Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancún
Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun by Karisma has carved out a distinct niche in a crowded market: a small, high-service, all-ages all-inclusive wrapped in Jimmy Buffett's 'it's five o'clock somewhere' philosophy. Karisma runs some of the best-reviewed food programs in the Riviera Maya (think Azul Beach, Generations Riviera Maya), and while Margaritaville operates at a more casual register than those properties, the service culture is unmistakably in the same tradition. Travelers consistently describe feeling like the staff actually know who they are, which is a hard thing to pull off at most all-inclusives. It shares Petempich Bay in Puerto Morelos with its adults-only sibling, Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya, right next door.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Service quality is exceptional even by luxury all-inclusive standards: staff are frequently compared favorably to resorts with formal butler programs, remembering preferences and going out of their way unprompted
- +Compact 146-suite footprint means the property never feels crowded and you get personal attention that large resort complexes can't replicate
- +Genuinely all-ages, with the Parakeets Kid's Club for ages 4 to 12 (open 9am to 5pm), while the License to Chill beach bar keeps an adults-only section with firepits, a shallow wet-feet pool and live evening music so parents can carve out grown-up time
- +Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, snorkeling gear and scuba clinics in the pool are all included, so you can spend a morning on the water without surprise charges
- +Sits at Km 27.5 of the Cancun-Tulum highway in Puerto Morelos, and travelers put the airport transfer at roughly 15 to 25 minutes, one of the shortest in the corridor
- +Four restaurants that don't feel like the standard rotation: Frank & Lola's Italian trattoria with housemade pasta, Latino's Latin-Asian fusion, Rita's Taco House on an oceanfront deck at lunch, and The Beach House from breakfast to dinner
- +Four pools (two of them oceanfront) plus the S.O.S swim-up bar with hanging beds, and the kind of goofy Margaritaville programming families love: blender-bike margaritas, beachside cornhole tournaments, Latin dance classes and weekly Tiki Beach Party and Cheeseburger in Paradise nights
Cons
- −Restaurant hours are tighter than at larger resorts: the two dinner venues run 5:30pm to 10pm, Rita's Taco House only serves 12pm to 5pm, and the late-night fallback is room service
- −For the price point, four restaurants is a thin lineup compared to all-inclusive competitors at the same rate (Finest Playa Mujeres, Zoetry Paraiso, etc.), and a week-long stay will repeat venues
- −Some travelers report pressure around spa services and excursion upsells: not aggressive timeshare pitches, but persistent enough to be noticeable
- −Plenty sits outside the package: the St. Somewhere Spa, the floating taco bar, dive trips and certification, romantic beach dinners, babysitting and delivered orders from Joe Merchant's all cost extra
- −The beach on Petempich Bay is pretty but not the widest in the Riviera Maya, and guests seeking vast beachfront real estate will be underwhelmed
- −The Jimmy Buffett aesthetic is either charming or kitschy depending entirely on your taste, and the branding is everywhere
- −Value questions come up regularly: travelers note it's on the pricier end of comparable Riviera Maya resorts, and the smaller property makes the cost feel steep to some
On the practical side, the 146-suite scale is both the resort's biggest strength and its clearest limitation. You'll rarely fight for a pool chair or wait long for a table, but you will work through the four restaurants within a few days: The Beach House for breakfast and casual meals, Rita's Taco House at lunch, and Frank & Lola's Italian and Latino's Latin-Asian fusion at dinner. Six bars fill the gaps, from the Blended smoothie bar in the morning to the S.O.S swim-up bar, the 5 O'clock Somewhere bar with sunset live music, and the Compass Bar rum lounge in the lobby until midnight. The included water sports are kayaks, paddleboards, snorkeling and scuba clinics in the pool; open-water dive trips are an extra, and the beach, while genuinely pretty, isn't the sweeping stretch you see at Moon Palace or Barcelo Maya.
This resort is ideal for couples and families who want a relaxed vacation rather than a party, and who have stayed at larger all-inclusives and found them impersonal. Couples can retreat to the adults-only section of the License to Chill bar when they want quiet, and kids get the Parakeets club. The Jimmy Buffett branding will either delight you or make you cringe, as it's not subtle. At the price point you're paying mainly for service and small-resort intimacy; if dining variety and big nightly shows are your priorities, competitors like Secrets Maroma or Hyatt Zilara Cancun will serve you better. Nearby, the Puerto Morelos reef, the cenote route inland and the low-key town square are all a short drive away.
Common Questions
Is this resort adults-only or family-friendly?
How does the snorkeling and diving compare to what you'd get at Secrets Akumal or similar properties?
How many restaurants are there and is the food quality worth the price?
Do I need the LandShark Brewery, and is it at this resort?
What are the best room types to book?
Is this a good choice for a honeymoon or anniversary trip?
Restaurants (4)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Mexican | Rita's Taco House |
| Italian | Frank & Lola's - Italian Trattoria |
| Asian | Latino - Fusion Cuisine |
| International & fusion | The Beach House |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Playa Delfines35 min drive · 17 mi
Playa Tortugas45 min drive · 23 mi
45 min drive · 23 mi
20 min drive · 7.6 mi
Museo Maya de Cancún35 min drive · 18 mi
Puerto Morelos Town Square and Malecón20 min drive · 7.6 mi
More things to do (24)
- Catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres · excursion45 min drive · 23 mi
- Xoxi Cancún · adventure park20 min drive · 8.8 mi
- Croco Cun Zoo · wildlife11 min drive · 4.7 mi
- Playa Caracol · beach45 min drive · 23 mi
- Riviera Cancún Golf · golf30 min drive · 13 mi
- Playa Coral · beach25 min drive · 13 mi
- Playa Ballenas · beach35 min drive · 20 mi
- Iberostar Cancún Golf Club · golf40 min drive · 19 mi
- Leaning Lighthouse of Puerto Morelos · historic site20 min drive · 7.6 mi
- Moon Palace Golf Club · golf20 min drive · 8.9 mi
- Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden · nature20 min drive · 8.1 mi
- Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden · nature20 min drive · 8.1 mi
- Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf30 min drive · 15 mi
- Playa Maroma · beach35 min drive · 16 mi
- Playa Delfines Lookout · viewpoint35 min drive · 17 mi
- El Rey Ruins · ruins35 min drive · 18 mi
- Parque Kabah · nature35 min drive · 19 mi
- Ka'Yok' Planetarium · museum35 min drive · 19 mi
- Playa San Miguelito · beach40 min drive · 20 mi
- Iberostar Golf Club Cancún · golf40 min drive · 19 mi
- Playa Marlín · beach40 min drive · 21 mi
- Yamil Lu'um · ruins40 min drive · 21 mi
- Torre Escénica de Cancún · viewpoint45 min drive · 23 mi
- Playa Langosta · beach45 min drive · 23 mi
Amenities
Show 4 more amenitiesShow fewer
Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Cancun gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.7 · 2,109 reviews
“Supper at Latinos was fabulous and our waiter Juan was top notch friendly , Happy and enthusiastic made the meal even better. I should add our Butler for the 9 days was absolutely incredible his name was Alberto and he was always available to answer...”
“My family had a great stay at the resort over Christmas. The small size of the resort, relaxed atmosphere, the numerous amenities, friendly service, and good food contributed to a fantastic holiday. I might describe the resort as "understated luxury"...”
“Wonderful Family Vacation We had a great vacation at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cancun with our group of 9 family members. The resort exceeded our expectations in many ways. Dining: Breakfast at the Beach House was excellent every morning, and t...”
