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Senses Riviera Maya by Artisan

Playa Paraiso, Mexico

3.9(971 reviews)

Adults OnlyArtisan Hotels

Senses Riviera Maya by Artisan has a genuinely appealing concept: a 38-suite adults-only boutique all-inclusive on the Caribbean at Playa Paraíso, with an infinity pool that appears to run into the sea and suites big enough to feel like apartments. The three Deluxe categories each have a small pool on a private terrace, the top-floor Ocean Front suites get the best views, and the Honeymoon Suite tops 100 square metres. When everything is working it is a quiet, romantic place to read, swim and eat well, and the staff and food draw consistent praise.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+Only 38 oceanfront suites make this one of the most intimate and uncrowded adults-only properties in the Riviera Maya, so you will never fight for a pool chair
+The three Deluxe suite categories each have a small private pool on the terrace plus a hydromassage tub and rain shower inside, and the Honeymoon Suite runs to more than 100 square metres with a kitchenette and dining area
+An infinity pool that looks straight out to sea, with lounge beds alongside it, and direct access to Playa Paraíso
+The Blend, the gourmet à la carte restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7am to 10pm without a break, and guests in the hotel's own published reviews single out the food and the restaurant staff
+Free Wi-Fi, a bottle of wine in the room, twice-weekly yoga and daily transport to central Playa del Carmen are all inside the all-inclusive rate
+Priced well below the luxury adults-only resorts nearby, which makes the scale and the suites a strong deal when the property is in good shape
+A rooftop Sky Terrace hosts small weddings of up to 80 guests and private sunset dinners, and couples can book a private rooftop jacuzzi with champagne and tapas at sunset

Cons

−Maintenance remains the main complaint in 2026: a review the hotel itself publishes on its homepage concedes the building 'needs some TLC', and booking-site scores sit well below what a five-star adults-only label promises
−There is really one restaurant: Cavamar is a poolside snack bar and Pool & Lounge serves drinks and snacks at the loungers, both from 11am to 6pm, so dinner every night is at The Blend
−After 6pm the poolside outlets close and The Blend is the only place serving food and drinks until it shuts at 10pm, early by all-inclusive standards
−Yoga is twice a week (Monday and Thursday, 8 to 9am), not a daily class
−No pool animation, shows or recreational activities at all; the hotel's own featured reviewers say it is not the place for anyone wanting entertainment
−Beach access is awkward: the same published guest review asks the hotel to build a walkway down to the sand on either side of the building
−Pool bar service is slow, which matters at a property built around lingering by the water
−Sargassum seaweed can reach Playa Paraíso in the summer months, and a 38-suite hotel has limited staff to clear it at the pace larger resorts can

The practical picture needs careful reading. Dining is essentially one restaurant, The Blend, open continuously from 7am to 10pm, supported by two poolside snack and drink services that close at 6pm, so evenings revolve around a single dining room and the night ends at ten. Maintenance is the recurring complaint in 2026, and the hotel's own published guest review concedes the building needs work and says the team is actively working on it. That same guest asked for a proper walkway to the beach. There is no entertainment programme, yoga runs twice a week, and the wellness offer is a massage service with recovery loungers rather than a full spa.

The ideal Senses guest is a couple who want to do nothing but nap by the infinity pool, eat a quiet dinner and be in bed by ten, and who will forgive some wear in exchange for a big suite at a rate well below the luxury adults-only resorts nearby. It is not the right choice for anyone who wants restaurant variety, nightlife or a flawless room. Compared with boutique neighbours such as Esencia, it offers similar intimacy at a much lower price but less polish. The included daily transport to central Playa del Carmen opens up Quinta Avenida's restaurants and bars, and the concierge books cenote, Mayan ruins and Isla Mujeres yacht trips.

Common Questions

Is Senses Riviera Maya strictly adults-only?

Yes. The hotel markets itself as adults only and every suite is set up for two. With only 38 suites and no entertainment programme, the atmosphere is consistently quiet and aimed at couples, honeymooners and small wedding groups.

How many restaurants are there?

