El Cid Granada Hotel - All Inclusive
Mazatlan, MXFamily friendly
Our take
Golden Zone garden hideaway with golf access and sister-resort beach privileges
- 126 rooms
- 11 dining venues listed
- ~25 min from MZT
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Resort facts & overview
- Location
- Mazatlan, MX
- Audience
- Family friendly
- Brand
- Independent
- Rooms
- 126
- Dining listed
- 11 venues
- Airport
- MZT
- Transfer
- ~25 min
Why travelers love it
“Golden Zone garden hideaway with golf access and sister-resort beach privileges”
Granada is the quieter, garden-set member of the El Cid family in Mazatlan's Golden Zone, popular with travelers who want a calmer base and easy access to El Cid's golf course. Guests can shuttle to the beachfront sister properties (El Moro and Castilla) for ocean swimming, which is the main tradeoff to understand before booking — Granada itself isn't directly on the sand.
Food & drink
MixedBuffet at El Patio anchors the food scene with fresh mornings and a standout omelette bar, while the Italian and Argentine à la cartes get consistent praise. A vocal minority reports getting sick, and the buffet leans average rather than seafood-forward.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- El Patio breakfast buffet is a highlight
- Italian à la carte strongly recommended
- Standout servers Fabian, Rocio, Gisela
- Argentine cuts and varied snacks
Heads up
- Multiple reports of stomach illness
- Buffet light on seafood despite coastal setting
- Reservations fill up a week ahead
Dining overview
Two included venues (El Patio and Lobby/Poolside Bars); specialty à la carte restaurants at Golf Country Club (Sushi Bar, Villa Italia, Prime Grill) accessible, extra cost
11 documented dining venues
El Patio
Argentinian grill
La Alhambra
International buffet
El Alcazar
Italian a la carte
Counts and access can vary by source and room tier.
Food & drink photos
Food & drink photos
Photo: www.elcid.com
Beach
MixedGranada sits inland in the Golden Zone, so the beach is a short walk over at sister properties Castilla and El Moro rather than out your door. The Mazatlán sand itself is fine but this is not a beachfront experience.
medium confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Wristband gives access to sister-resort beach
- Short walk to the ocean
- Golden Zone location with plenty nearby
Heads up
- Not directly on the beach
- Beach service inconsistent at pool areas
Granada is not beachfront; guests cross Avenida Camarón Sábalo or take a short shuttle to reach the beach at sister El Cid properties. The Mazatlan beach itself is wide, walkable, and active with vendors and surf, though the Pacific can be choppy with stronger waves than Caribbean destinations.
Pools
StrongGranada's own pool is heated, quiet, and comfortable, and your wristband unlocks the larger pools at Castilla and El Moro too. Service around the pool can be hit or miss, with some complaints about plastic cups and no roving waiters.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Heated Granada pool, warm year-round
- Multi-resort pool access with one wristband
- Spacious, clean pools at sister towers
- Pool bartenders like Genaro and Jorge stand out
Heads up
- Slow or absent pool service reported
- Plastic cups, towels not stationed at pool
The main pool is a generous outdoor pool with a swim-up bar and surrounding sun loungers in a landscaped garden setting. Guests also have access to the larger pool complexes at sister El Cid resorts, which expands the options considerably.
Photo: Tripadvisor
Photo: Tripadvisor
Photo: Tripadvisor
Rooms & suites
126 roomsOffers studio rooms and one-bedroom suites, all with private balconies. Standard amenities include an in-room safe and plush bedding. One-bedroom suites are larger and include a kitchenette. WiFi is available for a fee.
Studio Room
Compact room in a three-story building with contemporary décor and a private balcony. Configurations include two beds, and some layouts include a kitchenette. A solid pick for travelers who want a no-frills base near the golf and country club.
Includes
- +private balcony
- +in-room safe
- +kitchenette in select layouts
One Bedroom Suite
Larger one-bedroom layout with a separate living area, kitchenette, and private balcony. Available with either one bed or two beds, so it works for couples wanting more space or small families.
Includes
- +kitchenette
- +private balcony
- +separate living area
- +in-room safe
Room details here are AI-assisted, compiled from the resort's own website and public sources. Categories and names change often — confirm the exact room when you book.
Room photos
What’s included
StrongFor the price, Granada delivers a lot: four-resort access, heated pool, activities, and repeat-visitor loyalty stretching a decade. The catch is that value depends on your wristband color and how much you use the sister properties.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Economical for what you get
- Access to four resorts on one wristband
- Long-term repeat guests every year
- Plenty of included daily activities
Heads up
- Wristband color affects service tier
- Extra charges for water and towels reported
Package inclusions and upgrade access have not been collected yet. Confirm them for your room and dates when booking.
