VIP Riviera Maya
VIP Riviera Maya
5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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About
Showing the finest restaurants bars and tourist sites in Riviera Maya! We offer airport transfers, amazing private tours, excellent fishing adventures and exquisite private catamaran rentals! Contact us now for more information!
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
480 reviews
Excellent
466
Very good
4
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
8
John O
Roseville, CA214 contributions
Feb 2021 • Friends
This is our third time down to the area using VIP RIVIERA MAYA and the first time we have used their private yacht service. As it has always been with this company, It was seamless and flawless. Dan, the owner takes great pride in what he does and his goal is to provide the best customer service and experience imaginable. As we were staying in Playa Del Carmen which is approximately 45 minutes drive south of Cancun, a shuttle was waiting for us when we left our condo right on time at 9:30 am. We made the short jaunt up the highway to the dock in Cancun and from there, one of the most memorable days I’ve enjoyed in my life took place. Our yacht was ready and waiting for our boarding and we immediately took off on the open water headed for the island of Isla Mujeres. Traveling with 5 other friends we had a cooler full of beverages and tequila to enjoy as we coasted across the crystal clear Caribbean Sea. We didn’t have a care in the world and why should we. The yacht was a huge 2 story yacht with indoor and outdoor quarters. Upon arrival to Playa Norte beach in Isla Mujeras, we immediately jumped off our private vessel and enjoyed some sun and fun on one of the most pristine beaches I’ve ever seen. We took a stroll through the sea onto the shore where we enjoyed a few mojitos and beers at a variety of beach bars and headed back to the boat. About 30 minutes later our private vessel anchored us at A private beach lunch spot called Zama Beach Club. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and some swimming. Our last stop of the day was at The Ice Bar which is a bar that entirely made of ice. We were required to put on coats they provided to stay warm once inside the bar and enjoyed a few cocktails in the coolest (pun intended) bar I’ve been in. We concluded our day by hopping back on the yacht to sail back to Cancun as the sunset and our captain threw out a few fishing lines to catch some fish. The experience from start to finish was second to none and we will make this an annual excursion day each year we come down now. Many people would think it’s too expensive to rent a yacht but with a fair amount of friends going in on it, it is really very affordable. It’s a day on the water you will never forget and an experience everyone should try at least once when visiting the Riviera Maya. Dan and VIP Riviera Maya will take all the headache and planning out of your day for you. He is now 4/4 on excursion days we’ve booked through his company and each time, they seem to get better than the last. Look nowhere else then VIP Riviera Maya for all of your future yacht tours. It was an epic day!
Written February 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracey
Edmonton, Canada3 contributions
Dec 2019
I travelled to TRS Yucatan in Mexico from December 3 to 9, 2019 and utilized VIP for hotel transportation and an off-resort excursion to Coba and a Mayan Village. Dan was recommended repeatedly thru the TRS fan/addicts Facebook page and let me tell you he did not disappoint! I started messaging Dan several months before my trip and he answered all my questions talked me through some concerns and provided me with excellent customer service. Dan always replied in a timely manner so much so I wondered if he ever sleeps!
During our conversations through Facebook our group of four decided we wanted to give back to the people in the Mayan Village. He contacted a community member from the village and arrange for us to visit the local school in order to drop of school supplies. This experience was truly amazing, to go into the school meet the children and to see their faces when they received art and craft supplies was a life changing experience.
Small Group, Coba/Mayan Village
This trip was truly amazing, the service was incredible booking thru Dan and our tour guides Euri and Debbie were fantastic their knowledge of the area, humor, and kind hearts made for a wonderful day! First up on our tour was to experience a Mayan ritual and swim in a centoe, this was incredible as we were the only group there and it felt very private.
Next, we went into the Mayan Village this is where we got to go to the school and meet the children. While we were doing this the rest of the group as taking part in a traditional ceremony. Lunch was made for us by woman from the village and it was incredible. I loved getting off the resort to try some local dishes.
Next, we went to Coba, which was on my personal bucket list. Euri was so knowledgeable about the Mayans and history in general. She was able to relate things back to other parts of the world. I was amazed with her knowledge. Coba is amazing doing the hike to the top during the day was very hot but well worth it. I would highly recommend renting the bikes when at Coba I don’t think I would have seen half of it without the bikes.
