The 10 Best Riviera Maya Airbnbs (#5 Has Its Own Private Cenote)
Looking for the best Riviera Maya Airbnbs?
You’re in the right place as I’ve called Mexico home since 2018, and I’ve stayed in 50+ Airbnbs all over the country — Riviera Maya included.
The Riviera Maya stretches south of Cancún along Mexico’s Caribbean coast, with turquoise water, jungle cenotes and seaside Mayan ruins — and some of Mexico’s best Airbnbs.
👀 Curious about my top pick? It’s the beachfront two-bedroom condo overlooking Akumal’s Half Moon Bay — check it out here.
Every town here has its own feel, from laid-back Puerto Morelos to buzzing Tulum, so choosing where to stay is half the battle. That’s where I come in!
I’ve hand-picked a list of places, all with nearly-5 star ratings, lots of glowing reviews, and Airbnb’s Guest Favorite badge.
My Top 3 Picks: The Best Riviera Maya Airbnbs
| Name | Neighborhood | Best for | See more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ Beachfront Two-Bedroom Condo with Panoramic Views of Half Moon Bay | Akumal (Half Moon Bay) | Groups of up to 4, families | ➡️ Check it out |
| 2️⃣ Penthouse with a Private Rooftop Plunge Pool in La Veleta | Tulum (La Veleta) | Couples, friends, solo travelers, digital nomads | ➡️ Check it out |
| 3️⃣ Four-Bedroom Villa with a Waterfall Grotto Pool and Swim-Up Bar | Playa del Carmen (Playacar Phase 1) | Groups of up to 10, pet-friendly | ➡️ Check it out |
⚠️ If none of these work, browse all the Riviera Maya Airbnbs here, and use their filters to narrow down your search to find your ideal place.
The 10 Best Riviera Maya Airbnbs
1. Beachfront Two-Bedroom Condo with Panoramic Views of Half Moon Bay
- 📍 Neighborhood: Akumal (Half Moon Bay)
- ❤️ Best for: Groups of up to 4, families
- ➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
La Joya #5 sits right in the middle of Akumal’s Half Moon Bay, with views across the whole bay from the living room.
Picture yourself sipping your morning coffee on the huge patio as the sun rises over the turquoise water.
You can snorkel right outside your door, and the popular Yalku Lagoon is a short walk away.
The updated kitchen has granite counters, and the main bedroom has a walk-in shower with room for two.
At night, head up to the rooftop deck for some serious stargazing.
There’s daily maid service, and the building has 24-hour security.
It sleeps 4 guests in 2 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms.
Heads up: the pool is shared with the rest of this seven-unit building, and there’s no washer or dryer.
➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
2. Penthouse with a Private Rooftop Plunge Pool in La Veleta
- 📍 Neighborhood: Tulum (La Veleta)
- ❤️ Best for: Couples, friends, solo travelers, digital nomads
- ➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
This La Veleta penthouse has its own private rooftop terrace with a plunge pool for two.
Picture yourself cooling off up top with a glass of wine, then having dinner at the outdoor table under the stars.
Inside, polished concrete, natural wood and woven details give it a bright, modern feel.
The bedroom has a king bed and a window looking out at the jungle.
There’s a full kitchen, two AC units, fast fiber-optic Wi-Fi and free private parking, plus a shared pool on the ground floor.
Bars and restaurants are steps away, downtown Tulum is a 5-minute drive, and the beach area starts about 8 minutes away by car.
It sleeps 2 guests in 1 bedroom with 1 bathroom.
Heads up: the plunge pool is unheated, and there’s no washer or dryer.
➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
3. Four-Bedroom Villa with a Waterfall Grotto Pool and Swim-Up Bar
- 📍 Neighborhood: Playa del Carmen (Playacar Phase 1)
- ❤️ Best for: Groups of up to 10, pet-friendly
- ➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
Casa Marina is built around a grotto pool with waterfalls and its own swim-up bar.
Picture yourself grabbing a drink at the swim-up bar, then catching the sunset from the rooftop’s panoramic ocean views.
This two-story, Mexican-style villa is full of earth tones, barro clay floors and Talavera tile accents.
The beach is just one block away, and downtown Playa del Carmen is about a 10-minute walk.
