3 of our Top Secrets Resorts in the Mexican Caribbean
If you're dreaming of an adults-only, all-inclusive getaway in the Mexican Caribbean, chances are you've come across Secrets Resorts & Spas. With beautiful properties throughout Mexico and beyond, Secrets has become a popular choice for couples looking for a romantic vacation, honeymoon, anniversary trip, or destination wedding in Mexico.
But with so many resorts to choose from, how do you decide which Secrets resort is right for you?
After visiting and experiencing all of the Secrets properties in the region, we've narrowed down our personal top three Secrets resorts in the Mexican Caribbean — and this was not an easy list to create!
These three resorts are all fantastic, but they offer very different experiences. One stands out for its contemporary design and incredible pools, another offers a more intimate tropical atmosphere, and our number-one pick combines an exceptional beach with great service and an all-around resort experience.
So, if you're comparing Secrets resorts in Mexico — whether you're planning a relaxing vacation or researching a resort for your destination wedding or honeymoon — here's how our top three compare.
#3: Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen
If you're looking for a resort with serious wow factor, Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen is one to put on your list.
From an architectural perspective, this resort is absolutely stunning. It's modern, impressive and contemporary, while still incorporating natural Mexican-inspired elements into the design.
One of the things we love most about Moxché is the resort itself. Everywhere you turn, there's another gorgeous pool, trendy lounge area or beautiful space to relax. There are so many pools that you could easily spend your entire vacation moving from one to another, cocktail in hand, without ever getting bored.
The dining options also give you plenty of variety throughout your stay, making it a great choice for travelers who enjoy having lots of restaurants and experiences to choose from.
A Great Location for Exploring Playa del Carmen
Another advantage of Secrets Moxché is its location near Playa del Carmen. If you want to venture away from the resort, it's easy to head into town, explore Fifth Avenue, shop, or try some of the local restaurants and cuisine.
However, there is one important distinction we'd make when comparing Moxché with the other resorts on our list.
For us, Moxché is more about the resort experience than the beach.
If your dream Mexican Caribbean vacation involves waking up every morning, walking onto a huge stretch of white sand and spending the entire day swimming in turquoise water, this probably wouldn't be our first choice.
But if you're looking for contemporary resort design, beautiful pools, great food and lots to do, Moxché is a fantastic option.
And that's why it earns our number-three spot.
#2: Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya
Our number-two pick might be a little controversial, but Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya is a particularly special resort to us.
If Moxché is all about the resort experience, Akumal is where we start talking about the beach and the destination itself.
Akumal is famous for its beautiful bay and, most notably, its sea turtles. Depending on the season and conditions, guests may have the opportunity to snorkel right off the beach and see turtles in their natural environment.
For many travelers, that's a huge part of the appeal.
The Beach at Akumal
There is, however, something important to understand about Akumal Beach when you're considering this resort.
Like other beaches in the region, the beach is public. Because Akumal is so beautiful and well known for its sea turtles, it can also be quite busy.
Over the years, the area has become increasingly commercialized, with vendors offering snorkeling excursions, tours and other activities.
For some travelers, that's part of the fun. But if you're picturing a completely secluded, private beach where you won't encounter anyone outside the resort, Akumal may not provide that experience.
And yet, we still absolutely love Secrets Akumal.
A Boutique-Feeling Tropical Resort
What really draws us to Secrets Akumal is the atmosphere.
It feels romantic, relaxed and more intimate than some of the larger all-inclusive resorts in the Mexican Caribbean. In some ways, it has a boutique tropical resort feeling, even though it isn't technically a boutique property.
You still get everything you'd expect from a Secrets all-inclusive resort — restaurants, pools, beautiful spaces to relax and plenty of amenities — but it doesn't necessarily feel like you're staying at a massive resort complex.
When we compare Akumal with Moxché, we think it comes down to what type of vacation you want.
Moxché wins for modern design, incredible pools and that wow factor.
Akumal wins for its tropical setting, atmosphere and beautiful beach.
