El Dorado Royale
Punta Brava - Yucatan - Mexico
El Dorado ROYALE is one of the most popular adults only, all-inclusive resorts on the
Riviera Maya just south of Cancun's International Airport.
While there are no nude facilities on the property, on the north side of the resort
new swim up casitas are really popular, great for honeymoons and anniversaries, to
Resort Overview
El Dorado ROYALE Resort & Spa, built in 2000 and owned by Joe and Delores Lopez, is an adults only all inclusive resort with some of the most perfect white sand beaches we've seen on the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico.
The property is near Punta Brava Beach. Joe & Delores also own Lomas Travel, the ground operator for Funjet Vacations and other large tour companies serving Cancun. In addition, they own El Dorado Seaside Suites and Hidden Beach Resort, south of Playa del Carmen.
El Dorado ROYALE has earned numerous Top Resort designations from several accreditation agencies and tour operators.
Topless sunbathing is fairly well accepted in the Cancun area. We hope clothing-optional beaches will be more common as demand warrants, since Cancun has become a major international destination for travelers worldwide.
El Dorado ROYALE is located on an isolated stretch of sand at Punta Brava with deserted beaches to the north and south of the property. You can beach comb or search for just the right tanning spot anywhere along the sand for miles.
Rooms are garden views and ocean views with private terraces, verandas or patios.
Getting There
U.S. Citizens: Passports are required for international air travel to all destinations outside the USA.
Dorado ROYALE Resort is about 25 miles south of the Cancun International Airport and a few miles north of Playa del Carmen, the other major tourism area on the Yucatan besides Cancun. The resort is situated on a beautiful stretch of beach at Punta Brava that faces the Mexican Caribbean.
The nearest tourism area is Playa del Carmen, a few miles to the south of the resort. The resort's entrance is located right on Mexico highway 307, the divided freeway that runs from Cancun in the north down to Tulum to the south, about 70 miles from the airport.
You can choose a transfer service, a private taxi or rent an auto from one of the major international or local car companies. If you buy a complete package with airfare and resort included, ask for transfers to be included and pre-paid if you prefer. Cost for transfers can average $30-$100/person, round trip.
Prices subject to change without notice. Car rental rates are comparable to U.S. costs, but don't be surprised if the rental company requires mandatory insurance to be added to your rental agreement.
Just about all tourism destinations, resorts and attractions are easy to find along the Mayan Sun Coast, as it's called, since virtually all of them are within an hour or less by car down the main highway (Mexico 307). The newest tourism area down toward Tulum is about 1.5 hours south of the Cancun airport.
Services
El Dorado ROYALE has a fun atmosphere starting with its adults only, all-inclusive concept. Accommodations, all meals, snacks, bar drinks, beer, wine, liquor, activities, entertainment, hotel taxes, tips, service charges are included in one price. Transfers and airfare to Cancun are extra.
Guests have access to full spa services, a custom fitness program, yoga and 
meditation classes, aerobic classes and massage classes. This is a great place for romantic couples and honeymooners.
Non-motorized water sports are available including snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, beachcombing, etc. There are two swimming pools, four bars and three restaurants on site. There is a tour desk to help you arrange optional sight seeing.
Ambiance
The "original" El Dorado Resort (before Seaside Suites) was built by Joe Martinez and wife, Delores, owners of both the El Dorado Seaside Suites, Hidden Beach Resort, El Dorado Maroma Beach, the El Dorado ROYALE near Cancun and Lomas Travel, the largest tourist transportation service in Cancun.
El Dorado Royale is fun.....lively yet relaxing. You will find fun singles and couples there who are ready to have a good time. Night life centers around evening meals, dancing and light entertainment provided by the resort in the form of musical acts, local shows and folkloric presentations.
A shuttle bus or taxi can take you to Playa del Carmen a short ride away, if you are in the need for more nightlife and culture. Playa del Carmen is our favorite little tourism beach town on the Yucatan.
TIPS
If you plan to vacation for a week or so, consider renting a car since there are numerous tourism sites to see within an hour of the El Dorado ROYALE.
One of the finest examples of the Mayan civilization is at Talcum, a few miles south of the El Dorado. Tulum is one of the few Mayan temples located seaside.
