Excellence Playa Mujeres and Secrets Maroma Beach are perennially ranked as two of the best adults-only resorts in Mexico. Secrets has the distinct geographical advantage of sitting squarely on Maroma Beach—widely considered one of the most beautiful and swimmable beaches in the world. Excellence Playa Mujeres, while on a slightly less impressive beach, compensates with outstanding dining, a magnificent spa, and massive multi-pool layouts including a two-mile lazy river. If the sheer quality of the beach is your absolute top priority, go with Secrets; if you prefer better pool complexes and slightly more diverse dining, lean toward Excellence.
Key Metrics
Metric
Excellence Playa Mujeres
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún
Our Rating
9.0
8.3
Star Rating
5.0
5.0
Room Count
450
412
Restaurants
13
9
Pools
7
12
Year Opened
2007
2008
Year Renovated
—
2024
Features
Metric
Excellence Playa Mujeres
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún
All-Inclusive
Yes
Yes
Adults Only
Yes
Yes
Beach Access
Yes
Yes
Spa
Yes
Yes
Kids Club
No
No
Dining Comparison
Metric
Excellence Playa Mujeres
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún
Total Venues
22
20
Included
22
19
Extra Charge
0
1
Room Comparison
Metric
Excellence Playa Mujeres
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún
Room Categories
12
10
Suite Categories
12
10
Activities Comparison
Metric
Excellence Playa Mujeres
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún
Total Activities
22
24
Included
15
20
Extra Charge
7
4
Pros & Cons
Excellence Playa Mujeres
Pros
Calm, clear water sheltered by Isla Mujeres — one of the most genuinely swimmable beaches near Cancun.
No reservation required for most restaurants — a practical daily-life advantage over competing resorts.
Lobster included in the all-inclusive rate (outside conservation season) without upgrade or extra charge.
807 sq ft starting room size is genuinely large by Cancun all-inclusive standards.
Miilé Spa with 15 treatment rooms is one of the better on-site spas in the Excellence portfolio.
Cons
The lazy river collects mosquitoes during rainy season (June–October) — a real issue reported consistently.
Some resort areas are dated in finishes; repeat guests notice this more than first-timers.
Secluded location means any off-site excursion (Chichen Itza, Tulum, Isla Mujeres) requires planning.
Nightlife is minimal — this is a quiet-by-10-PM resort, which is a problem only if that's not what you want.
Ground-floor suite terraces offer limited privacy depending on landscaping density.
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún
Pros
Maroma Beach is objectively one of the best beaches attached to any all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean — fine sand, calm water, and consistently praised.
All-suite format means even entry-level rooms have furnished terraces and more space than standard hotel rooms.
The Preferred Beach Club with beachfront firepits is the most distinctive dining amenity in the Secrets portfolio.
Cons
500-acre property means significant walking distances between buildings — factor in buggy wait times for guests with mobility considerations.
Sargassum seaweed accumulates on Riviera Maya beaches seasonally — the beach can look very different in August versus January.
Price premium over other Secrets properties in Mexico is significant — primarily justified by the beach and all-suite format.
Summary
Excellence Playa Mujeres has a higher guest rating, while Excellence Playa Mujeres has more restaurants, while Excellence Playa Mujeres is the larger property, while Excellence Playa Mujeres has more dining venues, while Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún offers more activities.
