, unlimited international and domestic top-shelf spirits, and pool and beach wait service.
Other perks include an arrival bottle of sparkling wine, a welcome bottle of tequila or rum, an in-suite wine cooler and minibar, Le Labo bath amenities, in-suite fitness amenities, complimentary Wi-Fi, and unlimited worldwide calling. Housekeeping is offered three times daily, and guests also receive complimentary laundry service for up to three items per person and a complimentary 20-minute wellness experience. There are also no set check-in or check-out times.
The food alone was worth visiting for. Cacao is the resort's 24-hour coffee and snack bar, with a surprisingly large selection. I loved the smoothies, and they also serve frappes, matcha drinks, gelato, and plenty of desserts. Having it open 24-hours was a great perk.
La Vista serves Mexican and international cuisine, while Mercado offers poolside grilled specialties. Sake is the resort's Pan-Asian restaurant with a teppanyaki bar, and I loved the lamb chops and curry.
Spezia serves Italian food, and everyone I spoke to raved about it, but I didn't have enough time to try it myself. UNIK The Kitchen focuses on French-Mediterranean cuisine, while Wildfire Grill was one of my favorite meals of the stay, especially the 16-ounce picanha, lobster mac and cheese, and bone marrow served with pork cracklings and tacos.
There are also five bars. Hamaca is a laid-back water lounge, Isola is the lobby bar and Sharks is the swim-up bar. The Temple is the place to head for drinks with sunset views, while The Top serves cocktails from the rooftop pool. There's even a Yacht Welcome Lounge where you can start your stay with a drink as soon as you arrive.
There's plenty to do, including treatments at the beautiful PURE Spa, guided bike tours, snorkeling, cabanas, and more.
The guided bike tour was a great way to explore more of Isla Mujeres, with stops along the island's dramatic cliffs and gorgeous ocean views. Along the way, we learned about local landmarks and the history behind the island's name, which translates to "Island of Women."
The whale shark excursion with Aquaworld was one of the most magical experiences of the trip. The morning started with a light breakfast of bread, fresh fruit, coffee, and juice, followed by a briefing before the approximately one-hour boat ride. We had two opportunities to swim with whale sharks, and more than 100 were counted in the area that day. Afterward, we stopped at North Beach for about 30 minutes to swim in crystal-clear waters and enjoy fresh ceviche. The package also included snorkeling equipment, soft drinks, bottled water, and sandwiches for lunch. The entire excursion felt very organized, and the crew captured great photos and videos throughout the experience, although the photo package was fairly pricey.
The resort partners with Saving Our Sharks Foundation on Shark Safaris that combine snorkeling with active conservation work in the Mexican Caribbean. The program supports shark tagging, tracking, habitat protection, and government lobbying, while working closely with the Káb Xok cooperative, a group of former Isla Mujeres shark fishermen who have been retrained as marine guides. The cooperative was once responsible for more than half of shark fishing in Quintana Roo. The excursion includes a guided ocean outing, full snorkel gear, and a built-in donation to the cooperative. The foundation's broader goal is to help end shark fishing in Quintana Roo.
The cabanas are first come, first served, and the butlers aren't allowed to reserve them for guests. I showed up around 8 a.m., and they were all still empty, so I simply picked my favorite one.