The Reef Playacar

8.0

Good

Our Rating

4-star hotel

4.0

8082 TripAdvisor Reviews

$$$

Park View

Residential Neighbourhood

Mid-range

A boutique beachfront resort that fully embraces the beauty of its natural surroundings, The Reef Playacar is an exceptional illustration of the magnificence of the Riviera Maya. The exclusive gated community is a Caribbean wonderland for honeymooners thanks to prime access to a pristine white-sand beach and a terrific selection of land and watersports. Once the sun goes down, renowned live entertainment brings Playa del Carmen’s nightlife to you, and late-night bars and lounges provide the ideal ambiance for romantic moments. The resort is within walking distance (15 minutes) of downtown Playa del Carmen.

In addition to swim-up bars and chic lounges, you’ll be treated to fine dining options that are among Playa del Carmen’s best. Dine at Botticelli, savor grilled Mexican favorites at Terraza Grill, or take in sweeping Caribbean views at Chulavista. There’s even an outdoor ice cream parlor for sweet treats after luxuriating on the beach or in one of the resort’s two spacious pools. And if you’re looking for an unbelievably romantic experience, The Reef Playacar’s concierge will be pleased to book you a private dinner for two out on the beach.

Choosing among the resort’s 196 rooms is a breeze considering that they all feature conveniences, a bathroom, a plush king-size bed, and a private balcony or terrace for romantic sunrises and sunsets. The fabulous amenities don’t stop there, though. Drawing inspiration from Ometeotl, the Aztec’s god of creation, the unique Deluxe “Ome” Spa on site is a lavish experience waiting to be luxuriated in. Body treatments rise to the level of rituals thanks to the spa’s experienced rejuvenation therapists, and couples will be able to indulge in relaxing massages with Himalayan stones, Swedish deep tissue massages, and an array of facials and exfoliations.

The Reef Playacar is a dream oasis for destination weddings, with boutique wedding packages that can be customized with vibrant tropical flowers, delectable culinary dishes, and individual stylings. The resort also treats honeymooners staying for five nights or more to a complimentary honeymoon package that elevates the romantic experience to dreamlike status. Couples will enjoy a bottle of sparkling wine when they arrive, a guaranteed king-size bed, special room decorations, an exclusive gift, and a continental breakfast delivered to your suite on the morning of your choosing.

Bring your honeymoon dreams to life at The Reef Playacar.

About The Reef Playacar

Amenities

Activities

Dining

Nearby Attractions & Activities

Amenities

In-room

Luxurious king-size bed
Furnished balcony or terrace
Private bathroom
Air conditioning and ceiling fan
Flat-screen television
Mini-fridge

On-site

Two swimming pools
The Reef Travel Shop offering personalized tourist services, airport transportation, and car rentals
Boutique shopping and jewelry shop
Open Air Jungle Gym and full access and transportation to sister hotels’ gyms
Meeting room for 400 people
High-speed internet (WiFi)
Ome Spa
Romantic beachfront dinners
Laundry service
Airport transfers

Activities

Rotating daily and nightly entertainment
Bicycling
Watersports
Snorkeling tours
Billiards
Board games

Dining

Botticelli – Expertly-prepared Italian cuisine awaits at this sophisticated restaurant with an expansive menu of pastas and seafood dishes.
Terraza Grill – Indulge in tender steak grilled pork, steaming-hot fajitas, and mouthwatering desserts at this fresh and varied grill. Choose from an elegant, air-conditioned dining room or the beautiful outdoor terrace.
Chulavista – Take in spectacular Caribbean views at this buffet-style restaurant with open-air seating.
Deli Snack Bar – Whether you’re looking to enjoy an early lunch, a sunset meal, or a late-night snack, this pool-area snack bar is ideal for all honeymoon moments.
Ice Cream Parlor – Enjoy a little refresher in the late afternoon at this outdoor eatery with delicious ice cream and coffee.
Cenote – Stop by this beautiful outdoor café nestled within a lush garden for handcrafted hot beverages and tasty treats.
Azul 48 – An innovative swim-up bar serving a plethora of beers and tropical cocktails.
La Chiquita – The perfect beachfront bar for enjoying a late-morning or afternoon cocktail amid paradisical views.
Papo’s Bar – A casual late-night bar for socializing and romantic evenings with gorgeous Mediterranean stylings.
La Cascada – A Mediterranean-themed bar for afternoon and evening cocktails.
Nico’s Lounge Bar – Plush beachfront seating and signature cocktails give this elegant lounge a unique island vibe. Included for all premium guests.

Nearby Attractions & Activities

5th Avenue – Just steps from the shoreline is where you’ll find the bustling street lined with boutique shops, art galleries, restaurants, and energetic nightclubs.
Cozumel Island – Taking the ferry over to the nearby island of Cozumel is a romantic day trip that you’ll never forget. The island is surrounded by the second-largest reef system in the world and is absolutely magnificent for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Tulum Ruins – You’ll find this fascinating historical site perched atop a cliff overlooking the Caribbean. The ruins themselves are a wonder, and the stunning views only enhance the experience.
Xplor Park – A thrilling adventure park for the young at heart, Xplor offers ziplining, cave rafting, amphibious vehicles, and stalactite river swims that are truly one-of-a-kind.
Coco Bongo – This famous nightlife experience is the perfect opportunity to dance the night away and shake off some of those wedding planning stresses!
Sailing Tours – The Caribbean is always waiting to be explored in Playa del Carmen, and one of the best ways to experience it is on a sunset sailing tour or private catamaran adventure.

