Overwater Bungalows with Butler Service in Mexico (2025)

Mexico’s Overwater Bungalows: A Choice of Four

Mexico is enormously popular with tourists, but only four of its many resorts offer overwater bungalows. These are:

Where can I find them?

Interestingly, three of these resorts are located just a couple of miles apart in the upmarket town of Playa del Carmen, situated between Tulum and Cancun. Cancun offers numerous flights from most major U.S. cities.

The fourth, Akalki Hotel, is much more off the beaten track, located in the far south of Riviera Maya near Chetumal and the border with Belize.

Are they luxury resorts?

The three resorts in Playa del Carmen are 5-star luxury properties—among the very best in Mexico. Akalki is a more rustic, low-key resort, offering a simpler, though still comfortable, experience.

Are the overwater bungalows all-inclusive?

Only Palafitos El Dorado offers all-inclusive packages.

Are they adults only?

Palafitos El Dorado is exclusively adults-only. Rosewood Mayakoba is family-friendly overall, but its overwater bungalows are adults-only. Both Banyan Tree Mayakoba and Akalki Hotel welcome families throughout the resort and in their overwater bungalows.

What are the prices like?

The Playa del Carmen resorts are super-luxury, with prices to match—expect to pay at least $1,200 USD per night for an overwater bungalow.

Akalki offers a more modest, affordable option, usually costing less than half of that.

Our favorites — which did we like the most?

Choosing between the three 5-star resorts is difficult, but we preferred the Palafitos bungalows at El Dorado for their traditional Polynesian vibe.

We also appreciated the sleek modernity of Rosewood Mayakoba and Banyan Tree Mayakoba; some may prefer them more. Overall, Rosewood Mayakoba is our top pick of the three resorts.

We liked Akalki for its back-to-nature atmosphere and affordability, though it lacks the wow factor and is somewhat inconveniently located.