1. Serenity Glamping Riviera Tulum by Xperience Hotels 3* – Eco Friendly Hotels Riviera Maya

Offering a garden and year-round outdoor pool, the property is located 11 mi south of Playa del Carmen, 17 mi from the famous Tulum archaeological site and at just 200 m away from Xpu-Ha beach.

The luxurious tented camp is surrounded by the native jungle and offer king and queen size beds, a colonial type desk, chair and large mirror. Private bathrooms, toilet and separate shower plate are also included.

Other facilities offered at the property include a destination expert desk, luggage storage and an array of activities that can be enjoyed in the surroundings, including snorkeling and diving.

Off Carretera Federal 307 highway, this laid-back resort is a 5-minute walk from the closest beach, 3 km from Kantun Chi, an eco-park, and Cenote Azul, a sinkhole.

Relaxed tents with Asian-themed furnishings offer porches, free Wi-Fi, minifridges and en suite bathrooms. Upgraded tents add whirlpool tubs on the porches. Room service is available.

Breakfast is complimentary. Other amenities include an open-air restaurant, a bar, and an outdoor sitting area with a fire pit. There’s also a spa, an outdoor pool and a beach club. Kids age 12 and over are welcome.

Serenity Eco Luxury Tented Camp by Xperience Hotels is surrounded by lush vegetation and native tropical trees, with the turquoise Caribbean sea just a few steps away, this property is the perfect zen place to relax and unwind. The luxurious and spacious tents offer a mix of Asian safari style and a terrace surrounded by the native jungle setting.

Enjoy the sun, the sea and be sure to delight yourself with the gastronomic offer and the delicious mixology in our Serenity Beach Club or relax in the outdoor pool and discover the Yoga Shala, an ideal space to meditate and practice yoga.

Among its amenities, it has high speed internet, free parking, the unique menu of our Mystic restaurant, a holistic space run by our therapists and organic amenities for the honey, aloe and oatmeal bath. Enjoy a unique Experience in the perfect spot between Playa del Carmen and Tulum!

I was very happy with Serenity Eco Camp, I felt very well. The staff are like a family, where I was allowed to be a guest.

The tent was always in prime condition – the cleanest place in Mexico, with creatively wrapped towel figures on the bed. The breakfast was extremely varied.On the last evening I was served a great “Menu Surprise” at a specially set table.

Serenity Eco Luxury Tented Camp is a gem in the jungle. The safari tents are beautiful with huge beds and air conditioning. The shower was great.

A safe is provided along with a mini fridge and eco friendly shampoo, conditioner and shower gel is provided as they use the water to feed the plants.

It is one of the most lovely locations for those of us who enjoy peace, quiet, eco conscious hotels and prefer NOT to be with 2000 of your best friends in a 10 story hotel.

What makes Serenity stand out is the luxury accommodations in a quiet wooded site within a five minute walk to Xpu-Ha beach.
We had two tents, Harmony Triple (one King, one queen) and Harmony Double (one KIng). The beds are extremely comfortable with luxury linens. The bathroom has ample towels and natural product toiletries that I loved.

I also suggest that you book a room with breakfast included because it is wonderful! Delicious buffet and full breakfast….coffee is amazing and the smoothies delicious and creative.

The dinner menu has an Asian flare. We would have liked to have seen more Mayan selections on the menu.

2. Sandos Caracol Eco Resort 5* – Eco Friendly Hotels Playa del Carmen Mexico

This property is located on the beachfront. Featuring a spa, 9 restaurants and 2 outdoor pools and an water park with 29 water slides for kids and adults, Sandos Caracol Eco Resort is set on Playa del Carmen Beach, overlooking Cozumel Island. Some of the rooms have balconies overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

Sandos Caracol Eco Resort is in beautiful gardens and features bright accommodations. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, air conditioning and a mini-bar. Wi-Fi is available for free in public areas.

Sandos Caracol Eco Resort features lessons, including yoga and scuba diving. There is also a water sports center, evening entertainment, and children’s and teen’s activities. Spa facilities include a sauna, hot tub and gym.

Along a Caribbean Sea beach, this upmarket all-inclusive resort is 1 km from Grand Coral Riviera Maya golf course and 16 km from Xplor Park Cancun adventure park.

Elegant rooms and suites come with flat-screens and minibars, as well as balconies or terraces. Upgraded quarters add whirlpool tubs or hot tubs. Some are in an adults-only area.

