This is an honest Paradisus La Perla review. I’m sharing everything you need to know when planning for this luxury, adults only resort in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Paradisus La Perla Review: The Bottom Line
Bottom line: I loved my stay and would highly recommend this resort.
My fiance and I booked it for a five day stay (during our wedding), and it turned into one of the most memorable resorts I’ve stayed in.
What made La Perla unforgettable was its relaxed ambiance, elevated guest service, and high quality dining.
As soon as we stepped onto the private property we had an immediate sense of relaxation. La Perla goes above and beyond with thoughtful touches like signature scents in the corridors (still dreaming about them) and calming background music that changed with the time of day.
The one downside I didn’t realize when I booked is that June is seaweed season, and the scent was sometimes noticeable.
Scroll to the bottom of the review for a full explanation on sargassum season. Despite the seaweed (which is an annual occurrence), the experience was a 10/10.
Here’s everything you need to know about Paradisus La Perla before you book.
La Perla Check in process
The La Perla check-in process is fast and easy. The desk is located in a beautiful room directly through the wide entrance of the resort.
We arrived in a private shuttle and were greeted with cool towels and champagne.
The attendant carefully explained our reservation, dining, and amenities so we could dive right into the fun.
Helpful Tip: Purchase the couple’s massage package at check-in. The front desk pitches a special deal only at check-in, and I wish we’d taken it. Our friends raved about the YHI Spa’s great services.
La Perla Rooms
The resort room exceeded our expectations on every level. We booked a Master Suite with a bedroom and separate living room area, and the space was almost too beautiful to leave.
Our private terrace looked over the central La Perla pools, and wow, the view made us feel like we’d gotten the best suit. Little touches of luxury and cool amenities like a Nespresso coffee maker, outdoor hot tub, and plush robes made the room feel extra special. And the closet space? Better than most apartments.
Of course, the room was air conditioning and the marble floors helped to keep things cool in the 85°+ Fahrenheit heat.
I had the chance to visit our friends’ rooms, and the quality carries across room sizes (rooms go from Roulette Room (624 sq ft) up to Reserve Presidential Suites ( 1550 sq ft).
Helpful Tip: You can’t go wrong with any room size you pick. Junior Suites are the same layout as Master Suites without the additional living room space, and all rooms feel luxurious and open.
La Perla Reserve rooms
We didn’t choose the Reserve, but it was an upgrade option offered to us during website booking, and again at check-in.
The Reserve guest suites are an upgrade with swim-up suites and private lounge, concierge service, 24-hour room service, and private pool and restaurant, and certain complimentary spa services.
Resort Property
La Perla is the luxurious adults only side of Paradisus Playa Del Carmen – Riviera Maya. The entire resort rests beside a mangrove forest with direct access to a private beach area.
The palm-lined beaches were filled with guests the first time we visited while wedding planning. I noticed there was chairside service and the cutest little beach bar nestled right next to Kanna Bridge (formerly Gabbi Bridge if you look at certain sites. They’ve renovated the area).
The property feels incredibly private; although we stayed on a busy weekend during the wedding, the restaurants, common spaces, and pools never felt crowded.
Helpful Tip: Join the MeliaRewards program. Signup is complimentary. La Perla is owned by international hotel group Melia, meaning you can earn rewards for your stay.
Dining
The Paradisus Playa Del Carmen property holds 29 restaurants. I highly recommend trying as many as possible. You have access to all 29 as a La Perla guest.
The buffet was a big hit with our group. It is open for walk-ins at breakfast, lunch, and dinner with varying international dishes. The quality is amazing.
Beyond that, we reserved speciality restaurants in advance. My favorites were hands down Flora and Blue Agave Taqueria.