If you don't want a car, find another couple to share the expense and hire a taxi for the trip or for all day. ALWAYS determine your price for the taxi for your round trip before you depart.
Make sure you ask the driver if he has children or a lady friend, bring him a gift from shopping or buy him a soft drink along the way to express your thanks and your kindness... these little gestures can do nothing but help you.
Group Trips
We do not have regularly scheduled group trips to El Dorado Royale, but we do have Group Trips at Hidden Beach Resort right next door to El Dorado Seaside Suites down by Akumal. But if El Dorado Royale is your preference, it's still a great place for two, three or more couples to get together for a group trip.
If you have other couples that might want to join you, please contact us and see what kind of group trip deals we might be able to package especially for you.
Sightseeing
Use this link from our parent company, Fox Travel/American Express rep. to pre-book your excursions, tours and sight seeing before you arrive at the resort. Typically, tours and sight seeing include pick up at your hotel. See: Pre-book Sight Seeing
Gee, you can travel within one hour from the resort and do the following: Shop at open air markets, dive with the dolphins, take a trip by jet ski through the mangroves, dance, swim, eat, visit Mayan ruins at Tulum.
See cultural and folkloric shows, cruise on a pirate ship or a catamaran, bar hop in Playa del Carmen or Cancun, visit Cozumel via water taxi from Playa del Carmen for the d
ay, enjoy world class dining in Cancun, visit Isla Mujeres across the bay from Cancun, scuba dive, visit three water parks with underground rivers and pools called cenotes, go horseback riding, snorkel and even visit Cuba on a day trip from the little airport at Playa del Carmen for about $300/person, round trip including your tour guide, airfare, transfers, meals and tours of Havana.
An activities desk is on site with trained personnel to assist you with your tour selections.
Dining
Restaurants
The property has 6 la Carte restaurants serving food as diverse as Continental, International, Mexican, Italian, Asian and Caribbean. The resort calls the new food style: Gourmet Inclusive. This translates to a terrific variety and diverse meal selections. You won't go hungry any time of day.Twenty four hour room service is included.
Each of the main restaurants at El Dorado Royale has daily changing menus. Each day there's a new menu and those are on a 14-day rotation, so unless you're staying for more than two weeks, you will not see yesterday's menu.
La Carreta - Mexican specialties at its best. A la carte dining served in three seatings
La Isla - Breakfast, continental breakfast served late morning, lunch, Mexican snacks and dinner.
El Cocotal - International breakfast, lunch and dinner, menu changes daily
Kampay - Fine Oriental dining, three seatings available.
Jo Jo Caribbean Seaside Grill - Lunch and dinner a la Carte.
D' Italia - Italian Cuisine. Open only for dinner (Dress code: Pants or Bermudas, t-shirt with sleeves, no beach sandals)
Some restaurants may only operate on select schedules. Some restaurants may require reservations and expect appropriate dress. Consult the hotel upon arrival for hours of operation, reservation policies and dress codes.
Lounges & Bars
Several bars are located throughout the property and our favorite is the casual beach bar.
One of the coolest places in the main building is the martini bar; so don't miss it when you go. Even if you don't drink martinis, stop in for a cool one of any kind and enjoy the ambiance.
Make sure you visit Las Guacamayas, a bar with swings. This is one of our absolute favorite places on the resort, other than the saltwater. With rope swings for seats, you can spend a whole afternoon there visiting with the waiters and other guests...it hardly gets any better than that.
Las Guacamayas - Bar with swings. Serving cheladas, exotic beverages and tropical CD music. Offers small dance floor and music for dancing
Los Pericos - Bar with swings located at the Casita Suites section of the hotel.
Los Cottoros - Healthy Bar fresh fruit, whole wheat cookies, smoothies La Isla - Main pool swim up bar. Open daily.
Bar Papagayos - Swing bar featuring swings, relaxing music and exotic cocktails.
Beach Bar - Right on the beach Swim-up Bar Tucanes- 9am -5 pm
Lobby Bar - Premium selection of brand beverages
Swim-up bar Pelicanos - bar with swings in the casita area
Swim-up bar Colibri - also casita area
Rates
Over 385 rooms and suites are on site. All inclusive rates start as low as $150/person/night up to $250+/night/person and vary by season, with high season (and higher prices) generally running from about December 15-April 15. The lowest rates are usually offered in late summer.
