Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya

The #1 Hotel in the World — Does Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya Deserve It?

TripAdvisor named Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya the #1 hotel in the world for 2025. Not the #1 all-inclusive. Not the #1 in Mexico. The #1 hotel on the planet, out of millions of properties reviewed by travelers worldwide. That is a massive claim for an all-inclusive resort sitting on a quiet stretch of Akumal Bay, over an hour south of Cancun. So the obvious question: does it actually deserve it?

The short answer is yes — with caveats. Secrets Akumal is not the most glamorous resort in the Riviera Maya. It does not have the most restaurants, the biggest pools, or the wildest nightlife. What it does have is something almost no other all-inclusive on Earth can offer: you can wade into the turquoise water directly from your beach lounger and snorkel with wild green sea turtles. Combine that with nine no-reservation restaurants, AAA Five Diamond service, and a protected bay with water as calm as a swimming pool, and you start to understand why 1,300+ reviewers gave it a near-perfect score.

This is a resort that wins on consistency, not flash. And for the right couple, it is absolutely worth every dollar.

Quick Verdict

Secrets Akumal is the best adults-only all-inclusive in the Riviera Maya for couples who value natural beauty, excellent food, and a relaxed pace over party vibes and mega-resort spectacle. The sea turtle snorkeling is the singular differentiator — nothing else on this coast comes close. Budget at least $500-600 per night for peak season and plan your visit between November and April to avoid sargassum seaweed.

Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
#1 TripAdvisor hotel in the world (2025)	65-minute transfer from Cancun airport
Sea turtle snorkeling directly off the beach	Beach is public — vendors and non-guests walk through
No reservations needed at any restaurant	Sargassum seaweed affects beach July-October
Calm, protected bay with crystal-clear water	Cocktail quality varies by bartender
iPad room service with privacy-hatch delivery	Disco/nightclub too small for the resort
World of Hyatt points eligible	Fitness center is dated and compact
AAA Five Diamond rating	Preferred Club has no dedicated pool

The Resort at a Glance

• Category: Adults-only, all-inclusive (Unlimited-Luxury)
• Chain: Hyatt Inclusive Collection (Secrets Resorts and Spas)
• Total suites: 434
• Restaurants: 9 (no reservations required at any)
• Bars: 7 including swim-up bar
• Pools: 3 (infinity, activity, quiet) plus 2 hot tubs
• Beach: Akumal Bay — protected cove, white sand, calm turquoise water
• Spa: Spa by Pevonia, 18,000 sq ft
• Airport: ~65 minutes from Cancun International (CUN); ~30 minutes from Tulum Airport (TQO)
• Loyalty: World of Hyatt — earn and redeem points
• Opened: Approximately 2015
• Awards: TripAdvisor #1 Hotel in the World 2025, AAA Five Diamond, Travelife Gold

Rooms and Suites

Every room at Secrets Akumal is a junior suite or larger — there are no standard hotel rooms. The entry-level Junior Suite Tropical View starts at 544 square feet, which is generous by Riviera Maya standards. Every suite includes a whirlpool tub for two, rain shower, double vanity, smart TV, pillow menu, robes and slippers, and a private terrace or balcony. The minibar is restocked daily — no charge.

Room service is available 24/7 via an iPad in the room. Orders arrive through a discreet privacy hatch in the door, so you never have to throw on clothes or interrupt anything. It is one of those small luxury touches that sounds gimmicky until you use it at midnight and realize it is genius.

Standard Suites

The Junior Suite Tropical View (from $378/night in low season) overlooks the gardens. It is a perfectly comfortable room, but you are paying for a Riviera Maya resort — spring for at least the Junior Suite Ocean View (from $450) to wake up to the Caribbean. The Junior Suite Oceanfront (from $520) puts you directly facing the water with no obstructions. All three share the same 544 sq ft footprint, so you are paying purely for the view upgrade.

