Not-so-subtle aromatherapy scents waft through the lobby and hallways at the recently reopened Aqua, the splashiest property (for now) in the Zona Hotelera. When it first opened in 2005, its stylish architecture and celeb-chef restaurants snagged international attention. After Hurricane Wilma decimated the zone a few months later, the curving facade offered unintended sea views through blown-out walls. Now, designer Francisco Gutiérrez has developed an all-new Aqua with a vibe that manages to both soothe and stimulate the senses. An aromatherapy menu rests beside an espresso machine in the 371 rooms. Whirlpool baths for two hold a place of pride between thronelike beds and open bathrooms. Suites have slick entertainment gadgets and multiple mirrors reflecting the blue sky outside the balcony doors. The spa is similarly revitalizing, with Australian aboriginal music, Moroccan oils, and Mayan temezcal techniques. Haute comfort food courtesy of Miami star chef Michelle Bernstein keeps the posh MB restaurant packed with Cancún's monied set. Siete's nouvelle Mexican menu is equally popular. Come nightfall, live performers flow through New Agey dance performances as scarlet macaws swoop above the eight on-site pools and tiered balconies. Tip: Despite its professed focus on ritual and renewal, Aqua is a status spot. Be sure to pack your designer resortwear.

With more than 600 suites, the Fiesta Americana Coral Beach is one of Cancún's largest luxury properties—and, Persian Gulf–style, it bills itself as a "six-star" hotel. While the title invites a raised eyebrow, the Coral Beach is nothing if not grand. Each suite—the smallest of which is 500 square feet—sprawls from a sunken living room to a private balcony with ocean views. The decor incorporates traditional Mexican touches, such as Colonial-style arched porticos and ornate ironwork balcony railings, with modern accoutrements like cordless phones. Stained glass à la Bellagio glows overhead in the lobby, where violins accompany cocktail-hour Margaritas (mixed with Don Julio, for a headache-free buzz). A free-form pool flows alongside the beach; palms shield several lounging areas to provide a sense of privacy.

The sense of escape begins the minute you board a private yacht at Cancún's Embarcadero Marina and leave behind the lineup of pirate ships and tour boats. Graceful white egrets gaze unperturbed from mangrove perches as your craft slips into Laguna Makax on the sleepy western shore of Isla Mujeres. A porter awaiting your arrival leads the way up a marble staircase to a suite overlooking the sparkling sea. Such a grand entrance is one reason Villa Rolandi has attracted the likes of Tony Blair, who once booked all 20 of the hotel's suites for his family. These are furnished in traditional-chic style, with archways between foyer and bedroom, blue pillows piled on the couches, and padded headboards for comfy reading in bed. Bathrooms have showers with dueling showerheads (six in all) and stereo speakers; a flip of a switch converts the shower into a sauna. King beds, couches, and whirlpool baths on the balconies face the hotel's horizon pool and tiny beach, which can get pretty crowded when all suites are full. The Rolandi family's empire began with Italian cafés, and one of their top chefs rules the range at the Villa.

Prefer to swim sans sand and salt? Slip into the lap pool or gigantic Jacuzzi in this resort's 35,000-square-foot spa and watch the sunset over the lagoonthen get a full-body Mayan mask using the aphrodisiacal Xtabentún liqueur before retreating to your room. Everything's oversize and highly personalized herethey'll even arrange to have framed pictures of family or friends in your room upon arrival. Book a suite with access to Club 91, the hotel's "boutique" level lounge with ocean-view balconies, gourmet food on hand throughout the day, complimentary Internet access, and private concierge service. Opt for the standard rooms, and you still get a plush carpeted space with a balcony and ocean view, flat-screen TV, large bathroom with double sinks, and Marriott's signature casual-elegant decor. Of the three restaurants, Gustino stands out for sublime Italian, and the kids' club has the little ones babbling in Spanish in no time. For further water immersion, consider the resort's 18-foot-deep dive pool, complete with an artificial reef.

The Presidente was one of Cancún's first luxury hotels, and though it's not as sleek and high-tech as some of its competitors, it has a comfy, lived-in casualness that suits the flip-flop-and-shorts ambience of Cancun. Some of the service staff here have been gushing over hotel guests for ten years. The scarcity of balconies in sea-facing rooms is a major flaw in the '70s-style architecture; ask for a suite on the tenth floor to insure the most generous space indoors and out. Renovations in 2006 to bring the property closer to the competition resulted in cocoon-soft beds in the 299 rooms and a mirrored tequila bar in the middle of a new glass-walled lobby, with pool and sea views. There's also Wi-Fi in the lobby, plus two restaurants and an upscale palapa beach bar where you can actually watch the sun set into the sea (most hotels face east). The best reason to book is Presidente's beach, the most private and peaceful stretch of silky white sand and languid aquamarine sea in the Zona Hotelera.

The Ritz-Carlton has long been one of Cancún's most luxurious hotels, with a prime location on a quiet street near the Zona Hotelera beaches. The property underwent a $15-million renovation in 2006 that refurbished—but didn't alter—the classic Ritz-Carlton decor: Marble floors gleam, chandeliers sparkle, and rooms are still upholstered in plush, soft-colored fabrics. The 365 rooms all look out on the water (to varying degrees) and have plenty of space. Dining experiences include dinner on the sand in private, torchlit cabanas, and cooking classes and elegant tequila tastings at the Culinary Center. Whether or not the formal ambience is your cup of tea, there's no denying the superiority of the service: A beach attendant brings ice for the bottled water you grabbed from the minibar or sets your tote bag on a stool so it doesn't get sandy; a spa attendant adjusts the temperature of your shower before you step in.