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The Reef Coco Beach Resort & Spa

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

4.1(5,829 reviews)

Family

The Reef Coco Beach is the city-edge option in Playa del Carmen: a beachfront family resort at Calle Flamingo, about a five-minute walk from the north end of 5th Avenue, with an all-inclusive plan you can take or leave. That last point matters more than it looks. The property sells as optional all-inclusive, with room-and-breakfast, Superior and Premium plans, so a lot of what guests say about value depends on which plan they bought. The pool is bigger than the room count suggests, the entertainment team gets real enthusiasm from families, and the oceanfront Fragata Beach Club gives the beach side a proper venue.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+Beachfront in Playa del Carmen, about a five-minute walk from the north end of 5th Avenue, so dozens of restaurants, bars and shops are within easy reach without a taxi
+Big freeform pool with the Azul 48 swim-up bar, plus a separate children's pool and Balinese beds, which is a lot of pool for a property this size
+Four restaurants rather than the usual two: the Miramar buffet (newly remodeled, per the resort), Rosinella for Italian with views toward Cozumel, Sabor Latino for Mexican a la carte and Samurai for teppanyaki, plus the El Palmar snack bar
+Optional all-inclusive means you can book room and breakfast only and eat on 5th Avenue every night, which suits travelers who don't want to prepay for meals they'll skip
+The oceanfront Fragata Beach Club gives the resort a proper covered beach venue, and it doubles as an event space for weddings and parties of up to 200 guests
+Family-friendly atmosphere with an entertainment team running daily activities, pool games and nightly shows that families keep mentioning by name
+The brand's dive operation, The Reef Marina, runs scuba, snorkeling and cenote trips, and recent family guests single it out as a highlight
+Smaller property scale means staff get to know returning faces across a stay, a more personal feel than the big resort complexes in Playacar

Cons

−Three tiers of package and the gaps between them are the most repeated complaint: international spirits are Premium only, the Bar & Mar Lounge Bar is for Premium guests, Samurai carries a supplement on Superior, and breakfast-only guests pay extra at Sabor Latino
−No spa on the property despite the '& Spa' in the trading name: the brand's two spas, Okom and OME, are at The Reef 28 and The Reef Playacar
−Mold, mildew and musty smells have been reported in rooms, particularly in older sections, and some guests ask to move on day one
−Older furniture, stained furnishings and shower leaks show up in reviews often enough to read as a maintenance pattern rather than bad luck
−Several guests describe a membership-club sales pitch that is hard to avoid, though some were offered free massages for sitting through it
−Specialty dining still gets repetitive on a week-long stay, with only four restaurants and some of them gated by package
−The beach in front is a public stretch of Playa del Carmen with vendors and crowds, not a private cove

Dining is more capable than its reputation: the Miramar buffet, which the resort says was newly remodeled, covers three meals, and the a la carte line-up is Rosinella (Italian), Sabor Latino (Mexican) and Samurai (teppanyaki), with the El Palmar snack bar, a lobby bar, a beachfront Sports Bar and the Azul 48 swim-up bar. The catches sit in the package tiers. International spirits and the Bar & Mar Lounge Bar are Premium only, Samurai carries a supplement on Superior, and Premium also buys access to restaurants and bars at sister property The Reef Playacar. There is no spa on site; the brand's spas are at The Reef 28 and The Reef Playacar. Room condition is the other recurring gripe, with mold smells, stained furnishings and plumbing problems coming up often enough to be a pattern.

The Reef Coco Beach works best for families and couples who want a beach-and-pool base and plan to eat on 5th Avenue some nights, where the optional plan lets you pay only for what you use. It is not the pick for a polished, all-in week where every drink and restaurant is covered; Riu Playacar and the larger Playacar resorts offer more facilities at similar or modestly higher prices. Nearby, the Playacar golf course, the Cozumel ferry, Xcaret and the cenote trips run by the brand's own dive center are all easy day outings.

Common Questions

Is The Reef Coco Beach all-inclusive?

