Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets Delivers on Its “Next Level” Promise

“I LOVE IT! WHERE IS THAT?”

The message from my sister wasn’t actually written in all caps, but I could practically hear her shouting it through my phone. She was responding to a photo I’d sent to my family WhatsApp group of my balcony at the all-new Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets resort in Mexico.

The balcony in my Signature Suite, with its whirlpool, hammock, day bed, and lounge chairs, is one of the least luxurious you’ll find at the 125 room all-suite, all-butler all-inclusive resort on the island of Isla Mujeres, about a 20 to 40 minute boat ride from Cancun. The balcony in the Presidential suite, for instance, is probably three times as large and has a private pool.

No matter what suite you choose at the resort, luxury is what you’ll get. A part of Hyatt’s All Inclusive Collection, Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets has been open since May 2023 but will have its grand opening this November. It’s currently running at about 35% occupancy – it’s off season in Cancun — sales manager Rodrigo Centeno told TMR, with no plans to regularly go much more above 55% in order to keep the resort feeling exclusive.

And boy, does it feel exclusive. A small property with an intimate feel, there are nevertheless four pools, a giant 30-person hot tub, spa pools (for a fee), and several restaurants. With so many options, guests are spread out and it never feels crowded.

We had the chance to experience the property for two nights before the ALG Vacations Ascend conference. Here’s what travel advisors should know.

Getting there
Getting to Isla Mujeres is part of the Impression experience, putting guests in vacation mode before they even arrive at the property. To start with, guests are transferred from Cancun airport to the Dreams Vista Cancun Golf & Spa Resort. There, they’re escorted to a boat transfer for a 20 minute (speed boat) to 40 minute (catamaran) crossing directly to the property.

When the weather is good, guests can sit outside on the catamaran – as we did on our crossing – basking in the sun, while the stress of travel blows away with the breeze. By the time we arrived at the resort, drink in hand, vacation mode had already been activated. Getting back to Cancun is similar.

The transfer’s not quite as enjoyable when it’s raining – or the sea is rough. However, only once since the resort opened in May has the resort not been able to use its own boat transfers and needed to put guests on the public ferry to get them from the resort back to Cancun. In that case, they were escorted from the resort through to meeting up with their van transfer to the airport.

Impatient clients without a budget might want to take advantage of the resort’s helicopter transfer service. For $2,500 each-way, for two people with luggage, clients can go directly from the Cancun airport to a small airport on Isla Mujeres where they’ll be picked up by their butler and transferred via e-golf cart to the resort.

Suite choices
The 125 suites at Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets are divided into 14 room categories. Most are Signature Suites, with either ocean-front (sunset) or neighborhood-front (sunrise) vistas.

All feature one king or two queen beds, private balcony, coffee & tea set with Nespresso machine, spacious bathroom with double sinks and double rain showers, and all sorts of premium in-room amenities.

The entry-level suite is the 602-square-foot Junior suite with king or double bed. Prices for these start at $560 per person, per night. (For clients that want a hot tub, the only Junior suite with a hot tub is the 764-square-foot Junior Suite Double Partial Ocean View.)

Signature suites are all 764 square feet (starting price is $756 per person, per night), while premium suites range in size from 1,281 square feet for a Honeymoon suite (starting price is $1,400 per person, per night) to 3,519 square feet for a Presidential suite (starting price is $1,960.50 per person, per night).

(Take a quick tour of one of the two Presidential suites.)

What’s included
Prices at Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets include boat transfers; butler service (regardless of suite category); all dining, including an extensive in-room menu; unlimited top-shelf spirits throughout the property; fully stocked (and replenished) wine cooler and mini-bar, and a bottle of Patron tequila; free high-speed Wi-Fi; complimentary laundry; 24-hour concierge service; and most on-property activities.

A complimentary 20-minute head, leg, or hand massage is also included, as are a sun hat and beach bag that are yours to keep.

Plus, with advance registration, couples can reserve a complimentary sunset ride on the resort boat (available two days per week).

One aspect of many all-inclusives that’s absent at Impression Isla Mujeres makes for a wonderful inclusion: no set check-in or check-out time. No paying extra for early check-in or late check-out. No matter when you show up your suite will be ready and you can leave whenever fits your schedule.

Dining
Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets is not a large property. Nevertheless, it offers five restaurants, along with a 24-hour coffee and pastry shop and in-room dining with a pretty extensive list of choices.

Breakfast is available in room or at La Vista, where guests will find fresh fruits, parfaits and muesli, French toast and pancakes, omelets and eggs, sandwiches, and Mexican specialties such as breakfast empanadas, tamales, and more.

Lunch is also available at La Vista, where the menu turns to more Mexican style dishes, though a hamburger is always available, as well. Even more Mexican-style dishes can be had at Mercado, one level down from La Vista.  In addition to the Mexican menu items, guests will find a Caesar salad, pizzas, and a poke bowl.

(Guests who can’t be bothered to leave their beach bed will be offered a menu from which they can order and have food delivered directly to them.)

Of the five restaurants, usually three are open for dinner. La Vista is always an option, as is the dressy Spezia, an Italian eatery with a more refined dress code and gorgeous views over the water. While reservations aren’t required, they are recommended, especially for couples that want one of the romantic outdoor tables.

The third restaurant open for dinner rotates between Wildfire, Sake, and UNIK: The Kitchen.  Sake offers pan-Asian hot and cold dishes, along with sushi and sashimi, and a reservation-required Teppanyaki grill. Wildfire specializes in steaks and seafood, and UNIK offers a blend of French, Peruvian, and Mediterranean flavors in a chic rooftop setting.

On- and off-site activities
As with all all-inclusives, guests can spend their days lounging by the pool or beach, booking a third-party excursion (nearby attractions include the Garrafon Natural Reef Park and the MUSA Underwater Museum of Art), or taking advantage of the resort’s daytime activities.

Unlike other all-inclusives, the daytime activities might not be what you expect.

Among our options over the two days on property were: Nidra meditation, painting with the heart, Texas Hold ‘Em lessons, a Huichol art class, and a mixology class. There was also a morning e-bike tour to the south end of Isla Mujeres, as well as a scuba diving demo and intro lesson.

Other activities that might be offered including cooking demos, tequila and mescal tastings, and coffee tastings. The concierge can also help arrange tee times at a golf resort back in Cancun.

Complimentary water sports (weather dependent) include paddle-boarding, kayaking, and snorkeling. For an additional fee, the concierge can arrange scuba diving lessons or excursions.

And for adults who are also kids at heart, there’s a four-story waterslide that twirls from the lobby directly into the ocean.

Of course, there’s also a fitness center and spa on site. Various treatments are available for an extra fee. Also available for a daily fee is a hydrotherapy area with a floatation pool, Hammam, and various saunas and steam rooms.

During the week, the resort is quiet, offering a relaxed tranquility that encourages you to decompress. On weekends, in the evening, a DJ brings a livelier atmosphere to the property.

Locally-sourced and sustainable
Being responsible, both to the environment and the community, are vital pieces of Impression Isla Mujeres’ raison d’etre. You won’t find any single-use plastics on the property, and solar panels are used to heat water – including for showers.

But what the resort and its staff are proudest of is its partnership with Saving Our Sharks Foundation (SOS). Since the resort’s opening in spring 2023, both organizations have worked closely together to teach local shark fisherman other ways of making a living. Instead of fishing for sharks, the fishermen now catch local fish that they sell directly to Impression Isla Mujeres – and some of the restaurants on the island – on a daily or weekly basis.