By Sinaiyouth 
In recent years, I’ve come to believe that an all-inclusive family vacation is the ultimate way to relax. With all your food and activity fees paid in advance, you’re free to treat yourself to unlimited food and drinks while lounging by the pool or beach. For families in particular, all-inclusive resorts are the best way to ensure that everyone on your crew has a great family vacation. And all-inclusive resorts with a lazy river can further increase the level of fun and relaxation.
There’s no better way to truly relax than floating down a lazy river in the tropics. The best all-inclusive resorts with a lazy river feature elaborate waterways that range from lazy to crazy. So grab a tube (and a margarita) and find the resort with a lazy river that suits your family.
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1. Beaches Turks and Caicos
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
If you can drag yourself away from the crystal blue waters that surround Turks and Caicos Beaches, floating along the resort’s lazy river is a great way to relax in paradise. At 650 feet long, the rippling lazy river seems important in its own right, but it’s also just one part of the Pirate’s Island family water park.
When you’re finally ready to exit the lazy river, you can check out the wave simulator, a great way for kids (and adults) to try their hand at surfing without setting foot in the ocean. I loved lounging on the lazy river while my more daring children raced down the giant water park slides. Beaches Resorts also operates an all-inclusive resort with a lazy river in Jamaica (Beaches Negril).
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2. Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
With huge water parks, adrenaline-pumping water slides and epic lazy rivers, Nickelodeon Resorts appeal to kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens. Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya’s two lazy rivers come in slow and fast versions: the relaxed ride is perfect for smaller guests, while the faster one is a little more adventurous with gentle waves that push you along.
My family has ridden both lazy rivers several times. My eight year old and teenager preferred the lazy river with waves. It was fun moving a little faster than a typical lazy river, but it was still calm enough to live up to the lazy river name. We’ve seen lots of little ones having the time of their lives on the quieter version.
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3. Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa
Old Fort, Saint Lucia
Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa is home to CocoLand, the resort’s action-packed play area that features St. Lucia’s largest water park. In addition to water slides and a water park, CocoLand has a huge lazy river with meanders that take you beneath refreshing waterfalls.
The resort’s lazy river is a wonderful place to relax after sliding down the Coconut Canon waterslide. The all-inclusive resort also offers many other kid-friendly features, including an on-site petting zoo with local animals.
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4. Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit, an all-inclusive resort
Nayarit, Mexico
An oasis nestled deep in a forest canyon, Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit is inspired by the nearby Tolantongo Caves in the Mexican state of Hidalgo. But what makes this one of my favorite lazy river all-inclusive resorts is that it uses the natural thermal waters inside the caves as inspiration for its Aqua Jungle & River experience, the epicenter of the hotel.
In addition to several swimming pools and two children’s areas with slides and paddling pools, Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit has a long artificial river. Floating through the resort on the lazy river is perhaps the best way to experience the surrounding jungle. And when it comes to natural water access, the resort also has easy beach access.
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5. Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana is a family-friendly Caribbean retreat located on picturesque Juanillo Beach in Punta Cana. When you want to take a break from the sun and surf, you can head straight to a laid-back lazy river that meanders through the resort’s Canapolis Waterpark.
When it’s time to stop being so lazy, you can have fun with the Grotto Cascade, water cannons and water slides at the water park. And for those who prefer to swim in the sea, the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana offers easy access to the Caribbean. Like most other all-inclusive resorts with a lazy river, all non-motorized water sports are included with every stay.
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6. Royalton Bavaro, an all-inclusive resort and casino with autograph collection
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Those who prefer their lazy rivers long and scenic will love Royalton Bavaro’s 1,200-foot lazy river that takes you through a cave, relaxing waterfalls, and hidden plunges. The resort’s water park also has a splash pad, a FlowRider surf simulator for budding surfers, and several water slides. Other family-friendly on-site features include mini golf, snorkeling, and kayaking.
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7. Villa La Valencia Beach Resort & Spa Los Cabos
Los Cabos, Mexico
When booking Villa La Valencia Beach Resort & Spa Los Cabos, you have the option of choosing an all-inclusive package or paying for food and drinks a la carte. All guests can enjoy resort amenities including an infinity pool and a lazy river stretching over 1,000 feet (the longest lazy river in Los Cabos). When young guests come down the lazy river, they can jump into the resort’s kids’ pool or head to the kids’ club.
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8. Moon Palace Le Grand–Cancún
Cancun, Mexico
Guests at Moon Palace The Grand – Cancun have access to 19 swimming pools, kids and teen clubs, bicycles, kayaks, tennis courts and much more. When it’s time to stop moving and relax, head to the lazy river at this all-inclusive family resort, where you can relax and enjoy the views. The water park at Moon Palace The Grand – Cancun also features water slides, a wave pool, splash zones and a wave simulator perfect for practicing your surfing skills.
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9. Paradise Island of Atlantis
Paradise Island, Bahamas
Okay, technically Atlantis Paradise Island isn’t all-inclusive, but East a full-service resort in the Bahamas with many extras included in the price, including access to one of the best and largest water parks in the Caribbean. I had to include it as a bonus recommendation because it’s home to the best lazy river in the Caribbean. This unique lazy river goes from a leisurely ride to bumpy rapids and back again with a few surprises.
The Atlantis lazy river is absolutely enormous and winds around the resort. It’s so big that you can board one of the lazy river’s eight entrances or take a shortcut and ride one of the resort’s many water slides down to the rapids for a never-ending ride. If you really want an all-inclusive experience, keep an eye on the Atlantis website, as they sometimes have special deals on all-inclusive packages.
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