From the moment you arrive at The Reef Playacar, you’ll see why we’re one of the best family-friendly resorts in Playa del Carmen. The relaxed comfort of our boutique-style hotel takes inspiration from the Mayan traditions, magically blending the quiet seclusion of a tropical rainforest with the white-hot beauty of one of the world’s most spectacular beaches.
Nestled among brilliant gardens in an exclusive gated community, just a 15-minute walk from the vibrant shops, dining, and nightlife of 5th Avenue, The Reef Playacar resort ensures that nothing comes between you and an unforgettable Riviera Maya beach getaway. Our resort is uniquely suited to provide you with a range of unforgettable experiences, from the exhilarating to the serene.
You will have the chance to book your room with two different options: All-Inclusive package or bed + breakfast.
Fill your days with diving, skydiving and eco-adventures or explore and relax in Playa del Carmen’s tranquil ancient setting.
Location
Playa del CarmenProperty Information
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Resort Details
Hotel Advisories
General Policies & Fine Print
Check-in Policy - Hotel requires a credit/debit card authorization or cash deposit upon check-in for incidentals; this will place a hold on your funds.
Convention Policy - Individuals attending a convention cannot book this property for their stay. If found attending a convention, guests may be subject to higher room rates upon arrival.
Hotel Spring Break Policy - The hotel will not accept any student groups. Student groups are considered young kids between 16-22 years old.
Transfer Policy - A price may display when children stay free, if your vacation includes transfer to your hotel.
General Information - Room taxes and service fees are included in vacation price.
Minimum night stay restrictions may apply. Reservation changes may not be permitted unless authorized by the hotel.
Customer Ratings & Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
8014 reviews
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Jan 06, 2025Great family resort! Gracias Alberto
As soon as you walk in you are greeted by the lovely staff. Upon checking in you are brought a mimosa to get things started. The entertainment at the pool was also very fun.. my 3 year old had blast painting and loved all the activities that were provided. My 5 stars is going to Alberto at the pool side bar. He went above and beyond every time I was at the pool. I sat down and he already knew what I wanted. Paloma’s were very very satisfying 👏🏻
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Jan 02, 2025
Temazcal Experience - Great for first timers
We had a wonderful first Temazcal experience. It was a beautiful, purifying ceremony and we loved the use of fresh herbs to hold our intentions. I highly recommend this ceremony to a first time Temazcal participant, as a gentle way to get acquainted with ritual.
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Dec 27, 2024
Gran experiencia de Temazcal / Great experiencia with Temazcal
Recomendamos el Temazcal con Adela, la chaman, y Rocío, la chica del fuego. Fue el highlight de nuestra estadía en el Reef Playacar. No pueden perderse esa experiencia trascendental con sus seres queridos. Dura aprox 45 min que se pasan espectaculares. Al inicio si da un poco de miedo a lo desconocido. Adentro, el vapor va en aumento y el calor por momentos parece sofocante. Pero siempre tengan en cuenta que es normal y parte del proceso. Se les entrega unos ramos de romero y albahaca por los que puede respirar sin problema si se siente ansioso. De todas formas, tanto Adela como Rocío son muy receptivas a dudas y comentarios del grupo. Si alguien se siente incomodo, lo puede hacer saber sin problemas. Ellas estan para ayudar, siempre. Recomendamos llevar una propina en sus batas para dejarles, ya que creemos que su arduo trabajo no se ve reflejado en el precio total del ritual. Dejelo en sus manos y va a ser una experiencia que nunca olvidará. We recomend the Temazcal with Adela, the chaman, and Rocío, the fire girl. It was the highlight of our time in the Reef Playacar. You can’t miss this trascendental experience with your love ones. It lasts 45 min that are so worth it. At the beginning it is scary because it’s unknown. Inside, the vapors rise and the heat seems like it’s too much. But always keep in mind that is normal and part of the process. You are delivered an arrangement of rosemary and basil, which you can use to easily breath in and out if you feel anxious. However, both Adela and Rocío are very receptive to doubts and questions from the group. If anyone feels uncomfortable, you can tell them without any issues. They are there to help you, always. We also recommend to take in your robe a tip for them, since we feel the hard work is not reflected in the total price of the ritual. Leave it in their hands and it would be an experience that you would never forget.
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Dec 22, 2024Massive waste of potential
Massive waste of potential. Pros: Location is good for access to PDC, bartenders, waiters, cleaners, pool entertainment staff, general on the ground staff are really friendly & a massive asset. Jungle setting is really impressive & serene & different to all the white box mega resprrs around. Food overall tastes nice, the late night taco bar is really good. No fighting for a sun bed as there’s plenty of choice even at 11am. Cons: the running of the place is baffling. We moved rooms twice as in the first room the air con sounded like a semi automatic rifle constantly the second room hadn’t even been touched since the last guests left with towels on the floor & rubbish in the bins. Any entertainment is difficult to find as the only place it is advertised or even mentioned is the lobby which is quite a trek from a lot of the villas. There’s no reason to visit the lobby so finding out the entertainment is a bit of a chore. The “premium package” is a massive scam as the “premium luxury exclusive private bar” doesn’t exist. They only allow gullible timeshare owners into nicos bar now but haven’t changed their website so you think you’re getting somewhere nice & relaxing to drink in the evening but really the only place to drink after 6pm is the boring bar above the lobby which from experience is nearly always empty. The bar they now insist is the “premium bar” is just the regular beach bar used by everyone & closes at 5pm. The “premium lounge” areas are completely unmonitored & are full of non-premium guests. The loungers in there are vile & sweat stained anyway so it doesn’t feel like much of a lost benefit in that respect same with the jacuzzi. I’ve been here 5 days & the “minibar stocked daily” has remained empty since day 1. I tracked to the lobby to ask them to refill it them today on day 5 & “I have got someone to sort it now”…. It is still empty 5 hours on, went back & 2 hours later someone’s finally come to restock it. I can’t be arsed with this every day, feels more like. Chore than a benefit. “WiFi in the entire hotel” except the only places it works is in your room, the pool because we’re next to it & the lobby. All the bars, the beach, the second pool, all of the restaurants & the bits in between are signal free. We’ve got a coffee maker in our room but no sugar, spoons/stirers/milk available. Overall, the place has massive potential to be a boutique resort but instead had hallen short on key aspects reducing its appeal to repeat customers. If you want to sit around the pool/beach all day with 3 meals then go to bed at 10 pm this is the place for you.
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Dec 21, 2024
Definitely a place worth calling relaxation station!
The resort was amazing!!!! Caesar the bartender was amazing. He was always ready to pour us a drink or to learn new drinks/shots! Would 100% recommend this resort and I hope you have th pleasure of meeting Caesar! They have games and it's wonderful for families. They keep the kids busy too! Thank you again Caesar!