Private Transfer
Again, the booking for this was seamless and Dan provided excellent service. The instructions when getting outside of the airport were fabulous and very clear. The only small thing is our driver did not have a hat on (so we were a tiny confused cause we were looking for someone with a hat). Our driver made a stop at 7-11 for us so we could enjoy some cold drinks on the long drive. The car both ways extremely clean and the drivers were friendly.
During our conversations through Facebook our group of four decided we wanted to give back to the people in the Mayan Village. He contacted a community member from the village and arrange for us to visit the local school in order to drop of school supplies. This experience was truly amazing, to go into the school meet the children and to see their faces when they received art and craft supplies was a life changing experience.
Small Group, Coba/Mayan Village
This trip was truly amazing, the service was incredible booking thru Dan and our tour guides Euri and Debbie were fantastic their knowledge of the area, humor, and kind hearts made for a wonderful day! First up on our tour was to experience a Mayan ritual and swim in a centoe, this was incredible as we were the only group there and it felt very private.
Next, we went into the Mayan Village this is where we got to go to the school and meet the children. While we were doing this the rest of the group as taking part in a traditional ceremony. Lunch was made for us by woman from the village and it was incredible. I loved getting off the resort to try some local dishes.
Next, we went to Coba, which was on my personal bucket list. Euri was so knowledgeable about the Mayans and history in general. She was able to relate things back to other parts of the world. I was amazed with her knowledge. Coba is amazing doing the hike to the top during the day was very hot but well worth it. I would highly recommend renting the bikes when at Coba I don’t think I would have seen half of it without the bikes.
Private Transfer
Again, the booking for this was seamless and Dan provided excellent service. The instructions when getting outside of the airport were fabulous and very clear. The only small thing is our driver did not have a hat on (so we were a tiny confused cause we were looking for someone with a hat). Our driver made a stop at 7-11 for us so we could enjoy some cold drinks on the long drive. The car both ways extremely clean and the drivers were friendly.
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the kind words. The Mayan school children absolutely loved your generosity! Hope to see you again!
Written January 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Maggie
Port Orchard, WA16 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
VIP Riviera Maya is nothing short of amazing! We got married in Mexico on Feb 24, 2020. Dan and VIP Riviera Maya were such an integral part of everything going smoothly for us We planned a bachelor party fishing trip for 8 people on a gorgeous 45ft boat. It was by far the nicest deep sea fishing boat we've been on in Mexico! We also planned a private half day tour of Tulum for some of our guests. The pick up was flawless and tour guide was easy to understand. The tour guide made.the day fun and gave great recommendations for pictures. Lastly we booked all of our guests transportion through them. We had a few flight changes on the way in due to weather and there was someone there to pick them up like nothing has happened. We also had some changes on the way home in the configuration of who was leaving when and again accommodating.
This company offers so much and is very well priced.
However, the thing that sets this company apart is the communication and professionalism. I can NOT say enough great things about Dan or this company. No matter the day of the week or circumstance he answered extremely quickly. He went above and beyond what I would expect from a travel agent ornrour company.
I have recommended them in the past and will continue to do so.
We will without a doubt be using them again when we return to Mexico ♥️
This company offers so much and is very well priced.
However, the thing that sets this company apart is the communication and professionalism. I can NOT say enough great things about Dan or this company. No matter the day of the week or circumstance he answered extremely quickly. He went above and beyond what I would expect from a travel agent ornrour company.
I have recommended them in the past and will continue to do so.
We will without a doubt be using them again when we return to Mexico ♥️
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dana J
Venetia, PA12 contributions
Oct 2020
If there was a 10, I would give this company that! Dan is incredible, will do whatever it takes(even last minute) to make his clients happy and what they want. I had a group of 18 , at a resort they transferred us to for shelter from the hurricane wanting to get back to our original resort faster. At the time he had no drivers due to the storm, but literally in 20 minutes he had 2 vans to pick all of us up in less than 90 minutes. I HIGHLY recommend using this company for transfers and excursions. We wanted to do the boat ride but under the circumstances....Gamma and Delta had other plans for our vacation!!!
