Live Aqua Cancun Beach Resort
The Live Aqua Cancun, Mexico Resort is a luxurious all-inclusive resort exclusively for adults which has unique features in comparison to other resorts along the same strip. Its highlights include a variety of excellent dining choices, an exquisite complex of swimming pools, and most of its rooms providing scenic views of the Caribbean Sea.
The Live Aqua Cancun resort is owned by Grupo Posadas, known for its Fiesta Americana hotels. However, Live Aqua is part of a completely separate resort brand because it has a different style and focus. Live Aqua is designed to attract high-end guests by providing better quality finishes, more staff, and superior dining options compared to other resorts in the region.
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Live Aqua offers many unique amenities, including a VIP lounge, an excellent spa, and a full aromatherapy program. These features make it stand out from other resorts.
The U-shaped white building stands tall on a prime location in Cancun’s hotel zone (map), away from the busy bar and club area. It is within walking distance to sophisticated nightlife and upscale shopping.
When guests arrive, staff in uniforms greet them and help them with the check-in process. They can either offer a refreshing drink or escort guests directly to the club floor. The lobby area is grand, but the real standout feature is the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests can admire the impressive network of eight swimming pools, all facing the stunningly blue Caribbean Sea – it’s truly the most luxurious pool area in the city.
There are different types of pools for different preferences. Some have a swim-up bar, some are long enough for laps, and some are designed for admiring the sea from the infinity edge.
You can relax on the wide beach, where waiters are available to serve food and drinks. Some guests play volleyball, while others can reserve a daybed for an additional fee (non-suite guests only). The daybed has curtains and is perfect for an afternoon nap after your included foot massage. During your stay at the pool or beach, you may be offered a cold popsicle, be given a cool water spritz, or have your sunglasses cleaned.
The hotel constantly gives guests single-use plastic water bottles, which is not sustainable. It seems like waiters are rewarded for handing out more bottles, as it’s so frequent. When I asked for water in a non-plastic bottle, the waiter disappeared and never came back. Unfortunately, some of these bottles end up polluting the ocean or the beach. However, local laws may require the hotel to stop this practice by the time you arrive.
Most of the rooms here are modern and have a beautiful ocean view, as well as a standing balcony. The rooms are average in size until the suite level, but they have nice features such as marble floors, mostly white furnishings, and strategically placed mirrors to make the space appear larger. Each room includes a full sofa and a small table with two chairs.
If you’re looking for more space at Aqua, you can choose from five types of suites. The smallest suite is 762 square feet and all suites come with private terraces, outdoor showers, and room for spa treatments. The décor is attractive, featuring mod Italian lamps and dark wood furniture. When choosing a room, it’s best to request one closer to the center of the building to avoid having a view of Aqua’s neighbors.
If you’re a suite guest, a status member of the parent company’s loyalty program, or if you’ve upgraded, you’ll have access to a private lounge on the sixth floor called the Aqua Club. It has a beautiful view of the ocean, a bar, and snacks available throughout the day. This exclusive feature is available for 71 of the rooms and suites. Additionally, if you upgrade to this level, you may receive some extra goodies in your room upon arrival such as chocolates, a bottle of wine, or some bubbly. All the necessary amenities are available in this club.
The minibars contain Mexican beers, sodas, and snacks. The rooms have a coffee maker or espresso machine, sufficient outlets and lamps, and inclusive 24-hour room service. Guests also receive a beach bag, flip-flops, and unique terrycloth grey hoody robes in the closet. In addition, the bathrooms have double vanities and Molton Brown toiletries, and there is turndown service every evening. The Wi-Fi provided is also reliable.
The restaurant options at this resort are visually beautiful and diverse, offering nine choices to suit different tastes. The options include a sushi spot near the bars, a coffee shop, an open-air Italian restaurant surrounded by plants outside, and a seafood restaurant called “Sea Corner” that overlooks the beach. The seafood restaurant serves authentic Mexican food similar to what you would find at a beach shack outside the resort zone, with fresh ceviche, seafood tacos, tostadas, and aguachile, accompanied by a cold beer. You won’t be bored with the food even if you stay here for a week.
The Azur restaurant by the seaside offers a beautiful view of the beach and serves upscale seafood dishes, sushi, and other options for lunch and dinner most days. For a romantic dinner experience, MB is the top choice, with attentive and professional waiters. During my visit, I enjoyed a habanero soup in a bread bowl, a watermelon salad with goat cheese, and a delicious beef filet. As I was about to order dessert, the waiter informed me that he would sing me a song shortly.
I was surprised when he sat down at the grand piano and sang an opera song without a microphone. Afterwards, he wished me a good night and went on to fawn over other guests and recommend dishes.
Siete 7, the restaurant that serves three main meals, could possibly be the best buffet restaurant on the strip. It features seven columns that showcase artistic renderings of Mexican icons from different eras. Moreover, it has a wall of glass that overlooks the garden area, allowing abundant natural light. The Live Aqua Cancun boasts first-rate culinary offerings, and this is evident through the consistent excellence of the buffet tables.
The restaurant has a special dining experience called “In Laa’ Kech” that you have to pay extra for, but it’s worth it. This experience takes place in a dedicated round building surrounded by water, which is meant to symbolize a cenote, in the middle of the garden. The meal consists of a variety of Yucatecan drinks and dishes that have historical or cultural significance, some dating back to Mayan times. Your English-speaking master of ceremonies will guide you through the experience.
You can create a custom cocktail using local ingredients, enjoy Mexican red wine with your meal, and indulge in nine appetizers and main courses that offer a culinary journey through the Yucatan region.
The includes a variety of foods such as corn, avocado, squash blossoms, and beans, as well as the popular marinated pork dish called cochinta pibil and sopa de lima. The Mayans placed great importance on honey and even had a god of bees. For dessert, they serve a dish with melipona honey that is said to cost $700 per liter.
The bars offer a selection of liquor that may not be very exciting, but it includes all the basics and has a good variety of tequila. As part of the all-inclusive plan, you can enjoy some nice Mexican wines from Baja Norte, and for a special dinner, you can choose from a carefully chosen list of drinks.
During the day, there are many poolside locations to get a drink, and at night the downstairs lounge feels like a club with a pool table and comfortable seating. Guests on the club floor have access to high-end liquor brands like Ron Zacapa 23 rum, Don Julio tequila, quality mezcal, and various single malt Scotch options.
At Live Aqua, aromatherapy is an important part of the theme, and you will notice strong scents in the indoor public areas, which are meant to be relaxing. In your room, you can choose from a variety of oil blends with names like “energy” or “romance,” and scents like mint, rosemary, and ginger. New upgrades include curtains that open when you enter the room and close when you leave to keep the room cool.
There is a daily schedule of activities available, but they are not as intense as the ones typically offered in all-inclusive resorts. You won’t find an enthusiastic activities director using a microphone to gather people for games. Instead, most activities are focused on improving your body and mind. You can choose from options like yoga, tai chi, water aerobics, and beach volleyball. In the evenings, live entertainment is available. The gym is well-maintained and equipped, while the spa provides a relaxing break from the heat and humidity with massages and body treatments. However, the spa will be undergoing renovations this year.
On the strip, Le Blanc is more stylish and hip compared to Live Aqua, but Live Aqua has better swimming pools and a friendlier and more attentive service style. For those who already enjoy all-inclusive hotels, it’s hard to criticize anything here. This well-managed beachfront resort for adults might just win over those who have avoided all-inclusive hotels due to concerns about mundane meals and noisy children.
I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
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