In Costa Mujeres, This Adults-Only Resort Reveals Cancún's Romantic Side

The hotel’s location in Costa Mujeres, a bit north of central Cancún, already felt different as we drove in. The coastline stretched wide and pale, and the water shifted through shades of blue that barely seemed real. When we got to the hotel, the lobby air was cool and quiet. Light washed across smooth stone and sculptural lines, and long sight lines framed the ocean in a way that made us pause instinctively. Someone offered chilled towels and welcome drinks, and minutes later, we were at The Rooftop for lunch, overlooking a brilliant sheet of turquoise. It was the perfect beginning to an anniversary getaway.

Photo: Shelly Peterson

Hotel Mousai’s general manager describes the hotel’s aesthetic as “avant-luxury.” The design is sleek, modern, and boldly expressive — a blend of contemporary Mexican influences and gallery-inspired touches. Sandy, neutral tones anchor the spaces, while vibrant accents of ocean blue, red, and purple mirror the coastline that’s visible from almost anywhere in the hotel. Bold contemporary artworks appear throughout the property, and avant-garde lighting fixtures cast a soft glow that changes throughout the day. These elements work together to create an atmosphere that’s somehow both visually striking and deeply calming.

Design elements also reflect the hotel’s connection to its setting. Natural stone from the region, woven textiles from Mexican artisans, and contemporary artwork inspired by the Yucatán bring a sense of Mexico without veering into kitschy themed decor. In the interest of respecting the natural environment, the landscaping favors native plants that require less water and maintenance. These sensibilities also extend to the rooms — well, more accurately, suites.

Hotel Mousai is an all-suite property with 88 total accommodations ranging from the 946-square-foot Mousai Jacuzzi Suite and the 1,406-square-foot Corner Suite to the approximately 2,187-square-foot Two-Bedroom Master Suite and the 1,894-square-foot Two Corner Connected Suite. Each of these room classes also comes with an Ultra Suite counterpart, which comes with private butler service. In every suite, large refillable bathroom amenities replace single-use plastics, and motion-sensor lighting and energy-efficient climate systems help to reduce unnecessary power use when guests are out of the room.

Photo: Shelly Peterson

My husband and I stayed in a Mousai Suite Ocean View. I appreciated how our bed faced the water so that our mornings began with natural light. The terrace had a private hot tub, a hammock, and a view that naturally slowed our breathing. We spent most of our downtime on our suite’s terrace. Breakfasts lingered into long conversations, afternoon naps happened on a whim, and nights ended with stargazing to the steady sound of waves. After a year of busy travel, the chance to simply be still together felt like a luxury of its own.

Inside, a sleek in-room tablet controlled nearly everything. With a single tap, we adjusted the curtains, the temperature, the lighting, and the music, as well as ordered room service. A small but impactful detail, the in-room tablet made the entire space feel intuitive and tailored to each day’s rhythm. Of course, so did the personal butler. Ours handled anything we needed without making it feel orchestrated. He arranged sunrise paddleboards, secured dinner reservations, and set up an in-suite breakfast that became one of our favorite anniversary moments. Enjoying a quiet meal on the terrace as the sky warmed into a pink shade and the water shifted into deep blue hues felt like a private celebration.

Photo: Shelly Peterson

Hotel Mousai is a fully adults-only property, and the atmosphere reflects that choice. Even the livelier spaces maintain a quiet and unhurried tone. Take The Rooftop, an open-air space where couples settle into lounge chairs with books or cocktails, dipping in and out of the infinity pool that blends seamlessly into the Caribbean. I saw some guests floating at the edge of the pool for long stretches, just watching the water and the sky shift colors. Others gathered around small tables, playing cards and sharing ceviche between swims.

The Rooftop became my husband and my daily metronome. During the day, the deck is bright and breezy. At sunset, everything softens into warm golds and pinks. We would drift between the pool and our loungers — talking, reading, resting — and wander to the bar where the bartenders knew our drink preferences by the second day. There was no competition for chairs, no loud music anywhere, and no pressure to do anything other than slow down. The result is an environment that feels social but never chaotic, relaxed but elevated. It was easy to strike up conversations with other guests — mostly couples like us celebrating birthdays, engagements, honeymoons, or babymoons — or just spend long-overdue time together.

Beyond the hotel, Costa Mujeres is known for its gentle, clear waters. Hotel Mousai sits right on the coast, so getting to the beach is effortless. It’s just a short walk from the main pool deck. One morning, just after sunrise, our butlers arranged paddleboards for us and coordinated everything we needed with the water sports shack on the beach, which also has kayaks and snorkel gear. The equipment is complimentary for guests.

After walking down the beach and finding that the boards were already set up and waiting for us, we slipped into water so calm it looked glassy. The beach was quiet, the sky beginning to brighten. We drifted quietly and talked about the past year. It was the kind of simple, natural moment that ended up becoming one of the highlights of our trip.

