For my wife and I, Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun was our first childless trip since our daughter was born. Our vacation started when we arrived at the airport. Because that’s when vacation starts when you have two young children and travel without them. ORD, even at its most hectic, is like a meditation retreat when you don’t need to juggle the needs of two toddlers.
Our departure and arrival were pleasant. Even getting through Customs was a breeze. But after getting your bag and hitting the exit walkway of CUN, you’re met with the thick, stifling air and a barrage of requests from timeshare pitch people. If you’ve never been to Cancun before, book your transportation ahead of time and run past those people. We found our SUV and it was a quick drive to Secrets Maroma Beach.

I’m a sucker for upbeat and welcoming hotel lobbies. They’re a people watcher’s paradise. The lobby at Secrets Maroma Beach serves as a lounging area for guests pre and post-dinner. The bartenders make a decent cocktail, which, sadly, can be hard to come by at other all-inclusive resorts. An old-fashioned was no problem. They also rotate liquors, so I enjoyed different bourbons throughout the stay. We didn’t pay for a premium drink package, but no one made a fuss when I asked for a specific liquor.
An easy way to gauge the quality of a resort is the promptness of service when things go awry, which happened soon after being escorted to our room. I mistakenly fat-fingered the room safe code and didn’t quite know the combination that was ultimately entered. I called our building’s concierge; each building has its own. Security was in our room and the safe opened within 7 minutes. That’s the service we expected and ultimately got at Secrets Maroma. We were never left wanting.

The room decor, with its wood accents, mellow tones, and a splash of color, makes for a pleasant combination. I’m a sucker for step-downs. My new obsession with Las Vegas’ Palazzo cemented this. It’s a simple way to separate two living spaces distinctly.
The bathroom has ample space for two. It’s designed with intent. We used all the room except the tub. But we’re not tub people. Though I suspect many who travel to Cancun are tub people. So tub away and get your money’s worth.

We reserved a swim-up suite. The swim-up pool isn’t so much a pool but a deep puddle of standing water. It was warm, but too warm to be enjoyed. Suspiciously warm. A few of our fellow swim-up suite mates used the shared pool. However, it acted as a final resting place for many tiny insects. One brave woman wore her big straw hat and read her paperback on a round pink tube among the corpses.
I don’t suggest paying extra for swim-up privileges. Spend the money on a full or partial ocean view. At just over $800 a night, we didn’t feel cheated, but like most guests, much of our time was spent away from the room around the main pool.
There are two main pools. One, quiet and just off the beach. The other, more lively, houses the pool bar on the far side. We made one obligatory swim over to the in-pool bar to sip on Margaritas and catch some shade under the thatched roof while making friendly small talk with other sun-kissed, slightly buzzed guests.

The rest of our days were spent lounging under umbrellas. Poolside service is prompt. Occasionally, a sunglasses-cleaning cart makes the rounds—a novelty I’ve never seen before but welcomed. Several thatched umbrellas have room for two spread out over the beach. Expect the standard tropical drinks, beer, and wine typical for a pool bar. If you want something a bit technical, you’ll need to head to the hotel’s lobby bar.

One day was forecasted with light showers, so we booked a cabana the day prior. I recall that it was about $100 for the daily rental. With the reserved space, we took our time getting down to the pool, taking advantage of the small gym and a long breakfast before eventually making our way to our spot.
The spa, gym, and most restaurants are attached to the main building and hotel lobby. You can take a covered path from your building during inclement weather. This is a benefit of Secrets Maroma’s size. It’s bigger than the resorts in the hotel zone, covering around 500 acres by their count. But it’s smaller than some mega-wide campuses in Riviera Maya and Tulum, which have beachfronts that can cover a full mile and require golf cart pick-ups if you want to dine at certain restaurants.

We chose Secrets Maroma because feedback in social media groups raved about the food, with some saying it’s the best of any all-inclusive they’ve ever stayed at. I disagree slightly, but it was pretty damn good. Of our Cancun culinary journey, El Dorado Casitas Royale takes the top spot, but Secrets Maroma doesn’t disappoint. Their Japanese restaurant served quality sushi with cool, contemporary vibes. And the Mexican restaurant, unsurprisingly, is their best.
I don’t know what changed at Secret’s Maroma after Hyatt acquired the resort. I doubt it was much. I hope the standards are maintained. The grounds are beautiful and the staff is excellent. After about a decade of searching for our Cancun home base, we may have found it.
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