Playacar Phase 1 has round-the-clock security, plus Mayan ruins, an aviary and walking and biking trails to explore.
Daily cleaning is included, and a chef and an English-speaking babysitter are available on request.
There’s air conditioning throughout, a gas grill, and pets are welcome, too.
It sleeps 10 guests in 4 bedrooms with 4.5 bathrooms.
➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
4. Chukum-Finished Villa near a Jungle Cenote in Ciudad Mayakoba
- 📍 Neighborhood: Playa del Carmen (Ciudad Mayakoba)
- ❤️ Best for: Groups of up to 7, pet-friendly
- ➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
Villa Okó is about a 5-minute walk from a crystal-clear jungle cenote that’s just for residents and guests.
Picture yourself floating in the cenote in the morning, then grilling dinner by your own private pool.
The house is finished in chukum, a traditional Maya plaster, and spreads over about 3,240 square feet (301 m²).
Kids get a game room with a trundle bed, and there are bikes, a kayak and playgrounds to enjoy, too.
The main bedroom has a soaking tub, and the 140-inch TV comes with Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+.
There’s fast Wi-Fi, a private workspace, a washer and dryer, and parking for three cars.
Ciudad Mayakoba is a gated community with 24-hour security, and Playa Xcalacoco is a 10-minute drive away.
Up to two pets are welcome.
It sleeps 7 guests in 3 bedrooms with 3 bathrooms.
➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
5. Jungle Home with Its Own Private Cenote and a Pool Table
- 📍 Neighborhood: Puerto Aventuras area (Rancho Tazol)
- ❤️ Best for: Groups of up to 12, families
- ➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
Toh Ha Spa has its own private cenote, reached by stone steps that lead down into a cave full of ancient stalactites.
Picture yourself swimming in the cave, then shooting pool or watching a movie on the 150-inch projector screen.
The home sits in the middle of a walled 2.5-acre (1-hectare) property, with orchids, fruit trees, a koi pond and a private jungle trail.
All three bedrooms have their own bathroom, and there’s AC, a ping pong table and fiber-optic Wi-Fi.
You can also book massages, facials and manicures with the in-house beauty therapist, with advance notice.
It’s about 5 minutes from Puerto Aventuras, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
It sleeps 12 guests in 3 bedrooms with 3.5 bathrooms.
The cenote’s water clarity changes with the rain and the seasons, so bring water shoes.
Heads up: you’ll want a rental car, the pool is shared, and the owner lives on-site in a separate apartment with her dogs.
➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
6. Jungle Casita with a Private Rooftop Pool
- 📍 Neighborhood: Tulum (Riviera Tulum)
- ❤️ Best for: Couples, friends, solo travelers, digital nomads
- ➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
Casa Deva is a jungle casita with its own private rooftop pool, perfect for stargazing after dark.
Picture yourself in the porch’s egg swing chair with a glass of wine, surrounded by a garden of rare plants and fruit trees.
The king bed faces the garden, and the bathroom’s big windows let you shower surrounded by greenery.
It’s decorated with Mexican and Mayan-style pieces and local art, and there’s a hammock, a full kitchen and strong AC.
A workspace in a room with a door and 100 Mbps fiber-optic Wi-Fi make it easy to get some work done.
It’s in Riviera Tulum, a gated community with 24-hour security, about a 5-minute drive (20-minute walk) from downtown Tulum.
The hosts can set up a sunset massage or a yoga class on the rooftop.
It sleeps 2 guests in 1 bedroom with 1 bathroom.
Heads up: there’s no TV or washer, and the beach is about a 15-minute drive, so a car or scooter helps.
➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
7. Top-Floor Oceanfront Condo with Panoramic Caribbean Views
- 📍 Neighborhood: Akumal (Half Moon Bay)
- ❤️ Best for: Couples, friends, solo travelers, digital nomads
- ➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
This top-floor condo has expansive windows, so you wake up almost surrounded by Caribbean views from your king bed.
Picture yourself on the sunny terrace, watching the sunrise as the waves break below.
It’s at Yal Ku Cai, on the quiet north end of Half Moon Bay, right where the coast opens into Yalku Lagoon.
