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 Playa del Carmen for 2026
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Overwater Bungalows in Playa del Carmen – An Overview.
Playa del Carmen is a high class tourist destination with some high class resorts in and around the so-called Mayan Riviera that surrounds it.
There are three resorts with overwater bungalows in Playa del Carmen – Rosewood Mayakoba, Banyan Tree Mayakoba and Palafitos El Dorado.
All are beautiful, very luxurious resorts that have been attracting a well heeled clientele for years now though the overwater bungalows are a relatively new addition.
They are though an extremely popular accommodation choice in Playa del Carmen so prepare to book well in advance.
It is very difficult to decide which resort is better overall but in terms of the overwater bungalows we reckon the Palafitos bungalows at El Dorado are the pick of the three.
Rosewood Mayakoba’s and Banyan Tree’s bungalows are modern, luxurious and sleek but for us they are missing the traditional, slightly rustic, Pacific vibe that makes an overwater bungalow stay so romantic.
The Palafitos El Dorado bungalows are also a bit away from the shore and so give more of that nice, floating on the sea sensation. Both the Mayakoba’s on the other hand are lined up along the edge of the lagoon.
Finally the bungalows at Palafitos El Dorado have glass floor sections – a classic, and popular feature of most overwater bungalows.
Palafitos El Dorado is an adults-only and all inclusive resort. The Rosewood Mayakoba is neither, though their overwater bungalows are strictly adults only. Banyan Tree Mayakoba is family friendly – both the overwater bungalows and the resort in general.
Check out our full reviews below!
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Guide Price (Minimum): Between $1000 & $3000 per NightAddress: Carretera Cancun Tulum, Km 55.3
Playa del Carmen
Cancun
Mexico
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Ronan McLoughlin has been the founder, main author, and editor of Dream Overwater Bungalows since 2019.
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