Desire Riviera Maya Resort - All-Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

3685 reviews

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  A Large and Intimate Party: Our Desire RM Experience

  This year was our fourth consecutive trip to RM and, from our perspective, it just keeps getting better. Perhaps some of that comes from learning how to better navigate the flow of activities, pace ourselves throughout the day, and relax enough to let a few more inhibitions go. It is, after all, quite an investment of money, travel, and anticipation. Making the most of it sometimes means knowing when to do a little less. But another reason this was our best trip yet is something that never seems to change: the professionalism, genuine kindness, and friendliness of the staff, no matter their role. That friendliness feels natural, welcoming, helpful, and discreet. There is a real understanding of when to engage and when to give people their space, which matters quite a bit in a place like this. No wonder so many staff members have been with Desire for years, an amazing team that keeps the grounds immaculate, manicuring an environment that is truly desirable (pun intended). While some RM reviews compare “Old RM” with “New RM,” having experienced the resort before and after the Eden side opened, I love the combination. There is the lush original side, with its trees, meandering sidewalks, and now-quiet pool, where we prefer to stay in one of the quaint but comfortable and beautiful suites. Then there is the high-energy, modern, open, and bustling “New RM.” Staff members have tried to convince us to stay on the newer side, but frankly, that would be a little too much for us, 24/7. We like having somewhere quieter to wander back to: to sleep, enjoy some more intimate time together on a beach or poolside cabana, or simply splash around in the pool. Our routine is to reserve poolside seating on the new side early each morning, stay until perhaps early afternoon, then retreat to the original side for some calmer, more personal time. Whether intended or not, the two sides complement each other beautifully. We can explore when we want, join the party when we want, and relax when we want, entirely on our own terms. Having both experiences within a short walk of each other is a large part of what makes RM work so well for us. A highlight this year was the launch of Original Transfers, Desire/Temptation Resorts own transportation division. While the transportation we had used in the past was good, Original Transfers clearly operated seamlessly with the resort itself, the booking experience, and even the communications between transportation and resort, and transportation and us, the client. We were greeted with brand-new high end comfortable private drives to and from the airport, waited only a few minutes at the airport and were immediately picked up on time at RM for the trip home. Alberto, our driver, was professional, kind, and clearly the kind of Original Resorts staff member that exemplifies the greatness of their staff. Driving us back to the airport in an immaculate new Toyota LandCruiser, it shows Original is taking in-house transportation as seriously as it does everything else, and truly makes visiting Desire easy if you book directly with them, which we have done every year after our first trip. It's the most flexible, secure, and, dare I say, most affordable way to go to Desire RM. One slight disappointment this year was access to certain restaurants. We were told the higher-end restaurant was reserved for a “members only” event, and we could not get a reservation on any of our four nights. This was over the sold-out Thursday-to-Monday Halloween into Día de los Muertos weekend. I would think members might also enjoy meeting people beyond their own membership circle, particularly those who are more lifestyle-oriented and there to mingle. Keeping people in tiers feels a little at odds with the otherwise open, uninhibited, “no judging” atmosphere. For us, that atmosphere is the bigger attraction anyway, so this remained a minor disappointment. And the food everywhere else we ate, including the buffets, was fabulous. Anyone who has visited RM more than once will probably recognize the slightly hard-to-describe difference between trips simply because of the mix of guests there at any given time. Some visits, more nudity; some visits, more visible play; and so on. The people help create the experience as much as the setting does. We enjoy a larger, more varied crowd, with enough different personalities around that it never feels as though one group has taken over the hotel or set the tone for everyone. As a more introverted yet not particularly inhibited couple, we prefer larger parties. As Jordan Baker says in Chapter 3 of "The Great Gatsby": “And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.” That makes perfect sense to us. For anyone similarly inclined, I would recommend busier periods or holiday weeks and weekends. There is room to find your own rhythm within the crowd, along with plenty of opportunity for people-watching. And being watched, if that’s what you’re into. There is also something wonderfully freeing about spending four days somewhere people know only what you choose to share. At home, we have our work, responsibilities, and familiar places in the community. At RM, we have a little room to step away from all of that and simply enjoy being together. Somehow, with fewer people knowing who we are, we get to feel a little more like ourselves. That balance of setting, people, privacy, and possibility is what we save up for (as it is a pricey vacation for us), fly hours for, and, during certain demanding stretches of the year, practically live for the thought of getting back to. We come home more connected and rejuvenated, even if a bit tired. After each yearly visit, we discuss whether we will return. So yes, there will be a fifth trip, likely around the same time. It will be different again, and familiar in all the ways that keep bringing us back. But the real excitement of Desire RM is that there always seems to be some surprise unique to you and your spouse: something you wouldn’t have seen coming, yet somehow exactly what you were looking for.

  Nov 04, 2026
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  fully clothed-clothing optional resort!!

  We are not going again until they have dedicated nude areas. What a loss. We used to go there all the time, but it's turning into any other resort- just a lot more expensive. Most people are wearing bathing suits; being nude feels out of place, so why bother and pay all that much money? We will spend our money somewhere else until, hopefully, our voices are heard; maybe dedicate the old pool and the hot tub to being nude only

  Nov 03, 2026
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  Great fun!

  Candice worked her tail off! She had the poker table open on a rainy day and pool volleyball with her was very fun! You an really tell she enjoys her job. The pool was a fun time. Music was tasteful. Hot tub and nightclub were also an amazing time.

  Oct 08, 2026
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  Clothing Optional Should Still Feel Clothing Optional

  We’ve noticed over the years that the clothing optional atmosphere at Desire Riviera Maya seems to be changing, with more guests choosing to remain in bathing suits. When we were there in May, there were a couple of afternoons at around 4 o’clock when we and just one other couple were the only people naked in the hot tub. It was similar around the main pool, with only a couple of people naked while the majority were wearing bathing suits. At a resort we specifically choose because we enjoy being nude, it can actually make you feel uncomfortable and out of place for being naked. We completely respect that some guests prefer to wear bathing suits. But there should also be an option for guests who come to Desire specifically because they enjoy being naked. Riviera Maya already has the Quiet Pool and the old hot tub area, so why not make that a dedicated nude area? It would give nude guests somewhere to go where they can relax and feel completely comfortable, while everyone else can continue enjoying the main pool however they prefer. Desire Pearl still seems to have a much stronger nude atmosphere, with most guests choosing to be naked, and for now that is where we will be heading. We love the Desire concept, but we don’t want to see the clothing optional theme being taken advantage of to the point where almost everyone is wearing a bathing suit and the people who are naked start to feel uncomfortable. There are plenty of adult resorts for people who prefer bathing suits, but very few places for those of us who genuinely enjoy being nude. We believe Desire should protect that experience while still giving everyone an option where they can feel comfortable.

  Sep 25, 2026
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  Desire September Experience

  Love the shows were great.. Candice, Bella, Piña , Angel, Leo, Chocolate & Bambam made the entire entertainment experience amazing…

  Sep 21, 2026