Only if you book it that way. The resort sells as optional all-inclusive, with a room-and-breakfast plan alongside Superior and Premium all-inclusive packages. Premium adds international spirits, the Bar & Mar Lounge Bar and access to restaurants and bars at The Reef Playacar, so check which plan a deal includes before comparing prices.

What restaurants does The Reef Coco Beach have?

Four: the Miramar buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Rosinella (Italian), Sabor Latino (Mexican a la carte) and Samurai (Japanese teppanyaki). There is also the El Palmar snack bar plus a lobby bar, a beachfront Sports Bar and the Azul 48 swim-up bar. Samurai carries a supplement on the Superior plan and breakfast-only guests pay a surcharge at Sabor Latino.

How close is The Reef Coco Beach to 5th Avenue?

About a five-minute walk to the north end of 5th Avenue from the resort on Calle Flamingo. That puts the whole strip of restaurants and bars within easy walking distance, which is the main reason people pick this resort over the gated Playacar properties.

Does The Reef Coco Beach have a spa?

Not on the property, despite the '& Spa' in its trading name. The Reef brand runs two spas, Okom Spa at The Reef 28 and OME Spa at The Reef Playacar, and Coco Beach guests use those. The resort comparison page does list a dry and steam sauna at Coco Beach.

What are the room conditions like at The Reef Coco Beach?

They vary. Reviews flag mold and mildew smells, stained furnishings and shower leaks in some rooms, while other guests report perfectly clean, comfortable stays. Rooms are compact at about 290 square feet with a balcony or terrace, so inspect yours on arrival and ask for a change early if it smells musty.

Is The Reef Coco Beach good for families with children?

Reasonably so. There is a children's pool, an entertainment team with daily activities and nightly shows, and the brand's dive center for older kids who want to snorkel or try scuba. For week-long trips where kids want a bigger pool complex and more restaurant choice, the larger Playacar resorts have more to offer.

What's nearby

Xcaret
15 min drive · 7.4 mi
Ferry to Cozumel
8 min drive · 2.5 mi
Kantun-Chi Ecopark
25 min drive · 17 mi
Playa Mamitas
6 min drive · 1.5 mi
Río Secreto
11 min drive · 6.5 mi
Xcalacoco Beach
10 min drive · 4.6 mi

More things to do (20)

Xenses · adventure park13 min drive · 6.5 mi
Cenote Azul · cenote25 min drive · 17 mi
Playa 88 · beach6 min drive · 1.6 mi
Cenote Cristalino · cenote25 min drive · 17 mi
Punta Esmeralda Beach · beach13 min drive · 2.3 mi
Puerto Aventuras Marina · marina25 min drive · 16 mi
Cenote Chikin-Ha · cenote30 min drive · 17 mi
Museo del Chocolate · museum5 min drive · 1.6 mi
Frida Kahlo Museum Playa del Carmen · museum6 min drive · 1.9 mi
Playa del Carmen Fifth Avenue · town6 min drive · 1.9 mi
Parque La Ceiba · nature6 min drive · 2.5 mi
Voladores de Papantla (Parque Fundadores) · historic site6 min drive · 2.2 mi
Xplor · adventure park12 min drive · 6.9 mi
El Camaleón Golf Course · golf13 min drive · 5.7 mi
Cenote Chaak Tun · cenote14 min drive · 5.4 mi
Delphinus Riviera Maya · adventure park20 min drive · 7.6 mi
Playa Maroma · beach25 min drive · 11 mi
Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 13 mi
Puerto Aventuras Golf Course · golf30 min drive · 16 mi
Cenote Chac Mool · cenote35 min drive · 16 mi

Amenities

Diving

Kids Club

Swim-Up Bar

Buffet Dining

Gym

Beach

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★ 4.1 · 5,829 reviews

Edward D.

a month ago

“Walking into The Reef, you’re slapped in the face with a Mexican beach-town cliché—white sand, turquoise water, a pool with a swim‑up bar. It’s all postcard beautiful from the early 2000s, and the resort leans into it hard: kayaks, whirlpools, spa, k...”