Secrets Moxche Playa del Carmen Review
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I have wanted to see the Moxche property for a while, and this trip finally gave me the excuse. Playa del Carmen has quietly become one of my favorite spots in Mexico, close enough to Cancun airport to be painless but with more character than the Cancun hotel zone.
Secrets Moxche is the adults-only main resort here, and it earns its billing as one of the more polished all-inclusives in the Riviera Maya. I said it in the video and I will say it again here: this is one of the most unique resorts I have ever stayed at, and I have toured literally hundreds of them for the channel.
One thing to clear up right away, because it confuses a lot of people. Secrets Moxche and Impression Moxche share the same beachfront campus, but they are two different resorts. Impression is the ultra-premium enclave with its own private beach area and rooftop; Secrets Moxche is the larger adults-only main resort, and it is the one most points travelers will book. This review is about Secrets Moxche.
Booking Secrets Moxche
Because Secrets Moxche is part of the Hyatt Inclusive Collection under the Secrets brand, you can book it straight through World of Hyatt and earn points on paid stays, or redeem points for free nights.
That is the big draw for me over a random all-inclusive, since it plugs into a program I already use. Cash rates swing a lot by season and by suite category, so shop your dates rather than assume, and remember these are all-inclusive rates that cover food and drinks.
Planning a cruise or resort trip? I book travel at no extra cost to you — you get my planning help and perks, I handle the details.
Start planning with meThe elite angle is where it gets fun. As a World of Hyatt Globalist, you are typically upgraded to the Secrets Preferred Club, which usually means a nicer room plus access to the Preferred Club lounge and the rooftop Observatory pool, bar, and restaurant.
Even when a Preferred Club room is not available, Globalists should still get the Preferred Club benefits, and that rooftop access alone is worth chasing. Confirm your specifics with the resort ahead of arrival, since all-inclusive perks do not always map cleanly to standard hotel elite benefits.
Location
Secrets Moxche sits on the beach south of Playa del Carmen proper, about a ten-minute drive from Quinta Avenida, the pedestrian Fifth Avenue that anchors the town. You get a calm stretch of white sand and none of the late-night noise, but you are still a short cab ride from restaurants, shops, and the ferry to Cozumel if you want a day off property.
From Cancun International, plan on roughly an hour by car depending on traffic and where exactly you are coming from. I like that Playa splits the difference between airport convenience and a real destination feel. If you never leave the resort you will not miss much, but the option to pop into town is a nice one to have.
For a first trip to the Riviera Maya, this stretch of coast is an easy sell. You are within striking distance of cenotes, the Cozumel ferry, and day trips to Tulum or the ruins if you want to break up beach days. I always tell people to build in at least one excursion, because the region rewards a little exploring beyond the resort gates.
On property, there is a little excursion shack near the pools where you can book snorkeling trips or a day over in Cozumel, and keep an eye out for the mangroves as you walk the grounds — they weave right through parts of the resort.
Lobby and Check-In
The arrival sets the tone. You walk into a soaring, airy lobby with an earthy, contemporary look, and the whole space frames the water beyond. Check-in was welcoming and efficient, and because this is all-inclusive, there is no anxious wait to see what gets tacked onto your folio later.
As a Preferred Club guest, the check-in experience is smoother, with the lounge available for the process and a quieter corner away from the main desk. Have your World of Hyatt number tied to the reservation so your recognition is sorted before you arrive. Little things like a cold towel and a drink in hand while you settle the paperwork go a long way after a travel day.
The Room
My suite was the kind of room that makes you stop in the doorway for a second. Many of the accommodations here come with a private plunge pool on the terrace or balcony, and mine did, which is a hard thing to give up once you have it.
The design leans modern and warm, with an in-room rolling bar stocked as part of the Unlimited-Luxury setup, so you are not calling down for basics.
The suites are large and comfortable enough for a longer stay, not just a night or two. Rain shower, deep soaking tub, and a terrace big enough to actually use were the highlights for me. If you land a Preferred Club category through Globalist recognition, the upgraded room plus lounge and rooftop access is the sweet spot at this resort.
To put the tiers in perspective, Preferred Club sits between regular Secrets and the Impression tower next door: you get a ground floor lounge with a small buffet and dedicated concierges, plus that rooftop pool and restaurant with views out toward Cozumel, but no personal butler like Impression guests get.
Honestly, I found I do not really need a butler on vacation anyway.
Pools and Amenities
This is where Secrets Moxche flexes. There are around ten pools across the property, from a big lagoon-style pool to a rooftop infinity pool, and several come with swim-up bars.
You can easily spend a full day just migrating between them depending on your mood and where the sun is. The whole pool-scape leans into a Tulum aesthetic - netted walkways, jungle left a little overgrown, one pool with glass side panels so you can watch swimmers underwater - and my favorite discoveries were the escape hatches: super-shallow pools made for sitting with a book, hidden hot tubs, and tucked-away seating you stumble into.
One practical note: the pools sit between the buildings, so crossing the resort can be a real walk - build in a few extra minutes when you head to dinner.
The beach is a clean stretch of white sand with service, and the spa is a proper one if you want a treatment day. The rooftop Observatory, which Preferred Club and Globalist guests can access, was my favorite perch for a sunset drink.
