Unico 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya

The Unico brand's defining principle, at its Riviera Maya location, is that all-inclusive dining should be built on what a region actually grows and cooks, not what a resort can cheaply bulk-purchase. The property sits in Akumal, midway down the Riviera Maya between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, and opens onto a private beach and reef. The all-inclusive rate at Unico 20°87° bundles four restaurants, a cafe, two bars, unlimited spa services, and chosen excursions into the nightly tariff. The age floor is 18 across the entire property, enforced at check-in. What makes it distinct is the culinary philosophy: the kitchens work with local purveyors, and menus rotate seasonally to reflect what's being harvested and caught. This is not a generic all-inclusive where the same buffet rotates daily; it is a property where the inclusion model itself is the reason to stay.

Dining at Unico breaks across four distinct restaurants rather than a catch-all main buffet. The anchor is the open-concept main dining room, where breakfast and lunch run as buffets featuring fresh juices, Yucatecan specialties, and made-to-order items, and dinner shifts to an à la carte menu requiring reservations. A companion restaurant focuses on international and contemporary cuisine, also à la carte at dinner. A third venue emphasizes seafood and raw preparations, grounded in the day's catch from the reef and nearby fishing communities, and operates on walk-in availability so you can pop in when hunger strikes. The cafe rounds out the lineup and serves light fare, pastries, and coffee throughout the day without reservation requirements. All food is included; no restaurants fall outside the all-inclusive package or charge an upcharge. The à la carte dinner model means you cannot simply walk in and expect a table at the main restaurant on a busy night, so flexibility and advance reservations are practical realities rather than hidden gotchas. The kitchen staff are all trained in traditional Yucatecan techniques and in the contemporary preparations that round out the menus, and the sourcing is transparent: a server can tell you which fisherman brought in this morning's grouper.

The beverage program is equally rooted in place. The two bars serve Mexican spirits as their core, particularly regional mezcals and craft tequilas, alongside mainstream brands. Beer is included, as are soft drinks and juices. Wine and premium spirits beyond the house selections are not part of the base all-inclusive rate, though house wine is poured at dinner. The cafe offers coffee service, and in-room minibar service can be arranged but does not come standard in the rate. This is a property where the spirits list reflects what's made locally and what pairs with the food, not an exhaustive top-shelf inventory that costs more to stock than most guests would order.

Beyond dining, the all-inclusive covers a full-service spa using native botanical ingredients and focusing on treatments grounded in pre-Hispanic wellness traditions. Massages, facials, body treatments, and rituals are bookable at no additional cost, though slots can fill quickly during high-occupancy periods, so early booking is advised. Three outdoor pools dot the property, including a swim-up bar. Fitness classes, water sports like paddleboarding and snorkeling, and access to the private beach are included. The excursion program offers day trips to cenotes, Mayan ruins, and local villages, typically staffed by local guides who can speak directly to what you are seeing rather than reading from a script. These are included in the nightly all-inclusive rate, though not all guests book them; they are optional add-ons to your stay rather than mandatory experiences. The property does not state a specific cap on how many you can take, so the limiting factor is typically your own energy and time rather than resort policy.

The suites span several tiers. The entry-level oceanview rooms sleep two guests in a king bed and open onto a partial ocean view or garden. Step-up suites add space, balconies, or enhanced amenities. The top-tier Estancia suites offer the largest footprint, indoor and outdoor living spaces, and direct beach access. All suites include air conditioning, modern furnishings, bathrooms with both tub and shower, and daily housekeeping. Room service is available but not automatically included in the rate; check the specifics at booking. The rate itself does not vary by tier with respect to dining and spa inclusions. Whether you book a standard oceanview or a top Estancia suite, you have access to the same restaurants, bars, spa, pools, and activities. The price difference reflects the room size and location, not the inclusion model.

The property is decidedly adults-only, a distinction that affects the entire operational model. No children or teens under 18 are permitted; the resort does not accept families or mixed-age groups. This drives every design choice, from the menu complexity at dinner to the soundscape by the pool to the clientele you will encounter. The staff are trained for an adult environment and adjust their service style accordingly. No kids' clubs, no noise from children, no high chairs at breakfast. This is a product designed entirely for guests over 18, enforced at every step.

The all-inclusive model at Unico 20°87° is transparent about what "all" means. Food and nonalcoholic beverages are fully included. Spa services are fully included. Fitness and beach activities are included. Excursions are included. Premium spirits beyond the house bottles, wine beyond house pours, and personal services like room service beyond basic turndown are not included and cost extra. This is not a property that disguises costs or nickel-and-dimes you with resort credits; the inclusions are front-loaded and clear at booking. The nightly rate is typically quoted as all-in for meals and core experiences, with extras broken out separately. If you are a wine collector or prefer top-shelf spirits, budget accordingly and clarify the wine list and spirit selection in advance. If you are seeking an experience where regional food and local sourcing are the draw, the inclusions are precisely what you came for.

This property works best for adults seeking a culinary-forward retreat where the inclusion model is built around the region's own traditions rather than a one-size-fits-all buffet operation. Guests who value ingredient transparency, local sourcing, and the story behind what they eat will find Unico 20°87° exceptionally well-aligned with their priorities. Travelers on a budget wanting the lowest-price all-inclusive should look elsewhere; this is a premium product where the resource goes to ingredient quality and skilled kitchen staff, not volume or cost-cutting. The property draws couple travelers and small groups of friends, not large families or multigenerational trips, so the social dynamic skews quieter and more conversational than a larger mixed-age resort. If you want a beachfront adults-only all-inclusive where the inclusion model is explicitly regional and culinary, Unico 20°87° lives up to that mandate.