Swim-Out and Upgraded Suites

The Swim-Out Suites (from $600) are among the most popular room categories, and they book out fast. You walk out of your terrace directly into a semi-private plunge pool — very romantic, very Instagram-worthy, and genuinely fun. These tend to face the garden and pool area rather than the ocean, so you are trading ocean views for pool access.

At the top end, the Preferred Club Master Suite Ocean View (from $800) delivers 1,280 square feet with floor-to-ceiling ocean windows, a separate living room, and a private balcony plunge pool. The Romance Master Suite (from $1,200) adds two oceanfront terraces, a kitchenette, and the kind of space that makes you consider canceling your dinner reservation and just ordering room service all night. The Presidential Suite maxes out at a staggering 3,750 square feet with butler service.

Our Pick

The Junior Suite Oceanfront is the sweet spot. You get the same great room as every other junior suite category, but the unobstructed ocean view from your balcony makes the $70-100 premium over the standard ocean view completely worth it. If budget allows, the Swim-Out Suite is the most fun room category on property — just know you are giving up the ocean view.

Food and Dining

Secrets Akumal operates under Hyatt’s Unlimited-Luxury concept, which means all nine restaurants and seven bars are included — no wristbands, no reservations required, no limits on how many specialty restaurants you can visit. This is genuinely unusual even among luxury all-inclusives, where you typically need to book specialty dining 24-48 hours in advance. Here, you just show up.

Market Cafe (International Buffet)

The main buffet serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is fine — a solid spread with rotating international stations, decent quality, and plenty of variety. But “fine” is the operative word. If you are a Preferred Club guest, skip the buffet breakfast entirely and head to Oceana (more on that below). For standard-room guests, the buffet breakfast gets the job done, but do not expect it to be a highlight of your stay.

The Specialty Restaurants

This is where Secrets Akumal earns its dining reputation. Six a la carte restaurants cover enough ground that you will never feel repetitive, even on a week-long stay:

Bordeaux (French) — The most formal restaurant on property and the best overall dining experience. This is romantic fine dining with white tablecloths and an ambitious menu. Go here on your first or last night. Dress code is smart casual at minimum.

Oceana (Seafood) — Open-air with the best ocean views of any restaurant on property. Preferred Club guests get exclusive a la carte breakfast here, which is worth the upgrade alone. The Eggs Benedict Royale and Chilaquiles Divorciados at breakfast are both excellent. At dinner, it is a seafood-forward menu done well.

Seaside Grill (Grilled / Casual) — The sleeper hit. An oceanfront setting with surprisingly elevated food for a “casual” restaurant. Preferred Club lunch here features a Ceviche Trio, Lobster Rolls, and Grilled Octopus Tacos that rival many standalone restaurants. This is where you want to eat lunch.

El Patio (Mexican) — Authentic Mexican cuisine with local Yucatan specialties. Festive atmosphere, solid execution. A good mid-week dinner option.

Portofino (Italian) — Intimate Italian restaurant with a classic menu. Reliable but not revelatory — think very good hotel Italian rather than a destination restaurant.

Himitsu (Pan-Asian) — Japanese and Asian fusion in a sleek setting. The weakest of the six specialty restaurants in most guest reviews, but still a perfectly good dinner.

Quick Service

Barefoot Grill serves poolside tacos and light bites at lunch — nothing fancy, but exactly what you want at 1pm with a margarita in hand. Coco Cafe handles espresso drinks and pastries throughout the day and is a reliable mid-afternoon caffeine stop.

Bars and Drinks

Seven bars across the property include the popular Manatee Bar (swim-up at the infinity pool), a beach bar, a lobby bar, and a bar adjacent to the theater for pre- and post-show drinks. The all-inclusive package includes top-shelf spirits — Grey Goose, Hendrick’s, and premium tequilas are all poured freely.

The caveat: cocktail quality is the most common complaint in guest reviews, and it is a fair criticism. The spirits are premium, but execution depends heavily on which bartender makes your drink. Some are excellent; others produce something closer to a college party cocktail with expensive ingredients. If you find a bartender you like, remember their name and their station.

