Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary here. Everything at this resort was impressive. The views are stunning, the food was delicious, and the staff are incredibly warm and welcoming. Our butlers Erick and Edgar were amazing! They checked on us daily, offered help with anything we needed, and provided many details throughout our stay, from leaving us special treats, to decorating our room with an anniversary theme on our last night, and working out a golf cart mixup. Everything was handled with a caring attitude and class. You truly feel special here! The beach is gorgeous with crystal clear blue water and no sargassum, and we had no problem finding chairs at the beach or pool. We loved being able to leave the resort and explore the island, there’s so many things to see. We would love to return one day!

We visited this resort for a week at the end of March, two years after visiting Impression Moxche. This resort has its perks, the biggest of which was the outstanding staff. I was blown away by how sweet, personable, and accommodating everyone was throughout the resort. At the main pool on the lobby level, Gil went out of his way every time we visited to try to find us a comfortable place to spend the day. On the last day of our trip the morning was rainy, and as soon as it let up we went down to the pool because we wanted to get in as much time as possible before we had to leave. Gil bent over backwards to dry off a day bed (including the soaked awning on top of the day bed) as soon as we arrived. He squeegeed and mopped and soaked up every ounce of moisture he possibly could, and then came back with fresh towels every so often to dry off the drips until the sun came out. He also made the time to share his stories with us and told us about his holiday traditions and his family. He was just so sweet and terrific. At the Sharks bar at the lobby pool, Emilio also went above and beyond to ensure we had a terrific trip. I’m not sure we had an empty glass at any point while we were in that area the full week. Even before the bar was open, Emilio was making the rounds with waters and refreshers each morning. Even when I said I didn’t want anything but my husband ordered a drink, Emilio made sure to include a sparkling water or a fun drink for me. He was great to talk to and so sweet every time we interacted. He gave me a hug on our last day at the resort before he left for the night, and honestly I could have cried. He was so incredibly lovely and thoughtful. Several days during our stay, Leslie was on property with her falcon Bosch to manage the pigeon and seagull populations throughout the resort (to scare them away, not hurt them). She was without question a highlight of the trip. She was so bubbly, friendly, approachable, knowledgeable, funny, patient, etc. Shoutout to Gil for introducing us in the first instance! We went to eat Italian for the first time halfway through our week at the resort, and after we had one night at the restaurant with Cesar as our waiter, we went back every other night of our stay to eat more terrific food and to hang out with Cesar. He patiently gave my husband hilarious and impromptu Spanish lessons after my dear, well-intentioned spouse accidentally called me his grandmother when trying to converse in Spanish (based on his decades-old high school and Duolingo knowledge). Cesar also was the only waiter at the resort who paced out our meals to make them truly feel like luxury dining experiences. He helped us navigate dietary restrictions and preferences like a pro and introduced us to a few new-to-us drinks and dishes. Every suggestion was incredible, and we had a blast spending our evenings with him. Our butler arrangement throughout the week was a bit hectic and unpredictable, but all three of our butlers—Zelma, David, and Raffa—were lovely and kind. They were responsive and helpful when we needed assistance, and David affirmatively sought us out a few times to check in and shoot the breeze. David was even kind enough to share stories and photos of his family (when we shared we were missing ours) and to talk with us under the stars one evening when we were on the rooftop to take it all in. We didn’t need much assistance while we were on property, but the team was warm and inviting each time we saw them and made us feel endlessly welcome. Beyond the outstanding staff, the rest of our stay was a mixed bag. We tried to do a few “group” activities, but when we went for the “group snorkeling experience” the beach sports team gave us fins and said best of luck. They gave us no instructions on where to go or what we might see. They also failed to mention that the ocean conditions were rough that day and there was a red flag/no swimming alert posted further down the beach from where they told us to enter. We gave up after ten frustrating minutes of choppy surf and cloudy water. We also did the sunset catamaran sailing, though, and it was absolutely stunning. We had Marcy, an opera singer, onboard with us who was great. She even threw in some Little Mermaid for fun and giggles (it felt magical in the moment). Frankie, Jenner, and the entire service and sailing teams were terrific hosts with excellent snacks and the perfect amount of attention throughout the experience. They even made me a special tray of vegetarian bites, all of which were terrific. I could never find a side-by-side of Impression Moxche and Impression Isla when we were booking this trip, so I’m providing below my thoughts on how the resorts compared to one another. Compared to Moxche’s actual footprint and layout, Isla was small and cramped. On multiple occasions, there was not room for everyone to be comfortable at the pools. There was not enough shade, not enough chairs/beds, not enough dry land. I longed for the days of being able to go to the rooftop pool and grab a bed with ease every morning at Moxche. The quality of the food was better at Isla. The variety of the food was better at Moxche. I’m a big breakfast person and basically gave up on trying to eat breakfast at Isla after the first few days because the one restaurant Isla had open for breakfast offered a pretty limited menu and was not great. Room service was pretty unimpressive at both resorts for all three meals, but at least Moxche had a ton of other options (restaurants, buffets) at every meal. Teodoro at Moxche was amazing, and there is nothing even close to that experience at Isla. That said, the Italian food at Isla absolutely blew me away. The chef for that restaurant is actually from Italy, and the cacio we ate there was as good as what we ate in Italy a few years ago. The spa was far better at Moxche. At Isla we experienced very tight quarters to the point it felt stressful and uncomfortable to be in there. It smelled bad, there were no towels in the locker rooms, and I had one of the most expensive and most terrible massages of my life. To be fair, my husband enjoyed his massage but his therapist coughed on him for the entire couples’ experience so win some/lose some. I don’t remember any huge differences in the fitness centers. Both were clean and well-kept, and the equipment was comparable. We’re not big on nightlife, but Isla did have fun-sounding offerings every single night of our stay. We slept better at Isla than we did Moxche because the loud activities like bands and dancing ended earlier in the evening at Isla, which was great for us. There is no entertainment team at Isla, so no fun card games by the pool or special event dinners. This was a breakeven for us. I still think often of the terrific team at Moxche who added a ton of light and levity to our experience there. That said, we were happy to entertain ourselves and have a more laidback week at Isla, too. Isla did not seem to be quite as committed to special celebrations as Moxche. Everyone asked if we were celebrating anything when we checked in for dinners, but even when we told them we were both celebrating birthdays the response was kind of lackadaisical. Meanwhile when we told the team at Moxche we were celebrating our anniversary, they bent over backwards to make our day above and beyond outstanding. Isla was not as committed to dining dress codes as Moxche was. Take it or leave it either way, but I will say it was a bit off-putting to get all dressed up for dinner only to be seated next to two women in bikini tops and see-through sarongs one evening. The rooms were better at Moxche. At Isla we did an oceanfront signature suite with a Mayan tub, and at Moxche we did an ocean view room with a regular balcony tub. At Moxche we could control the blinds from our bedside whereas at Isla we had to go to the balcony door to get to the controls. At Moxche there were hooks around the room to hang suits and towels whereas at Isla there were two hooks in the entire suite. At Moxche the balcony tub was freshwater and you could control the temperature of water with which you filled it whereas at Isla the balcony tub was chemical and the temperature was variable depending on ???. At one point I put my feet in the tub at Isla in the early evening and experienced a burning sensation. The Moxche team customized what we wanted in our wet bar, which was nice. I believe we filled out a survey prior to our arrival to express preferences. The Isla experience was less customizable, but I’m sure we could have asked our butlers to restock specific items (like sparkling water) had we been so inclined. The beach was far better at Isla—no seaweed, silky soft sand, plenty of space to sit at the ocean. That said, we were told the beach slide at Isla normally is not operational because the ocean is too shallow where the slide deposits you for it to actually work safely. I also missed the beachfront restaurant option at Moxche—there was something special about eating breakfast with your toes in the sand there. The surrounding area was totally different between the two resorts. Playa del Carmen is a lively scene set in what felt like a jungle. Isla Mujeres is a very small island where you could almost always see the sea in all directions. We rented a golf cart for a day while we were on the island. The resort clearly has updated or gotten a new partnership with golf carts since the reviews mentioning rundown carts. That golf cart was arguably nicer than my car—CarPlay, rearview cameras, speakers, etc. It was affordable and easy to book. I thought that the logistics of getting to the island would be a point in favor of Moxche, but the Isla team made the transfer so easy that it turned out to be a nonissue. We booked our Isla trip on 8 days’ notice, and Cynthia the concierge made email introductions to the airport transfer team and made arrangements for our catamaran sailings to and from the island almost immediately. The team easily accommodated multiple flight delays and made the experience completely stress-free. We were very comfortable and well cared-for throughout the journey both to and from the island. All in, if I had to choose between this resort and Moxche, I’d go back to Moxche. But I would greatly miss Leslie, Gil, Emilio, Cesar, David, Zelma, Raffa, and others the whole vacation.

