Mayan Palace at Vidanta Riviera Maya Reviews & Ratings

Mayan Palace is the most central to a large pool, the main beach and an excellent gym. The healthy restaurant at Brio at the gym serves great smoothies and healthy salads. Juan, who has worked there for years, does a great job! Tramonto and Gong are two great restaurants in easy walking distance from the resort. We also love Nektar restaurant by the Cirque show. Order the special “cauldron” for two as a treat. The staff is friendly and the rooms are spotless. Hope you enjoy the resort as much as we do.

Its location between Cancun and Playa del Carmen makes it easy to get to both of them, although the market on site does have everything you may need, so you will only leave for an excursion or some tours. The beach and the water are amazing, and the beach club makes it even better. The staff is very friendly.

Great location with super amenities including lazy river, Cirque de Soleis onsite, variety of terrific restaurants, golf, wave pool, beach access, pickleball and live music nightly.

This place is AMAZING. We felt so safe in this sprawling compound that is SOOO beautifully landscaped and designed. Nothing spared anywhere , truly unique. The service, room, food, people all wonderful

Our family had such an unforgettable time at the Mayan Palace. This place is out of this world! The restaurants and services are at the highest level. Fantastic views all around you! Live performances and entertainment were happening at various locations and times. You must visit the Salum at sundown, where you will find beachside open-air restaurants/ lounge, and the market place with live performances/ games. We enjoyed Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ. Their act actually starts from the river outside. Spectacular!! Highly recommend to be there early to enjoy more live performances and awesome cocktails before being seated. We missed Jungala, the waterpark. We will come back!

My whole family and friends loved this resort! The units are so spacious, and the resort is out of this world! The pools are amazing and the restaurants are all sensational too! If you like working out on your holiday, it also has an extra large gym! One thing is for sure, you won’t regret this place!

My stayed at the Mayan Palace was one of the best vacations to date! Me and my family had so many fun times in this massive resort. The staff was friendly and fun and the amenities were incredible, include so many yummy food places and drinks throughout the resort!

Mayan Palace Riviera Maya is a luxurious resort hotel inside the unforgettable Vidanta Riviera Maya resort. You'll find a casual and relaxed environment where everyone in the family can find a favorite activity and their happiness. Cozy, comfortable living spaces provide everything you need for a romantic getaway for two or a memorable family vacation with lots of little ones. And with a friendly staff who look after you like family, you’ll quickly see why Mayan Palace has helped to redefine the Mexican vacation experience. Amazing sandy wide beach, coral can be found near the shore, enter with care.

You can relax in this awesome resort which sits on one of the Riviera Maya beaches. There is swimming in multiple beautiful pools or enjoy the lazy river and activities of the Jungula Water Park. There are many on site activities and the availability of concierge services to book off site excursions: Tulum, Chichen Itza, snorkeling, parasailing, kayaking and more. Also within the resort area is a 3 par golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The spa service is deluxe and my wife feels her spa experience there has been the best she has ever had. In the evenings you can relax in the many dining areas within the resort or experience Joya, a fantastic Cirque du Soleil experience. There are on site tennis and pickle ball courts and numerous jungle walking paths. The staff you will find very friendly, helpful.

This resort is amazing! So many pools, new water park, Cirque du Soleil and great service. We can't wait to come back!

Mayan Palace Resort and its sister properties are outstanding! We greatly enjoyed the daily water aerobics and the great pool side food and beverages. Very well kept and clean property.

So much to do and so little time! You will enjoy every minute of this exclusive resort. Singles, couples, kids and/or grandkids. The covid test for return to the United States costs about $30 per person and is given on site.

The staff are always so courteous and kind. The unit is cleaned daily and all of the resort areas were immaculate. We mostly stayed on the beach and took advantage of Happy Hour pricing on drinks in the afternoon. In the evening, we recommend getting the ceviche and dancing with the kids in the early evening or later at night, trying some salsa.