Parking is included, as are meals and drinks served in 8 restaurants, 7 bars and a nightclub, with vegetarian, poolside and Italian options available. Other amenities consist of an outdoor water park and tennis courts, plus a kids’ club and an airport shuttle. A spa, a beach club and a gym are adults-only.

The giant water park, world-class entertainment, and the beautiful beach location Sandos Caracol Eco Resort is one of the best all-inclusive resorts in Riviera Maya for both families and adults.

Here at Sandos Caracol we aim to make your stay as relaxing and enjoyable as possible, which is why so many guests continue to come back year after year. We have lots of exciting accommodation options to suit the needs of all travelers looking for an unforgettable Riviera Maya all-inclusive vacation.

Take your pick from fully furnished spacious villas, to family friendly room options including standard rooms and chic penthouse suites with an ocean view. There is also an adult’s only section which includes adult’s only facilities and exclusive areas.

We picked this resort for its family friendly activities and eco– consciousness.

Water park is awesome!
Cenotes on the property are beautiful.
Kids loved the buffet and pool grill.
Room was clean and spacious (Eco penthouse).
So cool to see all the animals.
Mayan ruins on site.

The fact that is Eco-Resort is so awesome! The resort has a natural cenote inside, you can see wide animals, it also have ruins on the property.

Beautiful property, it’s very large and seems overwhelming at first but after your first day of exploring you realize everything is Centrally located and very easy to find. The jungle is gorgeous and well maintained. The animals they have on property are rescued and treated very good.

Breakfast ends at 11am and lunch starts at 12:30p, so if you are hungry between that time, they have an outside grill with delicious burgers and sausage.

Lunch and breakfast Buffet was pretty neat with how it is set up. They had it portioned out for us and you just pick up the plate/bowl. You do have to wear a mask at the buffet line while picking up your food. Which I like cuz I’m not a fan of others breathing over my food. Food was good and tasty.

At the lunch buffet, there was a variety of chips, taquitos, burritos along with American dishes.

There is a lot for kids and teens to do, from the water park to table games and bike riding. There is a nature center, petting zoo and everything is Eco friendly with a lot of recycling.

The beach has very comfortable covered beach beds, so you can take a nap after playing in the ocean. There is an adults only section.

We were super excited to find an eco resort with a fully vegan restaurant on the premises. We enjoyed the adult beach and pool area with hot tub.

The activities and shows were fun and high quality. We were glad they have some rescue animals and don’t use them for photo ops.

Sheets and towels were changed when requested, which I loved, as the hotel is Eco friendly and changing/washing towels every day is wasteful.

Hotel: The resort uses reusable plastic cups and boy they use them. The “fairy” of cups was everywhere and you seldom saw cups where they did not belong.
The hotel is nestled in a ‘jungle’ and despite that, all amenities are clean of leaves.

There is no sign in the forest of cans, straws or another type of human trash.
Food: Breakfast options are different depending on the bracelets one wears ( regular or select). For regular we count on 2 options: Toscana and Laguna. Both – eggs, pastries, fruit & regional food.

3. Viceroy Riviera Maya 5* – Eco Friendly Hotels Riviera Maya

On the coast of Xcalacoco Beach 10 minutes outside of Playa del Carmen, this luxury resort and spa in the tropical rainforest features a restaurant and beachfront cabanas.

The villas at Viceroy Riviera Maya are furnished with a private kidney-shaped pool and flat-screen TVs with DVD players. Free Wi-Fi is provided and room service is available.

This pet-friendly resort hosts a spa and health club offering a hot tub, steam room, and personal massages.

Yoga classes take place on the beach. A gym and outdoor pool are also part of the resort’s facilities. A concierge service is available.

In a lush setting along a beach, this posh, all-villa resort is 10 km from downtown Playa del Carmen.

Plush villas with private plunge pools, patios, soaking tubs and outdoor rain showers feature TVs, free Wi-Fi and minibars. Upgraded units add Bose sound systems and Nespresso machines; some offer sea views, direct beach access or butlers. Room service is available.

There’s a chic restaurant and an open-air grill/bar.

Other amenities include a library, a gym, a lagoon-style pool and a spa, plus a private pier. Activities such as yoga and barbecues are offered, and beachfront dining can be arranged. Kids age 14 and up are welcome.

Located just 35 minutes from Cancun International Airport and three miles from popular Playa del Carmen, Viceroy Riviera Maya is a serene hideaway set on the turquoise Caribbean amid a lush jungle ambiance.

