Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
Are you researching the 5-star adults-only resort Secrets Maroma Beach in Mexico for your next vacation? It’s important to carefully consider accommodations before booking. I personally value comfort and believe it’s necessary for a good time. Like me, you may be checking TripAdvisor reviews before making a decision.
I think I won’t be staying at hostels anymore. Although TripAdvisor is a good starting point, the user reviews may not be as comprehensive as mine. However, you’re in luck! I just visited Secrets Maroma in Playa del Carmen last week and my review is newly published. If you read my blog regularly, you know that I always provide a thorough review. Secrets Maroma Beach Resort is located on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, specifically halfway between Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos.
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Although I may be a bit dramatic, it saddens me when people state their plans to visit Cancun, Mexico. Don’t get me wrong, Cancun is a lovely place, but it feels as though it’s an American city on a beach. Instead, I would recommend exploring the Riviera Maya, which has a lot more to offer. If you’re planning to visit the Caribbean, wouldn’t you prefer to experience an authentic Caribbean vibe with wooden beach bars and coconuts?
This hotel is a perfect destination for those seeking a luxurious and tranquil getaway. Right from the moment I entered the hotel with my boyfriend, I felt a sense of relaxation taking over me, thanks to the peaceful ambience created by the tranquil fountains, cool limestone and refreshing towels that were provided to us upon arrival. The hotel’s unique layout also caught my attention as it was quite distinct from what is typically found in the region.
The resort consists of a large lobby and 15 smaller buildings that provide accommodation, spas, and preferred clubs. I found this approach enjoyable because the grounds didn’t feel overwhelming, unlike a massive resort where it’s easy to get lost. Breaking the structures up helped avoid this problem and created a perfect blend with the natural surroundings. You won’t find any towering skyscrapers here.
Although there were multiple buildings, the hotel had a cohesive design that made it feel like a single entity. The hotel aimed to create a relaxing experience through various measures such as diffusing pleasant aromas and providing flavored water. As you approached the beach, the atmosphere became more vibrant. I liked that the wellness aspect of the resort was separate from the beach bars and pools, offering the best of both worlds.
The open areas of the hotel have a minimalist and beige decor with ornate black iron railings. However, there are also nice pops of color such as oranges and blues throughout the hotel. The gardens and walkways are well-maintained and stunning. There are shallow pools running through the middle of the walkways that guide you down to the main beach area. These pools are the perfect place to cool off and play ping pong while wetting your ankles.
As I mentioned earlier, I value comfort above all else, and what better way to achieve that than a cozy sleeping area? Despite expecting the hotel rooms to have a minimalistic design, I was pleasantly surprised to find them both stylish and comfortable. Upon entering my own, I was thoroughly impressed!
The at Secrets Maroma have a unique and modern atmosphere. They feature bright pops of color, dark wooden finishings, and funky lamps that make them stand out from the rest of the hotel. I absolutely loved it and think they are among the best rooms I have seen during my stay here.
I really liked the interior designer of this hotel. There are 412 rooms in total, and you can choose between an over-sized standard or swim-up suite. These rooms come with 24-hour room service, WiFi, a mini-bar, furnished terrace or balcony, an in-room jacuzzi, sofa, laptop-size safe, iron, hairdryer, satellite television with DVD player, coffee and tea maker, and an iPod docking station. If you upgrade to a Preferred Club room, you’ll also have access to a private lounge, a pillow menu, and better mini-bar and bath amenities.
The swim-up suite I stayed in was surrounded by lush flora which provided a sense of privacy. It was a luxurious experience waking up and being able to cool off in the water right by our bed.
The Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun resort is located on the beautiful and secluded Maroma Beach. This beach has been voted the World’s Best Beach by the Travel Channel for four consecutive years. During my visit, I noticed that it is one of the widest stretches of sand in Riviera Maya and the hotel does an excellent job of maintaining it. The water is cool and shallow, the sand is powdery and white, and there was no seaweed during my stay. This was a relief!