Photo: Shelly Peterson

Hotel Mousai also hosts a schedule of activities, none of which feels obligatory. Yoga takes place near the water in open-air spaces. Some days feature archaeological walks that provide guests with regional context. Cooking classes and tastings highlight local ingredients in a hands-on way. We joined a ceviche lesson one afternoon and enjoyed it more than we expected. Even the spa and wellness areas echo the property’s contemporary, sensory-forward design.

In the evenings, the energy relaxes. Live musicians play in the lobby, creating a warm, intimate atmosphere that feels inviting rather than performative. Some nights it was piano, other nights a trumpeter, all of it adding to the sense that the property winds down with its guests. A magic show at TierraLuna Gardens — an outdoor space at the Garza Blanca Cancun resort that’s available to guests of Hotel Mousai — and understated DJ sets at The Rooftop might round out the night, adding just enough activity without disturbing the calm that defines the resort.

Photo: Shelly Peterson

Dining is one of Hotel Mousai’s strengths, and the Gourmet Culinary All-Inclusive Plan made it especially seamless during our anniversary trip. The plan is optional and comes at a fee, with the choice to add it at the time of booking or at check-in. It covers all of the restaurants at Hotel Mousai, as well as at the neighboring Garza Blanca and Villa Del Palmar within the same complex, allowing you to try everything without thinking of individual prices or a la carte charges.

For guests who prefer not to opt into the all-inclusive dining option, all restaurants are available on a pay-as-you-go basis. You can make restaurant reservations, dine a la carte, and order drinks and snacks as usual. It simply means paying per item, rather than having unlimited access. The all-inclusive model works well if you want to sample multiple restaurants and enjoy long, leisurely meals, while a la carte pricing is ideal for those who tend to eat lightly or plan to spend time away from the hotel exploring the region.

Across the hotel’s dining program, the emphasis on local ingredients is intentional. Seafood is sourced along the Quintana Roo coastline; produce comes from growers in the Yucatán Peninsula; and many herbs, chiles, and tropical fruits are purchased from local markets within a few hours of the resort. It’s not farm-to-table in a rustic way but rather a thoughtful, regionally focused supply chain that keeps menus seasonal and fresh.

Now, the restaurants. NOI quickly became my husband’s and my morning ritual. The pastries were exceptional, and the breakfast spread offered a thoughtful mix of familiar favorites and creative dishes that felt far better than the usual resort breakfast. In the evening, NOI becomes an Italian restaurant, serving handmade pasta and well-balanced dishes.

Photo: Shelly Peterson

Lunch at The Rooftop is easy and breezy, with ceviche, salads, tacos, and cocktails that pair perfectly with time by the pool. One day, the bartender surprised us with a custom drink — a tropical blend of orange, pineapple, mango, lime, and strawberry puree — when we couldn’t decide what to order. He shook it up and poured it over ice until it was the color of a Cancún sunset. It was sweet, tangy, and unbelievably refreshing, like sunshine in a glass.

For our anniversary dinner, we chose Blanca Blue, which focuses on modern Mexican cuisine, and it was our favorite meal of the trip. The five-course tasting menu showcased bold flavors and elegant presentations while showcasing the resort’s commitment to local ingredients. One of the standouts was a bright, citrusy ceviche made with locally caught white fish. It was incredibly fresh and layered with herbs and chiles sourced from growers in the Yucatán. Another favorite was the mole, served with tender, slow-cooked meat and a delicious sauce. Even the dessert, a play on tropical fruits with a hint of mezcal, tied back to the local landscape.

Elsewhere, La Casona offers a classic steakhouse experience that rounds out Hotel Mousai’s dining venues. The warm and refined space also rounded out our trip, as we chose it for our final dinner. The menu focuses on prime cuts, grilled seafood, and elevated sides, all presented with the same attention to detail that we saw throughout all of the on-site restaurants. We loved the ribeye, sea bass, and tableside Caesar salad. Even if you’re not in the mood for a full steakhouse dinner, the atmosphere makes La Casona an easy place to settle in for a slow, relaxed meal after a day in the sun.

Photo: Shelly Peterson

Hotel Mousai is about a 35-minute drive from Cancún International Airport (CUN). A representative from Aventours met us at the terminal and guided us to our transfer. The process was simple and set a relaxed tone for the rest of the stay.
Costa Mujeres is one of the quieter parts of Greater Cancún. The beaches are wide, the water is gentle, and the atmosphere is noticeably calmer than the hotel zone. The ferry to Isla Mujeres is nearby, and the region offers snorkeling, wildlife viewing, and mangrove ecosystems. While we stayed at Hotel Mousai for our entire visit — partly because we were celebrating and partly because the hotel made it so easy to do so — the wider area is worth exploring.

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