If you're the type of traveler who says, "I don't care if the resort is the newest or trendiest. I just want a relaxing vacation in a beautiful, charming tropical setting," we think Secrets Akumal could be the better choice.
And that's why it comes in at our number-two spot.
#1: Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
And now for our number-one pick.
This resort has been at the top of our list for many years — probably close to a decade — which says a lot considering how much the Mexican Caribbean has changed and expanded over the years.
New resorts seem to pop up constantly, yet this property has continued to hold its own.
Our number-one Secrets resort is Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun.
The Beach Is the Star
One of the biggest reasons we love this property is the beach.
Maroma Beach is absolutely gorgeous, with soft white sand, turquoise water and palm trees creating that classic Mexican Caribbean postcard scene so many of us picture when we dream about a tropical vacation.
The resort itself is beautiful, but it doesn't depend on ultra-contemporary architecture to make an impression.
The location does a lot of the work.
And then you add the service.
Exceptional Service and an All-Around Experience
When we visit a resort, one of the things we pay close attention to is the staff. You can often tell when employees are genuinely happy to be there, and that's something we feel at Secrets Maroma Beach.
The service feels consistent throughout the property, from the accommodations and cleanliness to the food, beach and overall guest experience.
Compared with Moxché, Maroma feels less trendy and contemporary. Compared with Akumal, the beach at Maroma feels more expansive, although you don't have the same sea-turtle experience that makes Akumal so unique.
Akumal has more of that boutique tropical oasis feeling.
Maroma, for us, is a beautiful, polished, all-around luxury adults-only all-inclusive resort experience.
If you're coming to Mexico because you want it all — the food, the service, the beach, the pools and the overall resort experience — this is the one we'd choose.
And that's why Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun takes our number-one spot.
Secrets Resorts: Which One Is Right for You?
Putting these three resorts head-to-head makes the differences a little easier to see.
🏖️ Best Beach: Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
If the beach is your number-one priority, we're giving this one to Secrets Maroma Beach. The expansive white sand and turquoise Caribbean water are exactly what many people envision when they picture a Mexican Caribbean vacation.
🌴 Best Boutique-Feeling Tropical Escape: Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya
If you're looking for a more intimate, romantic and tropical atmosphere, we'd choose Secrets Akumal. The beautiful setting and famous Akumal Bay give this resort a particularly special sense of place.
✨ Best Contemporary Resort: Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen
If modern architecture, beautiful pools, trendy spaces and a resort packed with things to see and do are most important to you, Secrets Moxché is our pick.
What About a Secrets Destination Wedding?
If you're considering one of these resorts for your destination wedding in Mexico, we think this comparison is especially helpful.
There isn't one universally "best" Secrets resort for every wedding couple. Your priorities might be completely different from ours.
For one couple, an incredible beach and beautiful tropical backdrop might be the deciding factor. Another couple might prioritize modern architecture, pools, restaurants and a vibrant resort atmosphere. Someone else might want a more intimate setting that feels romantic and secluded.
That's why we always encourage couples to think about the overall destination wedding experience, not just the resort's photos or star rating.
Consider what you want your wedding weekend to feel like, what your guests will enjoy, how important the beach is to you, and whether you want your resort to be the main event or simply your home base while you explore the Mexican Caribbean.
The "best" resort is ultimately the one that fits your wedding vision.
Final Thoughts: Our Top 3 Secrets Resorts
Narrowing the Secrets brand down to three resorts was honestly a pretty difficult task. There are so many great Secrets properties throughout Mexico, the Mexican Caribbean and beyond.
For this particular list, we focused specifically on the Mexican Caribbean and our own personal experiences.
Our top three are:
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun — Best overall and best beach
Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya — Best tropical, boutique-feeling atmosphere
Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen — Best contemporary design and pools
But that doesn't mean these are the only great Secrets resorts — and it certainly doesn't mean one of these three is automatically the right choice for you.
Whenever you're watching a "top three" travel video or reading a resort ranking, remember that it's one person's perspective. Your perfect resort may be completely different from ours.
Do your research, think about what matters most to you, and choose the Secrets resort that best matches your own vacation or destination wedding vision.
Happy travels!