How does that song go? If you like counting iguanas and getting caught in the rain? UNICO 20°87° is the kind of place that makes you smile while doing both (although you can significantly reduce your chance of the second by travelling outside of the rainy season).
We arrived under the bright sun, the turquoise ocean stretching to the horizon, and were met at check-in with a cold, mint-scented towel. That tiny touch, refreshing and fragrant, felt like an immediate invitation to slow down, breathe, and let the hotel take over the logistics of our holiday. Gabriella completed our check-in smoothly, as we relaxed on the soft furnishings in the lobby.
Adults-only, all-inclusive Riviera Maya hotel is effortlessly luxurious; UNICO 20°87° promises indulgence, discovery, and playful freedom.
Settling In at UNICO 20°87°
Our room was a private oasis. The minibar was stocked with sodas, beer, and bottled water, and a subtle, custom scent lingered in the air. The twin queen beds practically winked at us: crisp linen, generous pillows, and just the right level of firmness to make early mornings seem optional, while 24-hour room service and high-speed Wi-Fi ensured that anything we wanted, even before we knew we wanted it, could be delivered. Rudy, ever-smiling and discreet, made luggage disappear in the blink of an eye, and Belen, our concierge duo, became our local guides, arranging everything from spa treatments to insider tips on hidden cenotes and Tulum’s ruins.
We spent our first afternoon wandering the property, realising immediately that UNICO 20°87° isn’t a hotel that demands attention; it quietly draws you in. Poolside service from Josue and Lizbeth meant that a cocktail was never more than a stretch away, and floating on our backs in one of the handful of pools, with the Caribbean stretching into the distance just metres away, we felt that rare combination of luxurious ease and genuine contentment. The beach, miles of soft white sand framed by gently swaying palms, invited afternoon strolls that left footprints destined to be erased by the tide – but be aware of the increasing deposits of seaweed during summer months.
UNICO’s kitchens: Dining at an All-Inclusive Riviera Maya resort
UNICO’s culinary program quickly became a highlight. Breakfast with Alexis was serene, the kind of calm morning ritual that made ordering an espresso a reassuring ritual. A buffet of seemingly endless treats lines the entire wall of the dining space, with pastries, eggs made to order, chilaquiles, crepes, yoghurt… I could go on.
On our first afternoon, Jorge guided us through casual dining restaurant 20.87’s lunch offerings, which included an excellent shredded marlin machaca taco, which was smoky and tangy. You can also, of course, get your lunch delivered directly to your poolside nook – we tried out some tacos from the poolside restaurant, as well as a pizza, both of which were enough to keep one fuelled for sunbathing and the occasional dip.
Of the dinner restaurants, we found all the options were beautifully and intricately designed. There is a calming, luxurious atmosphere created, and it makes you want to dress up a little to enjoy it (although not everyone does). The colonial-style Balam bar behind the lobby is decorated with replica artefacts from Riviera Maya’s ancient civilisations and has a Correspondents’ Club vibe, with dark leather, chess tables and lots of wood holding lots of bottles at the bar. Irlanda concocted a couple of wonderful cocktails for us on several occasions, preparing us for dinner.
Mi Carisa is the Italian restaurant, where we had some quite typical flavoured pasta dishes using tomato and spinach. The wines, which are the same in all the restaurants, have enough options to pair with all the foods available, although premium wines and some spirits are available at an additional cost. Karla at the Italian restaurant made our meal feel effortlessly welcoming, and we were sad not to have the time to return.
Gabriela at the Japanese restaurant Mura House treated us to house specialities with wonderful attentiveness and charm. The tuna tataki in orange and miso sauce was one of my food highlights at this hotel; perfectly seared and delicately flavoured, it had an incomparable freshness. We also enjoyed the tempura rolls and rice with lobster. What’s the point of being by the sea if you don’t indulge in the seafood?!
We were lucky enough to arrive at the opening of a special event called Superbia, during which celebrity chef Sergio Camacho took over the kitchen at the Mexican restaurant Cueva Siete, beginning on our final night at the hotel. Chef Camacho’s menu was full of the flavours of regional Mexican cuisine with the finesse of a high-end restaurant. My favourite dish was sea bass in pumpkin seed crust, in a poblano sauce with bacon jam!