The most fun accommodations are the separate beachside casitas (private thatched roof cottages) that also have a lazy "river" feature in front of your suite so you can float down the stream to your next door neighbor for a visit. NOTE: These are the most popular of all the accommodations; plan to book far ahead to score one of your own. Rates above are subject to change without notice.
Room categories include ocean view suites categories, Jacuzzi suites and casitas (thatched roof decor), surprisingly large for the money. Rooms are beautifully decorated. One of our favorite touches are the showers, some of which are open air but totally private in the guest rooms.
Take your pick... there are numerous room categories to choose from including:
Casita Suite
Casita Swim Up Suite
Jacuzzi Jr. Suite
Oceanfront Jacuzzi Suite
Ocean view Jacuzzi Jr. Suite
Swim up Jacuzzi Jr. Suite
All rooms include mini-bar stocked with bottled water, soda and beer, table with 2 chairs, vanity table, radio and alarm clock, air conditioning, ceiling fan, Mexican tile floors, bathroom, satellite television, indoor Jacuzzi, private terrace with a hammock and amenity kit.
Impressions
Uppers-Downers
▲▼ The resort is somewhat isolated. If you want to walk to town, you can't but you can take a shuttle or taxi.
▲ Since the resort is on an isolated stretch of beach, you might be able to find a great spot for an all over tan.
▲ The Spa facilities are surprisingly upscale and extensive in their services offered. The nicest surprise is to find a well-equipped spa.
▲ The thatched roof palapa rooms are wonderfully tropical and the guest rooms are quite upscale.
▲ Numerous, economical charter flights serve Cancun on a year-round basis.
Age Ranges
Adults only, early 20's to 50's. This is a lively atmosphere attracts a younger crowd and its share of honeymooners.
Best Time To Go
Mexico is a year-round, world-class destination and Cancun has great weather with the Caribbean beach water just about perfect anytime. Summer time is warmer, of course, with hurricane season from late August to early October adding humidity to the weather equation
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Wish List
● Designate one of the beaches officially as a clothing-optional area with bar service.
THE BOTTOM LINE: An excellent adults only, all-inclusive resort with more services than you would expect for the money.
Photo Album
The photos in our album were either shot by us, our clients or provided by the resort. If you have recently visited El Dorado Royale we invite you to send in your photos for us to display. To contribute you own photos (or trip reports), go to our Contribute Trip Report / Photographs page.
Trip Reports
If you have recently visited El Dorado Royale, we would appreciate you contributing a trip report. You can contribute to this section buy using our Contribute Trip Report / Photographs page. Here is one of our own recent trip reports.
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James & Champagne (of Castaways Travel) - December 2010
We recently stayed at El Dorado ROYALE near the village of Puerto Morelos, just south of the Cancun airport about 20 minutes.
The focus of this report is on the gorgeous Casita guest accommodations, decorated in a romantic palapa style setting. These casitas are to die for....they're romantic, stylish and well appointed. Your choices range from Casitas that are stand alone structures, to those with a swim up suite/pool location to models with your very on private plunge pool and of course, the Presidential Casitas, each with its own plunge pool, private balcony and thatched room sun bed facing the beach.
Casita accommodations shout one intimate feeling: ROMANCE! These luscious accommodations are perfect for couples....for an anniversary celebration, a marriage, a honeymoon or just a fun getaway.
The ROYALE resort is actually divided into two sections: The original property with standard guest rooms, suites and restaurants and the ROYALE Casitas property.
The Casitas also feature their own guest pools and bars adjacent to each of the 6 mini villages that dot the beach-side locations. What's more, each has its own Concierge, conveniently available nearby each Casita.
Although all guests have the choice of over 20 bars and restaurants, Casitas ROYALE have three conveniently located dining options nearby including: La Isla Casita, Le Italiane and the Asion specialty restaurant.
Contact Julia or Alma at Fox Travel American Express (281-363-0808) and plan your holiday, family, reunion, wedding or honeymoon events at El Dorado Royale or Casitas Royale.
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