The sand is a 1-minute walk away, and the lagoon, with some of the area’s best snorkeling, is 3 minutes on foot.
The open-plan space has a kitchen area with a breakfast bar, a living room with TV, AC and high-speed Wi-Fi.
Maid service comes 6 days a week, and there’s a shared gas grill for cooking out.
Most of the open-air restaurants are a short walk away.
It sleeps 2 guests, with 1 bathroom.
Heads up: it’s on the third floor, so you’ll climb stairs, and the pool is shared.
➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
8. Two-Bedroom Condo with a Private Hot Tub in Puerto Aventuras
- 📍 Neighborhood: Puerto Aventuras
- ❤️ Best for: Groups of up to 6, families
- ➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
Casa Sasay has a terrace with its own private hot tub, overlooking the garden and the jungle.
Picture yourself soaking there with a cold drink after a day at the beach.
It’s in the heart of Puerto Aventuras, a gated community with 24/7 security between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
The beach club, golf course, marina, restaurants and convenience stores are all a short walk away.
The condo has a king bedroom, a second bedroom with two full beds, a full kitchen, AC, and a washer and dryer.
Xcaret is about 15 minutes away by car, and Playa del Carmen about 20 minutes.
It sleeps 6 guests in 2 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms.
Heads up: it’s on the second floor, and the pool is shared.
➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
9. Garden Studio One Block from the Beach in Puerto Morelos
- 📍 Neighborhood: Puerto Morelos (Centro)
- ❤️ Best for: Couples, friends, solo travelers, digital nomads, budget travelers, pet-friendly
- ➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
Casa Palma is a bright, stylish studio just one block from the Caribbean Sea in downtown Puerto Morelos.
Picture yourself enjoying your morning coffee on the balcony, looking out over the garden.
The open-concept space has big windows, an equipped kitchen, AC, a queen bed and a sofa bed for a kid.
Beach gear is provided, so you can grab a chair and umbrella and walk to the sand.
The town center is a couple of blocks away, in a safe, quiet area where people walk or bike to restaurants.
Pets are welcome, too.
It sleeps 2 guests in a studio with 1 bathroom.
Heads up: the pool is shared.
If this one is booked for your dates, the same property has three more similar studios.
➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
10. Two-Bedroom Condo with Resort-Style Pools and Pickleball Courts
- 📍 Neighborhood: Puerto Morelos (La Colonia)
- ❤️ Best for: Groups of up to 5, families, budget travelers
- ➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
Blue Paradise is a bright two-bedroom condo in Selva Escondida II, a peaceful gated community in Puerto Morelos.
Picture yourself lounging by the adults-only pool with a drink from its bar.
The community also has a family pool, a gym, tennis and pickleball courts, a playground and a fire pit.
Inside, there’s a full kitchen, AC throughout, fast Wi-Fi with a workspace, and a private balcony for morning coffee.
Beach bags, an umbrella, coolers, chairs and kids’ sand toys are all provided.
The beach malecón is about a 10-minute drive, and Cancún airport is just 15 minutes away.
It sleeps 5 guests in 2 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms.
Heads up: the in-unit washer and dryer cost extra.
➡️ Check rates and availability on Airbnb
Best Riviera Maya Airbnbs FAQ
What is the best area to stay in the Riviera Maya?
Playa del Carmen and Tulum are best for restaurants and nightlife, while Akumal and Puerto Morelos are quieter beach towns with great snorkeling.
For waking up on the water, La Joya #5 and Yal Ku Cai both sit on Akumal’s Half Moon Bay.
Staying near Tulum? Don’t miss the best Tulum Airbnbs.
Do you need a car when you stay at a Riviera Maya Airbnb?
It depends: in-town stays like Casa Palma are walkable, but jungle homes and places outside town are much easier with a car.
The host of Toh Ha Spa highly recommends a rental car, since there are no shops or restaurants within walking distance.
Flying into Cancún? Check out the best Cancun Airbnbs.
Are there pet-friendly Airbnbs in the Riviera Maya?
Yes: Casa Marina, Villa Okó and Casa Palma all allow pets.
Villa Okó welcomes up to two pets, so check each listing’s house rules for limits before you book.
Traveling as a couple? Here are the best Airbnbs in Tulum for couples.
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