La Perla Restaurants:
- Flora
- Lemon Fish
- Blue Agave
- South Avenue Bar
- Tori
- The Winery
- Toji
- M Bar
- The Lunch Box (for Reserve guests)
- Cielo
- Sal Steak Cave
- Swim-up Bar
- Naos
- Celsuis
- Fahrenheit
- Coffee Corner by Nespresso
- Kanna Beach Club
- Kokimeku
- Hadar
- Coffee Corner
- North Avenue Ba
- Kicks Sports & Fun Bar
- Sante
- More, as some restaurants change from buffet to ala carte during the week.
We found the restaurant atmospheres relaxing and the dishes and drinks high quality. Servers were super friendly and attentive, so each meal feels like a fine dining experience.
Helpful Tip: Book restaurants right after check in. Go to the booking desk and reserve dinners for up to three nights out. This helps you get the best tables during busier seasons.
Pools
We spend a relaxing day poolside before our wedding events kicked off. The service from the pool bar will bring you drinks, you don’t have to leave your chair.
There was plenty of shaded seating and private gazebos around the swimming pools. If we didn’t want to be in the center of the afternoon activities (DJ, paddle board balancing, exercise classes), you can shift to the quieter side pools.
I actually enjoyed hanging out and watching everyone get involved in the games.
We also hung out at the family side water park one day while the kids played in the splash pools and slides. Highly recommend spending time here if you’re visiting with family members, but otherwise you’ll probably enjoy the calmer adults side of this Playa Del Carmen resort.
Helpful Tip: Get to the pool early to lay out your towel and claim your space. This was a recommendation from our wedding planner.
La Perla Experiences
We stayed at La Perla for five days, and we could have easily spent a full week without running out of onsite activities.
Both sides of the resort have a weekly activity calendar. It’s basically full morning to night.
The La Perla activities saw were morning yoga (my personal favorite), a great poolside DJ, bachata dance lessons, tequila tastings, beach volleyball, sandcastle building contests, pool games, and canvas painting.
Our guests also ventured to nearby golf courses and took day trips to Chichén Itzá.
Helpful Tip: The activity calendar rolls out one week at a time. Download the Melia app for the list of activities when you arrive.
My Honest Opinion
I loved Paradisus La Perla. I would stay again, and highly recommend it.
But, there was one downside.
The downside: Sargassum Seaweed Season
Sargassum is a seaweed that crops up at certain times of the year in the Riviera Maya.
We stayed in June, during sargassum season.
The smell was noticeable when we arrived. But, it did improve throughout our stay as levels went down.
However, no one was at the beach. There was a “do not swim” advisory, likely why the pool was busier.
Honestly, this will only effect you as much as you let it. The resort does everything it can to mitigate the seaweed, but in the end it’s nature, what can you do?
La Perla plowed the seaweed each morning and lit incense in hallways. We forgot about the seaweed after awhile.
Helpful Tip: Research sargassum season before you book in the Riviera Maya. Some times of the year are better than others.
La Perla FAQs
Here are a few common questions our group had about La Perla before our visit.
How do I get to Paradisus La Perla?
Fly into Cancun International Airport.
The drive time is 47 minutes from the airport to Paradisus La Perla.
Is Paradisus La Perla adults only?
Yes. You must be 18 years or older to enter La Perla.
How far is Paradisus La Perla from the beach?
The resort is directly on the beach. You can walk right onto the beach using one of the picturesque boardwalks.
Does Paradisus La Perla have a night club?
Yes. La Perla has a bar called Kicks that stays open until 2 am. We went at least three of the five nights during our stay. The club features DJs, different music genres, and karaoke some nights.
Our favorite club night was the decades celebration that brought in entertainers in glass costumes and someone on stilts!
Is Paradisus La Perla the same as Paradisus Playa del Carmen?
No. These are two different sides of the Paradisus resort. La Perla is the adults-only resort, accessible to all guests over 18 years old.
Paradisus Playa Del Carmen is the family side of the resort. It is also called La Esmeralda, but we found this name less frequently.
When you book, check to make sure you are booking at La Perla.
Conclusion
This was an honest review of Paradisus La Perla.
I highly recommend staying at this resort if you have the opportunity. It is a luxurious five star experience that will stay with you long after you leave!
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