Food Quality Verdict

The food at Secrets Akumal is legitimately good — a notch above the typical Riviera Maya all-inclusive. Bordeaux, Oceana, and Seaside Grill are genuine standouts. The no-reservation policy is a game-changer that eliminates the frantic “which restaurant can we book tonight?” stress common at other resorts. The weak link is the buffet, which is adequate but unremarkable. Overall, dining here is a strong 8 out of 10 — not quite Excellence Playa Mujeres level, but close.

Beach and Pools

Akumal Bay — The Main Attraction

The name Akumal means “place of the turtle” in Mayan, and the beach is the single biggest reason to choose this resort over any competitor. Akumal Bay is a protected cove, which means the water is unusually calm — no crashing waves, no strong currents, just crystal-clear turquoise water that feels more like a natural swimming pool than the open Caribbean.

The sea turtle snorkeling is the real deal. Green sea turtles live in the bay year-round, and you can see them simply by walking into the water from the resort beach with the complimentary snorkel gear. Wade out about 50-75 yards and you will likely spot them grazing on sea grass below you. No excursion, no boat, no extra charge. This is a genuinely rare experience at any resort, let alone an all-inclusive, and it is the reason Secrets Akumal has such ferociously loyal repeat guests. The resort holds sea turtle conservation certifications and actively monitors nesting during season.

The beach itself is fine white sand, well-maintained by the resort staff, with comfortable loungers and attentive beach service. Two caveats worth knowing: first, the beach is technically public, which means non-resort visitors and occasionally vendors walk through. It is not constant, but it does chip away at the private-resort feel. Second, sargassum seaweed is a real issue from roughly July through October. At its worst, it can pile up on the beach and in the shallows, making swimming and snorkeling unpleasant. Visit between November and April to avoid it entirely.

One note on snorkel gear: the resort provides standard snorkel sets, but if you prefer a full-face snorkel mask, you will need to buy one locally — the resort does not lend them.

Pools

Three pools cover different vibes. The main infinity pool is the social hub, with ocean views, the Manatee swim-up bar, and afternoon DJ sets. It is lively and fun, but it gets crowded during peak season and when the resort is near capacity — arrive early to claim a good lounger.

The activity pool hosts water games, volleyball, and organized fun for guests who want more energy. The quiet pool is the escape valve — minimal noise, plenty of loungers, and a serene atmosphere for guests who want to read a book in peace. Two hot tubs round out the water options.

At 434 suites with three pools, the ratio is manageable outside of peak season. During Christmas/New Year and Spring Break weeks, expect competition for pool chairs.

Activities and Entertainment

Daytime Activities

The included activity list is strong: kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, free bike rentals, yoga classes, cooking classes, cocktail mixing workshops, dance lessons, archery, CrossFit, beach volleyball, and tennis on two courts. The sea turtle snorkeling alone would be enough for many guests, but there is no shortage of things to do if you want a more active day.

The resort’s location is also a launchpad for some of the Riviera Maya’s best excursions (at extra cost): Tulum ruins are 20 minutes south, Coba ruins are 45 minutes away, various cenotes are scattered within 15-45 minutes, and Xcaret eco-park is 30 minutes north.

Evening Entertainment

Nightly shows run in the on-site theater, ranging from live music to production shows. Quality varies — some are genuinely entertaining, others feel like going-through-the-motions resort entertainment. The theater bar is a nice spot for a drink regardless.

The disco exists but it is the weakest part of the resort. The space is simply too small for 434 suites worth of guests who want to dance after dinner. If nightlife matters to you, Secrets Akumal is the wrong resort — head to the Hotel Zone in Cancun instead. One perk: guests have cross-resort access to six nearby sister resorts from 6pm to 1am, which gives you additional bar and entertainment options if you want a change of scenery.