Map of The Reef Playacar

What Honeymooners Love Above The Reef Playacar

Summary of Verified Guests at The Reef Playacar

Honeymooners and romantic travelers express deep satisfaction with their stay at The Reef Playacar, appreciating its unique jungle feel and beautiful, lush grounds. They found the resort to be a favorite due to its quaint size, avoiding the gaudy feel of larger hotels. The staff is repeatedly praised for their friendliness and helpfulness, making the experience even more delightful. Meals at the buffet were consistently delicious and the balconies provided a serene view of the greenery. Special mention was given to the Temascal ritual session, a sensory experience involving natural herbs, oils, heat, and honey, which left guests feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

Reviews of The Reef Playacar

Wonderful experience

Travel Date: February 28, 2025

We had the most wonderful time & experience at The Reef Playacar. Our new favourite resort! The shade and jungle feel is amazing. We really enjoyed sitting on our balcony enjoying the lush greenery. Food was always delicious at the buffet. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. We have no...

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The Reef is a gem

Travel Date: January 31, 2025

The Reef is the best place to stay in Playacar and Playa Del Carmen. It is quaint and not too big and gaudy like many of the large hotels. The staff is very friendly and helpful and the grounds are beautiful and lush. This was my 13th stay at The...

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Massive waste of potential

Travel Date: December 31, 2024

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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Average Hotel. Great location. Wouldn’t return.

Travel Date: December 31, 2024

When arriving to this hotel it looked beautiful from the outside. We arrived late afternoon. The check in was very long and the guest services were straight on you to get you to buy extra packages etc. The check in took about 40 minutes in total and after a long flight it wasn’t what we needed. The rooms was a decent size a strange drainage smell however I feel that’s quite common in Mexico. The balcony looked out to a jungle type area. Lots of trees and bushes. Good to sit and listen to the birds etc. Not so good if you want to sit in the sun on the balcony as at no point is sun able to reach them. We stay for 2 weeks . The activities available on site were good and the entertainment was good though very quiet every night. This might be to it being in December. The weather was on and off . We had no problems getting sun beds and the system for towels is very good. We were unable to do any of the water activities due to bad winds and weather. For the 2 week period we didn’t have one day they were in use. Bare this in mind if your travelling in December and excited to do them. We can recommend Xplor and The turtle experience. We wouldn’t recommend the fishing trips as expensive and for a 6 hour trip and one fish it was really disheartening. Plus you have to pay lots of extras. Xcaret we really enjoyed too . The pools were not very clean I will attach photos and I feel the pictures make them look a lot bigger than in person. The food in the buffet was average . Very similar deserts every night/day but a good variety of other food. If you want to book the restaurants the Mexican and Italian make sure you ring up 7am in the morning. We only managed to book for one day out of the 14 . This was because we could never get through to the reception then by the time we did the only times were 9.30pm and 10 pm which for us is too late to eat. We managed the Italian restaurant one night at 9.30pm for our last night as wanted to finally try it. Total let down the food was average . The service very good but the menu sounded fancy and the food arrived was not. I had to send 2 dishes back which I have never done ever. My pork was cold in the middle and then the ravioli tasted of nothing. Nice wines though. The drinks were good and the waiters always friendly . We found every day the guest services were praying us it was quite annoying by day 7 . We ended up telling them to please leave us alone. We already spent $800 on extras . I booked the Affair of the heart package and that again was a let down. The meal wasn’t very good and you were sat in the dark on the beach. We couldn’t see what we were eating and the couple next to us even had to put their torches on their phones to see too. They stated the same as us that the food was basic and the fact you’re in darkness is annoying all it would need is a table light or candles . I asked for candles and got told they didn’t have any available. Overall the experience wasn’t amazing. I wouldn’t suggest going here if you’re wanting a top class holiday . The location is the best part about it . It’s within walking distance of 5th avenue and close to all the theme parks. I personally would stay next door at the RUI instead .

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Temascal at the Reef at Playa Car….GET THERE!!

Travel Date: December 31, 2024

This ritual session…the Temascal….is one of the most amazing experiences we’ve had. From incredible smells of natural herbs and oils to the deep heat from the fire charged stones and steam….then half way thru getting a gulp of cool air followed by covering your body from heat to toe in...

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The Reef Playacar

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About The Reef Playacar

Amenities

Activities

Dining

Nearby Attractions & Activities

Map of The Reef Playacar

What Honeymooners Love Above The Reef Playacar

Reviews of The Reef Playacar

Wonderful experience

The Reef is a gem

Massive waste of potential

Average Hotel. Great location. Wouldn’t return.

Temascal at the Reef at Playa Car….GET THERE!!

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