Sandos Playacar Beach Resort Map (Most Up-To-Date)
Sandos Playacar is a long, rectangular beachfront resort inside Playacar Phase 2, running from the Riviera family lobby zone at the back to the Gran Plaza and wide beach at the front. Families cluster around the Riviera pool and Haciendas, while adults gravitate to the Select Club oceanfront enclave and adults-only beach, all linked by walkable paths and internal golf cart shuttles.
| Area / Zone | Best For | Key Tip | Watch Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riviera Section & Lobby | Families wanting big pools and easy buffet access | Choose Riviera Family Junior Suites to sleep five without booking two rooms | Farthest from the beach, walks to the ocean typically take around 10 to 15 minutes |
| Hacienda Section Villas | Guests wanting quiet, garden style stays | Request hacienda rooms facing internal courtyards for the calmest ambience | Three story buildings often lack elevators, ground floor is important for mobility limits |
| Gran Plaza & Main Pool | Nightlife, shows, and high energy pool days | Treat the plaza as the evening hub for restaurants, bars, and entertainment | Loud shows and music can run late, nearby rooms experience higher noise levels |
| Beachfront & Main Beach Zone | Classic Caribbean beach days and ocean swimming | Set up near the water park if you have younger kids using splash features | Most crowded part of the resort during midday, chair saving starts early in high season |
| Select Club Adults Only (Beachfront) | Adults wanting quieter lounging close to the ocean | Book Select Club oceanfront for the only true sea views on property | Adults only areas are fragmented, some Select rooms sit farther back near tennis courts |
| Sports, Mini Golf & Teen Club Area | Active guests and families with older kids | Use this mid property belt as a daytime break from sun and surf | Can feel like a transition strip rather than a scenic relaxation zone |
2025 Sandos Playacar Beach Resort Map + Printable PDF (Official 2024 Edition)
The current layout at Sandos Playacar still follows a clear back to front axis, with the main lobby and Riviera Family section by the inland gate, hacienda style villas in the central gardens, and the Gran Plaza, main pool, and Select Club adults-only facilities concentrated at the beachfront. Internal shuttles and paved paths maintain easy circulation, so the longitudinal design continues to shape how guests move, dine, and choose rooms.
2025 Sandos Playacar Beach Resort Map Guide
Use the map by first locating yourself along the inland to ocean corridor: Riviera lobby and family suites at the rear, quieter hacienda gardens in the middle, and the Gran Plaza, party pool, and wide beach at the front. Then layer in your movement style, walking or carts, and match zones to trip type, from family friendly Riviera and splash park areas to Select Club adults-only rooms, pools, and beach sections.
What is the overall layout of Sandos Playacar beach resort?
Sandos Playacar runs in a straight line from the inland Riviera family lobby and pool zone through hacienda gardens to the Gran Plaza and wide beachfront.
The resort footprint forms a long rectangle perpendicular to the sea. The Riviera Section sits at the inland end, housing the main lobby, Riviera Family Junior Suites, a large family pool, and a dedicated buffet. The central stretch holds the Hacienda villas, which cluster around smaller semi private pools in dense gardens and act as a quiet buffer zone.
Closest to the water, the Gran Plaza and beachfront zone anchor entertainment and dining. The main party pool, Festival Buffet, many specialty restaurants, theater style shows, and the broad Playacar beach are concentrated here. The Select Club adults only rooms, pool, clubhouse, and adults only beach pocket are also front loaded in this ocean side sector, creating parallel family and adults experiences within the same linear layout.
Where are the restaurants and beach bars located at Sandos Playacar?
Most restaurants cluster around the Gran Plaza and beachfront, with buffets at Riviera and beach zones and bars at pools, plaza, and along the sand.
Most dining and bar venues sit along the central spine near the plaza and beach, plus a backup cluster in the Riviera zone.
- Gran Plaza area holds most specialty restaurants, including Italian, Brazilian, Argentine steakhouse, Asian, and gourmet Mexican around the open air square.
