The stunning Riviera Maya blows it out of the water! Once a land of quaint fishing villages, the Riviera Maya is now one of the hottest destinations on the planet.
With its coastline dotted with high-end resorts, fine dining, luxury spas, and endless shopping, the Riviera Maya is the ultimate luxe getaway. As soon as you set foot on the powdery white sand and dip into the crystal clear turquoise water, you will never want to leave.
Check out all the fun in the sun at the Barceló Maya Beach Resort in Riviera Maya!
The Resort
The Barceló Resort allows guests to enjoy more than one hotel’s services thanks to their vast property that includes five different hotels: Barceló Maya Beach, Barceló Maya Caribe, Barceló Maya Tropical, Barceló Maya Colonial, and Barceló Maya Palace—all of which I would recommend.
This incredible beachside resort spans 1.2 miles and has 14 different bars for enjoying the best Caribbean cocktails, including a 24-hour bar with buffet service and bowling alley.
In addition, it features the Jaguar nightclub for teenagers, as well as an incredible shopping center where visitors can purchase designer clothes. The resort is inspired by Mayan architecture and is located on an impressive white sand beach surrounded by spectacular gardens and pools.
With more than 2,700 stunning rooms, three chic restaurants, and three modern bars, the resort has it all. In fact, you could have an amazing vacation without ever setting foot outside the hotel, especially with the All-Inclusive or Premium packages.
Lounge beachside with a cocktail. Work up a sweat at its top-of-the-line gym, sports courts, and water sports facilities. Hit the dance floor at its swank nightclub. When you are ready to relax, go unwind poolside.
The Rooms
I stayed at the Barceló Maya Beach hotel, and it was flawless. The elegant, modern rooms feature minibars, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, hot tubs, and sitting rooms. And, of course, you can get dinner at three in the morning thanks to its 24/7 room service.
I stayed in an Oceanfront Junior Suite, on the ground floor, so it had an awesome swim-up pool area, a patio, and was close to the beach!
The Spa
The U-Spa Wellness and Fitness Center sits in the middle of the property and is inspired by the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. The saunas, steam showers, tropical and thermal showers, dynamic pools, and immersion pools will transport you to another world.
Get a massage, body wrap, and a facial. Lounge in one of the U-Spa Wellness and Fitness Center’s twenty-six treatment rooms, the float room, the hydrotherapy room, one of the three Vichy showers, or the Swiss room.
Ready to get gorgeous? Go in for waxing, manicure, and pedicure, and maybe even splurge on a hair and makeup session.
I requested a massage on the beach, and it was the dreamiest!
Food & Drink
The best thing about Barceló Resort is the FOOD! Its all-inclusive package gives you a totally stress-free vacay. With three meals a day, taxes, tips, snacks, and drinks included, you will never have to worry about searching for restaurants or overpaying for so-so food.
The food was fresh and diverse, and so you are able to try something new for every meal at one of its sixteen restaurants, which includes four buffet-style restaurants, four grill restaurants facing the beach, and eight à-la-carte restaurants.
Sample authentic Mexican cuisine at México Lindo, Spanish food at La Fuente, fresh seafood at Mare Nostrum, Japanese food at Kyoto or Tokyo, Italian food at Capri or La Trattoria Ristorante Italiano, and fresh meats at Santa Fe.
My favorite dinner was at the Caribe restaurant with fresh seafood and delicious wine!
The fourteen different bars at the resort are open twenty-four hours and have everything you could ever ask for! You’ll be impressed at every turn.
Activities
I could stay at the resort and in the surrounding area, that you will never get bored. In addition to the pools, bar, and beautiful beach, there are many activities on the resort’s property for adventure seekers.
Go snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, or parasailing, or even hop on a Hobie cat.
There is no better place on the planet to go diving than the beautiful seas of the Caribbean, so take advantage of this stunning location.
You can also easily visit Akumal to swim with turtles, Tulum to explore ancient Mayan ruins or swim in beautiful cenotes that are just a short drive from the resort.
The option are endless!
More Information
Hotel: Barceló Maya Beach Hotel
Location: Riviera Maya, Q.R., Mexico
Accommodation: Resort (All-Inclusive Optional)
Price Range: $$
We have been looking into visiting the Riviera Maya. I think you sold us. We are a little concerned about the number of guests. We usually go to Curaçao as our beach get away and it seems pretty quiet compared to these resorts. What do you think?
Depending on the time of year, I think you would find a lot of other guests, especially given the size. I think it’s an awesome resort, but I wouldn’t consider it “quiet” necessarily! There are also adult-only sections which may be of interest.
Thanks. We will definitely be checking into this destination. It may be a great family trip with our adult children.
How hard was it to book reservations for dinner?
Depended on the restaurant, but I didn’t find it too difficult to get in anywhere 🙂 I’d recommend maybe planning a day ahead for the nicer spots!