Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort vs Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Decameron All Inclusive vs Velas Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.0 | 9.2 |
| Star Rating | 3.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 146 | 539 |
| Restaurants | 2 | 8 |
| Pools | 2 | 4 |
| Year Opened | 2020 | 2008 |
| Year Renovated | 2025 | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | No | No |
| Beach Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | No | Yes |
| Kids Club | No | Yes |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 8 | 15 |
| Included | 7 | 15 |
| Extra Charge | 1 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 3 | 11 |
| Suite Categories | 0 | 11 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 25 | 23 |
| Included | 22 | 17 |
| Extra Charge | 3 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort
Pros
- Bay geography delivers genuinely flat, calm water — a real advantage over Pacific resorts with heavy surf.
- 'Stay at 1, Play at 3' program effectively triples the dining and bar options without additional cost.
- Free bicycles plus a walkable town center give this property better off-resort options than isolated all-inclusives.
- Whale watching is possible directly from the bay, December through March, without a long boat excursion.
Cons
- No on-site spa — massage and treatment seekers must go off-property.
- On-site dining is limited to one à la carte restaurant for 146 rooms; specialty reservations fill fast.
- Beds run consistently firm across categories — a known pattern, not a one-off issue.
- Water sports beyond basic canoeing and snorkeling require traveling to a sister property.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Pros
- Cocina de Autor is the first all-inclusive restaurant in the world to earn both a MICHELIN star and AAA Five Diamond — included in the rate
- SE Spa with Forbes Five Stars, 90,000+ square feet, and 40+ treatment suites is one of the largest and most awarded resort spas in Mexico
- Three distinct ambiances mean guests in Zen Grand have a completely different resort experience from guests in Grand Class — useful for multi-room group bookings
- Tulum ruins are 15 minutes away and cenote tours are easy half-day excursions from this location
Cons
- Zen Grand suites are three-quarters of a mile from the beach — the shuttle runs frequently but beach access requires active planning
- Cocina de Autor and Piaf book up as far as 6 months in advance in peak season — call before arrival rather than assuming on-arrival booking
- Premium pricing at the top of the Riviera Maya all-inclusive market — the quality justifies it but the commitment is real
Summary
Grand Velas Riviera Maya has a higher guest rating, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya has more restaurants, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the larger property, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya has more dining venues, while Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort offers more activities.