Resort Review: Etereo Auberge Riviera Maya (2025)

If you’re dreaming of a luxury getaway in Riviera Maya, Mexico, let me introduce you to Etereo Auberge, a boutique resort located in the new Kanai development. My sister and I recently spent nearly a week here, and it was one of the most memorable trips we’ve ever taken. From the personalized check-in experience to the stunning architecture and incredible food, it was pure bliss.

Here’s my full Etereo Auberge review—what we loved, what we ate, and a few tips for anyone planning a trip.

A Sister Trip to Riviera Maya

Etereo Auberge is located less than an hour from Cancun International Airport, making it an easy destination to get to. My sister B and I don’t get to see each other often—she lives in San Francisco and I’m in Toronto—so this was a rare chance to have almost a full week of one-on-one time together.

B is a fan of Auberge Resorts and has raved about her past stay at Esperanza in Cabo. She’s also planning a trip to Stanly Ranch in Napa, so I was excited to finally experience an Auberge property for myself. Spoiler: she has great taste.

Checking In at Etereo Auberge

As soon as we arrived, a small team welcomed us: a conch shell was blown (a very White Lotus moment lol), the resort manager said hello, and we met our guía, our personal guide and butler for the stay.

Instead of a traditional front desk, we were escorted straight to our room for check-in.

Thanks to an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts promotion, we were upgraded to a Sky Suite.

The room was dreamy—think a spacious king-sized bed, large soaking tub, local wood accents, and a private balcony with its own plunge pool. Best of all, the mini bar was stocked with some unlimited complimentary drinks. We went through so much coconut water that week!

The Resort: Boutique Luxury in Kanai

Etereo Auberge has a lovely jewel box boutique feel. The property includes:

• Two main restaurants plus a coffee cart

• An adult-only pool and a family-friendly pool

• A private beach club

• A small boutique shop

The architecture and landscaping are stunning. The design is contemporary yet blends beautifully with the surrounding nature. Everywhere you look—whether hammocks, fire pits, or chic lounge spaces—it feels a little like a movie set.

Tip: Don’t miss the fire pits in the cooler season. In July it was too hot to linger, but I can only imagine how magical it must feel with a cocktail under the stars.

Daily Routine: Pure Relaxation

Our main goal? To rest and recharge during busy work seasons. Here’s what a typical day at Etereo Auberge looked like for us:

• I’d wake around 6 a.m., grab a chilled coconut water, and enjoy prayer and quiet time on the couch in our room with a view of the ocean.

• Once B woke up, I’d make us coffees with the in-room Nespresso and we’d head to the gym or straight to breakfast. (We also tried a TRX class with Victor—highly recommend!)

• Late mornings were for beach cabanas.

• Afternoons were for poolside lounging with snacks and drinks.

• Evenings were for long, leisurely dinners.

• At night, we’d head back to our suite, chat, and sometimes watch White Lotus.

We repeated this cycle for six days straight. It was heaven.

Dining at Etereo Auberge

One of the highlights of our trip was the food. Etereo is not all-inclusive, but during our stay they offered a breakfast credit of $45 USD per person, which was more than enough and honestly had us too full for lunch most days.

Breakfast Highlights

Breakfast is at Itzam. We tried many dishes—huevos rancheros, Mexican chocolate pancakes, eggs benedict, guava bowl, breakfast burrito, various daily specials—but our clear favorite was the creamy poblano cazuela with poached eggs and grilled panela cheese. We usually shared three different dishes each day, but we loved the cazuela so much that on our final morning, we each ordered our own. Don't miss the world's most perfectly crisp yet fluffy breakfast potatoes, ideal for dunking in the poblano sauce.

Service was excellent across the board, but we especially enjoyed dining in Belisario’s section. He remembered our preferences and made breakfast even more fun.