Between the pools, the beach, and the rooftop, the resort never felt like it ran out of good places to be. Two spa notes from my visit: the whole spa complex is outdoors, which I have not seen anywhere else and which made the entry area a destination in itself, and Preferred Club guests (including Globalists) get one 50-minute hydrotherapy circuit per stay - a guided run through the steam room, sauna, and plunge stations.
The covered fitness center is included for everyone, stocked with cold towels and apples like a proper luxury gym. What makes this spa stand out is that the relaxation area is entirely outdoors, which I have rarely seen, and with the weather we had it turned into one of the most relaxing corners of the whole resort.
Food and Drink
The dining is the reason I would come back. There are around eleven venues, including a la carte restaurants spanning French, Italian, Mexican, and Asian, plus a buffet, a grill, and a cafe.
The Unlimited-Luxury concept means no reservations are required, which sounds small until you have stayed somewhere that forces you to book dinner at 9 a.m. for the whole week. The lunch buffet deserves a special mention: it runs roughly 10 to 4 and is really a collection of live stations - a full sushi and sashimi bar from Suki, pad thai from Bamboo, a ceviche booth from Cecil, a pasta station from Allora, meats grilling off the steakhouse, and quesadillas and tacos from Dos Almas - plus craft beers at no charge.
And a confession about the lobby bar: I never made it back after my first walk-through, because every other bar on property sits beside a pool or some better view.
Quality was the surprise. The food and drinks are good enough that you forget you are at an all-inclusive, and that is not something I say about most properties in this category. There is even a taco tasting bar, which was a fun, low-key change of pace from the sit-down restaurants.
Drinks poured well across the bars, and the rooftop had the best atmosphere for an evening cocktail. Do not skip Darkhorse either, the two story sports bar with pool tables, foosball, and the single coolest thing I have done at an all-inclusive: a full golf simulator where someone from the activities team acts as your caddy, all included in your rate.
Right behind it is Cocoa Cafe, the 24 hour coffee shop set in an open air atrium.
My tip is to spread your dinners across the different cuisines rather than settling into one favorite. Because no reservations are required, you can wander and see what appeals on any given night, which keeps the week from feeling repetitive.
Over a few days I hit the Italian, the Mexican, and the grill, and each one held up on its own merits. A few standouts worth naming: Allora does high-end made to order pizzas and pastas, Bisou is the popular Parisian spot, and the menus lean into Mayan flavors rather than defaulting to chicken quesadillas everywhere.
During dinner hours there is even a to-go taco stand outside if you do not feel like a full sit-down meal.
Service
Service was warm and attentive, and the staff clearly take pride in the place. As a Globalist routed into Preferred Club, I got an extra layer of attention through the lounge and concierge, which made requests easy to handle. That said, this is a big resort, so pace can vary at the busiest pools during peak hours. The pool variety is the real story here: a natural feeling lagoon pool, an ultra modern dark bottom pool that feels like a high-end city hotel, a main pool by the beach with the best swim up bar on property under a giant palapa, and three deep, secluded cenote style pools that are perfect for couples. Fair warning though, chairs go early, and arriving later in the day I genuinely struggled to find a seat.
My read is that the team here is really trying, and small gestures, from remembering a drink order to checking in without hovering, added up over the stay. If you have status, use it, because the Preferred Club channel is noticeably smoother than the general one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Secrets Moxche adults-only?
Yes. Secrets Moxche is an adults-only luxury all-inclusive, so it skews toward couples and friend groups looking for a calmer, grown-up atmosphere.
Can I book Secrets Moxche with World of Hyatt points?
You can. It is part of the Hyatt Inclusive Collection under the Secrets brand, so you can redeem or earn World of Hyatt points. Points pricing and cash rates vary by season and suite, so check your exact dates.
What is the difference between Secrets Moxche and Impression Moxche?
They share the same campus but are separate resorts. Impression is the ultra-premium enclave with its own private beach area and rooftop; Secrets Moxche is the larger adults-only main resort. Impression guests can use Secrets amenities, but not the other way around.
Do I need dinner reservations?
No. The Unlimited-Luxury concept means the a la carte restaurants do not require reservations, which makes planning your evenings a lot easier. All the daytime and nighttime activities, from bocce and beach games to sand volleyball, are organized in the Hyatt all-inclusive app. It is a little glitchy but it gets the job done, and it is the same app across all of their all-inclusive brands, so frequent guests only ever need to download it once.
What do Globalists get here?
Globalists are typically upgraded to the Secrets Preferred Club, which usually means a nicer room plus lounge and rooftop Observatory access. Even without a Preferred Club room, Globalists should still receive the club benefits. Confirm details with the resort before arrival.
How far is it from Playa del Carmen town?
It is about a ten-minute drive to Quinta Avenida, close enough for a night out but far enough to stay quiet on property.
Bottom Line
Secrets Moxche delivered the kind of stay I hope for from a luxury all-inclusive. The plunge-pool suite, the wall of pools, and the dining that actually impressed made it feel like more than the sum of its parts. For a World of Hyatt member, the ability to earn and burn points here, plus the Globalist Preferred Club upgrade, pushes it from a nice option to a smart one.
If you want a lively city-center base, this is not that, and that is by design. But for a restful adults-only week on a clean beach with strong food and a rooftop pool at sunset, Secrets Moxche is one of the easier recommendations I can make in Playa del Carmen.
