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Secrets Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa

Puerto Morelos, Mexico

4.1(411 reviews)

Adults OnlyHyatt

Secrets Riviera Cancun is an adults-only (18+) resort on Bahia Petempich, about 15 minutes south of Cancun's airport on the road to Puerto Morelos, and its big structural difference is that all 164 suites are Preferred Club. Every guest gets the club lounge and club-level service as standard, and every guest also gets free-flow access to Breathless Riviera Cancun next door. That arrangement is what gives the place its energy: the After Dark nightclub and the Deep swim-up bar that many guests remember actually belong to Breathless, while the Secrets side keeps its own swim-up bar, Twist & Squeeze, and Wink, a pool bar with live DJs. Staff earn the strongest praise, with bartenders and servers named in review after review.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+About 15 minutes from Cancun International Airport on the Cancun to Puerto Morelos highway, one of the shortest transfers of any luxury adults-only resort on this coast
+All 164 suites are Preferred Club, so every guest gets the Preferred Club lounge, upgraded in-room touches and club-level service without paying for a special tier
+Free-flow access to Breathless Riviera Cancun next door is included for everyone, which roughly doubles the pools, bars and entertainment you can use, including Breathless's After Dark nightclub and its Deep swim-up bar
+Dinner is a la carte with no reservations required (a dress code applies), across French at Coquette, Mexican at Picante, Asian at Silk City, Italian at Spumante and The Strip Grill, plus Rosewater, which is kept exclusively for Secrets guests
+Plenty of bars on the Secrets side alone: Twist & Squeeze at the swim-up, Wink by the pool with live DJs, Foam on the beach, Showstopper at the theater and The Bar, with the Fizz iced champagne bar as a paid extra
+Staff are the most consistent strength in guest reviews, with bartenders, servers and the entertainment team regularly singled out by name
+Sip, Savor and See lets you dine and drink at nearby participating Hyatt Inclusive resorts from 6 PM to 1 AM, booked through the concierge in advance
+Fitness center with yoga, water aerobics and fitness classes, plus a spa with sauna, salon and a hydrotherapy water circuit (spa treatments and the circuit cost extra)

Cons

−The beach is the most common complaint in guest reviews: travelers describe a rocky entry that makes swimming hard without water shoes, and a narrower strip of sand than the photos suggest
−Breakfast and lunch at Spoon, the buffet, draw mixed reviews, with some guests reporting flies around the food stations and inconsistent quality
−Room categories do not always match what was booked: guests who paid for ocean view sometimes land in partial-ocean or tropical-view suites, and the compensation offered has been minimal
−The lively nightlife is mostly Breathless's, which means the shared campus brings heavy foot traffic and noise around the entertainment zones; guests after a quiet adults-only retreat may find it louder than expected
−Because every suite is Preferred Club, there is no lower-priced base category; you cannot trim the nightly rate by skipping the club tier the way you can at most other Secrets resorts
−Pool surfaces have been cited as rough and abrasive, snagging swimwear and scraping feet, a maintenance issue that affects daily comfort more than photos suggest
−Travelers who know Secrets Cap Cana or Secrets Akumal often find this one less polished on beach quality and food consistency

Dining is simpler than many guests expect. Dinner is a la carte with no reservations required, though a dress code applies, across Coquette (French), Picante (Mexican), Silk City (Asian), Spumante (Italian) and The Strip Grill, with Rosewater reserved for Secrets guests and serving all three meals. Spoon, the buffet, opens for breakfast and lunch only and gets the weakest reviews. Sip, Savor and See adds evenings at nearby participating Hyatt Inclusive resorts if you book through the concierge. The gaps are real: guests describe a rocky entry that makes the beach hard to swim from, rough pool surfaces, and room categories that sometimes do not match what was booked.

This resort makes the most sense for couples and friend groups who want a social, entertainment-forward adults-only stay with club perks built in and a very short airport transfer. Beach swimmers, and travelers spoiled by Secrets Cap Cana or Secrets Akumal, should look elsewhere. Because there is no non-club room category, the entry price sits higher than a standard Secrets base room, but the Breathless access and club service it buys are the reason to book here. Puerto Morelos town, its reef and the cenote route inland are all a short drive away.

Common Questions

Is the beach actually swimmable?

This is the most common complaint about the property. Guests consistently describe rocks in the entry zone that make swimming hard without water shoes, and a beach narrower than the resort photos suggest. If ocean swimming is a top priority, look at Riviera Maya resorts with sandy, gradual-entry beaches.

How does sharing a campus with Breathless work?

