Golf in the Riviera Maya: The Best Courses and Their Impact on Property Values

In short: The Riviera Maya has more than a dozen golf courses by designers such as Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Price and Robert Trent Jones II, across Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras and Cozumel. According to market estimates, properties next to a good course sell for 15% to 40% above their area's average and can command higher vacation rental rates.

How many golf courses are there in the Riviera Maya?

Depending on the count, the region has between 13 and more than 15 championship golf courses, most of them 18 holes. It is an inventory little known outside the golf world, but it places the Riviera Maya among the most complete golf destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America.

The courses blend into a very distinctive landscape: tropical jungle, mangroves, cenotes, Mayan archaeological remains and Caribbean views. Beyond everyday play, the region hosts amateur tournaments, corporate events and Latin American tour competitions throughout the year. If you are interested in the tourism side, also read why the Riviera Maya is a first-class destination for golfers.

What are the best golf courses in the Riviera Maya?

The benchmark courses are El Camaleón at Mayakoba, Playacar, Gran Coyote at Corasol and Puerto Aventuras around Playa del Carmen, and Puerto Cancún, Playa Mujeres and Moon Palace in Cancún. This table lists the main ones:

Course	Location	Design	Holes
El Camaleón (Mayakoba)	Playa del Carmen	Greg Norman	18
Playacar Golf Club	Playa del Carmen	Robert von Hagge	18
Gran Coyote (Corasol)	Playa del Carmen	Nick Price	18
Iberostar Playa Paraíso	Riviera Maya	P.B. Dye	18
Hard Rock Golf Club Riviera Maya	Riviera Maya	Robert Trent Jones II	18
Bahía Príncipe Golf	Tulum	Robert Trent Jones II	—
Puerto Aventuras Club de Golf y Playa	Puerto Aventuras	—	—
Puerto Cancún Golf Club	Cancún	Tom Weiskopf	18
Playa Mujeres Golf Club	Cancún (Playa Mujeres)	Greg Norman	18
Moon Palace Golf Club	Cancún	Jack Nicklaus	27
Riviera Cancún Golf Club	Cancún	Jack Nicklaus Design	—
El Tinto Golf Club	Cancún	Nick Price Design	—
Pok Ta Pok Golf Club	Cancún	Robert Trent Jones Jr.	—
Cozumel Country Club	Cozumel	Nicklaus Design	—

El Camaleón, designed by Greg Norman, runs through mangroves, cenotes and the coastline, and for years hosted a PGA Tour event, the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba. Playacar Golf Club, by Robert von Hagge, is Playa del Carmen's historic course, set between jungle and Mayan ruins, where monkeys, toucans and iguanas are frequent playing companions.

Which courses stand out in Cancún and Cozumel?

In Cancún, the best known are Puerto Cancún, Playa Mujeres and Moon Palace. Puerto Cancún Golf Club, by Tom Weiskopf, offers views of the Nichupté lagoon and the sea, in one of the city's most exclusive residential areas.

Playa Mujeres Golf Club, another Greg Norman design, winds between mangroves and the sea with views of Isla Mujeres, and is considered one of the best courses in Mexico. Moon Palace Golf Club, by Jack Nicklaus, has 27 holes across three different layouts.

The offer is rounded out by Riviera Cancún Golf Club (Jack Nicklaus Design), El Tinto (Nick Price Design) and Pok Ta Pok, by Robert Trent Jones Jr., by the lagoon. In Cozumel, the Cozumel Country Club (Nicklaus Design) overlooks the reef.

In the Playa Paraíso area, P.B. Dye's Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club integrates natural cenotes into the layout, and the Hard Rock Golf Club Riviera Maya, by Robert Trent Jones II, combines cenotes, mangroves and jungle on every hole.

How much does a golf course add to a property's value?

According to market estimates, proximity to a quality golf course raises a property's price by 15% to 40% compared with the area average. The range is wide because it depends on the course's caliber, whether the property sits directly on the fairway and the development itself.

In the Riviera Maya the effect is especially strong for two reasons. The supply of properties directly on golf courses is limited. And demand comes from high-income buyers with a very specific preference for this amenity.

Scarcity also protects resale value: golf-front properties tend to appreciate more than the area average, with estimates of 15% to 25%. Treat these figures as a general reference, not a guarantee: each development is valued on its own.

Which residential developments offer golf access?

There are options for different budgets: Mayakoba is the most exclusive, Playacar and Corasol are within Playa del Carmen itself, and Puerto Aventuras offers a more affordable proposition.

• Mayakoba: luxury residences from about USD 500,000 inside the resort, with access to El Camaleón included in the amenities. More details in our guide to investing in Mayakoba.
• Playacar: Playa del Carmen's most established gated community, with its 18-hole course.
• Corasol: a master-planned development with Nick Price's Gran Coyote course. Projects such as Punta Laguna offer condos overlooking the course.
• Puerto Aventuras: its Golf and Beach Club, with Caribbean views, combines golf and a private marina in the same community.

Our portfolio also includes projects next to a golf course, such as HOXUL in Playa del Carmen.

Who buys golf properties in the Riviera Maya?

The typical buyer is an executive or business owner aged 50 to 70, with high net worth, willing to pay a premium to have the course steps from home. It is one of the most stable profiles in the luxury market.

Most come from North America and Europe, where golf is a widely followed pastime. For them, the combination of golf, beach and the Caribbean in one destination is hard to match.

If you buy as a foreigner in the restricted zone near the coast, you do so through a bank trust (fideicomiso), provided for in Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution and the Foreign Investment Law.

Does golf improve vacation rental income?

Yes. According to market estimates, properties that include golf access can charge rates 25% to 35% above average on platforms such as Airbnb, especially with guests from North America and Europe.

Golf high season coincides with the tourist high season, from November to April, when temperatures are cooler and there is less rain. During those months the courses are at full capacity and nearby properties achieve their best rates. You can check the seasonality of hotel occupancy in the region on DATATUR.

To make the most of this differentiator, highlight course access in your listing and plan seasonal pricing. Here are more ideas to maximize the profitability of your vacation property.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most famous golf course in the Riviera Maya?

El Camaleón, at Mayakoba, designed by Greg Norman. For years it hosted a PGA Tour event and it is the region's benchmark course.

When is the best time to play golf in the Riviera Maya?

From November to April, with cooler temperatures and less rain. It is also the season of highest course occupancy and the best rental rates.

Is it worth buying a property next to a golf course?

If you want a combination of lifestyle and long-term wealth, yes: supply on the course is scarce, demand is stable and market estimates point to a price and rental premium. Always review the development's maintenance fees and rules.

Looking for a property next to a golf course? Contact us and we will show you the available options.

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