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Hotel Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort

Puerto Morelos, Mexico

4.5(6,844 reviews)

FamilyEl Cid Resorts

Hotel Marina El Cid is the family hotel of a three-hotel El Cid complex on the Puerto Morelos beachfront, and it keeps coming up in traveler forums as the overlooked option that outperforms its name recognition. The thing it does that almost nothing nearby does at the price is house a big family in one key: Two Bedroom Suites of 2,232 square feet for six and Three Bedroom Suites of 2,854 square feet for eight, with a 575 square foot Family Room sleeping five below them. Around that sits a 22,000 square foot free-form pool with waterfalls, a slide, a diving pool, a swim-up bar and an adults-only whirlpool and silent zone, a private white-sand beach facing the Puerto Morelos National Reef Park, and the resort's own 120-slip marina with a sportfishing fleet.

Things to Know

Wi-Fi costs extra

Traveler Insights

Pros

+The large-family suites are the headline: a Three Bedroom Suite of 2,854 square feet for up to 8 guests and a Two Bedroom Suite of 2,232 square feet for 6, both with Platinum versions, plus a 575 square foot Family Room that sleeps 5. Very few Riviera Maya all-inclusives at this level offer real three-bedroom layouts
+One 22,000 square foot free-form pool with cascading waterfalls, a children's slide, a diving pool, a swim-up bar (open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), in-water lounge chairs, a sun deck and a kids' area, plus an adults-only whirlpool and silent zone with its own Jacuzzi Bar
+Exchange Privilege turns one booking into three hotels: Hotel Marina guests eat, drink and swim at Ventus at Marina El Cid and Ventus Ha' at Marina El Cid next door. Across the complex El Cid counts 15 restaurants, 11 bars (3 adults-only), 2 coffee shops, 4 main pools, 2 infinity pools, 2 adults-only rooftop pools and 2 fitness centres
+The Puerto Morelos National Reef Park, part of the world's second-largest reef, sits directly offshore. Snorkel and scuba trips are sold at the on-site Pronatours desk, and deep-sea fishing charters leave from the resort's own full-service 120-slip marina
+Plenty is included that other resorts charge for: kayaks, paddleboards and boogie boards, beach volleyball, biking tours, a daytime activity programme, nightly shows, 24-hour room service, turndown service and a minibar stocked with water, soft drinks and beer
+Two brand-new pickleball courts (7 a.m. to 7 p.m., equipment from the front desk, included), a Teens' Club in Hotel Marina's own lobby from noon to 8 p.m. with pool tables, foosball, video games, ping pong and giant chess, and a Kids' Club open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
+Only about 25 minutes from Cancun airport by the resort's own reckoning, in the fishing village of Puerto Morelos between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, so day trips run both directions without staying in either town's crowds
+El Cocay Spa is a 13,000 square foot facility with massage and Mayan-inspired treatments, and the fitness centre runs spin classes alongside cardio machines and free weights. Guests also report an on-call golf cart service for getting across the multi-building layout

Cons

−A resort fee is charged on top of the all-inclusive rate: El Cid's own meal-plan page lists it as 'not included'. What it covers is not on the official site; tour-operator and warehouse-club listings say it buys basic Wi-Fi for a few devices per room, so do not assume internet is simply free
−The Kids' Club is not actually at Hotel Marina. El Cid locates it next to the convention centre in front of building 25 at Ventus at Marina El Cid, a walk from your room, and the operator's own pages disagree on the ages (4 to 11 on the club page, 4 to 12 on the amenities page; teens 11 to 17 versus 13 to 17)
−A la carte dinners at El Alcazar, La Marina, Hacienda Arrecife and Trattoria D'Gulio all require reservations, and the standard plan pours international and domestic house brands only; premium pours sit behind the Platinum Club lounge
−Nightlife is subdued. No nightclub appears anywhere in El Cid's own listings; the late option is the Lobby Bar with live music, open until 1 a.m., while the beach, pool, Congo and Jacuzzi bars all close at 5 p.m.
−Not every room faces the sea. Ocean-view and ocean-front rooms are reserved for the Platinum plan, and standard categories can look over the gardens or the marina rather than the water
−The extras add up: massages under the silent-zone palapas, beauty salon services, snorkel and scuba trips, fishing charters, Pronatours excursions and the Akah photography sessions are all marked as additional cost
−Puerto Morelos is a small village. Playa del Carmen's Fifth Avenue and Cancun's clubs are a taxi ride away, and off-resort dining and shopping are limited compared with either town
−It is the original and oldest of the three El Cid hotels on this stretch, so finishes read a generation behind Ventus Ha', the newest, which trade press reports opened in 2021

