Planet Trekkers and a Calm Beach: InterContinental Presidente Cancun Reviewed

Planet Trekkers, the resort’s kids’ club for ages 4–12, is one of the few genuinely staffed, structured children’s programs on this stretch of Cancun’s Hotel Zone — and combined with direct access to one of the calmer Caribbean beaches in the area, it’s the core reason families with elementary-age children keep returning to the InterContinental Presidente Cancun Resort. This is a 5-star, non-all-inclusive property, so costs add up fast; families expecting a wristband-and-done pricing model will want to factor that in before booking.

Key Highlights

• Star rating: 5-star
• Price range: $$$$ — rates from around $266/night off-peak; expect $600–$1,000+ per night for family-suitable rooms during peak season (e.g., March)
• Kids club: Planet Trekkers, ages 4–12, with professional staff
• Beachfront: Yes — direct access to Playa Presidente (Playa Ancha), calm Caribbean waters
• Family pool: Yes — dedicated family pool separate from adults-only pool
• Family rooms/suites: Yes — suites with living rooms, dining areas; upgraded options include private pools and kitchens
• All-inclusive: No — some packages may include meals
• Babysitting: Available for an additional charge
• Spa: Yes

Planet Trekkers and the Family Pool Setup

The kids’ club here operates with a defined age bracket — 4 to 12 — and professionally staffed programming, which puts it above the informal “drop a few toys in a room” setups found at comparable-price properties nearby. For parents of school-age children, this creates real windows for adult time without leaving the resort. The dedicated family pool runs alongside an adults-only option, which means the resort has actually thought through the logistics of mixed-age guests rather than simply declaring itself “family-friendly.” Babysitting is available for an additional charge, useful for families with children under 4 who fall outside the kids’ club age range.

The Beach Is the Standout

Playa Presidente — also known as Playa Ancha — sits directly in front of the resort and consistently draws positive attention in guest feedback for its calm, swimmable conditions and clean white sand. On a coastline where wave action and rocky patches can vary significantly hotel to hotel, this matters for families with young children. The Interactive Aquarium Cancun and La Isla Shopping Village with the SkyWheel are both roughly a 10–15 minute drive (about 3.5 miles), giving families practical half-day options beyond the resort perimeter. The El Rey Archaeological Zone and the Mayan Museum of Cancun are around 7 miles away — a 15–20 minute drive — for families who want to add some cultural context to a beach trip. To plan activities beyond the resort, browse family-friendly tours and activities or compare kid-friendly day tours before you arrive.

Rooms and Space for Families

Suite configurations here go well beyond a standard double — living rooms, dining areas, and at the top end, private pools and kitchens. For multi-generational families or those traveling with older kids who need their own space, this is a material advantage. The building itself dates to 1975 and has been renovated, but worth knowing if freshness of construction is a priority. One practical note from guest reports: Wi-Fi may incur extra charges in standard rooms, so confirm this at booking if connectivity matters to your family.

Getting There and Around

The resort sits at Blvd. Kukulcan Km 7.5 in Cancun’s Hotel Zone — get directions here. Airport shuttle and local shuttle services are available. Playa Tortugas is walkable at around 1.1 miles (20–25 minutes). There is no grocery store within easy walking distance, so families who rely on self-catering snacks or formula should plan to stock up before arriving or use room service. Upgraded suites with kitchens offer storage for anything you bring in.

What Recent Guests Say

• Several recent reviewers praise the beach and ocean conditions, consistently describing the water as calm and the setting as among the best in Cancún, making it a standout feature for families.
• A common theme in guest feedback is that staff are attentive, friendly, and responsive, with multiple guests noting that concerns were addressed and that the overall service level felt genuinely hospitable.
• Cleanliness and upkeep of the rooms, pool, and common areas are repeatedly highlighted as strong points across many reviews.
• Some guests raise concerns about the “ocean view” room category, with multiple reviewers reporting that their initial room assignment did not deliver the unobstructed view they expected, though staff generally worked to find a better option.
• Birds at the outdoor breakfast area are flagged as a recurring nuisance by more than one guest, with some expressing concern about food hygiene at the buffet as a result.

Who This Hotel Suits — and Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere

This resort works best for families with children aged 4–12 who will use the kids’ club, and for multi-generational groups that benefit from varied suite configurations and a calm, quieter resort environment away from the Hotel Zone’s nightlife strip. The beach quality and structured kids’ programming are genuine differentiators at this location.

It’s a harder sell if your priority is all-inclusive convenience — this is not that property, and at $600–$1,000+ per night during peak season, dining and drinks billed separately will push the total meaningfully higher. Families traveling with toddlers under 4 won’t have kids’ club access, though babysitting can fill some of that gap for an extra fee. The outdoor dining areas are open-air and can run warm, and the mixed reviews on breakfast buffet quality — compounded by the reported bird situation — are worth weighing if a good buffet breakfast is important to your family’s daily rhythm. If you’re booking an ocean-view room specifically for the view, request confirmation of the specific room at booking rather than relying on the category description alone.

For the full amenities breakdown and Family Fit rating details, see our full Resort Finder profile for InterContinental Presidente Cancun Resort.