Sunset Marina Resort & Yacht Club

Mediterranean-style architecture is the hallmark of this attractive hotel. Clean white buildings are set close together and have circular staircases, arched doorways, and cut-out nooks in the walls. The grounds have winding pathways and small gardens with waterfalls, palm trees, and vines. The entrance to the property is bland, and has none of the charm of the rest of the hotel. The lobby is plain as well, with a long reception desk, multiple seating areas, and a bar. Rooms are located on the right side of the property; the main pool, marina, waterfront, and restaurants are outside the lobby to the left. The pool is the most lively area: an MC riles up the crowd, music plays during the day, and there's a stage for shows. The long waterfront is much more quiet and peaceful. The lagoon is lined with sets of lounge chairs and there is a lawn with cabanas and a hammock area. 

Most guests are tourists, and the hotel is popular with a wide variety of travelers, namely families, retired folks, young groups of friends, and couples. Note that Sunset Marina Resort is a time-share property and there are time-share presentations in the lobby, but the sales pitches aren't too pushy. 

Sunset Marina Resort is located at the northern part of Cancun's Hotel Zone, a five- to 10-minute drive from central restaurants, shops, and attractions. Taxis are readily available and plenty of buses run up and down the Hotel Zone. It's a 13-minute drive to downtown Cancun, a 23-minute drive to Cancun International Airport, and about 40 minutes to Puerto Morelos, with quiet beaches and great snorkeling spots. Playa del Carmen, a laid-back yet bustling town with great shopping and a well-heeled crowd, is an hour from the hotel, while the beach and ruins at Tulum take around an hour and a half to reach. It's just over two hours to the ruins at Coba, while Chichen Itza -- the most popular archaeological site in the Yucatan -- is a two-and-a-half-hour drive away. 

The hotel’s 177 rooms have a light, clean, vaguely Mediterranean aesthetic with gray tile floors, white walls and closets, and orange-brown accents. In keeping with the decor theme found in other common areas, the rooms have arched nooks in the walls and simple, beach-inspired paintings. Beds have cream-colored bedding with tan bed runners and light-wood headboards. Past guests have complained that the beds are hard and uncomfortable.The bathrooms have orange diamond-shaped tiles around the mirrors, gray vanities, house plants, and separate rooms for the walk-in showers and toilets. 

The studio-style Executive Suites are the lowest category of rooms and can sleep up to four people, with one king bed and a sleeper sofa in each. One-Bedroom Suites have open-plan living rooms and most have whirlpool tubs. They also come with dining tables for four and full kitchens with stoves, appliances, and crockery. However, the kitchens are dated and have old white cabinets, laminate countertops, and light-wood trim. Two-Bedroom Suites are also available, and consist of interconnected Executive and One-Bedroom Suites.

The Sunset offers a lot of things to do for guests of all ages, including a kids' club and children's activities during the day. Activities for adults include yoga, aerobics, cooking lessons, dance classes, trivia, bicycle tours, Mexican handicraft workshops, and sailing lessons.

The Sunset’s large, two-tier pool sees a lot of guests throughout the day and has plenty of features, including a volleyball net and a waterfall that flows from the top level. There's also a walkway bridge and a swim-up bar, but not a lot of landscaping around the pool -- it’s a mostly open space with a lot of concrete. There are three areas with lounge chairs around the pool, although these get taken up early in the morning in high season. An MC livens up the area during the day and there is often music playing, making the pool fun but not particularly relaxing.

Sunset Marina Resort faces Nichupte Lagoon, which is not suitable for swimming because of the presence of crocodiles (although note that the area is safe and the crocodile population is well-fed and controlled). The property’s waterfront area is long and scenic, with a large lawn by the marina with plenty of cabana beds. There is also a cabana/lounge area facing the water, along with a waterfront deck. Alternatively, guests who want to swim in the sea can take a free shuttle bus or water taxi to the resort's sister property, Sunset Royal Resort, which is right on the beach. 

The hotel has more food options than most Cancun resorts of its size, with four restaurants and two bars. La Pergola and El Teatro are the hotel’s international buffet options and are open for all meals. La Vela is the hotel’s formal Italian restaurant and is open in the evenings for dinner. Il Forno is a more casual option, serving pizzas and overlooking the lagoon. The restaurants also have separate healthy menus with vegetarian and vegan dishes. All-inclusive plans are available, with drinks included, but note that they are not honored at sister properties.