Riu Cancún is an adults-only all-inclusive by RIU at Punta Cancún, close to the busiest corner of the Hotel Zone. Plan the ceremony about 90 minutes before sunset and keep the last half hour of light for portraits.
Every resort in Cancún has a beach; what changes the photographs is which way that beach faces and how the day is planned around it. Riu Cancún is at Punta Cancún, where the calm bay meets the open Caribbean. Here is how we would plan the photography of a wedding there.
The Resort at a Glance
- HotelAdults-only all-inclusive by RIU, at Punta Cancún
- Beach facesThe corner of Punta Cancún: the bay on one side, the open Caribbean on the other
Venue names and capacities come from the resort's wedding listings and change with renovations and packages, so your coordinator's current sheet is the final word.
Where the Ceremony Happens
Riu Cancún hosts weddings, and its wedding team will give you the current list of ceremony and reception spaces, which changes with renovations and packages. On this coast the best ceremony spot is almost always on the sand or on a raised terrace facing the sea, with the pools and loungers out of the frame.
When you see the options, ask three things: which way the aisle faces, where the sun will be at your ceremony time, and how far the reception is from the ceremony. Short walks keep family photos inside the golden light. Nearby public beaches such as Playa Gaviota Azul and Playa Chac Mool give an open-sea setting a few minutes' walk away.
Sunset and Light by Month
Times for this beach on the 15th of each month in 2027.
| Month | Sunrise | Golden | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:27 am | 5:54 pm | 6:26 pm |
| March | 6:56 am | 6:27 pm | 6:56 pm |
| May | 6:09 am | 6:47 pm | 7:18 pm |
| June | 6:05 am | 6:58 pm | 7:30 pm |
| July | 6:14 am | 7:00 pm | 7:32 pm |
| September | 6:34 am | 6:21 pm | 6:50 pm |
| November | 6:57 am | 5:34 pm | 6:05 pm |
| December | 7:16 am | 5:35 pm | 6:08 pm |
At Punta Cancún the coast turns, so the open Caribbean lies to the east and the calm bay to the north and west. Sunrise comes straight out of the sea, and in summer the sun sets over the bay to the west. Plan the ceremony for roughly 90 minutes before sunset; the portraits then land in the softest light of the day.
Bringing Your Own Photographer
Expect Riu Cancún to charge outside wedding vendors for access. Resorts call it a vendor fee, an outside supplier fee or a day pass, and they revise it by season and wedding package, which is why we do not print a number here. The moment to negotiate it is before you sign your wedding package; afterwards coordinators have little room. Ask whether it is charged per vendor or per person, and get the answer by email. We handle the paperwork with your coordinator.
Weddings in the Cancún Hotel Zone, Through Our Lens
Real IVAE Studios weddings and portraits on the beaches of the Cancún Hotel Zone, so you can see how this light and water look on camera. They show our work in the area, not necessarily at Riu Cancún.
Coverage and Prices
IVAE Studios publishes its prices. Half-day coverage of up to four hours is 1,800 to 2,800 USD, enough for the ceremony, family photos, portraits and the start of the reception. A full day of eight to ten hours with a second photographer is 3,500 to 5,500 USD, and adding a wedding film brings it to 5,500 to 8,000 USD. Every gallery is edited and delivered in a private 4K gallery within one to three business days.