One full restaurant, The Blend, which serves à la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7am to 10pm. Cavamar is a poolside snack bar and Pool & Lounge brings drinks and snacks to the lounge beds, both open 11am to 6pm. On a longer stay, most guests use the included transport to eat in Playa del Carmen once or twice.

What is included in the all-inclusive rate?

Meals at The Blend, snacks and drinks at the pool outlets, free Wi-Fi, a bottle of wine in the room, yoga on Monday and Thursday mornings and daily transport to central Playa del Carmen. Massages, private dinners on the beach or rooftop, the rooftop jacuzzi experience and excursions are booked through the concierge at extra cost.

What condition is the property in?

This is the most important caveat. Guests in 2026 still report wear typical of a seafront building that needs refurbishment, and a review the hotel features on its own homepage says it needs some TLC while noting the team is actively working on it. No dated renovation has been announced, so check the most recent reviews before booking if room condition matters to you.

How is the beach at Senses Riviera Maya?

The hotel sits on Playa Paraíso with direct access, and the water is calm and swimmable in typical Caribbean fashion. Getting down to the sand is less convenient than it should be, and one guest asked the hotel to add a walkway on either side of the building. Sargassum can arrive between roughly May and September; November through April is the most reliable window.

Restaurants (1)

Type	Restaurants
International & fusion	The Blend

From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown.

What's nearby

Xcaret
35 min drive · 20 mi
Ferry to Cozumel
25 min drive · 15 mi
Playa Mamitas
25 min drive · 14 mi
Río Secreto
30 min drive · 19 mi
Puerto Morelos reef snorkel trip
20 min drive · 10 mi
Xcalacoco Beach
20 min drive · 12 mi

More things to do (20)

Xenses · adventure park30 min drive · 19 mi
Xoxi Cancún · adventure park30 min drive · 19 mi
Croco Cun Zoo · wildlife15 min drive · 10 mi
Playa 88 · beach25 min drive · 13 mi
Punta Esmeralda Beach · beach30 min drive · 13 mi
Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf11 min drive · 1.8 mi
Playa Maroma · beach15 min drive · 4.8 mi
Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden · nature20 min drive · 8.3 mi
Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden · nature20 min drive · 8.3 mi
El Camaleón Golf Course · golf20 min drive · 9.5 mi
Puerto Morelos Town Square and Malecón · town20 min drive · 10 mi
Leaning Lighthouse of Puerto Morelos · historic site20 min drive · 10 mi
Museo del Chocolate · museum25 min drive · 14 mi
Parque La Ceiba · nature25 min drive · 15 mi
Frida Kahlo Museum Playa del Carmen · museum25 min drive · 15 mi
Playa del Carmen Fifth Avenue · town25 min drive · 15 mi
Voladores de Papantla (Parque Fundadores) · historic site25 min drive · 15 mi
Xplor · adventure park30 min drive · 19 mi
Cenote Chaak Tun · cenote30 min drive · 17 mi
Delphinus Riviera Maya · adventure park35 min drive · 20 mi

Amenities

Yoga Classes

Room Service

Free Wi-Fi

Beach

Style & Rooms

Room upgrades

Beachfront RoomsPlunge Pool Rooms

Seaweed & sargassum

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

Every all-inclusive in Playa del Carmen →

Google Reviews★ 3.9 · 971 reviews

Laura M.

a month ago

“We stayed 5 nights and everything was perfect. I can not say enough about the great room, the great staff and the great pool and beach access. The restaurant was a bit slow but we are not foodies, so eat and go is our style. The pool bar was awes...”

Diezel Z.

a month ago

“A fantastic place to stay. The room was perfect! Lots of space, very comfortable, and an incredible view of the ocean! The service is exceptional! The food was delicious! The staff went above and beyond! We could not be happier with our stay here. We...”

Carla P.

4 months ago

“The best part of Senses Riviera Maya is without a doubt the staff—the owner is fortunate to have such an incredible team! With strong competition from surrounding luxury resorts, the level of service here really stands out. Huge thanks to Christian,...”