It’s hard to ask for more from a Caribbean vacation. The beach has wooden walkways that make it easy to navigate from end to end. Walking on a beach this large in the sand is surprisingly difficult, especially in the heat. At the top end of the beach, there are comfortable cabanas where beach waiters are always ready to make you the finest cocktails available. I strongly recommend trying the pineapple mojito – it was delicious!
At the lower part of the resort, there are nets for beach volleyball. Additionally, you can enjoy a variety of beach activities at this place including kayaking and windsurfing.
This hotel actually has a total of 13 pools, but most of them are either swim-up suites or part of the spa. However, there is one large pool area that is split into two and centrally located, which is meant for everyone to enjoy. This pool area ties the hotel together and can be found by heading towards the beach from your room. It’s truly blissful!
I prefer pool locations that are not on a rooftop or in hidden gardens with mosquitoes. However, I really liked the layout of Secrets Maroma. The pool overlooks the beautiful turquoise beach with white powdery sand, which is amazing.
The resort in Riviera Maya has a beautiful stretch of beach and the architect made the best of it by building a lovely resort. It would be amazing to have the pool by the beach. Furthermore, there are plenty of comfortable poolside beds for everyone to relax. The adult-only resort has numerous activities to keep guests engaged. It’s great that there are enough beds to accommodate everyone, because having too few would be frustrating.
Here are some of the activities that are available:
Although Secrets Maroma has a simple and minimalistic design for the hotel itself, they didn’t hold back when it came to theming their restaurants. They offer a wide range of dining options including an international buffet, cafe, 7 à la carte restaurants, and 24-hour room service. Guests can enjoy gourmet dishes such as fresh seafood, sushi, and French and Italian cuisine. The dining options are available all day and night.
You can enjoy premium wines, beers, and cocktails at the resort’s beach, swim-up bar, and 5 other bars and lounges. Additionally, if you wish to go out at night, you can arrange for dinner and drinks and refreshing beer at 10 other participating resorts along the Riviera Maya.
The resort requires guests to follow the dress code posted for each restaurant. If your partner forgets to bring long pants, the hotel provides a selection to borrow. Personally, I’m not a fan of dress codes and meal reservations at hotels, but every resort has its own quirks and this one was mine. Out of all the restaurants, the French one was my favorite.
Make sure to visit the cozy and intimate setting, which has barrel walls, a throne-like table, and chairs that will stimulate your senses. Remember to wear long pants, but don’t worry, the place has air conditioning. Thank goodness!
While it’s not an intense party spot, there’s still plenty to do here until around 2 am. The atmosphere here is more zen than anything. However, there is a dance club available on-site that stays open until 2 am and the lobby bar typically has people hanging around until at least midnight.
There is a sports bar near the pool where people gather after the Elvis show in the theatre ends. It’s not too exciting, but it’s good enough. Additionally, like every other 5-star hotel and resort in the area, there is nightly entertainment, shows, and performances.
If you want to enjoy a wild night out during your vacation, you have options. Secrets Maroma is located near downtown Playa, so you can easily take a low-cost taxi ride to get there. Playa offers live music, numerous bars, and a street entirely dedicated to clubbing on 12th street, if that’s your preference.
When you visit Secrets Maroma Spa, you will notice its impressive size of over 13,000 square feet. The spa, operated by Pevonia, offers numerous options for indulgence. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by friendly staff, refreshing cold towels, pleasant scents, and water infused with fruits or herbs. Overall, the spa provides a tranquil setting for relaxation.
As you lay on the cabana beds and listen to the flowing waterways, you will undoubtedly experience a deep sense of relaxation.
Indulge in a luxurious spa experience featuring the latest hydrotherapy treatments and a wide range of services like seaweed wraps, Swedish massages, Secretsows, hot stone massages, Luminous “C” and Sea facials, and spa pedicures and manicures.
Take out some time to relax at the Secrets Spa during your visit and feel rejuvenated when you leave, ready to tackle anything!
An incredible luxury resort perfect for couples, weddings, and honeymoons. This place oozes romance and relaxation boasting one of the best beaches in the world.
Other Similar Resorts in Cancun:
I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
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