TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Trip has been wonderful so far. Pool is warm, hot tub is hot. Rooms are clean. So far all the food we have eaten is wonderful. Cesar Lopez in the premium lounge has been wonderful. Very on top of his job and making sure we had everything we needed.

Cesar is a wonderful man! He took care of our family, went the extra mile for the guests, and brought a wonderful attitude. 10/10 recommend

Cesar Lopez is the best !! He takes the best care of us and made our trip so enjoyable from the moment we got there! Go see him !!

We have been coming to this hotel regularly for about 30 years - our first visit was to the hotel before it was owned by Barcelo. Our two cents and tips after reading other reviews: 1) the bug bites reported by others are midges. These are to be expected in a tropical jungle near a river. In the south, they are called “no-see-ums”. Bring 30%+ DEET (it may not be available locally). Problem solved. 2) the buffet food is edible, but it is not as good as it used to be. (Breakfast is the best bet). You can tell they are cutting corners to save money and address guests complaints about food poisoning (i.e. overcooking all of the food). The restaurants (except for the defunct “Night of the Iguana”) have never been really good. (Capri is the best one, and the lunchtime taco bar isn’t bad either). The hotel transitioned to an “all-inclusive” model many years ago in order to cut costs. Therefore, do not have high expectations for food or drink quality under a model such as this. There are many inexpensive and delicious restaurants nearby (La Choza, El Jacalitos, Patio Cuale, Maria Cuquita, Mismaloya Grill). Please support the locals and eat and drink at a locally-owned business. Or take a 20-minute bus ride to town for finer dining. 3) rooms are nice, comfortable, quiet, and huge as always 4) “Premium” is absolutely NOT worth your money. I’ve had both levels of service and can’t tell the difference. Again, if you want better food and drink, it is much better and cheaper to visit a local restaurant and enjoy a warm cultural experience. 5) I’ve seen reviews with complaints about “food poisoning”. While it is certainly possible, consider that it is most likely norovirus. You’ll find this anywhere there are a lot of people sharing bathrooms and the same surfaces (cruise ships, airports, schools, buffet lines of any kind). The hotel makes a big deal of getting you to use their hand sanitizer. Don’t be fooled. Norovirus is only killed by bleach and heating things up to at least 145 degrees F for a few minutes. Do not eat raw shellfish and wash your hands frequently. If someone in your party is sick, use a different bathroom than them - as the surfaces will now be contaminated. 5) bring refillable water bottles and fill them up with the purified water in the gym. it is horrible to see all the plastic trash polluting this beautiful area. 6) the bus is easy, inexpensive, fairly quick (20 minutes) and frequent (every 10-15 minutes or so). 10 pesos per person. Enjoy some trips to town. Return trip picks up at the exact place it drops off. Ubers are also available (cheaper than taxis). Have a great trip!

The food and service quality at the restaurant El quijote was amazing. Many thanks to Sergio Zamora and the team at the restaurant. The pianist was also on the selection and execution of lovely music