The Beachfront by The Fives Hotels
The Beachfront by The Fives Hotels does something few all-inclusives manage: genuine boutique scale with a big sister resort next door. It sits on Xcalacoco Beach, a quiet stretch of white sand north of Playa del Carmen proper that feels nothing like the packed beach scene a few kilometers south. Every room is adults only, capped at two guests, so the pools and beach never feel crowded and staff learn your drink order by day two. When the quiet starts to feel too quiet, The Fives Beach Hotel next door is open to you, with its restaurants, bars, pools and activities included, and guests describe that combination as the whole appeal.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Xcalacoco Beach north of Playa del Carmen is soft white sand with far fewer people than the beaches in front of the big resorts in town
- +Small, adults-only and quiet: every room is capped at two adults with no children allowed, and guests describe a slow, unhurried pace where nobody rushes you off your table
- +A la carte all-inclusive with no buffet: Santa Sirena runs three six-course tasting menus (Essence of Asia, Sapori di Italia and Hometown Flavor), lunch is served poolside, and a Raw Seafood Bar four days a week and a Premium Meat Bar two days a week break up the routine
- +Access to The Fives Beach Hotel next door is included, with its restaurants, bars, pools and activities, which is what stops a one-restaurant boutique hotel from feeling repetitive
- +Every room comes with a premium minibar restocked daily, a welcome cocktail, robes and slippers, aromatherapy, a virtual ambassador service and 30 minutes of hydrotherapy a day
- +The Beachfront Swim Up Suite (387 sq ft) has its own private pool on an oceanfront terrace, and some Beachfront Suites step straight onto the sand
- +More to do than the size suggests: instructor-led HIIT, functional, core and flexibility classes, a rotating calendar of yoga and macrame workshops, Mexican cooking classes, and Mexican spirits tastings with a margarita workshop
Cons
- −There is only one restaurant on site, so variety depends on walking over to The Fives Beach, which some couples who came for seclusion would rather not do
- −The property is small, with infinity pools and a beach club rather than a sprawling complex, so anyone expecting a lazy river or a choice of pools will feel the limits
- −Fifth Avenue is a taxi or shuttle ride away; Xcalacoco is not walkable to downtown Playa del Carmen
- −Service pace draws comment: even a happy March 2026 guest noted others getting frustrated with slow service at times, so this suits people who want to unwind rather than be waited on instantly
- −The Spa by The Fives is the shared 15,000 sq ft resort spa with a children's suite, not a private adults-only space, and treatments beyond the daily hydrotherapy are billed separately
- −The beach is lovely but there is no snorkeling or watersports program promoted at the hotel, and the reef here is not a highlight
Dining is a la carte rather than buffet. Santa Sirena, the one on-site restaurant and beach club, does Mexican fusion with ceviches and seafood, plus three six-course tasting menus: Essence of Asia, Sapori di Italia and Hometown Flavor. A Raw Seafood Bar with oysters, chocolate clams and Yucatan octopus appears four days a week and a Premium Meat Bar two, lunch is served by the pool, and Agua Mala is the evening cocktail bar. Rooms run from 290 sq ft Garden View and Oceanview rooms to 387 sq ft Beachfront Suites and Swim Up Suites with a private pool, up to a 484 sq ft Presidential Suite with a whirlpool bath. All of them include a stocked minibar, robes, aromatherapy and 30 minutes a day in the hydrotherapy circuit at the shared Spa by The Fives, a 15,000 sq ft spa with 11 treatment rooms beside a cenote.
This works best for couples who value calm, good food and attentive service over a long list of amenities, and who find the Riviera Maya mega-resorts overwhelming. It suits honeymoons and anniversaries well and is less suited to anyone who wants nightlife on the doorstep or a different restaurant every night without leaving the building. It prices above the big Riu and Barcelo resorts and competes with smaller couples-focused properties along the coast; the deciding factor for most guests is the quieter beach plus the option of the larger resort next door. Fifth Avenue, cenotes and the Playa del Carmen ferry to Cozumel are all a short drive away.
Common Questions
What does 'a la carte all-inclusive' mean at this resort?
Can guests at The Beachfront use The Fives Beach Hotel facilities?
How is the beach at Xcalacoco compared to Playa del Carmen's main beach?
Is this resort good for honeymooners?
Is there a hotel tax on top of the rate?
Restaurants (14)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Mexican | Santa Sirena, Mestizo (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences), Chechén & Chakáh (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences), Casa de Rosa (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences) |
| Italian | Arezzo (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences), Oriola Pizzeria (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences) |
| Japanese & sushi | Oka-Sushi (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences) |
| Asian | Koh-Thai (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences) |
| French | La Brasserie (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences) |
| Caribbean & local | Muelle Ocho (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences) |
| American & grill | Natura (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences), Breeze Burger (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences) |
| Plant-based | Lizzards (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences) |
| International & fusion | Flavours (at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences) |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
25 min drive · 11 mi
20 min drive · 6.5 mi
Playa Mamitas14 min drive · 5.8 mi
20 min drive · 9.9 mi
Xcalacoco Beach3 min walk · 0.1 mi
El Camaleón Golf Course11 min drive · 3.5 mi
More things to do (15)
- Xenses · adventure park20 min drive · 10 mi
- Playa 88 · beach12 min drive · 4.7 mi
- Punta Esmeralda Beach · beach20 min drive · 4.3 mi
- Museo del Chocolate · museum13 min drive · 5.6 mi
- Parque La Ceiba · nature13 min drive · 6.0 mi
- Frida Kahlo Museum Playa del Carmen · museum14 min drive · 5.9 mi
- Playa del Carmen Fifth Avenue · town14 min drive · 6.0 mi
- Voladores de Papantla (Parque Fundadores) · historic site14 min drive · 6.3 mi
- Xplor · adventure park20 min drive · 10 mi
- Playa Maroma · beach20 min drive · 9.2 mi
- Cenote Chaak Tun · cenote20 min drive · 8.2 mi
- Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 11 mi
- Delphinus Riviera Maya · adventure park25 min drive · 11 mi
- Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden · nature30 min drive · 17 mi
- Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden · nature30 min drive · 17 mi
Amenities
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 · 132 reviews
“I had the most incredible stay at The Fives Beachfront! From the moment I arrived, I felt so welcomed and cared for, but what truly stood out was how the staff went above and beyond to make me feel special on my birthday. They surprised me in the mos...”
“This hotel is one of the best. The service cannot be faulted. The food is excellent and the staff cannot do enough for you. Special mentions go to Samuel, Frank, Erik, Alessandro, Cassandra, Kevin and all the restaurant staff who go out of their way...”
“Such a beautiful and relaxing spot. Rooms are beautiful and well appointed, food and drinks were always delicious. Beach is a bit rocky but you can go next door to the fives or enjoy the beautiful pool at the resort.”
