Viva Maya by Wyndham

This was our first time back to Playa del Carmen in 26 years so it no longer even remotely resembles how it was then. It has grown to unrecognizable proportions from the town we remembered with lots of traffic on the main road from Cancun. When we read some reviews complaining about the food and the amenities we chuckled a bit because we have been going to Cuba for the past 10 years and the food, drinks and availability of stuff at this resort are outstanding compared to what was available in Cuba (like clean towels often, types of food or drinks available, etc.), so maybe we're a bit biased because we've done with much less. The staff at Viva Maya are great and the rooms are kept clean and everything works which is something we also have experience with at other places. The beach area is beautiful and vast with shade palms and a wide beach area. It may not be quite as beautiful as some we've been to, but they work tirelessly to clean up the Sargassum everyday which is a problem this year worldwide. The food variety was extensive so you could find something you wanted and the quality of food was very good. You have to expect that buffets will repeat somewhat anywhere because there are limits to how many different things you can make. The drinks were tasty and there as enough variety to satisfy most people. Even the coffee was really good. The a la carte restaurants were pleasantly very good. The public bathrooms are clean, the resort was kept clean, the gardens were well kept, the pools looked clean and overall vibe was great. Very relaxed atmosphere even with numerous children at the resort and the daily entertainment was there if you felt you wanted to experience that. There is very little to find fault with Viva Maya and it was enjoyable enough that we're going back two months later.

My husband and I visited the Viva Maya between March 6-13, 2026. We are an older couple, i.e. 62 & 69. We truly loved the place and would return. Best word to describe this resort is cozy. The smaller size invites conversation so it was great meeting people from our own Canada, US, Germany, France, and Argentina. Room (1126) Very clean with comfortable bed. Yes, the balconies are small, however there is enough room for 2 chairs and a table for your morning coffee. Towels changed every day. The fridge is empty, however there is a water station in the corridor for re-fillable bottles. We also bought a couple of sodas for the fridge at the gift shop which was fine. Property If you’re looking for a jungle feel, this resort has it in spades. There’s even a little cenote to visit. The main lobby had comfortable sofas and chairs, and the plaza was beautifully lit up in the evening. Near the pool, there was a 24-hour bar with tables to play games. Food The buffet was good; however, the a-la-cartes were excellent especially the steak at Portofino. Also had very good food at the Cosmopolita. The Mexican Don Diego was standard fare, but gorgeous dining area especially as we were only 2 people dining so sat outside close to all the greenery! Snack bar pizza was wonderful; enjoyed the wood burning pizza. They also had a paella and Mexican station one day. Entertainment WOW, the team was incredible both for their energy and fun. There were activities for everyone from young children to couple, to singles as well as seniors. If you follow their app. on your phone, it gives you a wonderful overview of all activities taking place. The 9:30 yoga was restorative with a very well-trained instructor; thank you Connie. Evenings had, for early birds like my husband and I, entertainment in the plaza most nights between 7:15-8:30 pm, the saxophone player was fabulous, enjoyed the mariachis and the singing duo. The 9:30 pm shows at the theater were also very good. Again, the entertainment team work hard, and it shows. For the party crowd, there were several parties that took place at 10:45 pm. Can’t say too much there as did not attend any of them. Beach There was quite a bit of sargassum our week due to very hot temperatures. The beach is very close to the main pool and there are lots of chairs both in the sun and the shade. Pools The main pool was a good size where the activities took place. You could go to the adult only pool, but it was further away and it was quiet but did have its’ own bar. Bugs Strangely enough, any bug bites seemed to be from the knee down. A bit of “Off” will take care of that. Wi-Fi Heard a lot of complaints regarding the Wi-Fi, but mine worked well. Then again, I wasn’t on it all the time. Staff At bars, buffet, Cafe, and a-la-carte provided excellent service. We were there during a busy period and although there were long lines at the bar, it went quickly as there were often 4 bar tenders making the drinks. Café I’m a huge fan of coffee so adored the fact that they had a Café to enjoy my latte’s every morning. They were very good! Also had some little pastries and the décor was incredibly inviting.

This resort is very beautiful with lovely jungle trails, a Zen café and plenty of tropical flowers everywhere. The beach is a sandy white beach and very large. The rooms were exceptionally clean and the cleaning staff was very friendly and smiley! The best aspects of this resort were the delicious varieties of food and all the filtered water fountains available to save water bottles. I made a complaint about the loud pool music to the management one day and they took my complaint very seriously. The next day, the volume was lower and we enjoyed the beach more... Also we had a ton of seaweed on the beach but the beach staff worked hard with tractors every day to remove the seaweed. All in all, four stars instead of five because of the occasional loud techno pool music.

Viva Maya Rocks, so much fun, incredible atmosphere. From check-in, Adrian was amazing with us. The moment I had a small problem, Christian, the night manager, was a great help; he came to resolve it himself, being a total gentleman, as was Jonathan, the entertainment manager. Both were incredibly professional. Christian from guest services and Carolina Barrera were also amazing and helped me organize a marriage proposal that went perfectly, just as I expected. At the buffet, Margarito was always very attentive, and at Miramare, Celso Gongora organized everything wonderfully for a night I will always remember, as well as Humberto Ham and Rufo, and of course, the chefs, because everything was delicious. My son really liked the three girls at the kids' club, and I want to give a special mention to the entertainment team; they are the heart of this hotel. Antonio Honorato and Nicolas from the terrace were also excellent. Finally, the best was Henry Garcia, the lifeguard, who helped us for several days treating my baby's sunburns, as did Eduardo, another lifeguard, who also helped us. Overall, I'm very happy and grateful to all the staff!

We stayed at this resort for the last week of February 2026. I was delighted with the early check in and my room was so bright and cool. The staff made me a special welcome for my birthday and then a day later a special treat! The food was always delicious with a huge amount of variety and the sweet treats were hard to resist. The entertainment staff were hilarious and friendly. I loved their Mexico show and the audience participation show the most. I was happy to see that there was a skilled Aqua Fit (Aqua Gym) and Yoga Instructor teaching daily classes. My partner and I took classes each day. Fun and accessible for all levels of ability. We were able to get to cenotes and ruins within 30-70 minutes of this resort so the location is perfect! The beach was cleaned each day and the ocean and all the various pools were refreshing. They have this amazing trapeze for kids and adults and child care was provided. We will definitely visit here again!