The Best Riviera Maya Golf Courses Near Puerto Aventuras – Our Complete Guide
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The Riviera Maya is without a doubt one of the world’s most desirable tourist destinations. Visitors from around the globe flock to this idyllic stretch of coastline; all seeking the warm sun, white sandy beaches and, turquoise blue waters of the Mexican Caribbean.
But the Riviera Maya has much more to offer than beaches. It is also a golfer’s paradise with half a dozen world-class courses all within a short drive of Puerto Aventuras. The majority of these courses are anchored to luxurious all-inclusive resorts but they are all open to the public, which means you have the option to try one or all of these uniquely challenging courses during your stay.
There is no doubt that the pristinely manicured greens, the salty Caribbean breezes, and the warm hospitality of the resort staff will have you planning your next golf trip to the Riviera Maya in no time.
Here is our definitive guide to the best Riviera Maya golf courses near Puerto Aventuras.
Puerto Aventuras Golf & Tennis Club
This well-maintained nine-hole golf course is tucked away inside the gates of the Puerto Aventuras resort community. If you are staying here, this is going to be your closest most convenient option and can be a lot of fun.
The Puerto Aventuras Golf Course is an exciting and challenging 9-hole, par 36 golf course, designed by Thomas Lehman in 1991. It is regarded as one of the best-kept secrets in the Riviera Maya.
The course is covered by a smooth carpet of Bermuda grass, and enveloped by palm trees, bougainvillea, flowering plants, and lush tropical foliage. The course has just nine holes but you will play a round of eighteen meaning you have a second chance to get your “front nine” just right. A fun par 3 9-hole course has recently been completed to complement the existing offerings.
The Puerto Aventuras Golf Course is open daily from 7:30 AM until sunset. Golf carts are available but not mandatory. Amenities include a pro shop offering a selection of golf items, and club rentals. Golf instruction is also available. Stop by Hoyo 19 after gameplay for a cocktail and head over to The Divot for dinner, and dancing.
How to Get There: If you are staying in Puerto Aventuras, you can walk, bike, or take a golf cart to the club, which is located on Bahia Xcacel.
Hard Rock Golf Club Riviera Maya
The Hard Rock Golf Club (formerly Playacar Golf Club) is one of the most popular Playa del Carmen golf courses. It is located in the residential resort community of Playacar, on the southern end of Playa del Carmen and about 20 minutes north of Puerto Aventuras.
The architectural design of this golf course, created in 1994, has helped convert the Riviera Maya into one of the most popular golf destinations in all of Mexico. At Hard Rock Golf Club you can play in ultimate peace while getting treated like a rock star on this exciting 18-hole course.
This magnificent 7144-yard, par 72 golf course was designed and constructed under the supervision of the famous architect Robert Von Hagge and is surrounded by exuberant vegetation and dotted with beautiful manmade lakes and ponds. There is no shortage of wildlife and you are likely to come across wild deer, coatimundi, iguanas, and a plethora of native birds as you traverse the course.
The Hard Rock Golf Club Riviera Maya is considered by many one of the best golf courses in the Riviera Maya area and offers a first-class practice area with a driving range, a nice putting green with greenside bunker areas, and space enough for chipping and pitching. Amenities also include club and cart rentals, a driving range, a clubhouse with lockers and showers, golf instruction, spa, and restaurant.
How to get there: Car or taxi from Puerto Aventuras north on Carretera 307 to Playa del Carmen. The club is located inside Playacar, in the hotel zone on Paseo Xaman-Ha.
Gran Coyote Golf Riviera Maya
The Gran Coyote Golf Riviera Maya (formerly Grand Coral Riviera Maya) is situated just north of Playa del Carmen and just about 25 minutes from Puerto Aventuras. This environmentally-friendly, Par 71 course was designed by three-time major champion, Nick Price, and completed in 2011.
This challenging course weaves its way through the dense Mayan jungle and has been designed to keep environmental impact to a minimum.
Just moments away from some of the most pristine beachfront on the Riviera Maya, golfers can also enjoy stunning views during gameplay and look forward to the added challenge of some tricky winds coming in off the Caribbean!
Amenities at Gran Coyote include club and cart rentals, a driving range, a putting green, spa, golf lessons, beverage carts, clubhouse, and beach club.
How to get there: Car or taxi north to Km 294 on Federal Highway 307, on the northern end of Playa del Carmen. The club is located inside the gated Corosal resort complex.
El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Club
This 18-hole PGA championship course is the first of its kind in Latin America and caters to golfers of all skill levels. This stunning Par 72 course was designed by Australian golf legend Greg Norman and constructed in 2004. It is set on a pristine, natural reserve and was designed to highlight the abundance of tropical flora and vibrant mangroves, as well as having unrivaled views of the Caribbean Sea.
The course features a natural cenote along an open fairway and a series of canals that ferry resort guests to and fro throughout the resort in silent electric boats.
