It’s no secret that Mexico is a popular travel destination. And while Cancun is virtually always at the top of everyone’s list, the Riviera Maya is in a different league. And that was where our latest family trip took us!
The spectacular Barceló Maya Grand Resort is a complex of luxurious resort hotels with a breathtaking stretch of beach, various pools and restaurants, and a wide range of activities and entertainment both on and off the water.
My family stayed in Maya Caribe as it had most of the fun. The rest of the Barceló Maya Resort is as impressive. I will further explain the hotel sections so you can pick which is best for you and your group.
Stay in One, Play in Five
The Barceló Maya Grand Resort in Riviera Maya is one of Mexico’s longest beach resorts. Cancun International Airport is about a 45-minute drive away. The easiest method to get to the resort is to arrange for a ride from the airport.
You’ll never want to leave this paradise complex with its glistening white sand beach and crystal-clear waters. And guess what? You can do precisely that because the property’s “stay in one, play in others” concept allows guests to use the facilities of more than one hotel. The complex is divided into six sections, and guests can also pay a charge to switch between resorts and enjoy their features and facilities.
You should note that although these sections are all connected, several areas provide greater access to various services and activities. These sections are accessible by the hotel’s double-decker bus, which brings a lot of fun to the younger guest!
Let’s look at each section and see what makes them unique.
Maya Riviera—Adults Only
The Barcelo Maya Resort’s newest addition is an all-inclusive, adults-only area. And it’s massive. It features 850 rooms, more than half of which have an ocean view—a hundred more have private pools, and every room has a hot tub on the balcony.
Swim-up bars and a music bar with a live DJ are available at the Adults-Only section’s largest infinity pool. Large palm trees line the white sand beach, which features rocky areas perfect for snorkeling.
The eating options are diverse. Four cuisine-specific dining places are available: La Comedie (French), Dolce Vita (Italian), Agave (Mexican), and Sapporo (Peruvian-Japanese fusion). There is also one buffet (Miramar) restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.
Adults-Only guests have access to all the restaurants, bars, pools, and other public amenities at the other Barcelo resorts. However, the other resorts do not have access to this section (apart from the restaurants but with a fee), guaranteeing its exclusivity.
Maya Palace
Maya Palace is a five-star hotel located on the other end of the Adults-Only section. The Palace has huge rooms filled with modern luxury, and its design captures the essence of traditional Mexican scenery.
The Palace has tiki huts and hammocks surrounding huge swimming pools for adults and children. The beach on this side of the complex is perhaps the rockiest, but that means more sea turtle and fish sightings.
This section also features upscale restaurants and bars. It has two buffet restaurants: Mirador (international food) and La Hacienda (traditional Mexican). It also houses perhaps the resort’s most popular restaurant, Brasserie (French), which delivers a sophisticated dining experience. You may also eat at Rodizio (a steakhouse) or Caribe (a Caribbean seafood haven).
Maya Beach Mexico
Contrary to the other sections, Barceló Maya Beach has a more laid-back party atmosphere. The suites at the resort have recently been refurbished to ensure ideal comfort and provide views of the resort’s beautiful tropical gardens.
Maya Beach has several swimming pools, including shallow ones for kids and adult-only pools. It’s common to see vacationers playing volleyball by the pool in this section.
Guests may dine at the Beach Buffet and select from various cuisines. Lindo serves traditional Mexican dishes from the region.
Maya Caribe
Families with teens and toddlers will enjoy the fun-filled atmosphere of the Maya Caribe section, which is just a short stroll away from Maya Beach. The hotel’s amenities are Mayan-inspired, and each room is spacious and airy with a spectacular view of the ocean.
Maya Caribe’s outdoor area is its best feature. Although its pool is smaller than the others, it still offers the same fantastic amenities like the swim bar, splash pad, and waterpark for kids. But Maya Caribe’s waterpark has all the bells and whistles—wider splash pads and more giant water slides.
Caribe Lobby is also a crowd favorite because it has a shopping mall, restaurants, and bars. Caribbean Buffet, Capitan Morgan (grill-style diner), Tokyo (a hibachi restaurant), La Fuente (Spanish), and La Trattoria (Italian) are just a few of the various dining options. Strikers, a bowling alley, is also a family-friendly diner that serves late-night snacks and meals.
The Caribe’s Kukulcán Theater, which has a new show each night, is yet another excellent part of this section.
Maya Colonial
The Maya Colonial is the home of water sports activities. Parasailing, jet-skiing, banana boat rides, snorkeling, water polo, windsurfing, catamarans, and water activities are available, not to mention the water park and a large pool for adults and children to enjoy.
