Desire Pearl Resort & Spa

Desire Pearl vs. Desire Riviera Maya Honest Review From Long-Time Guests Since 2007 Before we begin, we were also fortunate enough to experience Desire Cabo during its years of operation. Like many long-time Desire fans, we still have great memories of Cabo and the unique atmosphere it offered. While Cabo is gone, many guests still compare today’s Desire experience to those memories. My wife and I have been visiting Desire resorts since 2007 and have stayed approximately 35 times over the years. We’ve experienced both Desire Pearl and Desire Riviera Maya many times and are often asked which resort we prefer. The answer depends on what you’re looking for, but after nearly two decades of visits, we’ve definitely formed some strong opinions. Meeting Other Couples Winner: Pearl Pearl is simply easier when it comes to meeting people. The smaller, more intimate layout creates natural opportunities to connect with other couples. Conversations happen more easily, and people generally spend more time getting to know one another. At Riviera Maya, there are often larger groups and more guests overall, which can make it harder to break into conversations and build new friendships. Hot Tub Atmosphere Winner: Pearl This is probably the biggest difference between the two resorts. The hot tub at Pearl tends to be much more social, interactive, playful, and fun. During our visits, we have played and connected with significantly more couples at Pearl than we ever have at Riviera Maya. On a typical day around the hot tub at Pearl, it’s not uncommon to find couples socializing, interacting, doing body shots, laughing, and simply enjoying the atmosphere together. In our experience, we have met and played with far more couples at Pearl by a wide margin. At Riviera Maya, we’ve often found the hot tub surprisingly quiet considering the size of the resort. While it’s still enjoyable, it generally feels less social, less interactive, and ultimately not as much fun as the atmosphere we consistently experience at Pearl. Clothing-Optional Environment Winner: Pearl For guests looking for a true clothing-optional experience, Pearl stands out. In our experience, a significantly higher percentage of guests embrace the clothing-optional atmosphere at Pearl. At Riviera Maya, we consistently notice many more guests remaining clothed throughout the day. That’s perfectly fine if that’s your preference, but guests looking for a more carefree atmosphere may find Pearl more appealing. Age Demographics Despite what many people believe, the age difference isn’t dramatic. Pearl generally attracts guests in the 50–70 age range. Riviera Maya generally attracts guests from their 40s to 70s. There is far more overlap between the resorts than many online discussions would suggest. Nightlife and Party Atmosphere Too Close to Call Many people claim Riviera Maya is the bigger party resort. After numerous visits, we honestly don’t see a huge difference. Riviera Maya may stay active slightly later into the evening, but Pearl often has just as much activity around the hot tub and evening venues. One drawback of Riviera Maya is the disco. Due to the larger size of the resort and the greater number of guests, we feel the disco simply isn’t big enough. The dance floor can become crowded quickly, making it difficult to move around and enjoy dancing comfortably. For a resort of this size, a larger disco would create a much better nightlife experience and allow more guests to participate without feeling cramped. Playroom Facilities Winner: Riviera Maya This is one category where Riviera Maya clearly shines. The larger beds and spacious layout make it much more comfortable and inviting than Pearl’s setup. If playroom facilities are important to you, Riviera Maya definitely has the advantage. Relaxation Areas Around the Hot Tub Winner: Pearl We actually preferred the older Riviera Maya setup. The newer hot tub play area doesn’t feel nearly as romantic as the previous design. Pearl’s beds and lounging areas around the hot tub create a more comfortable and intimate atmosphere. Pool Chairs and Daybeds Winner: Pearl Finding a good spot at Pearl is usually easy. At Riviera Maya, if you’re not out early enough, there’s a good chance your preferred chair or daybed will already be occupied. Spa Experience Winner: Pearl The spa facilities at Pearl feel much more guest-friendly. Guests can enjoy the facilities more freely, while Riviera Maya often feels more restrictive and less accommodating. Even something as simple as wanting to shower and change before leaving on departure day feels easier and more welcoming at Pearl. Entertainment Staff Winner: Pearl Over the years, we’ve consistently found the Playmakers at Pearl more approachable and interactive. Several times at Riviera Maya we’ve felt almost invisible, with very little engagement from the entertainment team, while the Playmakers at Pearl seem to make more of an effort to connect with guests throughout the day. Evening Bars and Lounges Winner: Pearl The expanded lounge area below the lobby has become one of our favorite places to gather. Comfortable seating and a relaxed atmosphere make it easy to spend an evening talking with friends. At Riviera Maya, seating can be limited, especially when areas are reserved for premium wine experiences. It can be frustrating seeing reserved sections sitting empty while guests struggle to find a place to sit. The Biggest Issue: Pricing This is where we believe both resorts are making a serious mistake. The pricing for 2027 has reached levels that many long-time guests simply cannot justify. What makes Desire special has always been the people. When prices rise too high, occupancy drops, fewer couples attend, the atmosphere changes, and the overall experience suffers. A fuller resort creates more energy, more opportunities to meet people, more social interaction, and ultimately a better experience for everyone. In our opinion, Desire has become too focused on maximizing room rates rather than maximizing the guest experience. The result is many loyal guests questioning whether the value still matches the price. Final Verdict We genuinely enjoy both resorts and will likely continue visiting both. However, if we could choose only one, we would pick Desire Pearl. Pearl feels more intimate, more social, easier to meet people, and simply more fun. The atmosphere reminds us more of what made us fall in love with Desire back in 2007. Riviera Maya certainly has advantages, especially its larger playroom and bigger property, but for the overall experience, Pearl remains our clear favorite. If Desire management is listening, our message is simple: focus less on raising prices and more on creating value. Fill the resorts, keep guests happy, and the success will follow.

