Resort Review: Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya | Sojourney Travel | Kristy Wallace

I just returned from an incredible stay at Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya, a stunning five-star resort in Mexico. This resort offers 434 suites, including tropical view, swim-up, and ocean view options. You can also upgrade to Preferred Club status for an enhanced experience. 

For our trip, we flew into the newly opened Tulum Airport (December 2023), which is small but efficient. From landing to grabbing our luggage, the process was quick and smooth. We opted for private, direct transportation to the resort, which took about an hour. Although there was a slight wait for our ride, once it arrived, we were on our way. 

Upon arrival at Secrets Akumal, we were greeted with refreshing cool towels that smelled amazing. Since we had upgraded to Preferred Club, we were escorted to the Preferred Club Lounge for a personalized check-in, complete with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. After completing the paperwork, our building concierge, Araceli, showed us to our suite. 

The Suite: We stayed in a swim-out King Suite, and it was absolutely stunning! The luxurious king-size bed caught my eye immediately, and the bathroom was equally impressive, featuring double sinks, a walk-in shower, a separate toilet room, and a large jetted tub. The bedroom area included a closet, a safe, and a "Secrets Box" for discreet room service pickups. The mini-fridge was restocked daily with beer, juice, water, and soda. The private, furnished balcony led directly to the shared swim-out pool. Everything about the suite felt luxurious, and our location in building 6 was ideal—close to the pool, Preferred Club Lounge, and the beach. 

The Beach: We spent a lot of time on the beach, and in my opinion, it’s the best one I’ve visited in Mexico. The water was beautiful and mostly calm. While there are Bali beds available for rent, we found plenty of chairs and didn’t feel the need to rent one. The swimming area is roped off to protect the coral reef, but you can book an excursion to snorkel and see sea turtles. Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any on our own, and due to an injury, I got during an excursion to Tulum, we couldn’t participate in the turtle tour. 

Excursions: One of the best parts of our trip was the Tulum, Mayan Village, and Cenote Excursion. The resort has a ton of options for excursions, and this one was a perfect mix of history, culture, and fun! They picked us up around 8:30 a.m., and we were back by 2:00 p.m., with plenty of time to relax at our swim-up pool. Unfortunately, I did injure my foot at the Tulum ruins, but our amazing concierge, Araceli, got me the help I needed as soon as we got back to our suite. The day was filled with incredible moments—exploring the Tulum ruins, making tortillas in a Mayan village, and capping it off with a refreshing swim in a gorgeous cenote. It was definitely one for the books! 

The Pools: The resort has three pools, all of which are lovely. The quiet pool near the lobby features relaxing music, while the two larger pools are closer to the beach. One of them is oceanfront with a swim-up bar and hosts pool activities. This was our favorite spot, where we enjoyed drinks delivered by the attentive wait staff. 

The Food: During our stay, we dined at a variety of restaurants. Seaside Grill was our go-to for Preferred Club breakfast, and the pizza by the pool was a lunchtime favorite. We also tried the resort’s buffet breakfast where my husband loved the omelet station. While the food was delicious across the board, service at the French, Italian, and Greek restaurants was slow, with dinner taking 2.5-3 hours for our group of six. I’d recommend catching the early entertainment shows before dining to avoid missing out, as we did a couple of times. 

The Staff: The staff at Secrets Akumal was exceptional. Our building concierge, Araceli, went above and beyond when she noticed I was limping after our Tulum excursion. She immediately called the lifeguard, who applied anti-inflammatory cream and ice to my foot. Araceli checked on me throughout the rest of our stay, ensuring I was okay. The rest of the staff were equally attentive, always willing to stop what they were doing to help or offer directions. 

Overall, Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya truly lives up to its five-star rating. With beautiful accommodations, outstanding service, delicious food, and a gorgeous beach, this resort made for an unforgettable vacation. I can't wait to return! 

Want to plan your getaway to Secrets Akumal? Reach out to me or your preferred travel advisor today!