Impression Isla Mujeres is a beautiful adults-only all-inclusive resort on the southern tip of Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Its exclusive cliffside location offers stunning turquoise views and a peaceful vibe. The food is excellent for an all-inclusive well-presented across multiple restaurants (Italian, Mexican and Wildfire. These are the ones we tried). Service is outstanding and personal 10/10. Special thanks to servers Brenda Ruby, Maria, and Miguel, who were fantastic, and pool/beach attendants Eduardo and Jonathan. Our Butler David was great, always attentive. The Catamaran captain and crew also made the exclusive transfer a highlight. The infinity pools, pristine beach, and luxury amenities are perfect for relaxation. We would definitely go back! Highly recommended.

We had a truly fantastic stay at Impression Isla Mujeres—everything from start to finish exceeded our expectations. The location is absolutely stunning, with breathtaking views that make every moment feel special. What truly sets this place apart, though, is the people. Everyone we encountered was warm, welcoming, and genuinely attentive, creating an atmosphere that feels both luxurious and personal. A special mention to our butlers, Ritik & Cinthia, who took exceptional care of us throughout our stay. From organizing our daily activities to checking in on us regularly, their thoughtful attention made us feel completely relaxed and well looked after.

If you are looking for the absolute pinnacle of luxury in the Mexican Caribbean, look no further. We recently celebrated a 50th birthday at Impression Isla Mujeres, and the experience wasn't just a vacation; it was a masterclass in hospitality. From the moment we arrived via the resort's private catamaran, we realized we’ve stepped into a different world. The hotel is perched on the southern end of the island, offering a unique vantage point that most resorts in Cancun simply cannot match. Every corner of the property is designed to frame the ocean. Whether it was poolside cocktails or 24-hour in-suite dining, the turnaround time was impressively quick. Celebrating a 50th birthday is a big deal, and the team at Impression treated it as such. They went above and beyond to make the occasion feel monumental: We returned to a suite transformed with elegant, thoughtful touches. The culinary team curated a celebration dinner at the Steak House that was easily the highlight of our trip, superb wine pairings and food recommendations. If you want to feel truly celebrated and completely relaxed, this is the place. It is sophisticated, intimate, and undeniably stunning.