Hotel Grand Oasis Riviera - All Inclusive
Family-friendly resort in Tulum.
Amenities
Traveler Insights(190 discussions)
Hotel Grand Oasis Riviera is one of the least-known properties in the Oasis Hotels group relative to the Grand Oasis Cancun, but its Akumal location gives it something its more famous sibling cannot match: direct access to one of the most biodiverse stretches of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The reef runs right offshore, and the snorkeling from the beach - tropical fish, coral formations, rays, and often sea turtles - is described by travelers as the best on-property snorkeling experience available at any all-inclusive between Cancun and Tulum. The setting also places you squarely between the Tulum ruins (20 minutes away) and the famous Akumal Bay turtle snorkel zone (just up the beach), creating an itinerary-building advantage over any Cancun hotel.
The resort operates with a smaller, quieter personality than the large Cancun zone properties. Guests don't feel like a number here - the smaller scale means lounge chairs are easier to claim, restaurants rarely feel overwhelmed, and staff have room to be attentive. The food quality earns genuine praise: fresh Mexican ingredients, a rotating buffet, and a la carte options across multiple restaurants that land well above the average all-inclusive baseline. The daily activity schedule fills time from morning yoga to evening live music without the manufactured, forced-fun energy of larger resorts.
The clearest caveat is the divided property quality. Guests who land in newly renovated rooms have a materially better experience than those in the older, unmaintained sections of the resort, and booking without specifying your preference is a gamble. This is a resort where doing research before arrival - confirming room type and building location, understanding what the base all-inclusive tier covers versus the upgraded package, and arriving with water shoes for the beach - pays off significantly. For travelers who want a calm, nature-forward all-inclusive base for exploring the Riviera Maya, and who prioritize coral reef access over party amenities, Grand Oasis Riviera is genuinely underrated.
Pros
- +Secluded location in Akumal, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, puts you within 20 minutes of the Tulum archaeological site and Akumal Bay's famous sea turtle snorkeling area
- +One of the world's longest and most intact coral reef systems (Mesoamerican Reef) runs directly offshore, making the snorkeling right off the resort beach genuinely exceptional
- +Smaller, quieter resort footprint compared to Cancun mega-properties - guests rarely feel crowded and the pace is relaxed without manufactured entertainment pressure
- +The beach is protected by the offshore reef, resulting in calmer, cleaner water and a gentle break pattern that is safer and more comfortable for swimming
- +Multiple on-site pools with varied atmospheres give guests options between active social areas and quieter spots
- +Fresh, high-quality food that earns specific praise for authenticity and variety - multiple restaurants including Mexican and Italian a la carte alongside a rotating dinner buffet
- +Full daily activity schedule from morning yoga and beach games to evening entertainment and live music fills the day without requiring off-property spending
- +Proximity to ecological parks like Xel-Ha, Xcaret, and the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve means day trips can be genuinely world-class and easy to organize from this base
Cons
- −The resort has two clearly differentiated areas - an older original section with dated rooms, cracked tiles, and maintenance issues alongside a newer renovated area - and room allocation between the two sections meaningfully affects the experience
- −Rocky entry points into the water in certain sections of the beach require water shoes, which many guests don't pack expecting a sandy Caribbean beach
- −The older section of rooms has reported issues with inconsistent air conditioning, water pressure, and hot water that are not minor inconveniences in a hot, humid environment
- −The all-inclusive package is tiered, with the base rate providing less restaurant access than an upgraded package, and the restriction to certain venues at the base level frustrates guests who expected full resort access
- −Remote Akumal location means limited options if you want nightlife, high-end shopping, or a variety of off-property dining - you are not close to Playa del Carmen or Cancun's entertainment zones
- −Housekeeping consistency varies across stays and buildings, with some guests reporting issues needing multiple follow-up requests to resolve
- −The beach has seaweed periods, and while staff clear it regularly, some guest stays coincide with heavier accumulation
- −Limited online visibility and booking infrastructure compared to chain properties means researching and planning this stay takes more effort than booking a Sandals or Riu property
Common Questions
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“This one is hard to rate. It is a smaller resort, with dated rooms that aren't the most comfortable but do have really nice views. The beds are smallish. The bathrooms are old, plumbing is not great (both the sink and the bathtub backed up into th...”
“Dear Grand Oasis Hotel, Our vacation with you has been absolutely lovely and incredibly relaxing. We had such a wonderful week! The hotel itself is stunning—a beautiful mix of Mexican culture and modern design. The views are breathtaking, whether yo...”
“We are currently staying at the Grand Oasis Riviera aka Grand Oasis Tulum. Overall the resort is a nice place to stay with amazing staff and decent accomodations. The location is a fantastic beachfront property with easy access to Tulum, Akumal and...”