Coffee at Chu Chu Cart

Every suite comes with a Nespresso machine, but by day three we explored the Chu Chu coffee cart. This is where we fell in love with the pistachio lattes. B got a pistachio cafe latte and I went with the pistachio matcha latte and honestly it was one of the best drinks I’ve ever had. The barista, Mary, created the recipe herself: equal parts pistachios, sugar, and water cooked down into a syrup. Highly recommend. I'm not usually a sweet drink girly but with this I asked for triple syrup and had it daily from then on out! It wasn't too sugary, but nutty and creamy. Both the iced and hot versions were great.

Dinner: Itzam vs. Che Che

Dinner at Itzam, the main restaurant, was consistently excellent. The vibe is upscale but relaxed, with thoughtful touches like amuse bouches, petit fours, and fresh handmade tortillas served with nearly every dish.

Our top picks:

• Any of the grilled seafood (fish, prawns) or veg (carrots, broccolini) dishes—the accompanying sauces are insane

• Deconstructed tres leches with mamey ice cream (first time trying mamey—like cantaloupe meets pumpkin, delicious!)

The second on-site restaurant, Che Che (a Nikkei spot), was unfortunately underwhelming. The dishes were pricey (the two things above came to around $90 USD), portions small, the taste was just mid, and there were no special touches like at Itzam. It is also a restaurant with largely raw options and the restaurant is open air... eating raw dishes in the summer humidity is not the most relaxing experience, at least not for me.

Instead, I recommend exploring the restaurants at the neighboring St. Regis Kanai or The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai.

Exploring the Kanai Strip

Etereo Auberge is part of the Kanai luxury development, which also includes the St. Regis Kanai and The Edition Kanai. Each property offers free golf cart rides between resorts, making it easy to explore.

Highlights:

• Shopping: The Edition has the best boutique.

• Dining: We loved Toro at St. Regis Kanai, from the tuna chicharrón to the over-the-top smashed chocolate dessert for two.

• Drinks: Don’t miss the champagne sabering or creative snacks at the St. Regis Bar either.

Guests & Atmosphere

During our stay, we noticed a mix of couples (including babymooners), young families, and a few solo travelers. The vibe was relaxed, quiet, and never crowded.

Fun fact: after leaving, I saw on Instagram that one of the families vacationing alongside us was an influencer family, and Jessica Alba had also recently stayed at the property. Despite the luxury, it never felt pretentious or overly influencer-y.

Unexpected Highlight

On one evening, Omarr, another guía at the resort, saw B and I taking pre-dinner photos and offered to lend a hand. Turns out he is a photography enthusiast... and takes amazing photos! His friendliness and willingness to help us out means we left with some stunning shots. I've since printed one out for display in my living room. If you're into photos, be sure to request him as your guía.

Areas for Improvement

The only real downside? As an early riser, I wished there were coffee options available at sunrise. At 6:30 am, neither the main restaurant nor Chu Chu were open, and the Nespresso was too noisy to use while my sister slept. A small thing, but worth noting if you’re also an early-morning coffee lover.

One Thing to Note

We didn't realize this before we arrived but there is a Mayan spirituality focus at Etereo with things like new moon ceremonies and palo santo on offer. Everyone is able to decline with no awkwardness so if this is not for you, just say so.

Final Thoughts: Is Etereo Auberge Worth It?

Our stay at Etereo Auberge Riviera Maya was wonderful. Nearly a week of girl time with my sister, surrounded by stunning design, excellent service, and some of the best food we’ve had at a resort.

If you’re looking for:

• A luxury honeymoon or babymoon resort in Riviera Maya

• A peaceful escape focused on relaxation and connection

• A base to explore the new Kanai development

…then Etereo Auberge is a fantastic choice.

We’re more “skincare and bed by 10” vacationers than Playa del Carmen partygoers, so Etereo’s vibe was absolutely perfect for us. If that sounds like your style too, you’ll love it here.

If you have more questions about Etereo Auberge or the Kanai resorts, leave a comment or a DM. Happy to share more.