Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya
Playa del Secreto, MXAdults only
Our take
Hacienda-style adults-only escape on a quiet half-mile of Riviera Maya sand
- 540 rooms
- 8 dining venues listed
- ~35 min from CUN
No ResortFinder markup. We just do the work.
Resort facts & overview
- Location
- Playa del Secreto, MX
- Audience
- Adults only
- Brand
- Independent
- Rooms
- 540
- Dining listed
- 8 venues
- Airport
- CUN
- Transfer
- ~35 min
- Reno
- Reno 2026
Why travelers love it
“Hacienda-style adults-only escape on a quiet half-mile of Riviera Maya sand”
This adults-only resort sits on Playa del Secreto, a calmer, less-developed beach north of Playa del Carmen, with one of the largest pools in the region as its centerpiece. Repeat guests rave about the attentive staff and consistent food across multiple à la carte restaurants. The tradeoff is sheer scale — it's a big property with sprawling grounds, so plan on walking.
Food & drink
StandoutSix à la carte restaurants plus a strong buffet deliver consistently high quality, with Ginger, Mar y Tierra, and the poolside taco and churro trucks earning the loudest praise.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Ginger and Mar y Tierra are standouts
- Le Marche buffet impresses
- Poolside taco truck and churros
- Kitchen accommodates dietary needs
Heads up
- Occasional hit-or-miss dinner dishes
- Drinks can arrive weak unless you ask for more pour
Dining overview
Seven à la carte restaurants plus a large buffet (Le Marché) cover Mexican, Italian, Asian/Teppanyaki, French, steakhouse and seafood concepts, with no reservations required except for the Teppanyaki show. Reviewers consistently mention the quality and variety, with the poolside taco bar and Café Sisal (coffee and gelato) called out as favorites.
8 documented dining venues
L’Alsace
French cuisine, Night Elegant
L’Olivo
Mediterranean Italian, Night Elegant
Le Marché
International buffet (breakfast & lunch), Casual
Counts and access can vary by source and room tier.
Food & drink photos
Food & drink photos
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Beach
MixedA pretty, well-maintained stretch of Riviera Maya sand that photographs beautifully, but swim conditions are inconsistent with a narrow swimmable zone and occasional red flags.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Daily grooming keeps sand clean
- Peaceful, uncrowded feel
- Beach dinners are memorable
Heads up
- Small designated swim area, long walk from beach access
- Rough surf and red flags reported
- Not the resort if ocean swimming is essential
A half-mile of soft white sand on Playa del Secreto, a quieter pocket of coast tucked between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The water is generally calm and swimmable, though like all of the Riviera Maya it can be affected by sargassum in late spring and summer.
Photo: Tripadvisor
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Pools
StandoutThe pool scene is the resort's headliner: an enormous main pool with two swim-up bars and constant entertainment, plus the serene crescent and Golden lazy-river pools for adults who want calm.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Massive main pool with swim-up bars
- Aerobics, Zumba, foam parties, live music
- Golden lazy-river pool for quiet time
- Free 5-minute poolside massages
- Swim-up suite rooms available
The headline pool is enormous — one of the largest in the Riviera Maya — with a swim-up bar and in-pool activities like aqua aerobics, spinning and Zumba. There are quieter pool zones around the property as well for guests who want to read undisturbed.
Photo: Tripadvisor
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Rooms & suites
540 roomsAll accommodations are suites or junior suites, generally described as spacious, clean and recently updated, with whirlpool tubs, balconies and a Mexican hacienda aesthetic. Higher categories add swim-out access and butler service.
Deluxe Junior Suite
Entry-level category at the resort. Spacious junior suite with king bed, sitting area, and balcony or terrace overlooking the tropical gardens. Whirlpool tub and Mexican hacienda-style décor are standard across all categories here.
- View:Garden view
- Sleeps:3 guests
Includes
- +whirlpool tub
- +private balcony or terrace
- +king bed
- +sitting area
Silver Junior Suite King Size
Step up from the Deluxe with a guaranteed king bed and slightly elevated finishes. Same overall layout as base junior suites with whirlpool tub and balcony or terrace.
- View:Garden view
- Sleeps:2 guests
Includes
- +whirlpool tub
- +king bed
- +private balcony or terrace
Golden Junior Suite
premiumLocated in the adults-focused Golden zone with access to a dedicated Golden pool and elevated service. Junior suite layout with king bed, whirlpool tub, and balcony or terrace.
- View:Pool view
- Sleeps:2 guests
Includes
- +access to exclusive Golden pool
- +whirlpool tub
- +king bed
- +balcony or terrace
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
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
What’s included
StrongFor most guests the food, service, and pool experience justify the premium price, though a vocal minority feels the resort has slipped from true five-star into upscale-mainstream territory.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Top-shelf drinks included
- Six restaurants plus buffet at high quality
- Affordable room upgrades (Golden, Dunas suites)
- Strong repeat-guest loyalty
Heads up
- Fake marble and dated finishes noted by some
- Feels more mass-market than boutique luxury
- Recent service inconsistency in restaurants
Package inclusions and upgrade access have not been collected yet. Confirm them for your room and dates when booking.
