Ventus at Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort
Ventus at Marina El Cid is one of the more complete family all-inclusive propositions on the Riviera Maya without scaling up to the overwhelming size of some Cancun mega-resorts. It is one of three El Cid properties in a Puerto Morelos complex, and that matters: the Exchange Privilege program lets Ventus guests use the restaurants and bars at Hotel Marina El Cid and Ventus Ha' too. The property gets the multi-generational equation right in a way that's harder than it looks: the Kids' Club keeps 4 to 12 year olds occupied, the Teen's Club gives 13 to 17 year olds their own space, and an adults-only area with two jacuzzis gives parents breathing room. Ventus itself has no slide or swim-up bar, but the neighboring Hotel Marina El Cid's 22,000 sq ft free-form pool, with a slide and a swim-up bar, is a short walk away.
Things to Know
- Wi-Fi costs extra
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +A family all-inclusive that genuinely works for several age groups at once: a Kids' Club for ages 4 to 12, a separate Teen's Club for 13 to 17, and an adults-only area with two jacuzzis so parents get their own corner
- +The Exchange Privilege program opens every restaurant and bar at the neighboring Hotel Marina El Cid and Ventus Ha', so you can borrow their facilities, including the big free-form pool with a slide and swim-up bar at Hotel Marina El Cid, without paying their rates
- +Buffet lunch and dinner at Mercado de Dolores run across eight cuisine stations, from Pizzeria Il Peccato and Sea Place seafood to Maiz Mexican, Wok, Fresko, La Crepe and Tajana Israeli street food, so a week never feels repetitive
- +El Cocay Spa is a 13,000 sq ft facility with massage therapies and traditional Mayan treatments, and it earns strong reviews from guests who've visited resort spas across Mexico
- +A brand-new Pickleball Center with two courts, open 7:00 am to 7:00 pm with equipment from the front desk, is included in the all-inclusive plan at no extra cost
- +Kayaks, paddleboards, boogie boards, beach volleyball and biking tours are all included, along with a daytime beach and pool activities program and nightly entertainment or theme shows
- +Every room has a private balcony and a minibar stocked with water, soft drinks and beer, and the all-inclusive plan includes 24-hour room service
- +Puerto Morelos location is the sweet spot of the Riviera Maya: quieter than Cancun and Playa del Carmen but close enough for easy day trips, with a charming fishing town within reach
Cons
- −No water slides or swim-up bar at Ventus itself: the pools are an infinity pool, a main pool with a children's area and the adults-only jacuzzi area, so families wanting a slide or a swim-up bar walk over to the 22,000 sq ft pool at Hotel Marina El Cid
- −The beach is small; the resort itself puts its sandy beach at 1,922 sq ft, and the coastline here is prone to sargassum seaweed in summer
- −Wi-Fi is not on either all-inclusive plan's list of inclusions, and guests describe it as a paid add-on that adds up over a week-long stay
- −A resort fee is charged on top of the all-inclusive rate, which El Cid flags as not included on both plans, so read the terms before assuming the quoted price is final
- −Only one a la carte dinner venue, Ile de France, and it requires a reservation, so popular times book quickly unless you lean on the exchange restaurants
- −Noise levels can be significant around the pools and entertainment areas, which is fun for families but frustrating for guests seeking quiet, and the adults-only area fills fast
- −Sportfishing, tours and airport transportation all cost extra and run through the marina and the on-site tour company, so budget for transfers from Cancun separately
The food is one of the stronger selling points at this tier. Breakfast is a buffet at Ile de France, lunch and dinner run across eight cuisine stations at Mercado de Dolores, and Ile de France doubles as the one a la carte dinner venue, by reservation. Drinks are served at a poolside bar and lounge overlooking the ocean, a pool terrace lounge and a lobby bar, with waiter service at the pool and beach. Pools are an infinity pool, a main pool with a children's area and the adults-only jacuzzi area, while the beach is small (1,922 sq ft by the resort's own figure) and reached by a stroll or a shuttle from the rooms. El Cocay Spa is a genuine highlight for adults, with Mayan-inspired treatments in a 13,000 sq ft facility, and the new Pickleball Center adds two included courts. Puerto Morelos itself is one of the best-kept secrets on the coast: a fishing village with local restaurants and a protected reef.