We had an incredible experience, and the staff truly made our stay memorable! A special shoutout to Gabi, our pool server, who was absolutely amazing. Our drinks were never empty, and she went above and beyond to accommodate every request with a smile. Her attention to detail and outstanding service made our pool days even more enjoyable. Alexis was incredibly helpful from the moment we arrived. Despite being extremely busy, he assisted with our bags, made sure we had everything we needed to get settled, and handled everything seamlessly when it was time to leave. His professionalism and kindness were greatly appreciated. Adolfo, one of the Playmakers, is such a fantastic addition to the team. He took the time to get to know guests personally, checked in regularly to make sure everyone was having fun, and genuinely cared about creating a great experience for everyone. And finally, Cob at the hot tub bar delivered true five-star service. He remembered our drink preferences, was always friendly and engaging, and consistently went the extra mile with thoughtful touches—like opening our water bottles before handing them to us. It’s the little things that make a big difference, and Cob certainly made us feel valued. Thank you to all of these amazing team members for making our vacation so special. We can’t wait to return!

My wife and I had been to Desire RM a few times and wanted to try Pearl. We are glad we did. The trip straddled my birthday and our anniversary, so we went an extravagant route. We stayed in the Master Suite, which is a massive space larger than some apartments I've lived in and comes with butler service. Hector and Erick were our butlers and they did a solid job of helping organize some cool birthday events. Our housekeeper, Marle did a great job with the room, decorating it for my birthday and the anniversary and keeping it looking fresh. We wanted to get SCUBA certified while on this trip, which was easy to set up thanks to Adolfo, who also helped us book a trip to Chichen Itza. Another new experience for us was the sensual/erotic massage hosted by Taimi and Rebecca, which was an incredible sensory experience that set the tone for a lot of our time there. We also booked a relaxing massage. I got to work with Taimi again, who is probably one of the best therapists I've encountered so far. Food at Desire is excellent--especially if you're there for Te Amo México/Día de la Independencia de México and have the opportunity to enjoy local cuisine (some of the best food on earth). My only complaint is that I like a little more heat in chile-based sauces than the average resort guest. Luckily, I asked where the spicy salsas are and got introduced to xnipec, one of my new favorite condiments. We visited all the restaurants as well--Aphrodite for breakfast and lunch, where the first people we'd see in a day were usually Mayrani and Oliver, who often brightened our day with some humor and helped establish a positive vibe for the day. We'd often see them at Suki as well. At Pearl, we usually had Isaac or Miguel at our table, who are also super fun. Pearl is oriented around fine dining, but I appreciate it when things aren't too stuffy. As a former cook, I love joking around while enjoying delicious food instead of adhering to formality. One unforgettable dining experience was when we had our anniversary dinner for two in the wine cellar, a room adjacent to Pearl. Martinez, the sommelier, and Isaac hooked us up with a fantastic dining experience that included good conversation (I love learning about the staff), great jokes, and a pyrotechnic that set off the fire alarm. My face still hurts from smiling! The bartenders and playmakers did an excellent job of building a party atmosphere. When we went, some travel agency was doing a pretty lame "takeover" event featuring a DJ who would get mad and yell at people for not dancing next to his gear (or dancing in general), so we'd retreat to the disco during his outdoor set to practice salsa and bachata while Pedro hooked us up with cocktails and got the DJ to increase the Latin music in the mix. We found out that he enjoys bachata and liked to see a couple of tourists practicing before the takeover DJs came in to kill the vibe. Out at the Melange, we'd get cocktails from Luis and Cob, who are stellar at making great drinks while joking around and being all-around cool guys. We spent time at Saul's bar later in the hot tub, where it would be quiet enough at times to practice my very limited Spanish. All the playmakers work their butts off to engage with and keep guests involved in the party, but we interacted the most with Candace, Jessica, and Mat, who we learned is Argentinian after he saw us dance tango. The playmakers do such a good job of making sure people are on the dance floor and playing games at the pool. I'm sure I am leaving people out--there is a small army of hard-working people who make this resort special and I wish I could name them all. I would have posted this review earlier, but had to hit the ground running with work when I got home. The takeaway is that anyone who is thinking about visiting Pearl should give it a try. It has an intimate feel and excellent staff. Any issues we had with the visit (sargassum was RIPE) had nothing to do with the people working there or the resort itself.

