Best Hotel Pools in the Caribbean and Latin America

Ready, set, refresh. Treat yourself to a dip in a shimmering pool and feel your body and spirit revive. Maybe you’d rather grab a fluffy towel for a dip in a beachfront pool, drowse in the shade of rustling palms in a poolside garden, or practice your strokes in a lap pool.

We’ve rounded up some of the most stunning resort pools in the Caribbean and Latin America, so whatever your pool preference, make your plans to visit them soon. After all, you deserve a place in the sun.

As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa

Need to recharge or relax? Do both at The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa. This eco-friendly resort near Playa Conchal, one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches, covers 2,400 acres.

Swim in the free-form, lagoon-style pool that meanders through the lush landscaping. One of the largest freshwater pools in Central America, this spectacular pool includes a kids pool, whirlpool and swim-up bar, plus plenty of cushy loungers for whiling the day away.

Rejuvenate your body and soul at the Heavenly Spa by Westin and dip into its several hot or cold whirlpools. Or take advantage of the resort’s challenging 18-hole championship golf course, three floodlit tennis courts and, for the littles, the fun-filled Westin Kids Club.

If you can tear yourself away, tour operators can guide you on rainforest hikes, volcano walks and more.

Punta Islita, Autograph Collection

Surrounded by a tropical forest and endless ocean views, Punta Islita, Autograph Collection, in Guanacaste, lets you discover the authentic Costa Rica. For a soak or swim, options abound.

The deep-blue-tiled infinity pool, for ages 16 and up, sits perched above the treetops with expansive ocean views and an adjacent whirlpool. For family fun, head to the Los Cocos Beach Pool. If more-private soaks are your style, try the plunge and private pools in the upscale rooms and villas.

Choose from many complimentary eco-adventures and cultural experiences during your stay. Zip line through the forest canopy, take a safari to see monkeys, paddle kayaks through a mangrove, learn to surf or indulge in a wellness treatment based on ancient Chorotega healing wisdom.

Kids and teens will get a kick out of playing pickup soccer games with local children or working with local artists in the resort’s Authentic Costa Rica program.

Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama, Autograph Collection

Choose from seven incredible pools at Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort on Panama’s Riviera Pacifica. Most lie near the iconic lighthouse on the grounds, and they’re just steps away from the beach and surrounded by swaying palms.

Sip the resort’s signature cocktail, made with locally harvested roasted pineapple puree, coconut liqueur and other delicious ingredients, at one of the swim-up bars. Watch the kids splash and play games in one of the children’s pools or take the entire family to the resort pool or one of the five sleek El Faro Beach Club pools. Prefer a secluded swim? Book a villa with a private pool.

While you’re there, shoot for par on the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Design golf course or visit the Panama Canal and other local attractions. The luxurious rooms feature room service and plush beds, so you can unwind and drift off at the end of the day — or sneak in a nap anytime.

Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa

Marriott_Puerto_Vallarta-Resort-Pool — (Photo: Marriott International)

Watch the sun set over the ocean, painting the sky with ribbons of pink and blue, at this beachfront resort in Puerto Vallarta. Its spectacular pools open early and close late, and you can spend plenty of time in the lap pool or plunge pool, both located in the spa.

Gaze at the distant mountains and tumbling waves from the sprawling outdoor infinity pool nestled along the beach. Kick back on a submerged lounger or in a colorful hammock suspended between palm trees on the pool’s “island.” And your little ones will have a blast on the waterslides in a heated pool designed just for them.

Soak up the sun and have fun with a seasonal whale watching tour or play a few rounds at the Vista Vallarta Club Golf Club. Or get closer to nature — and snap selfies alongside exotic orchids and ferns — at the nearby Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens.

JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa

A pool at the JW Marriott Hotel Cancun — Indulge in a revitalizing retreat at JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa.(Photo: Marriott International)

Stunning tropical pools and a lap pool in a Mayan-inspired spa make this 448-room Cancun hotel a standout. Snorkel or scuba dive in the resort’s 14-foot artificial reef pool, or romp with the kids in the family-friendly, free-form pool. An infinity pool reserved for adults overlooks the beautiful beach.

While your swimsuits dry, explore the area’s historic Mayan ruins and rainforest, or take a jaunt to nearby Isla Mujeres. Back at the resort, indulge in Italian, Southwestern, Mexican, Japanese, Caribbean or Thai cuisine. A mixologist at the Lobby Bar can serve you one of 150 different kinds of margaritas.

W Punta de Mita

Forget the yellow brick road. Follow the 460-foot-long “Camino Huichol” walkway, made from more than one million brilliant blue and green mosaic tiles, to the WET Deck and pool at this resort in Nayarit, Mexico, about an hour from Puerto Vallarta.

Vibrantly colored decor in its 119 rooms and suites — some with private plunge pools — mingles with Mexican accents and a fun bohemian vibe (think surfboards and serapes).

The hotel’s dazzling WET TOO infinity-edge pool overlooks a private beach. Relax on a shaded chaise lounge or in a chair submerged in the zero-entry end of the pool and savor the scenery.

Poolside cabanas have oversized daybeds, pergolas feature hanging chairs and sofas, and DJs spin beats while bartenders mix playful drinks on the WET Deck. After dark, slip into one of two whirlpools while the stars twinkle over the waves.