- Festival Grand Buffet sits just off the main pool and beach, acting as the primary high volume buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Blue Moon and nearby oceanfront snack spots line the beachfront, serving snacks by day and quieter or premium dinners at night.
- Chayita and other quick service grills sit between pool deck and sand, ideal for tacos and fast bites in swimwear.
- Riviera Grand Buffet and the lobby bar cluster beside the Riviera pool and lobby, serving guests staying at the back of the property.
- Swim up bars are built into the main pool, Riviera pool, and Select Club adults only pool, plus plaza bars serving evening shows.
How do guests get around Sandos Playacar, and is it walkable without carts?
Guests move along paved paths and optional golf cart shuttles; most find it walkable, with 10 to 15 minutes from Riviera to beach.
The resort uses a straight inland to ocean path system. Paved walkways and the signed Camino de la Salud route link the Riviera lobby and pool, central Hacienda villas, Gran Plaza, and beachfront. From the far Riviera buildings to the shoreline, an average adult usually walks about 10 to 15 minutes at an easy pace, so many guests rely on walking for daily movement rather than waiting for carts.
To reduce fatigue, extended golf cart trams run a loop from the Riviera Lobby through mid property stops to the Gran Plaza and beach zone, with higher frequency around breakfast and dinner rush. A bike station near the entrance provides another option, since guests can ride along internal paths and the Playacar cycle track for faster trips, especially between the back section and the oceanfront.
Where is Sandos Playacar within the Playacar Phase 2 area and nearby attractions?
Sandos Playacar sits at the far southern end of Playacar Phase 2, beside Iberostar Tucan, with wide beach and gated access to Playa del Carmen.
Sandos occupies the last resort lot on the Playacar Phase 2 hotel strip, at the end of Paseo Xaman Ha where the road terminates.
- North side neighbor is the Iberostar Tucan and Quetzal complex, sharing the same continuous beachfront.
- Behind the resort, the Playacar Phase 2 neighborhood continues with golf course fairways tied to Hard Rock Golf Club.
- The main Playacar security gate and small shopping plaza sit much closer to town, several kilometers north of Sandos.
- Playa del Carmen’s ferry terminal and the start of Fifth Avenue lie to the north, reached by taxi in roughly 7 to 12 minutes.
- Walking or cycling, guests exit through the gate area and follow Paseo Xaman Ha toward town for shops, bars, and restaurants.
How far is Sandos Playacar from Fifth Avenue in Playa del Carmen by foot?
Walking from Sandos Playacar to the start of Fifth Avenue is about 3.8 km, usually 40 to 50 minutes each way at an easy pace.
From the main lobby at Sandos Playacar to the southern entrance of Fifth Avenue near the ferry terminal, the distance is roughly 3.8 kilometers or about 2.3 miles. Most guests use the cobblestone Paseo Xaman Ha route inside Playacar, which is shaded in sections, or walk along the beach, which can feel slower because of the sand underfoot.
At a relaxed vacation pace, the one way walk typically takes 40 to 50 minutes. Early morning or evening is most comfortable in the Caribbean climate, since midday heat and humidity can make the walk feel strenuous. For guests who prefer to save energy for town, taxis cover the same distance in roughly 7 to 12 minutes, but the walking figures above are the realistic planning numbers.
Which room sections at Sandos Playacar offer the best views by location?
For true ocean views choose Select Club Oceanfront; Riviera and Hacienda sections mainly face gardens, pools, or jungle, not the sea.
View quality depends on whether you want ocean, pool, or lush gardens rather than just higher floors.
- Select Club Oceanfront rooms sit closest to the sand and are the only units with direct, unobstructed Caribbean Sea views.
- Riviera Section rooms overlook the large family pool or surrounding jungle, giving active pool or green perimeter views but no ocean.
- Hacienda Section villas frame quiet semi private pools and tropical gardens, ideal for serene, leafy outlooks instead of water vistas.
- Select Club Superior rooms near the tennis and Riviera interface see gardens or jungle edges, trading ocean views for a more secluded feel.
Where are the adults-only areas and pools, including the Select Club section, at Sandos Playacar?