The Colonial is a hub. Staying at Colonial feels very similar to staying at Caribe because all the main activities and amenities are connected. The complex’s top nightclub, Jaguars, is in this area and the spa and fitness center. Plaza Mexicana, where you can purchase souvenirs, is also at the Colonial. Even more exciting is that between Caribe and Colonial, the Ventura Fly & Ride Park provides incredible rides and thrills.
Colonial rooms are expansive and have lovely outdoor views. Guests have three dining options: buffet (Colonial), seafood (Mare Nostrum), and Japanese (Kyoto).
Maya Tropical
The Maya Tropical adjoins the Colonial. It includes many amenities, services, and activities like the Colonial but with different themes and designs. The newly remodeled rooms provide excellent coastal views. It also has several pools, one of which is semi-Olympic size.
The beach in the Tropical resort is less rocky than the one in Palace, but it is also ideal for those who want to snorkel. The Tropical and Caribe also share a theater, which hosts a variety of acts each night. There’s also a chapel in this section, so destination weddings on the Maya Tropical are typical. There are also other dining options, including a buffet (Tropical), Italian (Capri), and a steakhouse (Santa Fe).
So Much Beach
The Barcelo Maya Grand Resort has it all. There’s a 1.2-mile white sand beach, turquoise waves, gigantic pools, not to mention a supply of tropical cocktails with tiny umbrellas in them.
After a swim, rest on one of the enormous lounge chairs scattered across the beach. There are enough activities and places to visit off the coast for the whole family.
Swim, Play, Repeat
You could spend your whole time at the complex and never run out of things to do. There is a soccer field, tennis courts, and basketball courts with locker rooms. Volleyball, table tennis, chess, darts, and pool tables are also available. There is also a new 18-miniature golf course on the premises.
Guests can try various water sports like kayaking and water tricycle riding. The Dressel Driver’s Club also offers scuba diving courses. For an extra cost, you can also try deep-sea fishing.
Fit for Royalties
All Barcelo hotels have large rooms and provide several facilities such as minibars, flat-screen televisions, and sitting places. But the best feature of these rooms is the enormous king-size mattresses.
The beach and garden views are stunning too. The hot tub is a fantastic feature for sharing a quiet glass of wine with your loved one or relaxing on your little balcony in the evenings.
Great Food
The food is one of the best features of the Barceló Maya Grand Resort in Mexico. There are more than ten dining areas around the property, and the bars serving domestic and international drinks are just as many. However, I do prefer the restaurants and room service over the buffets.
Entertainment for All
The Barceló Maya resorts, aside from the Adults-Only section, are an excellent choice for children and teenagers who want to make the most of their trip. The complex offers a Barcy Kids Club, a supervised activities program in an enjoyable setting for children aged 4 to 12. Barceló Maya also features the new Dolphinarium, located on the beach and surrounded by a beautiful tropical landscape.
Relax, Reset, Recharge
The U-Spa Wellness and Fitness Center is the perfect location to unwind after a long day. Saunas, steam showers, thermal showers, immersion pools, and other spa amenities are available.
The new U-Kids Spa allows children to experience a spa treatment too. They offer a variety of Disney princess dresses to choose from while your child gets their hair or nails done. There is also a fitness center with basic and advanced equipment and gears for exercise fanatics. There are also rooms for yoga and spinning.
Once all the exercising, stretching, and massaging are done, you may visit the U-Spa beauty center for manicure and pedicure, waxing, and hair and makeup services.
Outside the Barceló Maya Grand Resort
While you could spend your entire vacation at the resort, there is plenty to see and do in Riviera Maya.
- Xel-Ha: You and your loved ones can enjoy an all-inclusive park that includes swimming, tubing, cave exploration, cliff jumping, zip-lining, and dining and drinking.
- Chichen Itza: You can take a guided tour exploring one of Mexico’s most famous ruins which features one of the world’s new seven wonders, El Castillo.
- Diving and cenotes: The Great Mayan Reef are ideal for divers seeking new adventures. And the natural sinkholes and cave systems in the region will amaze even the most experienced.
Go For It
The Barceló Maya Grand Resort is the ultimate luxury retreat with high-end resorts, fantastic restaurants, luxury spas, and endless activities. My family and I had a great experience at the resort, so I recommend it. If you have any questions regarding the resort or any other destination, feel free to drop me a line.
Check out our YouTube video below for an inside look of the hotel and our Riviera Maya vacation!
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