The Reef Playacar
Tripadvisor Traveler Rating

















































Overview
- Modern, sophisticated rooms with plenty of privacy
- Stunning surroundings with white sand, gardens, and snorkelling just off shore
- Outstanding amenities including spa, fine dining and dive centre
- Activities for all with wellness services, sports, and kids’ club for children
The Reef Playacar promises a perfect balance between family-friendly fun and five-star luxury with a stunning tropical ambience and lush amenities that feel more like a boutique hotel than a large-scale resort. You'll enjoy close access to the Yucatan Peninsula's most spectacular dive sites, plus PADI courses and guided excursions suitable for all. Adventurous outings include sports, archaeological sites, limestone caverns and caves, and wildlife-themed excursions, bringing you up close and personal with mighty whale sharks and bull sharks. Relax and unwind back at your comfortable base, with spacious and modern guest rooms, fine dining, all-day activities for the whole family, and soothing spa services.
Rooms
Amenities
About
About The Reef Playacar
The Reef Playacar is one of Playa del Carmen's most picturesque properties, boasting a scenic beach and jungle atmosphere, family-friendly facilities, exciting everyday activities, and luxurious amenities - all set in a secluded gated community. Each guest room includes designer inspired furnishings and private terraces surrounded by lush gardens, ideal for rest and relaxation. You'll enjoy access to scuba diving and snorkelling suited to all skill and comfort levels and a wide variety of day trips - with highlights including tropical jungles, Mayan ruins, mighty whale sharks, cenotes, and sports like golf. Back on site, an expansive pool complex, white sand beach, and fine dining and drinking will satisfy even the most distinguished of guests.
The Reef family of resorts proudly operates throughout Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. This renowned family of hotels focuses on boutique settings, highly personalised guest attention, and luxurious creature comforts, including fine dining, spa and wellness services, and special facilities just for kids. No matter which of their stunning properties you choose to visit, you can expect chic and modern facilities, perfectly appointed guest rooms, spotless gardens and grounds, and activities for all - with exciting excursions for all ages, soothing wellness services, and nightly entertainment.
Explore the resort
No matter what kind of holiday you're hoping for, The Reef Playacar has you covered. This quiet jungle retreat boasts a sparkling white sand beach, generous pool complex, and facilities to suit every personal travel style. Each of the resort's rooms is a private oasis of calm, perfectly secluded amidst jungle foliage, and appointed with all the little extras you'd expect from a five-star boutique hotel. If you're up for an adventure, scuba diving, guided snorkelling and sports of all kinds, and regional excursions, are easy to arrange via the resort's helpful hospitality staff. And, premium rooms come with full access to the facilities at The Reef Coco Beach.
When you aren't busy taking in the most exciting sights around Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, this is the ideal place to unwind. The resort's full-service Yaax Spa offers an indulgent menu of massages and bodywork with peaceful jungle treatment rooms and oceanside tents. The Reef Playacar also promotes wellness with healthful detox menus and a full-service gym, plus outdoor activities like golf and tennis right at its doorstep. Fine dining, top-shelf drinks from the bar, homemade ice cream, and afternoon tea are offered, with 11 different restaurants and bars to choose from. And, children aged four through 12 can take advantage of everyday activities and events offered through the resort's kids club.
Diving at the Reef Marina
Playa del Carmen is a dream destination for getting scuba certified and enjoying laid back reef diving, with calm conditions and warm water, thriving coral gardens, and exciting wildlife. And, The Reef Playacar is perfectly positioned and outfitted for the adventure! Advanced and experienced guests can also take on the region's plummeting walls, baited bull shark dives, and underground exploration in the cenotes. Not to mention nearby, seasonal snorkelling with whale sharks and diving on remote reefs around the Riviera Maya!
The Reef Marina offers professional scuba services throughout Mexico's Reef Resorts. This PADI 5-Star resort proudly conducts dive courses for all skill levels and daily leisure dives, led by friendly international teams of instructors and divemasters. Plus, dynamic day trips to some of the Yucatan Peninsula's most exciting dive sites and watersports galore! Guests diving with this well-established company will feel perfectly looked after in the water, with well maintained rental equipment, spacious custom dive boats, and patient, attentive guiding. The Reef Marina also offers attractive dive packages aimed at helping guests experience the region's very best dive sites, all in one trip.
Top tips
- Plan at least one day for enjoying the Yaax Spa's sumptuous services.
- Head south to Tulum for a chance to explore the world of the Maya with archaeological ruins and cenotes.
- This resort offers access to the Hard Rock Golf Club Riviera Maya, right across the street.
- Dive here between November and March for up-close encounters with bull sharks.
Diving
Diving in Cozumel and Playa del Carmen
-
SharksYear round
-
Bull sharkNovember - March
-
Eagle rayYear round
-
TurtlesYear round
-
Schooling reef fishYear round
-
Healthy coralsYear round
-
Walls & pinnaclesYear round
-
WrecksYear round
-
Caves & cavernsYear round
Resort checklist
Number of rooms
196
Official dive center rating
PADI 5-Star Resort
Courses offered
Discover Scuba Diving, Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water