We just got back. We have gone more than 30 trips across 10 years. Since the change in leadership, we've found too many changes to make this 'desirable'. While there are still some good things like the staff and some guests, there are many things less than fun any longer. There has been a total change in the playmakers short of Kia and communication and interaction lacks and even the sharing of nightly schedules never occurred. The new CEO now severely overcharges for the spa/massage parlor but he also now charges for the sauna/steam room area at $40 per couple per day. These areas came with the resort when it was bought many years ago and they are beyond written off the books. But the new CEO looks around every corner to see where he might earn a penny. I suspect he is raising income and cutting expenses to potentially sell the properties for a major profit. I'm not a member and never will be given the risk of this so called CEO making a bad decision. The creation of the outdoor area for nightly activities has even further divided the guests. When the nightly shows were inside the lobby or even better inside of the night club, people were much more engaged and much more fun was had. The only things that make the resort desirable is the staff including: Sophie, Giselle, Eddy, Manuela, Victor, Antonio, Alexis, Saul, Kia, Jairo. If we do decide to come back, it would be due to the staff that is doing their best to stay motivated under poor leadership. If you do go, please remember to take tips for the outstanding staff members that work beyond hard to make your day fun and enjoyable. One last thing to consider is that there is no longer any usable beach area. It is completely covered with sargassum and the beach sand is even further gone. The smell is unbearable and we never saw a soul out there cleaning the beach while we were there. We are planning to look for a clothing optional location for the future with a gorgeous beach focused on the pleasure of the customers. Apparently the new CEO is Rodrigo de la Peña. Might be worth writing him a letter but I would definitely not purchase a membership. Make him earn your money. Also, they are now selling 2 night packages from Temptation to RM to Pearl totaling 6 nights. This could be good or bad...interested to see what others think.

We're approaching 20 trips to Desire and have moved from RM to Pearl as 'home base'. We hope Pearl continues to have the boutique feel (like RM used to). 2 more trips planned this year. The staff remains undefeated. Just to mention a few names, Eddy at the Melange bar, Oliver and May in Aphrodite, butlers Hector and Irving, all the playmakers, and Desiree at the Spa- we love the entire staff. A few notes for management to consider- not criticisms, as we're a #1 fan. Just suggestions to help improve an already great product: 1. The 'bottle service' areas at Melange seem over the top. It would be great to open those two areas up for more seating so we don't have to stand around watching the shows. 2. The hydrotherapy services in the spa, at least for members, is still free. PLEASE keep it this way. We bought in and this was a free service. RM now charges everyone (maybe not higher up members) so we turned to Pearl and this remains a draw. We're in and out in 20 min (tops) and I'm sure other members are too. Great way to relax and rejuvenate, but not willing to pay for something that has been free for years. 3. While there this time, the shows had a bit more of a sexy, erotic edge. I know a member put a lot of time into making that happen and we all very much appreciated the effort. Won't go into details other than to say we don't mind seeing edgier (but still tasteful) acts. No complaints this trip, or any trip. Back in August for more fun.