At Nizuc Resort & Spa you will feel like a king — or at least a president. And you should. The hotel is where Mexico’s presidential retreat used to be. Think of it as the country’s Camp David.  

In 2005, the retreat was demolished and construction started on Nizuc. The luxury resort opened last September, and although it’s no longer a presidential retreat (however, Mexico’s current president has stayed here), you can’t help but feel like you’re staying at an exclusive compound. A tall wall protects the entire resort, and a huge wooden gate dramatically opens as you enter paradise.

When you hear the name Cancun, the first word that pops into your mind is “party.” And while there is a plethora of places to take body shots on the island, my recent stay at Nizuc made me think of another word — luxury.

Nizuc (nih-ZOOK) means “dog nose” in Mayan and describes the shape of the peninsula between Laguna Nichupté and the Caribbean Sea at the gateway of the Riviera Maya. Nizuc’s location puts it miles away from the congestion of the hotel zone, so it’s a peaceful oasis, void of the crazy partying crowd. By law, all beaches in Cancun are public, but thanks to Nizuc’s somewhat isolated locale, guests can enjoy the beach in a private environment.

There are currently 274 suites at Nizuc: 201 residential suites, 44 ocean suites, and 29 garden pool villas. I stayed in an ocean-view suite in a building called Ceba. The room was spacious, with tall ceilings, a sofa, and a large bed. There were no bright colors or loud art. The décor was simple and elegant — understated even. Out on the patio was a small plunge pool. I didn’t use it during my stay — I mean, the ocean was right there — but it was fun to look at.