El Dorado Seaside Palms
El Dorado Seaside Palms is the all-inclusive for people who've done the mega-resort thing and want something more personal. It's adults-only and all-suite, set on the Kantenah stretch of coast at kilometre 95 of the Playa del Carmen to Tulum highway, about ten kilometres south of Puerto Aventuras (Lomas files it under a Puerto Aventuras heading, which is why the marina sometimes gets described as walkable; it isn't). One operational note worth knowing: Karisma no longer manages the property. Owner Grupo Lomas took over direct management in late 2023, and it now runs under the More Inclusive by Lomas Hospitality banner.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Swim-up suites with real direct access: the standard Suite con Swim Up steps from its terrace into a slow river winding through the gardens, while the Royal Retreat Swim Up Suites open straight onto a pool, so nobody is crossing a grass strip in a wet swimsuit
- +Every room is a suite, from the garden-view Junior Suite up through Beachfront Junior Suites and the Royal Retreat Oceanview and Beachfront Swim-Up Suites, so even the entry category is roomier than a standard all-inclusive hotel room
- +The More Inclusive program from Lomas Hospitality, which runs the resort directly since owner Grupo Lomas took it back from Karisma in late 2023, adds round-trip transfers from Cancun airport plus bookable outings like a cenote swim with an underground cave walk, a catamaran snorkel trip off Maroma Beach and a wave runner tour
- +No dinner scramble at the Mexican restaurant: La Carreta and the Gourmet Pub both state that no reservation is needed, which takes the 8 a.m. booking anxiety out of the week
- +A proper swim-up bar circuit for an adults-only resort: Colibri by villa 35, Gaviotas among the villas with Balinese beds, and Garcitas in the Premium section serving gourmet bites and lunch in the water
- +Quiet, couples-focused scale where returning guests regularly mention staff remembering them by name, a service culture that bigger campuses rarely manage
- +Casual beach eating done well: La Sandwicherie turns out wood-fired pizza, nachos and burgers steps from the sand, and the Beach Barbecue does tacos and burgers right on the beach
Cons
- −Older suite interiors: travelers describe the rooms as spacious but dated in style, which stings more at this price point than at a budget resort
- −The beach varies by section, with the strip in front of the Suites side narrower and less dramatic than the sandier Palms side
- −Pool space is modest for the price, since much of the water is the lazy-river-style channel serving the swim-up suites rather than big open pools
- −Too calm for travelers who want a party or a busy social scene; La Cantina behind the lobby, open evenings only, is about as lively as nights get
- −Sargassum: summer 2026 guests on traveler forums reported heavy seaweed and smell along the Kantenah shore despite crews clearing all day, so check current conditions before booking a beach-first trip in the warm months
- −The best More Inclusive outings are off property and need booking ahead at the hospitality desk; Lomas charges a $25 per person no-show fee, the water park is one entry per three-night stay (for bookings since June 1, 2025), and the ranch visit includes time with horses but not an actual ride
- −You need a car or taxi for everything: Puerto Aventuras, Akumal, Playa del Carmen and Tulum are all drives, not walks
The swim-up suites are the signature. The standard Suite con Swim Up opens from its terrace onto a slow river running through the gardens, and the Royal Retreat Swim Up Suites open directly onto a pool, so pick the category based on whether you want a quiet channel or a proper pool outside the door. Dining on the Palms side centers on Arrecifes for all three meals, Culinarium a la carte for breakfast and lunch overlooking the gardens, La Carreta for Mexican dinners (no reservation, casual-formal dress), La Sandwicherie and the Beach Barbecue for casual bites by the sand. Lomas' own page for the resort also lists venues shared with neighboring El Dorado Seaside Suites, including Italian at Mia Casa Dorado, Asian at Klay Talay and the Gourmet Pub. Swim-up bars include Colibri, Gaviotas and Garcitas, and La Cantina pours mezcal and traditional drinks in the evenings. The weak spots are dated room decor, limited open pool space, and a shoreline that took heavy sargassum in summer 2026.