The practical experience is broader than the hotel itself because of Exchange Privilege. Book Hotel Marina and you can eat, drink and swim at Ventus at Marina El Cid and Ventus Ha' at Marina El Cid next door, which El Cid tallies at 15 restaurants, 11 bars, 4 main pools, 2 infinity pools and 2 adults-only rooftop pools across the complex. At home, La Alhambra runs the buffet, Trattoria D'Gulio does Italian, and El Alcazar, La Marina and Hacienda Arrecife serve a la carte dinners (reservations required). Kayaks, paddleboards, boogie boards, beach volleyball, biking tours, nightly shows and 24-hour room service are in the base plan; two new pickleball courts and a Teens' Club in the lobby were added for older kids. The honest caveats: a resort fee is charged on top of the rate and El Cid does not say on its site what it covers, the Kids' Club is physically over at Ventus, and the bars other than the lobby close at 5 p.m.

This is a resort for families who have done a 2,000-room mega-complex and found it exhausting, for multi-generational groups who need a real three-bedroom suite, and for anyone who wants Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Tulum and Chichen Itza in day-trip range from a quiet base 25 minutes from the airport. It is not the pick for nightlife, for walkable town life, or for travelers who need every room to face the sea. Among its neighbours, Ventus Ha' is the newer, more adult-leaning hotel in the same complex, while Dreams Jade down the road is the bigger brand-name alternative; Hotel Marina's edge is the suite inventory and the three-for-one access, not polish.

Common Questions

What is the difference between Hotel Marina El Cid, Ventus at Marina El Cid and Ventus Ha'?

They are three separate hotels in one El Cid complex, each with its own booking, address and room inventory. Hotel Marina is the original and the family one, with the big two- and three-bedroom suites, the 22,000 square foot pool and the marina. Ventus is the modern mid-rise with infinity pools, and Ventus Ha' is the newest and most adult-leaning, with a rooftop bar; trade press reports it opened in 2021. Whichever you book, the Exchange Privilege programme lets you use the restaurants, bars, pools and fitness centres of all three. Swim-out rooms belong to the Ventus hotels, not to Hotel Marina, so book there if that is the room you want.

Is Hotel Marina El Cid good for teenagers?

Yes, and more so since the recent additions. The Teens' Club sits in Hotel Marina's own lobby from noon to 8 p.m. with pool tables, foosball, video games and board games, and teens can use the ping pong tables, giant chess, beach volleyball courts and the two new pickleball courts (7 a.m. to 7 p.m., equipment from the front desk). Kayaks, paddleboards and boogie boards are included. The complex is big enough for older kids to roam between the three hotels with some independence but small enough that they will not get lost.

Can you visit Xcaret or other parks while staying here?

Easily. Puerto Morelos sits between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, which puts Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Tulum and Chichen Itza all within day-trip range, and the resort partners with Pronatours, which keeps a tour desk on site for excursions, airport transfers, snorkel and scuba trips on the reef, and nearby horseback riding and golf. Excursions are an additional cost. Guests who want the park experience without park-hotel prices use Hotel Marina as the base.

Are the two- and three-bedroom suites worth booking?

For a large or multi-generational group, they are the reason to pick this hotel. The Three Bedroom Suite is 2,854 square feet for up to eight guests and the Two Bedroom Suite is 2,232 square feet for six, each available in a Platinum version that adds ocean-view or ocean-front placement, dedicated check-in, butler service and the Platinum Club lounge. Those sizes are rare in the Riviera Maya at this price band, and there are only a handful of each, so book early.

What does the all-inclusive plan include, and what costs extra?

