El Dorado Maroma, an adults-only, luxury resort near Cancun is home to the very first overwater bungalows in Mexico. We think it really is a tremendous resort, and sets the standard for other luxury resorts to follow. Its location sure helps though – Maroma Beach, Playa del Carmen – rated one of the Caribbean’s, and in fact, the world’s, best beaches. We think you’ll find accommodation wonderful across the board, not just the overwaters, and their gourmet food and drink are of the highest quality. The Overwater Bungalows: Elite vs. Standard, Which to Choose? The overwater bungalows come with all the features we would expect from such a pioneering resort – glass floor panels, hot tubs, private infinity pools, outdoor showers, and direct access to the water below your feet. We have two basic types here – the standard Palafitos, with nightly rates starting at about 1300 USD, and the Elite Palafitos which starrt at around 1500 USD. They’re practically identical, except for one well…location, location, location. The Elite Bungalows face directly out to the open sea, offering better privacy and far superior views. The Standard Bungalows, by contrast, are located along the sides of the pier, closer to the shore or farther out, but facing the beach. As a result, they tend to offer less privacy and have partially obstructed views of the ocean. So, the overall experience can be quite different. If your budget can stretch that bit extra, we’d definitely recommend the Elite Bungalows. Check Availability With All-Inclusive Rates Check dates & prices at Expedia here or at Booking.com here. Overwater Fine Dining & Gourmet Tasting Corners El Dorado Maroma is an all-inclusive resort with a great emphasis on gourmet food and drink, and with much of the ingredients coming fresh from their own greenhouses. We have a very good choice of restaurants here, as well as small, informal ‘Gourmet Tasting Corners’ serving everything from Mexican and Caribbean to Oriental and Italian. The main restaurant is the Overwater Grill & Wine Bar which features two glass-floor dining rooms, spectacular views, and a wide selection of local and international dishes. The breakfast at El Dorado Maroma is a legendary spread and you can order some to be delivered to your room. The same goes for any meal actually, 24 hours, and picnic hampers, etc. can also be arranged for romantic days out which your private butler will be happy to arrange. Indulgent Spa Treatments & Endless Activities There are swim-up bars at the two communal swimming pools, a shisha bar, and other bars with live entertainment. The resort also has a gym/fitness center and a lovely overwater Spa, the Náay Spa, which uses treatments Deep Dive: Read the Review…
Best All Inclusive Overwater Bungalows in Mexico for 2026
> Our Methodology
Mexico’s Overwater Bungalows: A Choice of Four
Mexico is enormously popular with tourists, but only four of its many resorts offer overwater bungalows. These are:
Where can I find them?
Interestingly, three of these resorts are located just a couple of miles apart in the upmarket town of Playa del Carmen, situated between Tulum and Cancun. Cancun offers numerous flights from most major U.S. cities.
The fourth, Akalki Hotel, is much more off the beaten track, located in the far south of Riviera Maya near Chetumal and the border with Belize.
Are they luxury resorts?
The three resorts in Playa del Carmen are 5-star luxury properties—among the very best in Mexico. Akalki is a more rustic, low-key resort, offering a simpler, though still comfortable, experience.
Are the overwater bungalows all-inclusive?
Only Palafitos El Dorado offers all-inclusive packages.
Are they adults only?
Palafitos El Dorado is exclusively adults-only. Rosewood Mayakoba is family-friendly overall, but its overwater bungalows are adults-only. Both Banyan Tree Mayakoba and Akalki Hotel welcome families throughout the resort and in their overwater bungalows.
What are the prices like?
The Playa del Carmen resorts are super-luxury, with prices to match—expect to pay at least $1,200 USD per night for an overwater bungalow.
Akalki offers a more modest, affordable option, usually costing less than half of that.
Our favorites — which did we like the most?
Choosing between the three 5-star resorts is difficult, but we preferred the Palafitos bungalows at El Dorado for their traditional Polynesian vibe.
We also appreciated the sleek modernity of Rosewood Mayakoba and Banyan Tree Mayakoba; some may prefer them more. Overall, Rosewood Mayakoba is our top pick of the three resorts.
We liked Akalki for its back-to-nature atmosphere and affordability, though it lacks the wow factor and is somewhat inconveniently located.
Filter these results?
Sponsored:

-
Guide Price (Minimum): Between $1000 & $3000 per NightAddress: Carretera Cancun Tulum, Km 55.3
Playa del Carmen
Cancun
Mexico
Lists curated by:

Ronan McLoughlin has been the founder, main author, and editor of Dream Overwater Bungalows since 2019.
No Records Found
Sorry, no records were found. Please adjust your search criteria and try again.
Google Map Not Loaded
Sorry, unable to load Google Maps API.