Adults only zones cluster near the beachfront, with Select Club rooms, pool, clubhouse, and a roped off beach plus some back section blocks.
Most adults only infrastructure is branded as Select Club and spread between beachfront and a rear cluster.
- Select Club Oceanfront rooms sit beside the Gran Plaza at the very front, giving adults only accommodations closest to the sand and main hub.
- Select Club Superior rooms are farther back near the tennis courts and Riviera interface, creating quieter adults only lodging away from nightly shows.
- The Select Club adults only pool is near the beach but separated from the main party pool, with a dedicated swim up bar and more relaxed music.
- The Select Club beachfront clubhouse is just off the sand, offering air conditioned seating, premium drinks, and concierge style service for adults.
- A roped off adults only beach section lies in front of the Select Club area, with upgraded loungers and waiter service restricted to Select guests.
How does Sandos Playacar’s layout and size compare to Iberostar Tucan and Sandos Caracol?
Sandos Playacar is the largest and linear, Iberostar Tucan feels compact in jungle, and Sandos Caracol spreads through mangroves with park focus.
| Resort | Layout and size on map | Beach and water focus | Best fit profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandos Playacar | Long, deep rectangle, largest and most sprawling along a single inland to sea axis | Widest Playacar beach, big party pool, classic swimmable shoreline | Guests prioritizing sand, space, and a big resort feel |
| Iberostar Tucan | More compact footprint wrapped around dense central jungle corridors | Nice but narrower beach, nature paths dominate internal movement | Travelers wanting immersive jungle vibe and shorter internal walks |
| Sandos Caracol | Spreads through mangroves with winding paths and dispersed buildings | Rocky, narrow beach but huge water park and on site cenotes | Adventure families trading easy ocean entry for slides and eco feel |
Sandos Playacar wins on beach width and overall scale, Iberostar Tucan wins on compactness and jungle immersion, while Sandos Caracol shifts emphasis from open beach to slides, cenotes, and eco style pathways.
How does Sandos Playacar’s beach quality and width compare to other resorts in Playacar?
Sandos Playacar sits on one of the widest, most consistently sandy stretches in Playacar, usually beating mid zone resorts for space and feel.
| Playacar segment / resort type | Beach width and space | Sand and water entry | Typical experience vs Sandos Playacar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandos Playacar (south end) | Among the widest in the zone, deep towel and walking space | Soft sand, easy walk in, classic postcard shoreline | Feels more open and uncrowded, even at high occupancy |
| Iberostar Tucan / central south | Wide but generally a bit narrower than Sandos | Good entry, sometimes more wave and sargassum focus | Still strong, but can feel tighter in busy weeks |
| Central Playacar resorts | Noticeably narrower in spots, more erosion pressure | Usually sandy, with occasional exposed sections | Loungers and walkers share a smaller strip of sand |
| Northern Playacar / near town | Variable width, shaped by breakwaters and erosion work | Mixed, with some rockier or engineered areas | Convenience to town increases, but “big beach” feel drops |
Overall, Sandos benefits from its end of line position, keeping a broad, continuous beach where crowding and erosion are usually less apparent than at many mid corridor Playacar properties.
Where are Sandos Hotels & Resorts properties located across Mexico on a map?
Sandos properties cluster on Mexico’s Caribbean coast at Cancun and Playa del Carmen, plus one on the Pacific side at Cabo San Lucas.
Sandos in Mexico lines up along two coasts, with three on the Caribbean and one on the Pacific.
- Sandos Playacar sits in Playacar Phase 2, at the far southern end of Playa del Carmen’s resort strip on the Riviera Maya coast.
- Sandos Caracol lies just north of Playa del Carmen, near the Grand Coral area, in a jungle and mangrove setting along the same Caribbean shoreline.
- Sandos Cancun stands in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, along the barrier island facing the Caribbean Sea, positioned between other high rise beachfront resorts.
- Sandos Finisterra occupies a hillside and cliffside site at Cabo San Lucas, overlooking the marina and Pacific side beaches on the Baja California Sur peninsula.
