Best Golf Courses in the Riviera Maya – Cancun Area

If you’re heading on vacation to Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen or anywhere in-between, you’ll find plenty of fun activities to entertain you. You can explore the beautiful turquoise beaches, go snorkeling or diving, or even swim in a cenote.

If you get tired of water activities or just prefer to stay on land, though, you can also play a round at one of the many world-class golf courses around the area. While there are plenty of famous courses here that can set you back a hefty greens fee, there’s something for everyone in the area. Check out our rankings for best golf courses for different types of golfers below, or see our list of every golf course in the area at the end of this article to find the best one for you.

Map of every golf course in the Riviera Maya area

Summary of our rankings

• Most iconic golf course: El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Course
• Best choose-your-own-adventure golf course: Moon Palace Golf Course
• Best value golf course: Riviera Cancun Golf Club
• Best golf course for a quick round: Nicklaus Design Golf Course at Vidanta Riviera Maya
• Best golf course if you’re staying in Tulum: PGA Riviera Maya by Bahia Principe Golf

Most iconic golf course

El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Course (website)
Rating: 4.8  |  Price: $$$

Photo credit: El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Course 

Details:

• Holes: 18
• Par: 72
• Slope: 139
• Rating: 74.8
• Length: 7,024

El Camaleón is undoubtedly the most famous golf course in the area, and for good reason. Designed by Greg Norman, the course made history when it hosted the first ever PGA tour event to be held outside of the US and Canada. Nowadays, it hosts the LIV Golf invitational.

The course is located in the middle of the Mayakoba resort area. Golfers have the option of staying at one of the many 5-star hotels in the area, all of which offer a golf package for their hotel guests. The course also features a 350-yard driving range, putting green and golf school.

To book, email [email protected] or talk to your hotel concierge if you’re staying in a Mayakoba resort.

Best choose-your-own-adventure golf course

Moon Palace Golf Course (website)
Rating: 4.5 | Price: $$

Photo credit: Moon Palace Golf Course 

Details:

• Holes: 27 (three 9-hole courses)

Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the golf course at Moon Palace consists of 3 courses of 9 holes each, with the three courses each aptly named Dunes, Jungle and Lakes. Golfers can choose to combine 2 of the 3 courses to create their own adventure.

The golf course is part of the Moon Palace Cancun resort, which is an all-inclusive luxury resort. Those wishing to play a round here can book as part of their hotel stay or try to score a deal by booking a last minute discount round on Golfnow.

Best value golf course

Riviera Cancun Golf Club (website)
Rating: 4.5 | Price: $ to $$

Photo credit: Riviera Cancun Golf Club Facebook

Details:

• Holes: 18
• Par: 72
• Slope: 146
• Rating: 76.2
• Length: 7,060

Most of the golf courses in the area will set you back more than a few hundred dollars for a round, unless you’re buying a golf package as part of your stay at an affiliated resort. But you can get a round at the Riviera Cancun Golf Club for much less than that on some third-party sites and still enjoy a Jack Nicklaus course that’s well-liked by its customers. To make this an even better deal, the course offers an all-inclusive package with food and drinks.

To book, contact the Riviera Cancun Golf Club directly or see if there’s a deal available now on third party sites.

Best golf course for a quick round

Nicklaus Design Golf Course at Vidanta Riviera Maya (website)
Rating: 4.1 | Price: $

Photo credit: Vidanta Riviera Maya

Details:

• Holes: 18
• Par: 54
• Length: 2,923

This Jack Nicklaus course is the only Par 3 course in the Riviera Maya – Cancun region. You can squeeze in a breezy 18 holes between your morning at the beach and your dinner reservation without having to rush through your round. That said, past visitors cautioned thinking the course would be easy just because it’s a Par 3 – the course is still plenty challenging for newbies and experienced golfers alike.

To book, call the course directly at 1-866-231-4423 or email [email protected]. You may also be able to find deals on a third-party site.

Best golf course if you’re staying in Tulum

PGA Riviera Maya by Bahia Principe Golf (website)
Rating: 4.5 | Price: $$

Photo credit: PGA Riviera Maya

Details (for the 18 hole course)

• Holes: 18
• Par: 72
• Slope: 137
• Rating: 75
• Length: 7,272

While there are many benefits to staying in Tulum, you won’t find many golf course options nearby. Your best bet is the PGA Riviera Maya, which is about 15 miles from Tulum. Luckily it’s a great option – well-liked and quite scenic, with lakes, cenotes and jungle.

PGA Riviera Maya also offers a separate 9 hole course too so you have your pick of options. There’s also a PGA Golf Academy and a 300 yard driving range as well.

Booking is easy – just book directly on the golf resort’s website.

Every golf course we evaluated

Below is a list of every golf course we evaluated from Cancun all the way down to Tulum, in order from north to south: