An artist's rendering of the Riu Palace Peninsula, which is currently under construction. — Photo courtesy of Riu Hotels & Resorts

Riu Hotels & Resorts is building a new resort in Cancun's hotel zone. The new resort will be called Riu Palace Peninsula and it is scheduled to open in the Summer of 2012. It will be located on the northern strip of the hotel zone, facing Mujeres Bay, and the Riu Caribe resort will be right next door to the site of the new hotel.

The new 562-room property will have guest rooms in the main building (the high rise structure), as well as Jacuzzi Junior Suites and Jacuzzi Suites, in the Villas section of the resort. 

This all-inclusive, family-friendly resort will have a main restaurant, with buffets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as five specialty restaurants (reservations required). Room service will be available 24 hours a day. In addition to all meals, drinks, and room service, the all-inclusive plan also includes complimentary restocking of the in-room mini-bar as well as drink service by the pool. 

The hotel will have a kids club, for children ages 4 to 12, which will offer daily activities to entertain the youngsters while mom and dad relax by the pool, or on the beach. Activities and entertainment will also be available for adults. There will be games and activities, like beach volleyball, during the day, and shows or live music in the evenings.

The main building will have four swimming pools and the villas section will have a private pool, exclusively for guests staying in that part of the resort. An ice cream parlor and several bars, including a sports bar, a swim-up bar, and a beach bar, will also be on the hotel grounds. There will be a Renova Spa on-site, offering a wide variety of spa treatments for guests (not included in the all-inclusive plan).

During the day, guests will have the option to visit the neighboring resort, Riu Caribe, and to use that hotel's facilities. 

Reservations are currently being accepted for the Riu Palace Peninsula.