Excellence Playa Mujeres

The Excellence Playa Mujeres Cancun sets the stage for a luxury all-inclusive experience from the moment visitors enter the resort. Staff members wearing pith helmets greet guests with hot towels and cold water, and escort them into the Egyptian-themed lobby, which is meant to evoke feelings of being an explorer from an earlier era. Expect lots of tan marble (calling to mind desert sands), wood paneling, a large chess set, touches of greenery, and a few ancient-looking artifacts and statues. The lobby leads to a cavernous multi-story atrium under a stained-glass ceiling and centered around a dramatic staircase. The main building houses many restaurants and bars, some of which overlook the main staircase from interior balconies. A martini bar sits at the lowest level, where doors lead out to the main grounds, swimming pools, rooms and suites, and white-sand beach. Note that some restaurants require dress codes – think long pants and collared shirts for men.

Excellence Resort shares a private resort complex with Beloved Playa Mujeres, Finest Playa Mujeres, and La Amada Residences, all of which make use of the inland marina that houses 170 slips. The location far from the touristy Hotel Zone and the luxury price tag discourage party-oriented visitors, and guests include couples of all ages, mainly from the U.S. and Canada. The secluded location also makes it hard to explore off-site -- but with so many resort features, few guests seem to mind. In addition to lounging, eating, and drinking, guests can partake in land and water activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing, paddleboarding, scuba lessons, water polo, yoga, and Spanish classes. Add to that the meeting spaces, spa, library, pool tables, ping-pong tables, and the stage with nightly events, and it's no wonder most guests are content never to leave the premises. 

All in all, this is one of Cancun's top luxury options. Those seeking an adults-only option in the Hotel Zone should consider the Hyatt Zilara Cancun. 

The Excellence Playa Mujeres is located in the far north end of Cancun, beyond the city itself in a section of the city near Isla Blanca. The area takes its name from the Isla Mujeres, the island that sits directly out across the ocean from the resort itself, and the beach the resort is located on, Playa Mujeres.

Being this far out means that once guests arrive, they are mostly stuck at the resort. Although taxis are available for trips into town, there are no public transportation options available.

How far is Excellence Playa Mujeres from the Cancun Airport? It’s roughly a 45-minute drive, though it can be longer with traffic. The resort is also about a 20- to 30-minute drive from Downtown Cancun, and roughly an hour away from the Hotel Zone and the Cancun Convention Center. However, the ferry to Isla Mujeres – Ultramar – is 10 minutes away by taxi.  

There are 450 huge rooms and suites at the Excellence Playa Mujeres, and they start with the 807-square-foot Junior Suites. All rooms have furnished balconies, or on the ground floor, patios, and the two-story suites with rooftop terraces also each have a plunge pool and shower. The majority of rooms have views out over the spa or pools, with ocean views reserved for the Excellence Club Junior Suite Ocean Front, Two-Story Rooftop Terrace Suite, Honeymoon Suite, and Imperial Suite. Excellence Playa Mujeres swim-up suites are a popular room choice. 

Elegant rooms are decorated in shades of cream and have marble tile floors and wooden furniture (including four-poster beds in many rooms); the overall effect is sophisticated and airy. Junior Suites have either a king-size bed or two double beds, and all other rooms feature king-size beds. Tech amenities include flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations. For relaxation, guests will find burning incense and calming music playing upon their arrival, bathrobes and slippers provided, and large whirlpool tubs that are positioned in the living spaces, by glass doors that open to the balconies. For dining and drinking in-room, there are fully stocked mini-fridges, high-end liquor cabinets, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and 24-hour room service. Excellence Club guests get extras such as premium minibars, Bulgari toiletries, and Nespresso machines. 

Marble bathrooms come standard with two-person rainfall showers, separate water closets, and double vanities with luxury toiletries, hairdryers, and scales.

For added privacy, there are insulated and closed-off cubbies just to the side of the entryways where the staff delivers room service. This helps ensure guest privacy and prevents the smell of food from permeating the room until guests are ready to eat. 

The Excellence Playa Mujeres is set on a beautiful white-sand beach equipped with palapas, sun loungers, daybeds, massage areas, and a beach snack grill. The entire stretch of Playa Mujeres is largely calm without large waves, and relatively clear of seaweed due to the currents that sweep around Isla Mujeres and carry the bulk of it along the eastern coast of the tourist strip. Emphasis on the word "relatively;" we did spot some minor seaweed accumulation along the shore. The beach isn't quite as large and the sand not quite as powdery as some stretches in the Hotel Zone, but it's still lovely.

There are seven swimming pools to choose from, four of which are heated during the winter months. Accompanying those are four hot-water whirlpools independent from the main pools, plus five integrated whirlpools. A serpentine lazy river that guests can float down ties it all together. Two of the heated pools and whirlpools are for Excellence Club guests only; those who upgrade will also get a private concierge desk and private lounge with free Wi-Fi, buffet, and bar service.

The 3,500-square-foot, 24-hour gym features a full range of workout equipment, including modern cardio equipment, full sets of weights, and weight machines. Also available are a variety of free classes and workout rooms for yoga and aerobics, as well as a fitness trail for those who prefer getting out into the tropical scenery for their morning run or hike. Additional free activities include non-motorized water sports such as kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling, Spanish lessons, and archery. Nightly entertainment is held at the on-site theater.

The resort also has meeting spaces that total 17,000 square feet, including boardrooms and flexible breakout rooms. Events are held here, and there are both wedding and honeymoon packages are available.

Excellence Playa Mujeres restaurants are covered by the all-inclusive package and they range from international buffets to Mediterranean, Italian, Mexican, Asian, French, and Indian a la carte eateries. The Flavor Market focuses on pairing gourmet tasting menus with fine wines, and The Lobster House provides local fish and seafood specialties.

Also available are takeaway wood oven pizza, the lobby bar and coffee bar in the main square, a swim-up pool bar, the lounge on the beach, and the fruit juice bar by the spa. Reservations are not required for dinner, and all meals include vegetarian options. Room service is free and available 24/7. The bars serve premium wine, beer and spirits. Smoking is available in some of the restaurants, while some are exclusively non-smoking. Note that some restaurants require dress codes, such as long pants for men.

Miile Spa, the Excellence Playa Mujeres spa, is one of the high points of the resort. It is located in a secluded area, and there are spa suites for couples. The hydrotherapy pool has high-pressure water hoses and a bubble massage bench, as well as exercise lanes for counter-current swimming, plus a temperature contrast stone walk.

There are also double massage beds, a cold plunge pool, Swedish saunas, steam baths, an ice-treatment room, Scottish and Cuban showers, and a variety of spa suites with private relaxation areas where guests can soak in a mud bath, get a facial, have a Vichy shower, or experience a shirodara ritual. A beauty parlor offers pedicures, manicures, and haircuts.