Recently named the #1 Mexican Resort hotel by Travel and Leisure’s World’s Best Awards and has claimed the #20 spot on Top 100 hotels in the World list, Viceroy offers world-class amenities, personalized pampering, exquisitely appointed villa accommodations with private patio and plunge pool and refined Mexican cuisine accented with international touches at La Marea. Mayan influences abound, from the Mayan Blessing performed on arrival by the resort’s Shaman to the Mayan healing techniques offered at the award-winning spa.

– The overall property is amazing, very eco themed and built with the natural habitat in mind. This theme is carried throughout the property and into the villas.
– Each villa was very private, and the plunge pools are amazing, along with the outdoor showers. Extremely clean and well laid out.

– Meals onsite at the restaurants were great. I had heard that the dinner option was pricey, but the beach side restaurant was very reasonable for the high quality of the food. We had plans to go in to town, but liked the restaurant so much we just stayed on property for a lovely relaxing evening.

– The location is great, especially for nearby excursions. I recommend Rio Secreto and the Traveler’s table.

– The spa facilities are included with you stay (not services, though) and you can reserve part of it to share with just you and your significant other. Highly recommend this option.

– You can book a snorkeling excursion directly from the hotel that is only 20 minutes to get to, I recommend doing this early as well.

Room: We were in Room 11, which is their Deluxe (lowest level of room designation). Trust me; do not be fooled by designations; by far one of the most enchanting, luxury appointed accommodations I have experienced throughout in my years of travel.

Directly off the main-path is a walkway to the room with a unique Do Not Disturb signal i.e. a rope. Once at the unit your own private covered patio with ceiling fan and a kidney-shaped pool greet you. Surrounded by dense foliage and bamboo fencing privacy is assured from peering eyes and neighboring units. There is a small table, two chairs, a two-person lounger and a hammock.

The units have a style I would suggest is more Bali with massive sliding glass doors providing entry to the unit (lockable with an electronic sensor). All windows have custom shutters that when closed are blackout. The main room upon entry is pure opulence with a king bed, a sitting area with table and two chairs, and a large chair/ottoman.

There is a mini-bar well stocked, flat-screen television and DVD player (movies available at reception), Bose Wave Radio with Bluetooth connectivity and dual carafe’s of water by the bed. High ceilings make the 900 SF seem even larger.

The large bathroom offers ample closet/drawer space (and a safe), dual vanity w/ upscale refillable amenities (eco-oriented), a large shower stall with rain-head shower as well as access a decadent outdoor shower. Of note the higher room categories have large soaker tubs in addition to their showers. If I may add, during orientation of our room we were also provided with a selection of hand-made soaps (also available at the spa).

Common Grounds/Beach: Further down the path is the main beach area. There is a large pool with a connected jetted pool, ample loungers and bins with towels and sun hats available for use.

Beach: The beach is expansive and inviting. Some have mentioned seaweed, this is occurring throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Some was present however was consistently removed from the beach area. Along the beach loungers, day beds and all spacious including options for direct and partial sun to all shade. Waiter service is available on the beach.

This is the perfect boutique luxury eco chic hotel in Playa Del Carmen area. With 40 individual villas; it is NOT one of the ginormous multi-tiered hotels that dot the beaches nearby. Also, with 40 villas, the service level is immaculate, and the staff to guest ratio is noticeable.

The food..wow, was amazing. Usually resort food is just resort food. But the food at the Viceroy was planned, thought thru, and executed perfectly.

First off, the property is beautiful: easily accessible from the highway, yet completely secluded. The grounds and spaces are meticulously maintained. The rooms and common areas are immaculately clean—seriously, I don’t know how they keep things so clean in a humid, tropical environment. Even the bathrooms by the gym are spotless and, if you can believe it, they actually smell nice. Nowhere did I notice any sign of mold or wear, not on the fixtures, not on the furnishings, not even in the shower, where moisture accumulates. The housekeeping staff is incredible.

The details at this hotel are perfect, too. From the handmade artisanal soap to the turn-down service, which includes a lit candle under an aromatic oil that gently scents the room, the hotel creates an incredibly sensuous experience. There’s an emphasis on pleasure, convenience, and a nice feeling of eco-friendliness. There’s also a blessed absence of the usual wastefulness and nickle-and-dime tricks that plague other resorts. Forget your hat and reading material?

The hotel keeps a stack of stylish straw sun hats on the terrace to borrow and a basket of lender paperback books by the pool. Want to stay hydrated without contributing to the environmental nightmare caused by disposable plastic water bottles?

The hotel has filtered water and will refill your reusable container upon request. I drank it all week and felt great.