Spa and Wellness

The Spa by Pevonia occupies 18,000 square feet and offers a full menu of massages, facials, body wraps, and an outdoor hydrotherapy circuit. Couples massages are, unsurprisingly, the most popular treatment at this honeymoon-heavy resort. Treatments are not included in the all-inclusive rate — expect to pay separately, and the hydrotherapy circuit may have its own entry fee.

The fitness center is functional but disappointing for a Five Diamond property. It is small, the equipment is dated, and it could use a renovation. If working out is important to your vacation, manage your expectations. The included yoga and CrossFit classes are a better bet.

What Is Included vs. What Costs Extra

Included	Extra Cost
All meals at 9 restaurants (no reservations)	Spa treatments
Top-shelf spirits, beer, wine, cocktails	Motorized water sports
24/7 iPad room service	Scuba diving
Daily minibar refresh	Golf (off-property)
Non-motorized water sports	Excursions (Tulum, Coba, cenotes)
Snorkel gear for turtle beach	Airport transfers
Free bike rentals	Preferred Club upgrade ($50-120/night)
Yoga, cooking classes, dance lessons, archery	Premium spa add-ons
Nightly entertainment shows
Tennis courts
WiFi throughout
Access to 6 sister resorts (6pm-1am)
All taxes and gratuities

Pricing and How to Book

Price Ranges by Season

Season	Dates	Price/Night (Junior Suite)	Notes
Low season	May-June	$378-450	Best value; good weather with occasional rain
Shoulder	July-October	$400-500	Sargassum risk; humidity peaks
High season	November-April	$520-750	Best weather; busiest; book early
Peak (holidays)	Christmas, New Year, Presidents’ Week	$700-1,200	Sells out months in advance

Swim-Out Suites start around $600 in low season. Preferred Club upgrades add $50-120 per night. The Presidential Suite tops $1,500 per night during peak season. All prices are per room per night, all-inclusive for two guests.

Best Time to Book

Book 4-6 months ahead for December through April peak season — popular room categories like swim-out suites sell out early. For shoulder season (May-June, November), 8-12 weeks is usually sufficient. Holiday weeks require 6+ months of lead time.

Where to Book

Hyatt.com is the first place to check if you are a World of Hyatt member — this property is fully eligible for points earning and redemption, which is rare and valuable for an all-inclusive. Costco Travel often has competitive bundled packages including airfare that undercut booking direct. Booking.com and Expedia are reliable for price comparison. Travel agents specializing in AMResorts properties can sometimes access promotions not available online.

Is Preferred Club Worth It?

Mixed. The strongest benefits are the a la carte breakfast at Oceana (genuinely better than the buffet) and premium beach-proximity room placement. The Preferred Club lounge serves continental breakfast, afternoon tea, and hors d’oeuvres. You also get premium liquor selections and elevated concierge service. However, unlike some other Secrets properties, there is no dedicated Preferred Club pool at Akumal — a notable omission. If you are staying 5+ nights and will use the lounge daily, the upgrade pays for itself in convenience. For a 3-night stay, skip it and spend the difference on a suite upgrade instead.

Compared to Nearby Resorts

vs. Excellence Playa Mujeres — Excellence has 10 restaurants (vs. 9), dedicated swim-up suites with better privacy, and arguably stronger food consistency. But it is located near Cancun, two hours north of Akumal, with no turtle snorkeling or anything close to it. Excellence wins on polish and dining; Secrets Akumal wins on natural setting and uniqueness. Both are 9+ out of 10 properties. Read our Excellence Playa Mujeres review

vs. Secrets Maroma Beach — Maroma has what many consider the single most beautiful beach in the Riviera Maya — flawless white sand with consistently clear water. It is a smaller, more intimate property at a higher price point. But it lacks the turtle snorkeling that defines Akumal, and the dining and activity offerings are less extensive. Choose Maroma for pure beach beauty; choose Akumal for the overall experience and value.

vs. Dreams Tulum Resort and Spa — Dreams is the family-friendly sibling in the AMResorts portfolio. It is significantly cheaper and welcomes children, but food quality and service consistency drop noticeably. If you are traveling with kids, Dreams Tulum is a reasonable alternative. If it is just the two of you, Secrets Akumal is worth every extra dollar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you really snorkel with sea turtles at the resort?