Ventus makes the most sense for families with children ranging from young kids through older teenagers who want a self-contained, activity-rich base without Cancun's chaos. Couples without children might prefer a quieter boutique property in Puerto Morelos or one of the adults-only resorts in Playa del Carmen. Budget-minded travelers should do the full math: Wi-Fi is not part of the plan, a resort fee is charged on top, and transfers, tours and sportfishing cost extra, and it is worth checking recent seaweed conditions for your travel dates. For the right family, though, this resort consistently delivers the stress-free week that all-inclusive vacations are supposed to provide.
Common Questions
Is the kids club free and what ages does it cover?
Does Ventus have water slides or a swim-up bar?
How bad is the sargassum seaweed situation at the beach?
What does the all-inclusive plan not cover?
How does Ventus compare to similar Riviera Maya family resorts?
What is there to do in Puerto Morelos outside the resort?
Restaurants (9)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | La Alhambra (at Hotel Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort) |
| Mexican | Hacienda Arrecife (at Hotel Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort) |
| Italian | Trattoria Di Gulio (at Hotel Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort) |
| Teppanyaki / hibachi | Kobo (at Ventus Ha' at Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort) |
| Seafood | La Marina (at Hotel Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort) |
| French | Île De France |
| Mediterranean & Spanish | El Alcázar (at Hotel Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort) |
| International & fusion | Mercado De Dolores, A'akat (at Ventus Ha' at Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort) |
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
40 min drive · 23 mi
Playa Mamitas40 min drive · 23 mi
Playa Delfines40 min drive · 22 mi
4 min drive · 1.2 mi
Museo Maya de Cancún40 min drive · 23 mi
Puerto Morelos Town Square and Malecón4 min drive · 1.2 mi
More things to do (24)
- Xoxi Cancún · adventure park25 min drive · 14 mi
- Croco Cun Zoo · wildlife11 min drive · 4.4 mi
- Playa 88 · beach35 min drive · 22 mi
- Riviera Cancún Golf · golf35 min drive · 18 mi
- Playa Coral · beach30 min drive · 18 mi
- Xcalacoco Beach · beach35 min drive · 20 mi
- Punta Esmeralda Beach · beach40 min drive · 21 mi
- Playa Ballenas · beach45 min drive · 24 mi
- Iberostar Cancún Golf Club · golf45 min drive · 24 mi
- Leaning Lighthouse of Puerto Morelos · historic site4 min drive · 1.2 mi
- Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden · nature20 min drive · 4.7 mi
- Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden · nature20 min drive · 4.7 mi
- Moon Palace Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 14 mi
- Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf30 min drive · 12 mi
- Playa Maroma · beach30 min drive · 13 mi
- El Camaleón Golf Course · golf35 min drive · 18 mi
- Museo del Chocolate · museum35 min drive · 22 mi
- Parque La Ceiba · nature40 min drive · 23 mi
- Frida Kahlo Museum Playa del Carmen · museum40 min drive · 23 mi
- Playa del Carmen Fifth Avenue · town40 min drive · 23 mi
- Playa Delfines Lookout · viewpoint40 min drive · 22 mi
- Voladores de Papantla (Parque Fundadores) · historic site40 min drive · 23 mi
- El Rey Ruins · ruins40 min drive · 23 mi
- Playa San Miguelito · beach45 min drive · 25 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Cancun gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.5 · 1,028 reviews
“This was our first time staying at Ventus, although last year we stayed at Marina and decided to return to the same resort group. Unfortunately, this year was a bit of a letdown. We arrived after a long day of travel and spent nearly an hour checking...”
“Overall service and quality was excellent. Staff were great and paying for the platinum club was worth it. Access to the restaurants, bars and amenities at all the resorts were lovely. The resort isn’t as huge as you think it is and is quite easy...”
