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Royal Decameron Punta Centinela is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Santa Elena, Ecuador with 197 rooms. Amenities include Beach and Nightly Entertainment. Travelers rate it 4.4/5 across 6,055 Google reviews.
Amenities
Quick answers
- Is Royal Decameron Punta Centinela adults only?
- No — Royal Decameron Punta Centinela is a family-friendly resort that accepts children of all ages.
- Where is Royal Decameron Punta Centinela?
- Royal Decameron Punta Centinela is in Santa Elena, Ecuador. Its address is Km. 10.5 vía Santa Elena, Santa Elena, Ecuador.
- How many rooms does Royal Decameron Punta Centinela have?
- Royal Decameron Punta Centinela has 197 rooms.
- Is Royal Decameron Punta Centinela all-inclusive?
- Yes — Royal Decameron Punta Centinela is an all-inclusive resort, so meals, drinks and most on-site activities are covered by the rate.
Traveler Insights(185 discussions)
Royal Decameron Punta Centinela is Ecuador's only major all-inclusive beach resort, and that distinction alone gives it a unique appeal - this is not a place you'd stumble into by accident, but rather one you'd seek out specifically for the Pacific coast experience. The setting is genuinely spectacular: a long stretch of pink-tinged sand backed by the warm Santa Elena Peninsula, with humpback whales regularly appearing offshore from June through October. For travelers who want to tick off South America while still enjoying an all-inclusive format, it fills a gap that nothing else quite covers. The price point is noticeably more accessible than Caribbean counterparts, which is part of its appeal to budget-conscious travelers and Ecuadorian families alike.
The practical experience is more mixed. Food is the most consistent complaint - quantity and quality both fluctuate, and by late evening the buffet is often significantly depleted. The dining situation improves when you hit the a la carte restaurants, but those require coordination. Service from the ground-level staff (pool attendants, activity coordinators) gets solid marks; the administrative side (check-in, shuttle booking, billing) is where things break down. Rooms range from acceptable to dated depending on which section of the property you're in, and the older wing draws the most complaints. Nightlife is lively and loud, which is either a pro or a con depending entirely on what you came for.
This resort works best for travelers who specifically want a Pacific Ecuador beach experience and understand they're not getting the polish of a flagship Mexican or Caribbean property. It's well-suited to families traveling from Guayaquil or Quito on a weekend or week-long trip, couples willing to trade some luxury for a genuinely unusual destination, and whale-watching enthusiasts during the June-October season. Day trips to the Punta Blanca surfing beach, the Valdivia archaeological museum (home to some of South America's oldest pottery), and the Salinas resort town are all within easy reach if you want to supplement resort time with local exploration.
Pros
- +Stunning 1.5-kilometer stretch of pink coral sandy beach that travelers consistently call one of Ecuador's most beautiful, with calm water and a laid-back atmosphere
- +From June to October you can watch humpback whales breach right from the beach or on a short boat excursion - one of the only all-inclusives in the world where this is a regular occurrence
- +Prices are significantly lower than comparable all-inclusives in Mexico or the Caribbean, making it excellent value for traveler dollars
- +The entire Decameron brand network means guests can access activities, sports courts, and entertainment included in the all-inclusive rate without constant upsells
- +Snorkeling and diving in the Santa Elena marine park reveals diverse Pacific marine life very different from Caribbean resorts, including rays, moray eels, and colorful reef fish
- +Two large pools with beach access create a natural flow between pool and ocean time without fighting for chairs
- +Staff are described as genuinely warm and helpful, with the Explorer desk particularly praised for organizing excursions and local trips
- +The resort hosts live shows, music, and entertainment nightly that guests say has a more authentic Latin energy compared to tourist-packaged shows at Caribbean chains
Cons
- −Check-in process has been frequently reported as chaotic and slow, with waits of 2+ hours for room keys and wristbands being common complaints
- −Food quality is inconsistent and a common point of frustration - the buffet runs out of items by 9pm, and some travelers reported poor food safety standards including a salmonella incident in 2024
- −The resort is about 2 hours by road from Guayaquil's international airport, making the journey long after a transatlantic or connecting flight
- −Aggressive timeshare-style membership sales pitches are persistent throughout the stay, with multiple guests describing it as annoying and disruptive
- −The disco operates until 2am with loud music that carries across the property, making sleep difficult for anyone not in the far buildings
- −Rooms in the older sections of the resort show significant wear, with photos on the website not accurately representing the actual condition
- −An excessive number of feral cats roam the dining areas during meal times, which many travelers find unhygienic and off-putting
- −Shuttle booking via the phone service reportedly takes 4+ days to coordinate, limiting spontaneous day trips for guests without their own transport
Common Questions
Is the whale watching from the resort actually good, or is it overhyped?
How far is the resort from Guayaquil airport, and how do you get there?
Is the food quality really as bad as some reviews say?
Is this resort safe and is the Santa Elena area generally tourist-friendly?
How does this compare to Decameron properties in Colombia or Panama?
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“Great location! But: smoking areas are too far away from the rest of the hotel. Also, they have very loud 'happy birthday' music in the restaurant which is REALLY annoying for everyone (every day there was someone who was having their birthday when w...”
“A little difficult to exit and enter the resort, but otherwise 5 star”