What is the floor plan and layout of the Riviera Family Junior Suite at Sandos Playacar?
Riviera Family Junior Suites are 559 sq ft open plan units with king bed, triple bunk zone, sliding divider, and a large family bathroom.
The Riviera Family Junior Suite uses a single large room divided into zones rather than separate bedrooms. One side holds the parental zone with a king bed, nightstands, and storage, while the opposite side holds the children’s zone with a bunk arrangement that sleeps three children. A sliding partition or partial divider creates visual separation between these two areas but not full acoustic privacy.
Near the entrance, the bathroom zone groups a hydromassage tub, separate walk in shower, and double vanities, designed so a family of five can handle routines without needing a second room.
On a map, where are the family-friendly areas like kids’ clubs and splash zones at Sandos Playacar?
Kids club sits mid resort between Riviera and Haciendas, while splash zones and teen spaces cluster near the main pool and Gran Plaza.
Family amenities are strung along the central spine so kids can move between rooms, pools, and activities without long transfers.
- Kids Club sits roughly mid property, between the Riviera section and Hacienda villas, in a fenced, supervised compound with playground areas.
- The main splash park and shallow water features lie beside the main beachfront pool, close to the ocean but on the pool deck side.
- Teen Club is near the Gran Plaza, so older kids can access video games and evening hangouts steps from shows and nighttime activity.
- Mini golf is positioned near the sports courts in the central belt, acting as a midway option between back Riviera rooms and the beach.
What wheelchair-accessible routes, ramps, and step-free areas exist around Sandos Playacar resort?
Wheelchair users follow paved paths from Riviera to Gran Plaza, using ramps and elevators, but beach access stops at the edge of the sand.
Most movement uses a continuous, step free network of paved walkways from the Riviera Lobby through the Hacienda gardens to the Gran Plaza and pool deck.
- Ramps link main level changes such as lobby to paths and paths to restaurants and plaza areas.
- Riviera buildings generally include elevators, so wheelchair users often prefer this section for upper floor rooms.
- Hacienda villa buildings are mostly stair access only, so ground floor is essential for mobility limits.
- The Gran Plaza and surrounding restaurant ring are essentially flat and accessible for evening shows.
- Paths end where the sand begins; beach wheelchairs may be requested from staff, but numbers are limited.
Where are the best photo spots around Sandos Playacar according to the property map?
Top photo spots include the beach gazebo, SANDOS letters, main pool bridge, and Gran Plaza at night near the beachfront zone.
These landmarks line up along the main inland to ocean axis, mostly near the beach and Gran Plaza.
- Beach Gazebo sits directly on the sand in the beachfront wedding area, perfect for sunrise ocean shots.
- SANDOS letters are usually placed in manicured gardens close to the beach and central path intersection.
- Main pool bridge crosses the beachfront lagoon pool, giving a framed view of pool, palms, and sea behind.
- Gran Plaza at night, just inland from the main pool, glows with show lighting and crowds for evening photos.
Which areas of Sandos Playacar are typically the quietest based on their location on the map?
The quietest spots are the Hacienda garden courtyards, Riviera rooms away from pools, and Select Club blocks set back from the Gran Plaza.
Quiet zones map to sections furthest from nightly shows, speakers, and main foot traffic.
- Hacienda garden courtyards sit in the central zone, shielded by villa buildings and vegetation from both Riviera and beach noise.
- Hacienda pool facing rooms in non party buildings usually stay calm, especially at night once families return inside.
- Riviera rooms on the outer jungle facing sides avoid evening sound from the Gran Plaza and main pool area.
- Select Club Superior rooms near the tennis and Riviera interface are quieter than the oceanfront Select rooms beside the plaza.
Archive Sandos Playacar Beach Resort Maps
Below are all official map versions released for Sandos Playacar Beach Resort between 2024 and 2015.
2024 Sandos Playacar Beach Resort Map
2020 Sandos Playacar Beach Resort Map
2015 Sandos Playacar Beach Resort Map