It’s all set up so that you can just relax. The swing beds overlooking the water and the lounge chairs under the thatched overhangs on the beach are just sublime.

4. TRS Yucatan Hotel 5* – Eco Maya Hotels

The Yucatan by Palladium Royal Suites is an adults-only hotel located a short walk from the Caribbean Sea. It features an on-site spa, pool and aquatic gym.

Guests have access to a butler service 24 hours a day, a VIP beach with Bali-style beds and exclusive bars with premium drinks.

Suites at the Royal Suites Yucatan by Palladium include garden views and a hydro-massage bathtub. A living area and a sofa bed are also available in the suites. The rooms are equipped with an iPod docking station.

Overlooking the Caribbean Sea, this luxurious adults-only resort lies 12 km from Akumal Beach and 87 km from the Cancun International Airport.

Warm, contemporary rooms have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and minibars, as well as DVD players and Nespresso machines. Upgraded rooms offer furnished terraces or balconies with hot tubs and sea views, and/or living areas with pull-out sofas. Room service is available 24/7.

Parking and a breakfast buffet are complimentary. Amenities include 6 bars, 10 a la carte restaurants and 5 buffet eateries, along with a spa, 8 pools and a beauty salon. There’s also a game room and a theater.

5. Hotel Xcaret Mexico 5* – Eco Hotels in Riviera Maya

Located in Playa del Carmen, 3.7 mi from Playa del Carmen Maritime Terminal, Hotel Xcaret Mexico has a number of amenities including a private beach area, an outdoor swimming pool and a tennis court. Around 3.7 mi from ADO International Bus Station, the property is also 3.7 mi away from Disabled-friendly beach and offers free WiFi. The resort has a restaurant, and Kool Beach Club is 4.3 mi away.

At the resort, rooms have a balcony. Each room is fitted with a private bathroom with free toiletries, while selected rooms are equipped with sea views. At Hotel Xcaret Mexico rooms come with air conditioning and a flat-screen TV.

Overlooking the Caribbean Sea, this relaxed all-inclusive resort is 2 km from Highway 307 and 3 km from underground caves at the Río Secreto.

Featuring balconies or terraces with hammocks, the bright, casual rooms and suites offer free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, as well as minibars, whirlpool tubs, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. Some have sea views and/or direct pool access; 24-hour room service is available.

Access to several nearby amusement parks is complimentary, as are meals and drinks served in 10 restaurants and 8 bars. Additional amenities include a spa, multiple outdoor pools and 3 gyms, plus tennis courts and a kids’ club.

Every aspect of the resort is eco-conscious (which was one of my deciding factors) and I even got to see monkeys and parrots roaming around! The parks are so much fun and they have so many activities to do, that you won’t be able to get to everything in week. This is a place you’d have to visit more than once but it is so worth it. I can’t wait till I can return again. I’m going to really miss this place.

If you want recommendations on restaurants to try, then definitely go to El Mercado for breakfast and La Cantina for lunch or dinner. The tacos from the taco stands are so good and so is the ice cream from El Mercado. I felt like absolute royalty here and will be coming back.

Firstly this hotel is beautiful. Location is stunning and it’s natural beauty has been maintained. We really liked the idea of going to an eco hotel, so it was perfect.

So, this may indeed be a high-level resort in terms of price, but bear in mind: it’s two years old, it’s an new-concept “eco” resort, and admission to all nine of the Xcaret parks is included! -That is to say: the money you saved to stay at a hotel down the road -you’d of spent on excursions to the Xcaret properties anyway! -So please don’t let the price scare you off. You MUST stay at Hotel Xcaret!

Besides the “eco” theme of the resort grounds, there are a few additional items we noted that separate this resort from others on the coast:

-All the tacky daily entertainment or parties at the pools… you know what I mean? -you won’t find that here. Pure relaxation. No dance music blaring all afternoon!

-This hotel holds 900+ rooms at present. At no time did the grounds, beaches/lagoons or restaurants feel swamped with other visitors, as you’ve likely encountered at other places.

Lastly, this is a top-level hotel, so expect top-level service. We were blown away by housekeeping morning and afternoon service! I the afternoon, you’ll be left a small treat in a handwoven basket! A nice souvenir! Every day!

Room service! Use the room service whenever you’re hungry! Call “Todo Fluye” on your phone for anything else! In fact, they’ll call YOU intermittently, just to make sure you are having the best time possibly!

Finally, the best pro-tip I can give you is: simply call or email guest services ahead of time to make your restaurant reservations.