I spent a week at Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres, and it's a resort I would happily recommend to the right traveler. There are some things I absolutely loved, a few I wasn't as impressed with, and plenty of little details worth sharing if you're considering a stay!

One of my favorite things about visiting resorts in person is getting to know the things that aren't always obvious from photos, resort descriptions, or a list of amenities. Secrets Playa Blanca is a great example of that!

First Impressions & Atmosphere

One of the biggest highlights of Secrets Playa Blanca for me was the atmosphere.

The lobby is beautiful and open, and our arrival was seamless. We were greeted with cool towels and welcome drinks, checked in quickly, and escorted to our room.

The landscaping throughout the resort really stood out as something special. The grounds have a lush, tropical feel, with winding paths surrounded by greenery. It almost gives the impression of a larger property than it is, and I loved walking around, particularly in the evenings.

Despite that spread-out feeling, it's very easy to navigate. We could get just about anywhere within five minutes of our room.

The resort has a romantic atmosphere without feeling overly quiet. There are lively areas around the pools and bars, but also plenty of places to escape for some downtime. I think they've done a really nice job balancing the two.

Our Room: Junior Suite Swim Out

We stayed in a non-Preferred Club Junior Suite Swim Out, and I was particularly impressed with the room.

I've enjoyed other Secrets properties, but this room felt a bit more modern and luxurious than I expected. The design is very open concept, which is worth knowing if you're traveling with someone who prefers a little more privacy. Personally, I really liked the layout and overall feel.

The room was spacious, with a very comfortable bed, soaking tub, and a lovely patio leading directly into the swim-out pool.

I loved having the swim-out! I'm usually a fairly active traveler, so I wasn't sure how much time we'd actually spend using it. But it became a favorite spot for morning coffee, a quick dip, and some quieter time without having to venture out into the resort.

It also came in handy when one of us wanted to spend a little more time enjoying that very open-concept bathroom. 😂

Housekeeping was excellent overall, including nightly turndown service, but I did have one frustration with room service.

Secrets has a convenient delivery box that allows staff to leave meals without entering your room. Despite using Do Not Disturb, we had room service staff knock and enter the room rather than using the box. This may have been an isolated issue with the staff member handling our deliveries, but I wasn't a fan. The whole point of that feature is being able to enjoy some uninterrupted privacy.

Aside from that, we were very happy with the accommodations.

Dining: Plenty of Great Finds, With a Few Misses

Food is always a big part of my resort experience, and I made it a goal to try as many dining options as possible!

Overall, I thought the food was good! Not every dish was a winner, but we had far more great meals than disappointing ones, and there were several dishes I would happily go back for. I rate all-inclusive resort dining on a bit of a different scale than I would à la carte dining, and I’d put this resort up there with some of the best I’ve experienced in this category. So far, only Hotel Xcaret has topped it, which I think is an absolute dream for foodies!

One thing worth mentioning is that portions are generally on the smaller side. Don't hesitate to order an appetizer, a soup, an entrée (or two), and dessert if you're hungry. That's part of the fun of an all-inclusive!

A few of our standouts:

Portofino: One of our most consistently enjoyable dining experiences. Every dish here was excellent!
French restaurant: The escargot and scallops were both excellent.
El Patio: The melted Oaxaca cheese is a must-try if you’re a cheese lover.
Himitsu: I really enjoyed the Kampachi roll! The dishes here were a little more hit or miss, but the restaurant is absolutely worth visiting for some different flavors and sake!
Oceana: A great choice for seafood. We enjoyed ceviches, aguachiles, whole fish, and paella at lunch. The bread, pictured below, is a fan favorite that is not to be missed!
Seaside: Great atmosphere and menu. This is one I wish we'd visited earlier in the week! The menu was much more expansive than the app let on, and the sea breeze during your meal is perfection!
Coffee shop: Do not miss the Snickers cake! This one is open 24/7 and is great for your caffeine fixes and snacking.

I always encourage travelers to pay attention to specific dish recommendations, not just restaurant reviews. Even a restaurant that receives mixed feedback can have some wonderful menu items and a great atmosphere, and knowing what to order can make a big difference.

And I can't leave out the drinks.

The margaritas were particularly memorable, with tamarind, passionfruit, red berry, and cucumber our favorites among the flavors we tried. We also enjoyed mezcalitas, espresso martinis, carajillos and a smoked old fashioned at Rendezvous Bar that wasn't even on the menu.

We still talk about those margaritas and wish we could recreate them at home.

During our stay, most à la carte restaurants did not require reservations, with the exception of Himitsu Teppanyaki. We didn't have difficulty getting seated, even during popular dinner hours.

Be sure to pay attention to restaurant dress codes, particularly for indoor dining. Men must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes to be seated indoors, and on a warm or humid evening, you may be especially thankful for the air conditioning! The good news is that patio seating and more casual dining options are available if you’d rather skip the dressier attire. There are mixed reports on how strictly this is enforced, especially during particularly hot weather, but I’d rather be prepared! The dress code was strictly enforced during my stay.

Pools & Beach

I really enjoyed the variety of pool areas at Secrets Playa Blanca. Each had a slightly different feel, and there was a nice balance between social spaces with swim-up bars and quieter areas for relaxing.

The jungle pool was a personal favorite. Surrounded by all that beautiful landscaping, it's exactly the kind of romantic and tropical setting that makes this resort special.

None of the pools felt particularly overcrowded during our stay, although I'd still recommend getting a lounger early if you have your heart set on a specific area.

The beach lovely, with wide stretches of soft white sand that are great for long walks.