The Mayan Palace rooms have been upgraded and the beds were very comfortable. The kids club was excellent and kept the kids happy for hours. The pools are big and beautiful. All the restaurants were delicious and pool bars fun but a little pricey. The timeshare sales pitch was a BIG negative and took almost 6 hours to escape. You can bypass this and I asked for it. The Mayan Palace has been much improved in the last few years. We had a lot of fun and are going back next Spring Break.

Negative ratings are not valid for this resort! Come on, golf, fantastic pools, beautiful gardens/grounds, walking areas, incredible service, shuttles,all requests immed. handled by housekeeping and concierge many times with followup inquiries if all was OK. We experienced wonderful staff, always smiling and friendly to us. Where WERE some of these folks staying?

Asking for help and info goes a long way. We called for extra towels, water, anything, it was there in 5 min. Restaurant food was always fantastic, a bit pricey but worth every morsel. You're at a RESORT, it's not going to be priced like home. If you don't want to spend the money don't go, cook in your unit. Happy hour drinks are more than twice normal drinks, in a huge glass!

If you don't want the hassel of timeshare sales, don't go, esp. when asked to book on arrival day.

To one reviewer, Balce is Frieda's at night. Info is in brochures and signage. Havana Moon at beach, down the path from Balche, had wonderful food, huge portions, most guests were taking leftovers back to rooms. We did too. Good entertainment.

First time visitors accompanied us and were very impressed, didn't want to leave for home. Want to return. So do I. I'm an owner, attended an update/presentation 5 days after arrival -and upgraded. The plan we purchased works to our advantage. Can't say enough. Returning next yr with G'kids. Can't wait!

We just got back from a week here, traded with a private owner. Resort was great, only problem is outdated information in the rooms and conceriege.

We booked shuttle to Cancun based on what concerige told us about stops and timing, shuttle took us to the shopping mall in the Hotel zone.

We looked at the in-room info for breakfast locations, Havana Moon had buffet and ala carte menu, WRONG they don't open until 5 pm. Balche opens at 11, nope, they have a breakfast buffet, no ala cart menu. One restaurant is advertised, Fridas, on signs around the resort, but we couldn't find it on a map, so we never got there.

Seemed a little pricey, also they automatically charge 15% on ALL food and drink, so every beer, every sandwich has a tip automatically included. At least when they advertise the buffets, they include tax and tip in their advertised price. $135 pesos + tip for club sandwich and fries. Drink of the day wasn't a 2 x 1 (beer was) but it was a larger glass for the same $75.0 peso.

I downgraded service because I didn't find the staff as attentive as last year in Nuevo Vallarta where tips were NOT included, but a generous tip for great service went a long way all week long. Took an hour + to get a club sandwich at the beach, where the day before it was half hour.

Even with those minor inconveniences, it was a great time. Pool chairs were always available, chairs in the sand were plentiful, and the sun was great. Rooms were clean, but little dated, some of the furniture has seen better days. Maid service available daily, but we only used once/week.

Best tip They are selling an in-room phone card, 7 days unlimited calls to the US for $15usd. There were no surcharges to those rates, using other phone cards would, and our Sprint cell service was going to be $1.69/minute to roam. Best investment, card is good for 7 days from first use.

