Sunset Fishermen Beach Resort
Family-friendly resort in Playa del Carmen.
Amenities
Traveler Insights(285 discussions)
Sunset Fishermen Beach Resort is not trying to compete with the mega all-inclusives of Cancun or even the larger properties in Playa del Carmen. It is a 60-room boutique hotel with an optional all-inclusive add-on, a private beach, and a residential Playacar address that keeps the party scene at a comfortable distance. Guests who book it knowing what it is come away very satisfied - the 2024 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice recognition is a fair reflection of how consistently it delivers on its actual promise: clean rooms, friendly staff, a pleasant beach, and easy access to everything Playa del Carmen has to offer.
The food and beverage setup works well for guests who use the optional all-inclusive as a base while walking to 5th Avenue for dinner exploration. The four on-site outlets provide enough variety for a day's worth of meals without ever becoming the focal point of the trip. The slow service flagged in some reviews is real but manageable for guests who are not in a rush. The cleanliness standard is genuinely excellent and is consistently the most praised aspect across all review platforms.
This resort makes the most sense for couples and small groups who want a quiet beach base in Playa del Carmen rather than a packaged resort experience. It competes well against properties like Vivo Resorts or the smaller Playacar hotels. The proximity to 5th Avenue and the Playacar ruins makes it an ideal pick for travelers who plan to spend as much time exploring as relaxing. Families with young children, large-group travelers wanting constant entertainment, and anyone specifically seeking a full-featured all-inclusive will likely be better served elsewhere.
Pros
- +Located in the upscale Playacar Phase 1 neighborhood with a private beach - quieter and more residential than the central Playa del Carmen hotel strip
- +Optional all-inclusive package gives guests flexibility to eat at the resort or venture out to 5th Avenue restaurants without feeling locked in
- +Spotless cleanliness across all areas - rooms, pool, and beach get consistent high marks and are flagged as a standout compared to other Playa del Carmen properties
- +Intimate scale with only 60 rooms means staff know guests and service is personal rather than anonymous
- +Won the 2024 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award, placing in the top 10% of accommodation worldwide for the year
- +Four food and beverage outlets including beachfront dining with Caribbean and international menus that reviewers praise for quality
- +Private beach area directly in front of the resort with calm, swimmable Caribbean water and consistent service to beach chairs
- +15-minute walk to 5th Avenue (Quinta Avenida) puts the best restaurants, bars, and shopping in Playa del Carmen within easy reach
Cons
- −Intermittent sewer smell near the pool entrance and common areas has been reported by multiple guests and is an ongoing issue
- −Restaurant service can be slow during busy periods, and food temperature consistency is flagged as an issue at the main dining venue
- −As a smaller property with an optional all-inclusive, the food and bar variety is more limited than large resort competitors in the Riviera Maya
- −The beach, while pleasant, is narrower than the expansive beaches at Cancun hotel zone properties - it is a private beach rather than a sweeping resort beach
- −Room decor is functional but dated - guests rate the rooms as comfortable and clean but not particularly stylish or modern
- −No swim-up bar, lazy river, or large pool complex that guests accustomed to large Cancun-area resorts may expect
- −The Playacar location, while quiet and pleasant, feels removed from the energy of Playa del Carmen's main area for guests who want walkable nightlife
- −Being adjacent to an active residential neighborhood means occasional traffic and construction noise can intrude
Common Questions
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“This is an excellent resort with So many positives yet an awful negative. The location is fabulous. The rooms overlooked the beach. You have a nice lounging area from the room looking at the beach. The rooms were nice and large and the cleaning staff...”