Yes, and this is not marketing hype. Green sea turtles live in Akumal Bay year-round. Walk into the water from the resort beach with the complimentary snorkel gear, wade out 50-75 yards, and you will very likely see them grazing on the sea grass below. Sightings are not guaranteed on any given day, but they are consistent enough that most guests see turtles during their stay. The resort provides standard snorkel sets at no charge.

How far is Secrets Akumal from the Cancun airport?

About 65 minutes by car (57 miles). This is one of the longest transfers in the Riviera Maya — significantly farther than resorts in the Cancun Hotel Zone (20 minutes) or Playa del Carmen (45 minutes). Airport transfers are not included in the room rate. The new Tulum Airport (TQO) is only about 30 minutes away and may be a better option depending on your airline.

Is the Preferred Club upgrade worth it?

It depends on your length of stay. For 5+ nights, the a la carte breakfast at Oceana, lounge access, and premium room placement add meaningful value. For a short 3-night trip, the $50-120 per night premium is harder to justify — put that money toward a suite upgrade instead. Note that Secrets Akumal does not have a dedicated Preferred Club pool, which is a downside compared to other Secrets properties.

When is the best time to visit?

November through April. You get dry weather, calm seas, clear water for snorkeling, and minimal sargassum seaweed risk. December through March is peak season with the highest prices and biggest crowds. May and June offer good weather at lower prices but with occasional afternoon rain. Avoid July through October if sargassum seaweed and hurricane risk concern you — the beach experience can be significantly impacted.

Is Secrets Akumal good for honeymoons?

It is one of the best honeymoon resorts in Mexico, period. The adults-only policy, romantic dining options like Bordeaux, swim-out suites, spa, and the magical sea turtle snorkeling create a honeymoon experience that is hard to replicate. The Romance Master Suite with its private plunge pool and two oceanfront terraces was essentially designed for honeymooners. Just avoid September-October for weather and seaweed reasons.

Can you use Hyatt points at Secrets Akumal?

Yes. Secrets Akumal participates fully in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. You can earn points on paid stays and redeem points for award nights. This is a significant advantage over non-Hyatt all-inclusive competitors, especially for travelers who collect Hyatt points through credit cards or business travel. Check Hyatt.com for current point redemption rates, which fluctuate by season.

Final Verdict: 9.4 out of 10

Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya did not stumble into the #1 hotel in the world ranking. It earned it through relentless consistency — not by being the most luxurious or the most exciting, but by delivering a genuinely exceptional experience to nearly every couple that walks through the door. The sea turtle snorkeling is a once-in-a-lifetime daily occurrence. The no-reservation dining policy removes the biggest friction point of all-inclusive travel. The protected bay gives you Caribbean water you can actually swim in without fighting waves.

Is it perfect? No. The airport transfer is long. The beach is not fully private. The cocktails are hit-or-miss. The disco is an afterthought. But these are minor irritations in what is otherwise one of the most thoughtfully executed adults-only resorts in the Americas.

Book Secrets Akumal if: You are a couple who values natural beauty, excellent food, and a calm romantic atmosphere. You are a snorkeling enthusiast. You are celebrating an anniversary or honeymoon. You are a World of Hyatt member looking to earn or burn points at an all-inclusive.

Skip it if: You are traveling with children (adults-only). You want nightlife and a party scene. You need to be close to Cancun. You are visiting during sargassum season without flexibility. You are on a tight budget — this is firmly luxury pricing.

For the right couple at the right time of year, Secrets Akumal is not just the #1 hotel in the world — it is the #1 reason to visit the Riviera Maya.