Excellence Playa Mujeres vs Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
Honeymooners flying into Cancun for a first all-inclusive land on these two. Excellence Playa Mujeres is the gated, repeat-guest favorite north of the city; Secrets Maroma is the smaller, pricier Hyatt on a beach ranked among the world's best (a new Jungle Pool and rebuilt restaurant kitchens are under construction through November 30, 2026, with existing pools open).
Excellence Playa Mujeres
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
At a Glance
| Excellence Playa Mujeres | Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun | |
|---|---|---|
| Google Rating | 4.9 ★ | 4.7 ★ |
| Google Reviews | 16,830 | 4,547 |
| Price Range | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Resort Type | Adults Only | Adults Only |
| Location | Playa Mujeres, Mexico | Playa Maroma, Mexico |
| Rooms | 450 | 412 |
| Brand | The Excellence Collection | Hyatt |
| Vibe | Luxury, Quiet | Green, Romantic |
| Room Upgrades | Plunge Pool Rooms, Swim-Up Rooms, Rooftop Suites | Swim-Up Rooms, Preferred Club |
What Real Travelers Say
Distilled from real traveler discussions and reviews for each resort.
Excellence Playa Mujeres
What travelers love
- +Repeat visitors are the norm, and many travelers have been three to six times with staff who remember them by name across years
- +Beautiful white sand beach inside the gated Playa Mujeres community, sheltered by Isla Mujeres just offshore, and consistently described as some of the cleanest sand near Cancun
- +Seven pools totaling 55,500 square feet, five of them heated in winter, plus a lazy river, four hot water Jacuzzis beside the pools and five pool-integrated whirlpools
- +Eleven dining venues on the all-inclusive plan, including Chez Isabelle for French, Basmati for contemporary Indian, The Lobster House, The Grill steakhouse and a takeaway wood-oven pizza window, with eleven bars pouring premium pours
- +Dinner reservations are not required anywhere except the Teppanyaki tables at Spice, and there are no wristbands, so you walk in and eat
Common complaints
- −Suites have been getting refreshed building by building through 2026 according to guest reports, with no published schedule or completion date, so an unrenovated suite still shows its age and a building under active work can mean daytime noise. Ask which buildings are finished when you book
- −The open-concept bathroom has a frosted glass partition that does not fully cover the doorway, so privacy from the bedroom is limited
- −Air conditioning struggles with the humidity in some suites, which stay cold but feel sticky and musty
- −Long-time repeat guests say food quality has slipped over the years, and it is solid all-inclusive cooking rather than a destination for eating
- −The ground-floor swim-up suites open onto a private deck with a strip of lawn between you and the water, so it is not the step-straight-in layout the name suggests
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
What travelers love
- +Maroma Beach is regularly ranked among the top 10 beaches in the world - pristine white sand, calm turquoise water, and never overcrowded
- +The most romantic Secrets resort according to most travelers - intimate size, gorgeous grounds, and a dreamy couples atmosphere
- +Overwater bungalows (first in Mexico) are a bucket-list experience with glass floors, private plunge pools, and direct ocean access
- +Smaller property creates an exclusive, boutique feel where staff learn your name and preferences within the first day
- +Exceptional spa that takes advantage of the jungle setting with outdoor treatment rooms and a cenote-inspired hydrotherapy area
Common complaints
- −Overwater bungalows are extremely expensive ($1,500-3,000+/night) and book months in advance
- −The smaller size means fewer restaurant options, fewer pools, and less variety than larger Secrets resorts
- −Preferred Club is practically required to access the best areas, adding significantly to an already premium price
- −Some travelers find the intimate size boring after 4-5 days - there's simply less to do than at Moxche or Cap Cana
- −Active construction from July 18 through November 30, 2026 - an entirely new signature Jungle Pool area is being built and the Sugar Reef Bar redesigned (existing pools stay fully operational), and restaurant kitchens are being rebuilt August 22 to November 30 with affected menus temporarily relocated to other venues
Amenity Differences
Only at Excellence Playa Mujeres
- Adults-Only Pool
- Heated Swimming Pool
- Lazy River
- Waterpark
Only at Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
Nothing Excellence Playa Mujeres doesn't also have.
The Verdict
Start with the beach: a guest who's walked both scores Maroma's a 10 to Playa Mujeres' 8. Maroma's rooms read more modern, and the traveler who's eaten at both preferred its food, while Excellence regulars say their kitchen has slipped to solid. Playa Mujeres answers with ease and scale: seven pools and a lazy river, dinner anywhere without a reservation except Spice's teppanyaki (Maroma's tables fill fast), better pool and drink service, and a rate well below Maroma's. At Maroma, Preferred Club is close to mandatory and waterfront chairs go by 8 a.m. Honeymooners who'd trade variety for the sand go Maroma; couples who want a week of pools and walk-in dinners for less go Playa Mujeres.
Choose Excellence Playa Mujeres if…
Seven pools, a lazy river and walk-in dinners nightly, on a beach Isla Mujeres shelters from the worst sargassum, for noticeably less.
See Full Details & ReviewsChoose Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun if…
Sand ranked among the world's best, a jungle spa and splurge-priced overwater bungalows are worth the higher rate and booking dinner on arrival.
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