Amenities & activities
Couples
StretchEl Patio's romantic atmosphere and the quieter Granada tower make this a workable pick for laid-back couples, especially returning ones who like a familiar, low-key rhythm. It's not a romance destination in the honeymoon sense, more a comfortable Mazatlán base.
medium confidence
What you'll enjoy
- El Patio has a romantic, music-filled vibe
- Quieter Granada tower away from the crowds
- Access to sister-resort restaurants and pools
- Golf course and Golden Zone dining nearby
Heads up
- Older rooms, not a luxury feel
- Not marketed or geared to honeymooners
Families
Good fitA genuinely family-friendly Mazatlán stay with a heated pool, activities all day, and multi-generational groups returning year after year. Expect a warm, familial atmosphere rather than a kids-club spectacle.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Kids stay entertained all day
- Economical for large family groups
- Heated pool comfortable for children
- Repeat multi-generational visitors
Heads up
- Booking dinner for large groups is clunky
Peace & Quiet
StrongThe Granada tower is the calm corner of the El Cid complex: no loud music, no mariachi interruptions, further from the beach action. If a peaceful pool day is the goal, this is the room block to book.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Granada is the quietest of the El Cid towers
- Warm, heated pool with a relaxing feel
- No blaring music or forced entertainment
- Set back from the busier beach scene
Outdoor pool with swim‑up bar, full‑service spa (massage, sauna, hot tub), fitness center, golf course access, tennis/pickleball/basketball courts, kids and teens clubs, evening shows, beach club access
Water sports included
- non‑motorized water sports
- daily pool and beach activities
Resort amenities
Spa, gym & activity photos
Photo: www.elcid.com
Photo: Tripadvisor
Photo: www.elcid.com
What guests say
High confidence180 reviews · through Nov 2026
Read all reviews on TripAdvisor ↗Google ↗
Consistently praised
Recurring complaints
Best suited for
What past guests say
★★★★☆
“A very nice, good, and very quiet hotel, excellent for a relaxing getaway.”
★★★★★
“One of the best hotels I've ever stayed in, besides being a historic one in the port of Mazatlan, incredible beachfront view, they don't have any snobs or clowns if you hire a band, I think that's the essence of the hotel, wonderful.”
★★★★★
★★★★☆
★★★★★
Latest reviews from Tripadvisor
Loaded live from Tripadvisor when you ask — the newest reviews and the current rating.
Ratings breakdown
Read all reviews on Google (2,229) ↗
Ask Rosie
Have a specific question about El Cid Granada Hotel - All Inclusive?
Rosie answers from this resort’s guest reviews and our research — with quotes.
Know before you book
- One guest in Apr 2026 reported noise at night in kitchen area and worn bedding and limited breakfast variety
- Not directly on the beach
- Beach service inconsistent at pool areas
- Multiple reports of stomach illness
What you should know
What to Know
Granada is the quiet garden tower of a four-property El Cid complex, so your wristband color determines which restaurants, pools, and beaches you can use. Book à la carte dinners the moment your window opens or you'll be stuck with the buffet.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Red/top wristband unlocks all four resorts
- Golf course steps away
- Located centrally in the Golden Zone
- El Patio breakfast and Italian dinner are must-books
Heads up
- Reservations sell out by 7am the day prior
- Bottled water and extra towels can incur charges
- Reports of preferential treatment by wristband color
- Property has closed short-term for low occupancy
WATCH OUT: Seasonal heads-up
- Hurricane season runs June through November on Mexico's Pacific coast, with September the peak risk month
- Winter months (Dec–Mar) are peak season with snowbird crowds and higher rates
Book dinner reservations the moment you're allowed — guests report that the popular restaurants sell out by 7am the day prior. Wi-Fi is paid rather than complimentary at the all-inclusive base level, so factor that in. Tipping in USD or pesos is appreciated, and English is widely spoken by staff. If beach time is your priority, plan around the shuttle schedule to the beachfront sister hotels.
Good to know
- Property is across the street from the beach, not directly on it — beach access is via sister El Cid resorts
- All-inclusive plan extends across the El Cid resort family, opening up additional restaurants and pools
- Dinner reservations book out fast; reserve as early as the system allows
- Wi-Fi is listed as paid rather than free
- Adjacent to El Cid Golf & Country Club, a major draw for golfers
All photos
Photo: www.elcid.com
Photo: www.elcid.com
Photo: www.elcid.com
Photo: Tripadvisor
Photo: Tripadvisor
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What we know
Everything below comes from data we collected: here's the inventory for this resort.Updated October 2026- Photos
- 65
- Review excerpts
- 20
- Dining venues
- 11
- Menus
- Not yet collected
- Room categories
- 2
- Videos
- 3
- Editorial lenses
- 8
We aggregate. We don't trap. Verify on any of these:
Where this data comes from
We tell you what we know, and what we don't.
- Last updated
- October 9, 2026
- Sources
- Official resort siteGoogle PlacesTripadvisorDirect resort media
- Completeness
- 83%
Source collection snapshot
These collection totals can differ from the items available on this page. Video totals include screened results; the inventory above counts published tours.
- 68 photos
- 11 dining venues
- 25 videos