Costa Mujeres, Quintana Roo — RIU Hotels & Resorts will build a new 600-room hotel in Costa Mujeres, with the groundbreaking scheduled before the end of 2026. Marissa Setién, president of the Costa Mujeres Hotels Association, announced the project, saying it will strengthen tourism development in the area’s coastal mainland.

The new resort will bring Costa Mujeres’ total room inventory to 12,277 across 27 hotels, up from the current 11,677 rooms in 26 properties.

Occupancy Softens

Costa Mujeres ended July with an average occupancy of 75%, five percentage points below the same month last year. The downward trend continued into early August, when occupancy registered 72.5%.

Setién said the final weeks of August are expected to be challenging, with September occupancy projected at around 60% as the destination enters its low season.

“The hotel sector is preparing for a period of lower visitor numbers before tourism activity recovers toward the end of the year,” Setién said.

Road Corridor Progress

The first phase of the Cancún–Punta Sam–Costa Mujeres highway corridor, covering just over four kilometers, is 45% complete and is scheduled to finish in December 2026.

The road project includes two more phases:

  • Second phase: will connect the intersection of Bonampak and José López Portillo avenues with Playa Mujeres, with construction expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
  • Third phase: will extend the route to Isla Blanca, linking the region’s main tourism developments.

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By Ana Reyes

Ana Reyes covers environmental policy, conservation initiatives, infrastructure projects, and political developments across the Yucatán Peninsula for Riviera Maya News & Events. She reports on issues from sargassum management and reef conservation to the Maya Train, coastal development, and state and federal policy affecting Quintana Roo and the broader peninsula.Ana has covered environmental and political news since 2023, tracking key developments in Mexico's environmental regulations, coral reef protection, coastal zone management, and the intersection of tourism development with conservation efforts. Her reporting spans from Cancun's hotel zone to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve and the culturally significant regions of the Yucatán interior.Ana is fluent in English and Spanish, and draws from a wide range of sources including government environmental agencies, conservation organizations, academic researchers, and local community leaders to provide balanced, well-sourced coverage. She is particularly focused on how environmental policy decisions affect the daily lives of residents and the long-term sustainability of the region.For story tips: ana@rivieramayanews.mx