It suits couples who prioritize food, quiet and attentive service over nightlife and scale. It competes most directly with Secrets Akumal and Excellence Playa Mujeres on service culture. The More Inclusive extras add real value if you plan to leave the resort: airport transfers are included, and the cenote and cave outing, the eco-ranch with its natural swimming hole, and the Maroma Beach catamaran snorkel trip are all bookable through the hospitality desk. Akumal's turtle beach and Puerto Aventuras' marina restaurants are short drives, and Tulum and the Xcaret parks make easy day trips. Lodging in this part of Solidaridad carries Quintana Roo's per-guest environmental sanitation fee, which for 2026 works out to 35.19 pesos for the first guest per night and 23.46 pesos for the second.
Common Questions
Is the swim-up suite actually worth booking, and is it a true swim-out?
What does the More Inclusive program actually include?
Can I walk to Puerto Aventuras from the resort?
Do I need to make dinner reservations?
How does El Dorado Seaside Palms compare to Dreams Puerto Aventuras?
Restaurants (7)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | Seaside Market |
| Mexican | La carreta |
| Italian | Mia Casa Dorado |
| Asian | Klay Talay |
| American & grill | La Sandwicherie, Beach Barbecue |
| International & fusion | Gourmet Pub |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown.
What's nearby
25 min drive · 15 mi
25 min drive · 15 mi
Akumal Beach20 min drive · 10 mi
30 min drive · 18 mi
Yal-Kú Lagoon20 min drive · 10 mi
9 min drive · 3.8 mi
More things to do (24)
- Xenses · adventure park25 min drive · 14 mi
- Cenote Azul · cenote8 min drive · 3.8 mi
- Xpu-Ha Beach · beach8 min drive · 2.7 mi
- Dos Ojos Cenote · cenote25 min drive · 15 mi
- Río Secreto · adventure park20 min drive · 15 mi
- Cenote Cristalino · cenote8 min drive · 3.7 mi
- Jardín del Edén Cenote · cenote11 min drive · 4.2 mi
- Puerto Aventuras Marina · marina12 min drive · 5.7 mi
- Cenote Chikin-Ha · cenote14 min drive · 4.4 mi
- Riviera Maya Golf Club · golf20 min drive · 11 mi
- Cenote Nicte-Ha · cenote30 min drive · 16 mi
- Caleta Tankah · beach35 min drive · 23 mi
- Puerto Aventuras Golf Course · golf14 min drive · 6.2 mi
- Cenote Tajma-Ha · cenote20 min drive · 3.2 mi
- Half Moon Bay · beach20 min drive · 9.8 mi
- Xplor · adventure park20 min drive · 14 mi
- Cenote Chac Mool · cenote20 min drive · 7.6 mi
- Xel-Há Ruins · ruins25 min drive · 14 mi
- Xcacel Beach · beach25 min drive · 13 mi
- Cenote Xunaan-Ha · cenote25 min drive · 13 mi
- Delphinus Riviera Maya · adventure park25 min drive · 15 mi
- Parque La Ceiba · nature30 min drive · 18 mi
- Voladores de Papantla (Parque Fundadores) · historic site30 min drive · 18 mi
- Frida Kahlo Museum Playa del Carmen · museum30 min drive · 19 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Riviera Maya gets sargassum, typically worst May through August, peaking in July and August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.9 · 2,568 reviews
“I had an amazing stay at El Dorado Seaside Palms and truly can’t say enough good things about it. A huge thank you to Saul, my concierge, who made the experience even better. Saul was easy to communicate with, attentive, and genuinely cared about mak...”
“Absolutely in love with this place. You have everything you need in the hotel area. The services and food options are excellent. Especially the activity team does a fantastic job. We really enjoyed the different program with Luis, from aqua fitness t...”
“We had an absolutely fantastic 10-night stay here! The resort is beautiful, with the perfect balance between peaceful spots to unwind and livelier areas full of atmosphere. The food was excellent, and it was the ideal place to relax and recharge. A...”
