Fairmont Mayakoba
Fairmont Mayakoba, which marks its 20th year in 2026, is a different idea of an all-inclusive: less a food-and-drink value play and more a luxury nature escape that can package your meals if you want it to. The 401 rooms and casitas sit among 595 acres of jungle, mangrove canals and lagoon, and guests really do spend their days taking boats through the channels, spotting coatis and birds from the pathways and walking out to a beach the resort backs with a sargassum-free guarantee. That blend of a genuine natural setting with five-star hotel service is close to unique in the Riviera Maya.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Set inside Mayakoba's 595 acres of jungle, canals and lagoon, where coatis, iguanas, tropical birds and the occasional crocodile turn up along the pathways and on the birdwatching boat tour
- +Golf cart and lagoon boat shuttles connect the sprawling grounds, and the ride itself becomes one of the memorable parts of the day
- +Nine freshwater pools, including an adults-only infinity pool overlooking the lagoon, the Las Olas pool with a swim-up bar, three beach pools and a kids' pool with a waterslide
- +Two kids' clubs, Coatí and B'alam, plus a teen lounge, babysitting and a kids-stay-and-eat-free all-inclusive offer running through December 2026, make it one of the strongest luxury family picks in the Riviera Maya
- +Unusually well-equipped for sport: three tennis courts, three pickleball courts and a padel court at the Sports Club, a six-target archery range, windsurfing lessons and the Greg Norman-designed El Camaleón 18-hole course next door
- +Pet friendly, which is rare at this level: dogs and cats up to 25 lbs for a $25 daily fee, with terrace tables at restaurants and pet-sitting on request
- +Casitas and suites step up to private infinity pools, a private stairway to the beach and Balam butler service in the beachfront and presidential categories
Cons
- −The all-inclusive is an optional package with real gaps: bottles of wine and liquor, minibar service, some specialty menu items, El Pueblito and golf are extra, and breakfast at Brisas is only included for beach-area, beachfront and specialty-suite guests
- −A USD $38 per adult per night resort fee (as of October 2026) sits on top of the room rate, though it does bundle valet parking, Wi-Fi, bikes, kayaks, paddleboards and the in-resort shuttles
- −The grounds are enormous and getting anywhere depends on carts and boats, so dinner plans take some coordination
- −Cash rates sit at the very top of the Riviera Maya luxury market, and the all-inclusive package adds substantially on top
- −The jungle and lagoon setting means mosquitoes are a genuine nuisance at dawn and dusk, especially in lagoon-facing casitas
- −Nothing off-property is walkable; Playa del Carmen's restaurants and shops need a taxi
- −Signing a check after every order, even on the all-inclusive, feels fussy to guests used to wristband resorts
The practical side starts with understanding the meal plan. All-inclusive is a package you choose at booking, covering unlimited food and drinks by the glass at participating restaurants and bars, while bottles, minibar, some specialty dishes, El Pueblito and golf stay extra, and breakfast at Brisas is only included in beach-area, beachfront and specialty suites (everyone else gets 50% off). Dining runs from Brisas and Fuego at the Maykana beach club to La Laguna, Cafe Maya and the Cielo rooftop bar, and the food is consistently a step above the typical buffet-led all-inclusive, though there is a buffet at breakfast. Nine pools, two kids' clubs, the Fairmont Spa (the former Willow Stream Spa) with Maya-inspired treatments and a temazcal ceremony, a 24-hour gym and a deep sports program fill the days. Budget for the $38 per adult nightly resort fee, which covers parking, Wi-Fi, bikes, non-motorized water sports and shuttles.
Fairmont Mayakoba suits couples celebrating something who want luxury in a real natural setting, families who want wildlife, kids' clubs and a beach in one place, and anyone who wants to bring a small dog. Within the same reserve it competes with the smaller, villa-only Banyan Tree Mayakoba and the Alila Mayakoba, the former Andaz, which reopened on 22 February 2026 after a full conversion. It is not a budget all-inclusive in any sense; think of it as a luxury resort with an all-inclusive option. Cancun airport is about 48 km north, and Playa del Carmen, cenotes, catamaran snorkeling trips to the Mesoamerican Reef and El Camaleón golf are all close by.
Common Questions
What wildlife can you actually see at Fairmont Mayakoba?
What does the Fairmont Mayakoba all-inclusive plan actually cover?
Is there a resort fee at Fairmont Mayakoba?
How does Fairmont Mayakoba compare to Banyan Tree Mayakoba?
Is Fairmont Mayakoba good for families with children?
How do you get to Fairmont Mayakoba from Cancun airport?
Restaurants (2)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Mexican | La Laguna |
| Steakhouse | Tauro Steakhouse |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown.
What's nearby
25 min drive · 11 mi
20 min drive · 7.0 mi
Playa Mamitas15 min drive · 6.3 mi
20 min drive · 10 mi
Xcalacoco Beach11 min drive · 3.4 mi
30 min drive · 17 mi
More things to do (18)
- Xenses · adventure park25 min drive · 11 mi
- Playa 88 · beach14 min drive · 5.2 mi
- Punta Esmeralda Beach · beach20 min drive · 4.8 mi
- El Camaleón Golf Course · golf2 min walk · 0.1 mi
- Museo del Chocolate · museum14 min drive · 6.1 mi
- Parque La Ceiba · nature14 min drive · 6.5 mi
- Frida Kahlo Museum Playa del Carmen · museum15 min drive · 6.4 mi
- Playa del Carmen Fifth Avenue · town15 min drive · 6.4 mi
- Voladores de Papantla (Parque Fundadores) · historic site15 min drive · 6.7 mi
- Playa Maroma · beach20 min drive · 7.0 mi
- Xplor · adventure park25 min drive · 11 mi
- Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 8.6 mi
- Cenote Chaak Tun · cenote25 min drive · 8.6 mi
- Delphinus Riviera Maya · adventure park25 min drive · 12 mi
- Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden · nature30 min drive · 15 mi
- Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden · nature30 min drive · 15 mi
- Puerto Morelos Town Square and Malecón · town30 min drive · 17 mi
- Leaning Lighthouse of Puerto Morelos · historic site30 min drive · 17 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Playa del Carmen gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.7 · 3,546 reviews
“Fairmont Mayakoba exceeded every expectation. The resort offers the perfect balance of luxury, calm, and a truly family-friendly atmosphere, without the noise or crowds of all-inclusive properties. Everything feels designed for comfort and peace. Th...”
“Excellent time for our family of 4 at the Fairmont Mayakoba over the Christmas/New Years holiday. We had a mangrove view (on the river) and the accommodations were very lux with a gorgeous spa bathroom. One constructive criticism would be a half bath...”
“Overall this place is very good. I would give it 4.5 starts if I could but will default to 5 stars here. The good: 1. Grounds are very big. You can take long walks and bike rides. Most of the rooms are not near the beach but they have golf carts...”