Seriously, in 50 + different vacation resorts (we vacation at least 3 months a year) this is the most unfriendly and the most uncaring. Yes the worst. The wait staff and entertainment staff have horrible manners. They treat you like it is some kind of privelage to be there and an inconvenience to serve you. The kids club requires you to return every 15 minutes and none of the other staff knows this. They close for lunch too. We had to cancel dinner and golf plans at the last moment. My wife and I couldn't even have 1 private meal or activity together. They chase you down relentlessly to take the presentation then pressure you for 3 hours. They then send you off angry when you don't buy the $149,000 package. These folks need to take lessons in common courtesy. The dinner show (Included at every other resort) cost $80.00 for a cheap buffet. That's $400.00 for my family of 5! No admittance without dinner and they ask you to leave if you hang around without a reservation. $10.00 kids hot dog and fries. Another dinner would have cost us $1000+. The unit for 8 has a dining table for 4. No frypans in the kitchen. Don't even try asking for one either. The beds are hard. They don't use fitted sheets so the bottom layer comes apart by morning, exposing the dirty foam ruber pad underneath. The gym requires $10.00 PP per day to use and they would let my 17 year boy in (18+). We work out together at the fitness club at home. Water sports costs are %40 more than local places. There are charges for even the most basic services. There are more RULES than I have ever seen at any resort. Like being in some sort of communist community. Everywhere you look there are signs and notes. Forbidden to do this and don't do that. Even for the "owners". Those who bought there are really unfortunate because they may never know what a real vacation is. We finally left half way through our stay as we were having no fun with all the restrictions and rude behavior. We retreated to our (Small) home resort in Cancun where we were welcomed with open arms. No reservation needed either. I highly recommend NOT staying At Mayan Resort Company. If you dare try then DO have a car as you are at their mercy. Taxi rides are greatly inflated from the resort. 30 pesos for a quick 2 minute ride to the front gate... but of course, they don't have change so it cost 50 pesos. Insane! The list goes on and on but enough said. Good luck

The waters and beaches were spectacular. The rooms were just fine and the swimmig pools were unbelievable. The golf course is one of the best in Mexico and so is the spa area.

Lots of things to do but stay away from the timeshare representatives, they can be very aggresive and time consuming.

Market store nearby and out in a peaceful, relaxing and tranquil area. You don't get "beatup/disturbed" by passer byers...

May want to rent a car because quite a distance from the airport but worth it.

One of Mexico's most requested resorts and you'll see why.

Just returned from a week's stay.

This resort is a very large mega family resort, with something under the sun for everyone.

We had a great time, our room was perfect (clean clean clean), we thought the beach was gorgeous (natural sea), the grounds are lovely, the pool is heated and wonderful.

We ate at the dinner buffets several nights, which include your entire meal, entertainment while eating, and a pretty good show thereafter.

There were also several bands always in action - very good! People were dancing, and having a blast.

One word of caution - this is a large, spred out resort. It is not like the Grand MP Neuvo, Acapulco, etc.

If you want or need a high rise location, do not go to this resort, as you will be walking all over and probably will not be happy.

The beach is sandy, and the water is all natural, with a new reef. If you want to be at a resort where the water is clear down to 50 or 100 feet, this resort is not for you (go to Cozumel). The Riveria only allows natural environments and bulidings 3 stories tall to keep the environment in check.

We love the place, and have been there 4 times. We purchased on our second time. The T/S is a long, long, hard sell. So, if you don't want to buy, do not go for the "free" item. It is a 4 hour plus trip as they take you to a long but excellent breakfast buffet, take you thru the models of the Mayan and the Grand Mayan, then walk you back to the T/S office, then begin the discussion. By that time, it has been over 3 hours and your kids if with you will be climbing the walls.

We bought and have been very happy with our purchase. For anyone that preferes a boutique hotel - this is not for you. Again, the Mayan's are huge, family resorts with alot going on (which is why we go there).

The food has gotten very expensive as well since we first went there 4 yrs ago. Forget the grocery store - the prices were so high this time I thought it was a joke. You can rent a car for $55.00, go to XCaret, Xel Ha, and stop in Playa for dinner and then stop at the Mega or Wallmart.

The rooms are really not set up for alot of cooking. Good for a quick breakfast or small lunch.

The 'fridge is small, more of a mini bar.

With your food prices, you get lots of free entertainment - and it is good (so, in the end, it all works out).

We can't wait to go again next year.

