Breathless Riviera Cancun Reviews 2023

With a vibe that’s equal parts party and pampering, Breathless Riviera Cancun was made with fun-loving couples in mind. This sprawling adults-only all-inclusive resort in Mexico is known for throwing some of the best, most lavish parties around, yet there are still quiet corners for guests to chill in thanks to its sheer size.

If a luxurious and lively holiday is your idea of fun, check out this full review of Breathless Riviera Cancun. We’ll tell you everything you need to know to decide if this is the best resort for you, including what other guests are saying in their Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews.

Breathless Riviera Cancun Reviews: Overview

Decadence and fun are the bottom lines at Breathless Riviera Cancun, an adult-only luxury all-inclusive resort. The resort is built right on the shoreline and there is room for sun lovers to lay out on the beach or around the pools. However, several Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews mention that the beach was not well-suited for swimming due to having lots of seaweed, and some feel that the beach is pretty small. 

On Google there are a majority of 5-star reviews for Breathless Riviera Cancun, which has an overall Google rating of 4.4. Guests especially praise the property itself, the service, the activities and entertainment, and the food.

This all-inclusive party resort in Cancun caters to a younger crowd and the atmosphere is lively and energetic. (Which is probably why there are a number of thumbs down Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews for sleep!) There are events and parties happening every day and night, and some reviewers were not happy about the loud music late at night. Several also mentioned noise from staff collecting room service dishes around the clock.

Foam parties, go-go dancers, and 24-hour DJ mixes are standard, but if you’re seeking some downtime, you can book a treatment in the full-service spa or let off some steam in the fitness center. There are also 9 bars and 10 restaurants to choose from, all included in the cost of your room. 

The buildings are sleek and modern with minimalist interior decor and an expertly manicured garden. The resort is large and spread out so guests don’t feel cramped or crowded in the common areas, and folks looking for a quiet spot to recharge will be able to do so despite the non-stop party ambience. 

Breathless Riviera Cancun Reviews: Rooms & Suites 

The resort’s 500+ rooms have decor that is similar to the common areas. Think clean lines, crisp whites, and neutral wooden floors accented with pops of color. All are airy and bright and offer ample outdoor seating space with full or partial ocean views. Each room comes with a free minibar that’s restocked daily, coffee, and tea. 

There are three categories of suites to choose from depending on the experience you want to have. The Xcelerate Party Zone Suites are closer to the resort’s party spots while the Allure Suites are set further back so guests can relax and rest without being disturbed by the music. 

Bathrooms in each suite are large and come with walk-in showers with marble and glass walls. (Some Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews point out that the glass walls make the shower less private for people who are staying with a friend rather than a romantic partner.)

The Xhale Club Suites are the most luxurious and include private whirlpools on the balcony or swim-up access on the ground floor. There are also extra amenities that come with these rooms like a private pool and hot tub, exclusive lounge access, and personalized concierge service. 

Plenty of Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews mention the cleanliness and spaciousness of the rooms, as well as extras like lots of USB ports and outlets. However, some reviewers said that their room wasn’t cleaned sufficiently during their visit.

Breathless Riviera Cancun Reviews: Food & Drinks

There are 9 restaurants and 8 bars at Breathless Riviera Cancun, all of which are included in your stay. The Barefoot Grill offers lunch and snacks served outdoors with views of the pool or beach, while The Nook Cafe serves coffee, tea, fresh pastries, and sandwiches 24 hours a day. 

A la carte dinner options include Coquette, a French restaurant; Picante, a chic eatery offering Mexican dishes; a pan-Asian option called Silk City; Spumante, an Italian restaurant; and The Strip Grill, a steakhouse offering outdoor dining and views of the sea. If you can’t decide, Spoon serves up a sprawling buffet with a little bit of everything for breakfast and lunch until 5:30 p.m. 

Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews mostly rave about the quality of the food, but some reviewers felt that the buffet and room service meal quality was subpar. Some also mentioned that room service was often slow and the food was cold. 

There are plenty of bars onsite, to go with the party atmosphere. Two of the resort’s three pools have swim-up bars. Deep is located by the Xcelerate Pool and Twist & Squeeze is by the Energy Pool. Both serve cocktails handmade to order, or you can head to Foam if you’d rather spend your day by the beach. 

The resort’s main cocktail bar can be found near the Energy Pool and is simply called The Bar. A secondary cocktail bar called Wink is in the resort’s Energy Zone. It’s also the location of many of the nightly activities, except for live shows, which take place in a large theater bar called Showstopper. From 9:00 p.m. till 1:00 a.m. guests can party at After Dark, an on-site nightclub.

There is also the Fizz Iced Champagne Bar, which overlooks the Xcelerate pool, and the Xhale Club Lounge. Drinks at Fizz Iced cost extra and the Club Lounge is open exclusively for Xhale Club members.  

Some Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews said that they felt the drinks were watered down, although they generally had great service at the bars.

Breathless Riviera Cancun Reviews: Beaches

There is one somewhat small, thin stretch of beach directly accessible from the resort grounds, but it doesn’t have great reviews. Lots of seaweed can make swimming unpleasant (and sometimes smelly) even though the resort does its best to clean it up. Some Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews say that the beach is rocky, and mention the barrier in the ocean as unattractive. Most beach-goers prefer to relax in the loungers with a drink in hand.   