Every Secrets Riviera Cancun guest has free-flow access to Breathless Riviera Cancun next door, so you can use its pools, bars, restaurants and entertainment as well as your own. The After Dark nightclub and the Deep swim-up bar are Breathless venues, while Rosewater is reserved for Secrets guests. Some guests love the variety; others find the shared areas louder and busier than a smaller adults-only resort.

What does the all-Preferred Club setup mean?

At most Secrets resorts Preferred Club is a paid upgrade, but here all 164 suites are part of it, which is why some booking sites list the resort as Secrets Riviera Cancun All Preferred. Every guest gets the Preferred Club lounge and upgraded in-room amenities. The flip side is that there is no cheaper non-club category to book.

Do I need to make dinner reservations?

No. Dinner is a la carte and reservations are not required, though a dress code applies at most venues. The dinner options are Coquette (French), Picante (Mexican), Silk City (Asian), Spumante (Italian), The Strip Grill and Rosewater. Spoon, the buffet, is open only for breakfast and lunch, so it is not a dinner fallback.

What is the nightlife like?

Lively, largely thanks to Breathless. Its After Dark venue has a dance floor and live DJs, and the evening program includes themed parties, tribute bands and karaoke. On the Secrets side, Wink runs live DJs by the pool and Showstopper is the theater bar. Guests describe a single night moving from a tribute act to a neon party to karaoke.

How does it compare to Secrets Akumal or Secrets Cap Cana?

Travelers who have stayed at several Secrets resorts generally rate Akumal and Cap Cana higher for beach quality, food consistency and overall polish. This resort's advantages are the 15-minute airport transfer, the all-Preferred Club setup and the Breathless free-flow access. Choose it for convenience and social energy rather than the beach.

What's nearby

Playa Delfines
35 min drive · 17 mi
Garrafón Park day trip (Isla Mujeres)
45 min drive · 23 mi
Puerto Morelos reef snorkel trip
25 min drive · 7.7 mi
Museo Maya de Cancún
35 min drive · 18 mi
Puerto Morelos Town Square and Malecón
25 min drive · 7.7 mi
Leaning Lighthouse of Puerto Morelos
25 min drive · 7.7 mi

More things to do (24)

Catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres · excursion50 min drive · 24 mi
Xoxi Cancún · adventure park25 min drive · 8.9 mi
Playa Tortugas · beach50 min drive · 24 mi
Croco Cun Zoo · wildlife14 min drive · 4.8 mi
Playa Caracol · beach50 min drive · 23 mi
Riviera Cancún Golf · golf30 min drive · 13 mi
Playa Coral · beach30 min drive · 13 mi
Playa Ballenas · beach40 min drive · 20 mi
Iberostar Cancún Golf Club · golf40 min drive · 19 mi
Moon Palace Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 9.0 mi
Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden · nature25 min drive · 8.3 mi
Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden · nature25 min drive · 8.3 mi
Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf35 min drive · 15 mi
Playa Maroma · beach35 min drive · 17 mi
Playa Delfines Lookout · viewpoint35 min drive · 17 mi
El Rey Ruins · ruins35 min drive · 18 mi
Parque Kabah · nature40 min drive · 19 mi
Ka'Yok' Planetarium · museum40 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 · ruins45 min drive · 21 mi
Torre Escénica de Cancún · viewpoint45 min drive · 23 mi
Playa Langosta · beach45 min drive · 23 mi

Amenities

Walk-In Dining Available

Nightclub

Swim-Up Bar

Water Sports Rentals

Free Wi-Fi

Nightly Entertainment

Buffet Dining

Spa

Show 2 more amenities

Gym

Beach

Style & Rooms

Atmosphere

RomanticMid-Range

Room upgrades

Swim-Up RoomsBeachfront RoomsPreferred Club

Seaweed & sargassum

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

Every all-inclusive in Puerto Morelos & Riviera Cancun →

Google Reviews★ 4.1 · 411 reviews

federico c.

a week ago

“Our wedding was a dream come true! Everything was perfectly timed, beautiful, and stress-free. Araly, our coordinator, went above and beyond—even helping pin up the dress on the big day. The MC brought great energy, the DJ crushed it, and the food wa...”

Jean

a month ago

“My boyfriend and I just finished our stay here for 5 nights as my birthday trip & we had a great time! Daniel with the concierge was amazing, always made sure our stay was running smoothly. I did a ton of research before booking & it was everything I...”

Danielle J.

2 months ago

“First time ever going on a down-south vacation, and I can honestly say Secrets Riviera Cancun completely spoiled us! I was nervous before the trip, but from the moment we arrived, everyone was so welcoming and kind. Our room was beautiful, spacious,...”