Amenities & activities
Couples
IdealA repeat-visit favorite for honeymoons, anniversaries, and milestone birthdays, with hacienda-style grounds, swim-up suites, and beach dinners setting a romantic tone.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Adults-only atmosphere
- Swim-up and Dunas suites with private pools
- Beach dinners and wedding-friendly setup
- Nightly entertainment and Imperial band
Heads up
- Recent theft complaints from anniversary and wedding groups
- Some couples felt luxury polish has slipped
Families
Not a fitAdults-only, so no one under 18 is permitted; this is not a resort for children regardless of how family-friendly the vibe feels for adult family groups.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Works well for adult family reunions and weddings
Heads up
- No guests under 18
- No kids club, kids menu, or child amenities
Peace & Quiet
StrongA rare property that lets you dial the volume up or down: lively main pool with foam parties and live bands, plus a hushed Golden Pool lazy river and tucked-away corners.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Golden Pool and lazy river are peaceful
- Lush jungle grounds buffer noise between buildings
- Choose party pool or quiet pool by day
- Rooms stay quiet at night
Heads up
- Main pool entertainment is constant and loud
A full spa with sauna and steam room, fitness center with classes, tennis, archery, billiards, table tennis, nightly entertainment and a small chapel for weddings. Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort.
Spa: Aromance Spa
Water sports included
- snorkeling
- kayaking
- non-motorized water sports
- introductory scuba lesson in pool
Resort amenities
Spa, gym & activity photos
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
What guests say
High confidence213 reviews · through Nov 2026
Read all reviews on TripAdvisor ↗Google ↗
Consistently praised
Recurring complaints
Best suited for
What past guests say
“Exceptional resort. The service is amazing and the area and buildings are beautiful. They have by far the largest pool I've ever seen. My only complaint is the mosquitos. That being said they will come to your room and spray for mosquitoes upon request, they spray the resort as a whole almost every day, there is bug spray free to use at every bar.”
★★★★★
“We just wrapped up our vacation and wanted to share…<br><br>We had an amazing time at Valentin Imperial and wanted to just highlight some of our best experiences:<br><br>1) Barrakuda Valentin Imperial: We did a 1/2 day with Chief to the Tulum ruins and it was fantastic. I’ve done multiple tours on vacation (including Cairo, Egypt) and I’d say Chief is just as knowledgeable and passionate, if not more, than other tour guides I’ve travelled with. It was the perfect excursion and the highlight...”
★★★★★
“What a great resort. It is so tropical in lush, all the walkways have abundant shade cover from The amazing palm trees and vegetation. You can have adult quiet or you can have adult active... Your choice. Food at all the restaurants so far have been great ironically the fish fingers are the most amazing fish fingers you will have in your entire life. Most people we have met have been repeat visitors coming for years and years and years..... Highly recommend 🤣”
★★★★★
★★★★★
“DJ Ivan was had an amazing set and let us play a few songs! Had a lot of fun dancing the night away. We hope he's there when we return for our next trip!<br><br>We enjoyed all the shows, food, pools, beaches, and drinks. Staff was super friendly as well. Resort is quiet, spacious, scenic, and well maintained. It was very cool having a mini fridge stocked and room service for free. Anywhere we set up to lounge, waiters would come by and ask if we wanted food or drinks. We had a blast and will...”
★★★★★
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 (5,865) ↗
Videos
Ask Rosie
Have a specific question about Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya?
Rosie answers from this resort’s guest reviews and our research — with quotes.
Know before you book
- Small designated swim area, long walk from beach access
- Rough surf and red flags reported
- Not the resort if ocean swimming is essential
- Occasional hit-or-miss dinner dishes
What you should know
What to Know
Recent reports of theft from rooms during housekeeping, weak initial pours at the bars, and a genuine dress code at dinner are the details worth planning around.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Helpful resort app for bookings and info
- Dunas suites are the newest, most refined rooms
- Swim-up suites on the crescent pool worth the splurge
- Amstar airport transport runs smoothly
- Repeat guests get personal recognition from staff
Heads up
- Multiple recent theft complaints, use the safe
- Ask bartenders for extra alcohol if drinks taste light
- Evening dress code enforced at restaurants
- Beach swimming zone is small and can be flagged
WATCH OUT: Seasonal heads-up
- Sargassum seaweed can affect beaches across the Riviera Maya from roughly April through August
- Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November, with peak risk August–October
Cancun airport (CUN) is roughly 30–40 minutes by car, making this one of the easier Riviera Maya transfers. Tipping is not required but appreciated, and bringing small US bills makes it easier. The property is large — request a room location near the pool or beach if mobility is a concern, and book Teppanyaki early since it's the one venue that takes reservations.
Good to know
- Strictly adults-only, 18+
- One of the largest pools in the Riviera Maya, with daily in-pool activities
- Reservations only required for the Teppanyaki show — all other restaurants are walk-in
- Grounds are large and lushly landscaped; expect a lot of walking
- Strong repeat-guest culture — many guests return year after year
All photos
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: Tripadvisor
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Photo: www.valentinmaya.com
Ready?
No ResortFinder markup. We just do the work.
What we know
Everything below comes from data we collected: here's the inventory for this resort.Updated September 2026- Photos
- 131
- Review excerpts
- 20
- Dining venues
- 8
- Menus
- Not yet collected
- Room categories
- 12
- 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
- September 17, 2026
- Sources
- Official resort siteGoogle PlacesTripadvisorDirect resort mediaExpert reviewers
- 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.
- 131 photos
- 2 dining venues
- 36 videos