However, if you do want to get in the water, a variety of watersports are available including paddleboarding, windsurfing, snorkeling, kayak tours, and sailing. Beach volleyball courts are also set up on the sand.

Breathless Riviera Cancun Reviews: Pools

There are 3 beautiful pools on the resort grounds. Most Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews about the pools are very positive. Two of the pools are open to all guests, and one is reserved for Xhale members. 

The main pool in the Energy Zone is perfect for relaxing. It’s surrounded by comfortable cabanas and pods, and there are seats scattered throughout the shallow part of the pool so you can cool off without fully submerging. There is a hot tub in the Energy Zone as well. 

The pool in the Xcelerate Zone is where most of the resort’s parties take place. There is a DJ booth nearby and a giant hot tub that can fit nearly 35 people. Topless sunbathing is optional around the Xcelerate Zone pool, but you must keep your top on while in the water.    

The pool in the Xhale section is more quiet, with plenty of seating and lots of sun. It’s only open to guests who upgrade to the Xhale package. 

Breathless Riviera Cancun Reviews: Activities

At Breathless Riviera Cancun, you’ll never run out of things to do. Apart from watersports, half- and full-day tours of the surrounding region can be arranged (for extra fees), and lots of fitness classes are offered throughout the morning and afternoon. Guests can also enjoy discounted green fees at El Tinto Golf Course, and you can indulge at the onsite spa (not included). 

Onsite, there are rotating theme parties almost every day and night. Favorites include a foam party, a bubble party, and “Sweet Fridays,” a pink-themed pool party with endless amounts of rosé. At the time of publishing this article, evening lineups include an Arabian-inspired Khaliji Night featuring belly dancers and live music and a Neon Lights Night with brightly colored body paint and glow sticks. 

Themes are planned monthly with new events continuously being tested out. You can get a peek at what’s in store the week of your visit on their website. Most parties are lively and energetic, especially the famous Insomnia Party which features a live 24-hour DJ around the Xcelerate pool, but low-key events like art exhibits are held as well. 

While couples who love the party atmosphere rave in their Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews, some guests complained that the music and noise was nonstop and they were unable to relax. This is definitely a resort for those who enjoy round-the-clock action.

Breathless Riviera Cancun Review: Romance Packages

Breathless Resorts have some great packages available to make your destination wedding or honeymoon memorable, luxurious, and, of course, fun. They offer pre-wedding party add-ons, an entire portfolio of wedding packages that range from simple to extravagant, and special rates for honeymoons and anniversaries. Tours, room upgrades, spa days, and romantic candlelit dinners will dial up the romance and make your romantic getaway something you’ll never forget.    

Breathless Riviera Cancun Reviews: Inclusions

Breathless prides itself in delivering great service and inclusions, and all resorts offer unlimited gourmet dining, unlimited drinks made with premium liquor, 24-hour room service, activities, and live entertainment. Although every event is open to all guests, a few cost extra unless you are an Xhale Club member. 

Wifi is available throughout the resort for free, and a mobile app gives you instant access to the resort’s scheduled activities and events, along with restaurant hours and any other pertinent information. Non-motorized watersports equipment is available free of charge as well. 

Some Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews mention that not having tips included (as they are at Sandals all-inclusive resorts) can lead to a lot of extra expense.

Breathless Riviera Cancun Reviews: Location

Breathless Riviera Cancun is around 20 minutes away from Cancun International Airport and in between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. With Cancun to the north and Playa to the south, each town is within a 40-minute drive. There is a small town called Puerto Morelos about 15 minutes away, but there isn’t much else around the resort.  

Some of the closest tourist attractions include the Mayan ruins outside Tulum (about an hour and a half away) Xel-Ha Waterpark (an hour’s drive), and the Cancun Underwater Museum, a dive site featuring sculptures and art instead of coral. 

Breathless Riviera Cancun Tips for a Good Stay

Breathless Riviera Cancun is like 3 resorts in one. The Xcelerate area is for guests who want to party non-stop. Allure is somewhere in the middle, offering fun events and activities during the day but claiming to provide a quieter atmosphere at night. 

However, recent Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews from previous guests reveal that, unless you get an oceanfront room, music from the bars and nightclubs is likely to keep light sleepers awake. If you do want a chance at getting some rest without upgrading to an Xhale Suite, it’s a good idea to request an oceanfront room. 

Guests who prioritize good sleep would be best off upgrading to an Xhale Suite. These are set further back from the party pools, and past guests comment that it’s quiet enough to get some rest during the night, even with the windows open. 

Not much is happening in the Xhale section during the day, however, so if you want to party you can always head to the Xcelerate and Allure sections during the afternoon/evenings, then head back to Xhale for bed. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work the other way around. The Xhale section is a premium upgrade, so if you want a little peace and quiet, you’ll have to pay for it. 

Another suggestion from some Breathless Riviera Cancun reviews is to stay at the neighboring Secrets Riviera Cancun resort, which gives guests access to all the facilities at Breathless but is a quieter resort overall. (Breathless guests do not have access to Secrets.)

Also, all of the a la carte restaurants require reservations, so be sure to make those in advance if there is a place you particularly want to try. Since the buffet isn’t open for dinner, these can get very crowded. 

Google Maps Rating: 4.4

Booking.com Rating: 8.8