There is one detail about the beach that I think is especially important to know before booking!

Natural dunes and vegetation separate parts of the resort from the shoreline. These are beneficial for preserving the beach and its natural environment, but they also mean that some beach loungers face a dune rather than an unobstructed ocean view. You'll notice this from some of the pool areas as well.

Personally, I appreciate the natural setting, and the beach itself is beautiful. But if you're someone who wants to sit by the pool and look directly out at the ocean, this may not be your favorite layout.

Activities & Entertainment

Overall, the entertainment was great and we had a lot of fun!

The evening shows were a little lackluster compared to what I’ve experienced elsewhere. For me, that’s not a dealbreaker, and I’ve noticed this seems to be a trend with Hyatt properties. Personally, I tend to enjoy live music, activities, and spending time around the resort more than sitting down for a nightly show.

And those other areas were much more memorable!

Live music at Rendezvous Bar was a favorite, and Desires nightclub offered a livelier option later in the evening.

One of the most unexpectedly fun activities was making our own pottery shot glasses. It was a little silly, very hands-on, and a great couples activity that we probably wouldn't have tried otherwise.

The entertainment staff running these activities were wonderful and made them genuinely fun.

Some crafts, including pottery and hat making, required reservations through the resort app a couple of days in advance during our stay. Others, like painting, were first come, first served. It's worth checking the activity schedule early in your stay and booking anything you have your heart set on! For activities that don't require reservations, be sure to arrive early or risk missing out.

Another favorite spot was the lobby area in the evenings. There are fire pits, lovely lighting, and comfortable places to sit. There isn't food or drink service in this area, or any entertainment, but it's a beautiful place to spend a little time before calling it a night.

I think travelers who enjoy participating in activities, live music, time in and around the water, and relaxing around the property will be happy here. If elaborate nightly productions or extensive nightlife are important to you, I would look at some other options.

Service

Outside of the room service issue I mentioned earlier, we experienced consistently excellent service!

The bartenders were especially memorable, and restaurant staff were friendly and attentive. Drinks were refreshed promptly, and the grounds were always beautifully maintained.

We also had a birthday during our stay, and the decorations in our room were a thoughtful touch.

I never felt that we were receiving lesser service because we hadn't upgraded to Preferred Club, which brings me to a question I get quite often.

Is Preferred Club Worth It?

My answer for Secrets Playa Blanca might surprise you: I don't think most travelers need it.

We stayed in a non-Preferred room and had access to plenty of wonderful spaces throughout the resort.

Preferred Club adds an exclusive pool, lounge, beach bar, and other amenities. But in my opinion, those spaces largely duplicate experiences already available elsewhere on the property. They give you additional seating and areas to enjoy, rather than offering something dramatically different.

The biggest reason I would personally consider upgrading is the elevated alcohol selection.

I was perfectly happy with most of the drinks available without Preferred Club, but I did wish we had access to better tequila and especially mezcal. The standard options in those categories weren't particularly impressive to me.

If premium spirits are important to you, or if you really value the extra exclusivity, Preferred Club is worth considering.

Otherwise, depending on the price difference, I would be very comfortable recommending a non-Preferred room here.

Of course, room category and the cost to upgrade always factor into that decision.

Location: Something to Think About Before Booking

Secrets Playa Blanca is located in Costa Mujeres, north of Cancun. While I really enjoy this area for a beach focused vacation, the location comes with some tradeoffs.

If you want to spend your vacation enjoying the resort, this location may be a great fit.

But if you're hoping to visit Mayan ruins, cenotes, or attractions throughout the Riviera Maya, I would strongly consider staying farther south.

Those excursions can involve lengthy transportation from Costa Mujeres, and I don't love recommending a location that adds hours of driving to activities someone is really excited about.

I also missed having easy access to snorkeling like I enjoyed at Secrets Akumal. If snorkeling directly from the beach and excursion access better fit your idea of a perfect vacation, that property wouldn't be my first recommendation.

Depending on your priorities, choosing the right location can make as much difference as choosing the right resort.

Who Would I Recommend Secrets Playa Blanca To?

I think Secrets Playa Blanca is an excellent choice for couples across a pretty wide age range. If you're a younger couple in your 20s or early 30s, you may find yourselves among the youngest guests, but the resort certainly isn't so sleepy that I'd steer you away from it!

I'd especially consider it for honeymooners, romantic getaways, adult friend groups traveling together as couples, and destination weddings with adult guests.

The atmosphere feels romantic without being stuffy, and there's enough variety that couples with slightly different vacation styles can both enjoy themselves.

I would be less likely to recommend it for solo travelers hoping to meet other singles, guests looking for a lively party scene, or anyone planning a vacation packed with off-property excursions.

It's a resort I'd choose when I want to enjoy the resort itself.

Final Thoughts

What stays with me most about Secrets Playa Blanca is the atmosphere.

I loved walking through the lush grounds, spending time on our swim-out patio, relaxing at the jungle pool, and finding little places to sit together in the evenings.

The food offered plenty of memorable meals, the bartenders and activity staff added a lot to the experience, and our room was one of my favorite parts of the stay.

None of these critiques, with the possible exception of wishing we’d had more time for excursions, took away from how much we enjoyed the resort overall!

I would happily return, particularly for a couples' getaway where the priority is spending time together, enjoying some great meals and drinks, and relaxing in a beautiful setting.

If you're considering Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres, I'm always happy to share more about our experience and help you compare it with other options. Choosing the right resort is about more than finding one with great reviews. It's about finding one that's right for how you actually like to vacation.

Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres: My Resort Review