El Dorado Maroma
Hotel El Dorado Maroma sits on Maroma Beach, one of the most coveted beach positions on the Riviera Maya, known for fine white sand and calm, clear shallow water. It is a small, adults-only resort of 128 suites, now run by Lomas Hospitality on its More Inclusive plan, the successor to the old gourmet-inclusive positioning it was known for under Karisma. Beach butlers, a restocked minibar and 24-hour room service set the tone, and when the weather and the sea cooperate, a stay here is a genuinely bucket-list experience for couples.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Maroma Beach is one of the most celebrated stretches of sand on the Riviera Maya, with fine white sand and shallow, clear water that make the beach the whole point of staying here
- +Small scale at 128 suites keeps the place intimate and uncrowded, and staff tend to learn guests' names and drink orders within a couple of days
- +Beach butler service on Maroma Beach is a defining touch, and the More Inclusive plan adds a daily restocked minibar, concierge and 24-hour room service
- +Four a la carte restaurants (Mio Cuccina Italiana, Caribbean Grill, Lima Limon and Papitos Gourmet Beach Club) plus La Taqueria food truck and the Aha! ice cream and coffee counter
- +Four bars including two swim-up bars, Mio and Bar 24, with Rick's Bar running shows, music and a DJ from 7pm to 1am
- +Strictly adults-only, and the hotel turns away spring breakers and student groups, so the mood stays romantic year-round
- +Daily food events at the Gourmet Beach Club, such as a taco bar, fish market, BBQ and paella, break up the routine on longer stays
- +Tour-operator packages list round-trip airport transfers among the inclusions, and kayaks, snorkel gear and intro scuba lessons in the pool are included
Cons
- −The gourmet promise is not always delivered: food quality swings from genuinely good to ordinary, and that gap stings at this price
- −Sargassum reaches this stretch of the Riviera Maya, and on bad seaweed days the beach the resort is built around loses its shine
- −Only four sit-down restaurants, so variety thins out on a week-long stay compared with bigger luxury resorts
- −Priced against Excellence Playa Mujeres and similar luxury properties that many travelers find more consistent on food
- −Scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, motorized water sports and spa treatments are all extra, and non-motorized gear is limited to an hour per person per day
- −Limited on-site activities beyond the beach, pools and evening shows: this is a retreat, not an activity hub
- −Location between Cancun and Playa del Carmen means a taxi or tour for any town time
Dining runs through four a la carte restaurants: Mio Cuccina Italiana, the Mexican-Caribbean Caribbean Grill, the Peruvian-leaning Lima Limon and the Papitos Gourmet Beach Club, with La Taqueria food truck and the Aha! ice cream and coffee counter filling the gaps. Four bars include the Mio and Bar 24 swim-up bars and Rick's Bar, which handles shows and late drinks until 1am. The food is better than standard all-inclusive fare when it is on, but recent guests describe it as inconsistent for the price. Sargassum is the other big variable: Maroma at its best is extraordinary, and the same beach under brown seaweed is disappointing at any price.
El Dorado Maroma suits couples marking a big occasion who specifically want Maroma Beach, and travelers moving from large all-inclusives to something quieter and more personal. Suites range from junior and honeymoon suites to swim-up studios, private-pool suites and beachfront Royal Retreat categories. Excellence Playa Mujeres is the usual comparison and often wins on food consistency, while Maroma wins on beach and scale. For days off the sand, Playa del Carmen, the area's cenotes and zipline tours are all an easy booked trip away. Go in with calibrated expectations on food and a plan for seaweed days.
Common Questions
Is Maroma Beach really as good as advertised?
Is the food actually gourmet quality?
Is there a cenote at the resort?
What does the More Inclusive plan cover, and what costs extra?
How does El Dorado Maroma compare to Excellence Playa Mujeres at similar prices?
Restaurants (4)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Mexican | Papitos Gourmet Beach Club |
| Italian | Mio Cuccina Italiana |
| Caribbean & local | Caribbean Grill |
| International & fusion | Restaurante Lima Limón |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown.
What's nearby
30 min drive · 16 mi
25 min drive · 12 mi
Playa Mamitas25 min drive · 11 mi
25 min drive · 15 mi
Xcalacoco Beach20 min drive · 8.1 mi
25 min drive · 14 mi
More things to do (19)
- Xenses · adventure park30 min drive · 15 mi
- Playa 88 · beach20 min drive · 9.8 mi
- Croco Cun Zoo · wildlife25 min drive · 14 mi
- Punta Esmeralda Beach · beach25 min drive · 9.5 mi
- Playa Maroma · beach20 min drive · 4.1 mi
- El Camaleón Golf Course · golf20 min drive · 6.0 mi
- Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf20 min drive · 5.7 mi
- Museo del Chocolate · museum20 min drive · 11 mi
- Parque La Ceiba · nature20 min drive · 11 mi
- Frida Kahlo Museum Playa del Carmen · museum25 min drive · 11 mi
- Playa del Carmen Fifth Avenue · town25 min drive · 11 mi
- Voladores de Papantla (Parque Fundadores) · historic site25 min drive · 11 mi
- Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden · nature25 min drive · 12 mi
- Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden · nature25 min drive · 12 mi
- Puerto Morelos Town Square and Malecón · town25 min drive · 14 mi
- Leaning Lighthouse of Puerto Morelos · historic site25 min drive · 14 mi
- Xplor · adventure park30 min drive · 15 mi
- Cenote Chaak Tun · cenote30 min drive · 13 mi
- Delphinus Riviera Maya · adventure park35 min drive · 16 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 · 2,481 reviews
“On Thursdays the employees spend the whole day preparing for fiesta night. The dinner and service were exemplary. There were several sections, Mayan traditional dance, regional dance, lasso exhibition, and mariachi. My favorite was the mariachi segme...”
“My husband and I visited El Dorado Maroma the 1st week of December. We were so impressed with this location and all that the resort had to offer. We stayed in a Mi Hotelito room which was perfect for stepping outside each morning to watch the sunrise...”
“This was our first time staying at El Dorado Maroma Beach, and it absolutely exceeded our expectations. The food was excellent—every meal was fresh, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. We were genuinely impressed with the variety and quality at...”
