Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
Secrets Maroma is the resort for travelers who want one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico and don't need much else to be happy. Maroma Beach has been ranked among the world's best beaches for years, and it lives up to the hype with powdery white sand and turquoise water, about 50 km south of downtown Cancún. The resort leans into the setting with lush jungle gardens and an unapologetically romantic, adults-only vibe that travelers rank among the most romantic in the Secrets family.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Maroma Beach has long been ranked among the world's best beaches, with powdery white sand and turquoise water stretching as far as you can see
- +One of the most romantic Secrets resorts in travelers' eyes, with lush jungle grounds meeting the Caribbean in a way the flatter, manicured competitors can't match
- +Thirteen pools, so even at 412 rooms you can usually find a quiet corner, and a new signature Jungle Pool with a redesigned Sugar Reef Bar is due when construction wraps on November 30, 2026
- +Ten restaurants with no reservations needed, from Oceana (seafood) and Himitsu (Asian) to Bordeaux (French), Portofino (Italian) and El Patio (Mexican), plus the 24-hour Coco Café
- +Swim-out junior suites put the pool steps from your door, with a Preferred Club version that adds the Preferred Lounge, a private beach club and a club-only breakfast at Oceana
- +Plenty to do between beach days: non-motorized water sports and paddle boards, snorkeling, a dive shop, a tennis court, a pickleball court, kitchen tours and weekly stargazing beach parties
- +Exceptional spa set into the jungle surroundings, a natural fit for honeymooners and anniversary trips
Cons
- −Construction runs through November 30, 2026: the new Jungle Pool is being built and the Sugar Reef Bar redesigned from July 18, though the existing pools stay open
- −Bordeaux and Portofino are closed for renovation from August 22 to November 30, 2026, with their French and Italian menus moved to other venues, so the dining rotation is thinner in the meantime
- −Preferred Club is practically required for the best areas (the beach club, lounge and swim-out club rooms), adding significantly to an already premium price
- −Among the most expensive Secrets resorts, and the premium is paid mostly for the beach rather than for anything you can't get at a sister property
- −Sargassum reaches this open stretch of coast in heavy years, so the beach can look very different between roughly May and September
- −Beach chairs fill up early, with prime spots by the water taken by 8am
- −The jungle setting means mosquitoes can be an issue, especially at dusk
It is not a small resort. There are 412 rooms, 13 pools, 10 restaurants and 8 bars, but the jungle layout keeps it feeling quieter than its size suggests. Dining runs from the World Café buffet to Oceana for seafood, Himitsu for Asian, Bordeaux for French, Portofino for Italian, El Patio for Mexican and the Seaside and Barefoot grills, with no reservations needed, and the bars include Manatees swim-up bar and Desires, open until 1am. Through November 30, 2026 the resort is mid-project: a new signature Jungle Pool is going in and the Sugar Reef Bar is being redesigned from July 18, with all existing pools staying open, and Bordeaux and Portofino are closed for renovation from August 22 with their menus served elsewhere. Rooms are junior suites in tropical-view, ocean-view and swim-out versions, with Preferred Club adding a lounge, a private beach club and club-only breakfast at Oceana.
Secrets Maroma is best for couples and honeymooners who put beach beauty and romance above everything else. It's the Secrets pick for people who find Moxché too flashy and Akumal too activity-focused. Price-wise it sits near the top of the Secrets portfolio, justified mostly by that beach, and the Preferred Club pushes it higher still. If you want value for money, look elsewhere in the family; if you can wait until December 2026, you'll get the new Jungle Pool and the refreshed restaurants without the construction.
Common Questions
How does Maroma compare to Secrets Akumal?
Is sargassum seaweed an issue at Maroma?
Is the resort too quiet to fill a week?
How do I get the best room at Maroma?
What renovations are happening in 2026 and when should I avoid visiting?
What's nearby
35 min drive · 17 mi
30 min drive · 13 mi
Playa Mamitas25 min drive · 12 mi
30 min drive · 16 mi
Xcalacoco Beach20 min drive · 9.0 mi
25 min drive · 12 mi
More things to do (19)
- Xenses · adventure park30 min drive · 16 mi
- Croco Cun Zoo · wildlife20 min drive · 12 mi
- Playa 88 · beach25 min drive · 11 mi
- Punta Esmeralda Beach · beach30 min drive · 10 mi
- Playa Maroma · beach1 min walk · 0.1 mi
- Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf20 min drive · 3.9 mi
- El Camaleón Golf Course · golf20 min drive · 7.0 mi
- Museo del Chocolate · museum25 min drive · 12 mi
- Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden · nature25 min drive · 10 mi
- Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden · nature25 min drive · 10 mi
- Parque La Ceiba · nature25 min drive · 12 mi
- Frida Kahlo Museum Playa del Carmen · museum25 min drive · 12 mi
- Playa del Carmen Fifth Avenue · town25 min drive · 12 mi
- Voladores de Papantla (Parque Fundadores) · historic site25 min drive · 12 mi
- Puerto Morelos Town Square and Malecón · town25 min drive · 12 mi
- Leaning Lighthouse of Puerto Morelos · historic site25 min drive · 12 mi
- Xplor · adventure park30 min drive · 16 mi
- Cenote Chaak Tun · cenote30 min drive · 14 mi
- Delphinus Riviera Maya · adventure park35 min drive · 17 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 · 4,547 reviews
“Thank you to the entire staff at Secrets Maroma Resort. Our stay was extraordinary and relaxing. The level of service alone sets this place apart—every single team member radiates warmth, professionalism, and genuine care. You can truly feel the hard...”
“Our stay at Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun was nothing short of magical. From the moment we arrived, we felt genuinely welcomed and cared for, not just as guests, but as people. Every detail—big and small—reflected thoughtfulness, grace, and a deep comm...”
“The room was beautiful and thoughtfully stocked with everything you could want—coffee maker, a fridge fully loaded with beer, sodas, and water, plus an iron, hair dryer, and even insulated cups perfect for long days by the pool. If it fits your budge...”
How It Compares
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun vs Excellence Riviera Cancun
The famous Maroma beach vs bigger pools and rooms — neighboring adults-only heavyweights, minutes apart.
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun vs Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya
Same adults-only brand, two very different Riviera Maya settings: the famous beach vs sea turtles and jungle.
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun vs Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres
Beach or food: Maroma's world-ranked sand against Playa Blanca's newer build and walk-in dinners.
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun vs Atelier Playa Mujeres
Atelier's kitchens against Maroma's beach: guests who've done both say that is the whole decision.
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun vs Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa
Beach-first romance at Maroma, or Cap Cana's bigger, more polished Secrets.
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun vs Excellence Playa Mujeres
Maroma's famous beach and more modern rooms against Playa Mujeres' walk-in dining, more pools and lower rate.
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun vs UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya
Maroma's world-ranked beach for far more money, or Unico's food and cocktails with a sargassum gamble.