We just returned from 3 weeks at the Mayan Palace and although it is much more crowded than it was on our last visit in 2005 it is still amazing! We stayed in the master room ( 2double beds) the first week and yes those beds are quite hard and I slept much better once we moved to the suite and a king bed the second two weeks. The beach has a coral reef and rocks so it is not like the beach in Playa but if you walk 10-15 minutes north you will arrive on that kind of beach. I do not remember any bunches of garbage anywhere on the resort. It is very clean, even after the fire that the Grand Mayan Lobby had during our visit - things were cleaned up VERY quickly. The pool is beautiful and BIG and most days service was great - we had a couple of days of slower service but that is probably more about the wait staff at your area on the given day! We talked to a waiter one day and there are 11 sections with a waiter for each section and they rotate through the sections. Consider hundreds of people divided into 11 sections and sometimes service may be a little slow! If you wanted a drink that badly there are 2 pool bars and the Balche restaurant to go to! The food at all restaurants was good but exceptional at Tramonto. We had room service a couple of times and the same price as going to the restaurants and quite prompt! Yummy burgers!! Prices were pretty reasonable for the quality of the food and we did also buy groceries at Chedraiu and Walmart for breakfasts and lunches. The staff are wonderful, from the reception to the young man cleaning the path to the pool every day. Always a hola and smile and what can we do to help you. The new shuttle service to Playa for $4. pp is a great addition and we used it 3-4 times. When we bought our big grocery order we chose to use the shuttle into Playa and took a taxi back with the food. Went to chichen itza for an overnight tour with gray line and that was super and went to Xcaret for a day and the show itself was worth the price of admission. The buffet there was quite expensive for the quality so I would just have a burger on the beach when we return! Love the Mayan Palace and the people who work there. They really did their best to make sure our vacation is great. We did not use the shuttle service on resort choosing to walk the 10 minutes to the pool from buildings 10 and 11but we did talk to other guests who did use the service and thought it was good for their needs. We needed the exercise. Hope you enjoy your time at the Mayan as much as we did!

5 star resort, service was outstanding and loved the all the kids activities. Would recommend to anyone!

Cheryl I would like to know how Cheryl got around the barb wire fence that was put up on the beach that blocked walkers to get to the other beach? There was a barbed wire fence on the point that led to the other beach and there were bolders that made the route toward the other beach impassable. I looked straight ahead of me, down toward the sand one day and in my tunnel vision view I counted 16 pieces of garbage on the beach in that small spot. My pillows smelled. Your's did not. They replaced the pillows. Rooms had musty smell and pillows were stinky. The resort did provide new pillows. The beds were like sleeping on boards. Resort did add a thin pad to the bed. Rooms were outdated in their decorations.

The beach on the side of the Mayan Palace was full of trash. There were numerous plastic bottles, car oil bottle, juice bottles, pices of broken plastic, a broken off arm of a resin chair, pieces of mesh plastic, beer cans, sand bags and just general trash. It wasdisgusting disappointing that the resort did not clean the beach right next to the small sitting area beach. It is sad to see what people dump into the ocean. The beach does not go for a long way to walk and there are large chunks of rocks in the water, so swimming is basically impossible. The waiters around the pool were not attentive. One day the weather was poor and very few people were around the pool. Waiters stood around and talked to one another and no one asked me if I needed anything until I sat in a different lounger and that was at 4:00 PM when I had been there all day.

It costs .40 USD per sheet of paper to print something from their computers.

The staff were nice. The maids were nice. The pool was clean and pretty. The place was clean. The bellmen were more than happy to help.

Cab driver did not even attempt to rip us off on New Year's Eve.

An excellent restuarant with the name Poncho Villa I believe on 10th was excellent.It is newly open and you may have to ask around to find out where it is. The card did say 10th avenue. It has open air seating with very nice leather chairs on the deck. It is casual and a type of sports bar/bar/mexican/american restaurant. Excellent drinks. Good prices. Riccardo is the Manager and Gus is the impressive and attentive waiter. We felt so welcome there. More than anywhere else.