While this is one of the more expensive courses to play, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of all the Riviera Maya golf courses. Its idyllic seaside location, perfectly manicured greens, and unparalleled views have made this course a bucket list item for golfers from all over the world visiting the Riviera Maya.
If you time your visit right, you can watch some of the top golfers in the world compete at the annual LIV Golf Tournament.
Amenities at El Camaleón include a driving range with unlimited balls, a putting green, food & beverage carts, pro shop, the Jim McLean Golf School, Golfer Development clinics and GPS-enabled carts. If you are looking to beat the heat, twilight tee times are available. Your cart and use of the clubhouse with its impressive restaurants is included in the green fees.
How to get there: Car or taxi from Puerto Aventuras, north on Carretera 307 to kilometer 298. El Cameleón is located inside the Mayakoba resort property.
Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club
Designed by P.B. Dye, this top-rated course is located just south of Cancun between Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen. Considered one of Dye’s toughest designs, the surprisingly hilly terrain, unusual for this region, stands out from its surrounding landscapes. Constructed in 2005, this Par 72 masterpiece was ranked as one of the top 16 Caribbean & Mexican golf courses in 2012.
Slicing through the dense jungle, the narrow fairways, deep sand bunkers, and cleverly domed greens made this 18-hole competition course the perfect place to host the World Amateur Team Championships in 2016.
Amenities at Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club include club and cart rentals, and unlimited food and beverage. There is also a pro shop, driving range, and putting green.
How to get there: Travel north via car or taxi on Carretera 307 to kilometer marker 309. The course is located on the grounds of the Iberostar Playa Paraiso resort property.
The Nicklaus Par Three Experience at Vidanta Riviera Maya
Located about 35 minutes north of Puerto Aventuras, between Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos, The Nicklaus Par Three Experience at Vidanta Riviera Maya (formerly El Manglar Golf Club) is a challenging Par 54 technical masterpiece designed by Jack Nicklaus and constructed in 2003.
Recalling classic course designs from half a century ago, the course will ask you to use every club in your bag as you make your way through each of the 12 par-3 holes. As you play through, you can´t help but admire the impressive landscaping work along this executive course.
Just one of the many challenges this course brings can be found on the 17th hole, studded with deep bunkers on either side of the green and one in the center! With a whopping 280-yard play on Hole 13 and plenty of tricky shots over water, you will soon rethink your ideas of what a Par 3 course can be.
At the end of your round, be sure to stop in for a drink and lunch at the “Green Break”. Amenities at The Nicklaus Par Three Experience include a driving range, putting green, showers, and a restaurant.
How to get there: Car or taxi from Puerto Aventuras north to kilometer 48 on Carretera 307. The course is located inside the Vidanta Resort property
PGA Riviera Maya Golf Club at Tulum Country Club
Designed by renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones II, the PGA Riviera Maya (formerly Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Golf Club) features a total of 27 challenging holes integrated into 220 acres of the Mayan jungle, dotted with natural lakes and cenotes. An official partner of the PGA of America, the club is located inside the Tulum Country Club resort complex, (formerly Bahia Principe) about 20 minutes south of Puerto Aventuras. This is the PGA’s first facility partnership in Mexico.
In 2010, the Par 72 course was inaugurated with 18 holes cut deep into a limestone quarry so that the fairways emerged from the natural contours of tropical jungle and lush mangroves. Thanks to their environmental awareness and the use of state-of-the-art technology, the architects of the design team managed to seamlessly integrate the natural wonders of the Riviera Maya into the layout of the course, creating this impressive piece of landscape design. Later, a challenging 9-hole, Par 3 course was added to provide more options for guests of the resort of all ages and levels of play.
This golf club, which includes a driving range to accommodate 50 players, putting greens, chipping greens, pro shop, and world-class golf instruction was recently acknowledged by Golf Digest magazine to be among the best resorts in Mexico and the Americas. It is certainly one of the best Riviera Maya golf courses near Puerto Aventuras.
How to get there: Car or taxi south on Federal Highway 307 to Km. 250. The PGA Riviera Maya Golf Club is located inside the Tulum Country Club resort property. (Formerly Bahia Principe)
Which is your favorite Riviera Maya Golf Course?
Golf has become one of the most sought-after tourism experiences for people visiting this region. Whether you are planning a golf vacation or you just want to get in a round of golf during your stay, as you can see, there are some great Riviera Maya golf courses to choose from. You are certain to find a golf course that is challenging and fun.
If you are a golfer living here on the Riviera Maya, please, leave a note in the comments with any recommendations for fellow golfers who may be looking for the best golf courses near Puerto Aventuras. We would like to know your favorites!
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I have only ever played golf once, and although I had fun, I haven’t had the opportunity to do it again. All of the places mentioned look fantastic.
I haven’t played golf yet. And it’s surprising that I am amazed by the places where golf can be played. I realized how calming it would be because of these green and relaxing places.