Included: the La Alhambra buffet, breakfast at Trattoria D'Gulio and lunch at Hacienda Arrecife, a la carte dinners at El Alcazar, La Marina, Hacienda Arrecife and Trattoria D'Gulio (reservations required), international and domestic house-brand drinks with waiter service at the pool and beach, 24-hour room service, turndown, a stocked minibar, kayaks, paddleboards, boogie boards, biking tours, the kids' and teens' clubs, pickleball, nightly entertainment and the fitness centre, with taxes and gratuities. Not included: a resort fee charged separately, spa and salon services, silent-zone massages, snorkel, scuba and fishing trips, Pronatours excursions and photography. The Platinum plan adds premium drinks in the lounge, reserved beach palapas, butler service and ocean-view rooms.

What are the beach and snorkeling like?

The beach is private white sand on the Puerto Morelos stretch, with the Puerto Morelos National Reef Park, part of the second-largest reef system in the world, directly offshore. You will not snorkel it from the sand; the reef is a short boat ride out, and the on-site Pronatours desk sells snorkel and scuba trips there. The resort's own 120-slip marina sits beside the hotel and runs a sportfishing fleet for deep-sea charters, which is also where the marina-view rooms get their view.

What's nearby

Ferry to Cozumel
40 min drive · 24 mi
Playa Mamitas
40 min drive · 23 mi
Playa Delfines
40 min drive · 22 mi
Puerto Morelos reef snorkel trip
5 min drive · 1.6 mi
Museo Maya de Cancún
40 min drive · 23 mi
Puerto Morelos Town Square and Malecón
5 min drive · 1.5 mi

More things to do (24)

Xoxi Cancún · adventure park25 min drive · 14 mi
Croco Cun Zoo · wildlife12 min drive · 4.7 mi
Playa 88 · beach40 min drive · 22 mi
Riviera Cancún Golf · golf35 min drive · 18 mi
Playa Coral · beach30 min drive · 18 mi
Xcalacoco Beach · beach35 min drive · 20 mi
Punta Esmeralda Beach · beach40 min drive · 21 mi
Playa Ballenas · beach45 min drive · 25 mi
Iberostar Cancún Golf Club · golf45 min drive · 24 mi
Leaning Lighthouse of Puerto Morelos · historic site5 min drive · 1.6 mi
Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden · nature20 min drive · 5.0 mi
Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden · nature20 min drive · 5.0 mi
Moon Palace Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 14 mi
Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf30 min drive · 12 mi
Playa Maroma · beach30 min drive · 13 mi
El Camaleón Golf Course · golf35 min drive · 18 mi
Museo del Chocolate · museum40 min drive · 23 mi
Parque La Ceiba · nature40 min drive · 23 mi
Frida Kahlo Museum Playa del Carmen · museum40 min drive · 23 mi
Playa del Carmen Fifth Avenue · town40 min drive · 23 mi
Playa Delfines Lookout · viewpoint40 min drive · 22 mi
Voladores de Papantla (Parque Fundadores) · historic site40 min drive · 23 mi
El Rey Ruins · ruins40 min drive · 23 mi
Playa San Miguelito · beach45 min drive · 25 mi

Amenities

Teen Club

Teen Lounge

Water Slides

Heated Swimming Pool

Fishing

Yoga Classes

Nightclub

Diving

Show 9 more amenities

Kids Club

Swim-Up Bar

Snorkeling

Water Sports Rentals

Nightly Entertainment

Buffet Dining

Spa

Gym

Beach

Style & Rooms

Atmosphere

Harbour ViewMarina View

Room upgrades

2 Bedroom Suites3 Bedroom SuitesFamily Room

Seaweed & sargassum

Cancun gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →

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Google Reviews★ 4.5 · 6,844 reviews

Jennifer D.

a month ago

“This was an amazing resort for a family vacation. We came here with a group of 10, by husbands family. His parents and his sisters family with her 4 kids. It was the perfect place to vacation for the group of us. The kids (ages 11 & 15) were able to...”

Balaharish C.

a month ago

“This was one of the best all inclusive vacations we had. The resort and it's facilities were awesome and the kids really enjoyed the slide in the pool. Night shows, Kayak and bike tours are certainly an excellent value add. We saw crocodile, variety...”

Tony K.

2 months ago

“My parter and I, along with a group of friends from Canada, had a spectacular time at this resort! The pool was a great time, whether you wanted to participate in activities or relax, the ocean front was relaxing, and the staff was amazing! The resor...”