Chef Camacho was constantly flitting between tables, enjoying conversation with all the guests – and sharing the odd tequila – but we were also able to meet the renowned mixologist Amairani Maya, who served some very unique and interesting spirits at the table and explained their provenance as we drank.
The Everyday Magic of Life at UNICO
One morning, we joined an aqua spin session with the wonderful Manu, who was enthusiastic and encouraging as we got our muscles warmed up for a day of lounger-surfing. By midday, we had taken a stroll on the peaceful beach, counting iguanas and spotting pelicans in the waves.
Afternoons often meant lounging with cocktails at the pool, the warm Caribbean sun overhead, the soft hum of waves below. Nights felt intimate yet lively: during the rainy season, an afternoon downpour usually signalled time to beautify for dinner, and the diverse cuisines felt like an ongoing surprise of new flavours, fresh ideas, and the joyful expertise of the staff.
One nice touch is the gift of a straw sun hat (two styles are available), which can then be painted and customised for you, at no extra charge, every other day. As a souvenir to take home, this is a thoughtful addition to your stay.
There is also a programme of activities throughout the day, which was supplied to us by our personal VIP concierge, Manuel, over WhatsApp. Live entertainment, pool poker, lotería, mixology masterclasses and ‘Wine & Art’ experiences add just enough structure to spark connection and curiosity, without ever intruding on the private, restorative rhythm of the resort. We found ourselves wandering from courtyard to pool to beach, discovering little corners of the property that seemed designed to surprise, a quiet hammock tucked beneath palms, a secluded table with a perfect view of the sunset, a gentle breeze carrying the distant notes of music from the lounge.
Spa and Wellness
Spa indulgence at UNICO 20°87° is a ceremony in itself. Charlotte’s shiatsu aromatherapy session with massage therapist Maria melted tension like sugar in warm tea, half convinced her muscles had temporarily forgotten how to ache. My more relaxing treatment with Zuleyma allowed hours of built-up stress to simply float away. We were also able to experience UNICO’s hydrotherapy and sauna circuit, which reminded us how little effort it takes to feel completely reset. Each hot, cold or wet moment was punctuated with small luxuries – soft linens, a face mask, gentle scents, and quiet attentiveness – that made the spa feel like a secret we didn’t want to leave.
If you feel like a few too many cocktails and endless food might be having a negative effect, you can also hit the gym, which has a good range of equipment and, although busy in the morning, definitely made us both feel better about the constant grazing…
Adventures Beyond the Resort
We decided to see more of the Riviera Maya, venturing out to the Tulum ruins via a hotel-arranged taxi. The ruins themselves were magnificent: ancient stone structures rising above the jungle, a reminder that history and nature coexist here in ways that awe and humble simultaneously. For those who have fully committed by this point, there are plenty of iguanas to count here, too.
As well as cultural and nature excursions, UNICO’s in-house travel brokers offer excursions to nearby cenotes – natural pools tucked into hidden grottos – for a refreshing dip that’s almost shockingly cool compared to the sun’s embrace. With the local host service guiding everything from transport to reservations, guests can focus entirely on exploring and playing tourist, without worrying about logistics.
UNICO 20°87° is a companion for the curious, the playful, and the carefree. Adults-only, all-inclusive, and effortlessly attentive, it manages the fine balance of indulgence and freedom on the serene Riviera Maya: mint-scented towels and cocktails on demand, serene spa experiences, curated excursions, and the magic of a beach that stretches on forever. From iguana spotting to sunset cocktails, from cultural visits to candlelit dinners, every moment felt simultaneously curated and spontaneous. UNICO 20°87° blends modern comforts with the natural and cultural designs of Mexico, showing the Riviera Maya at its most luxurious.
UNICO 20°87° Riviera Maya
Manzana 22 Carretera Federal 307
Km. 260, 77710 Solidaridad
Quintana Roo
Mexico
