Barcelo Maya Palace is just one resort out of six in the mega-resort complex of Barcelo Maya Grand  Originally, it was Barcelo’s premiere resort offering in Cancun and the Riviera Maya for many years.  It continues to offer excellent food, attentive and friendly customer service, snorkeling for sea turtles right off the beach, a great kid’s water park, and one of the most massive main pools I’ve ever seen at a resort.  Guests of the Palace have access to four of the remaining five resorts (the Beach, Caribe, Colonial, and the Tropical); the only resort Palace guests do not have access to is the brand new adults-only Maya Riviera at the other end of the complex.  The Palace is not as close to the other resorts as one would think–take the resort shuttle or walk the beachfront walkway to other resort destinations.  Taking the beachfront path makes a very relaxing stroll during the evening, especially if the moon is out with the sounds of the waves in the background.

I stayed here back in 2018–part of my vacation was spent at a swim-up at the Caribe section, while the other half was spent in a Jr. Suite with pool view here at the Palace.  When comparing my stays at both, I appreciated the less humid rooms at the Palace along with the additional bathroom privacy it offered.  As I mentioned above, food is excellent here at all restaurants as well as both buffets–most resort guests have tried or want to try the French restaurant, Brasserie (it was excellent, by the way, and they made an outstanding lemondrop martini).  I also enjoyed the Caribe and Rodizio restaurants–attentive waiters without the hovering.

The Palace has one large main pool with built-in Jacuzzi sections and tiled loungers, a nearby lap pool, a small circular pool with fountain and built-in tiled loungers, a kid’s water park which was just renovated about a year ago, and a rather large adults-only pool with adjacent massage area.  The beach here is rather rocky, but it does have a section where you can enter with minimal obstructions (swimming is best over at the Beach resort section).  Don’t forget to bring your snorkeling equipment because turtle access is right off the beach.

The lobby is lovely both day and night, but it can be a chore to get around and find everything since there are multiple floors to explore.  The lobby bar has an awesome view of the beach and ocean, but visit here during daylight to appreciate the scenery.

One item to remember if you stay at the Palace, or actually any property at this mega-resort complex.  All six separate hotels on this property don’t have true oceanfront rooms.  However, the Premium Level Oceanfront rooms at the Palace section come as close as you are probably going to get to the water at this mega-resort location (the one exception would be staying in the Premium building over at the Maya Riviera, but only if you get one of the north end suites).

If you want to stay at the Palace nearer to the ocean, book an Oceanfront Premium Level Suite (if you want easy beach access, make sure to request a ground floor suite location).  It offers 1,367 square feet of space and sleeps three, has a separate bedroom with full bath, 1/2 bath off of the living room area, and two terraces.  Terraces offer hammocks/full loungers.  Premium upgrade amenities include private check-in/out, private lounge with snacks and top-shelf liquors, priority restaurant bookings, free WiFi, upgraded room amenities such as toiletries and mini-bar items, a small bottle of mezcal for stays of four or more nights, and pool towels in the rooms.  Room service is also free with this upgrade, and the hydrotherapy circuit of the main spa over at the Colonial is complimentary as well.

Here’s a video showing this suite category in a ground floor location.  Would you stay here?