Written October 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TAMARA B
1 contribution
Jun 2022
Whale Shark Tour
We were waiting in the lobby at 6:30, not picked up until 7. I understand things happen and that was fine. When we arrived at check in, we waited another hour which caused us not to leave the dock until after 8:30. Once we were finally on the water we had to make a stop at Isle Mujeres to pick up additional passengers and then we had to pick up 3 other people from another boat in the middle of the ocean. It is now around 10.
The itinerary shows that you will be out there with the whale sharks before other boats to get the best chance of spending time with them.
The boat ride was the worst I have ever had in my life. I felt very unsafe bouncing 5 ft off the seat flying through the ocean.
The Captain and his mate did not speak to us or explain anything while we sat in the same spot supposedly looking for Whale sharks for another few hours.
We finally got word that someone spotted 1 whale shark. Don't get me wrong, I know nature is unpredictable but after reading some posts I think this is the norm and not what I would have expected. When we finally found the shark there were 10 boats circling the poor animal.
We were able to dive in for a short 30 second look, again, the captain and the mate did not explain what to do and were rude and yelled at me that I had to hold my equipment while standing because they didn't want you to sit. I was also yelled at for trying to take a picture of the whale shark. Supposedly pics were taken by the guide and we were told we would get an email with the pics within a week. It has been two weeks now. Guess of have no pics of this excursion.
We only got 1 shot since 4/10 people were puking all over the boat due to the rough ride. One older gentlemen was throwing up over the side of the boat and the captain did not even slow down. The man's son had to hold onto him to ensure he did not go overboard.
Once we were at the beach at Isle Mujeres, we were served the ceviche which was not refrigerated (Same goes for the sandwiches). I declined, no thankyou. Unfortunately my finance was starving and did eat the food. He was sick for the remainder of our trip and just started feeling better yesterday after a full week.
I would never recommend this excursion and my back still hurts from crashing down on the waves.
I did email VIPRivieraMaya and received no response.
We were waiting in the lobby at 6:30, not picked up until 7. I understand things happen and that was fine. When we arrived at check in, we waited another hour which caused us not to leave the dock until after 8:30. Once we were finally on the water we had to make a stop at Isle Mujeres to pick up additional passengers and then we had to pick up 3 other people from another boat in the middle of the ocean. It is now around 10.
The itinerary shows that you will be out there with the whale sharks before other boats to get the best chance of spending time with them.
The boat ride was the worst I have ever had in my life. I felt very unsafe bouncing 5 ft off the seat flying through the ocean.
The Captain and his mate did not speak to us or explain anything while we sat in the same spot supposedly looking for Whale sharks for another few hours.
We finally got word that someone spotted 1 whale shark. Don't get me wrong, I know nature is unpredictable but after reading some posts I think this is the norm and not what I would have expected. When we finally found the shark there were 10 boats circling the poor animal.
We were able to dive in for a short 30 second look, again, the captain and the mate did not explain what to do and were rude and yelled at me that I had to hold my equipment while standing because they didn't want you to sit. I was also yelled at for trying to take a picture of the whale shark. Supposedly pics were taken by the guide and we were told we would get an email with the pics within a week. It has been two weeks now. Guess of have no pics of this excursion.
We only got 1 shot since 4/10 people were puking all over the boat due to the rough ride. One older gentlemen was throwing up over the side of the boat and the captain did not even slow down. The man's son had to hold onto him to ensure he did not go overboard.
Once we were at the beach at Isle Mujeres, we were served the ceviche which was not refrigerated (Same goes for the sandwiches). I declined, no thankyou. Unfortunately my finance was starving and did eat the food. He was sick for the remainder of our trip and just started feeling better yesterday after a full week.
I would never recommend this excursion and my back still hurts from crashing down on the waves.
I did email VIPRivieraMaya and received no response.
Written June 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello!
So sorry you did not enjoy the day but the sea is not made for everyone. The area where the whale sharks are located changes daily and we have to look for them. Its Mother Nature so we have no control over what she does.
I have spoken with the crew about your situation and I know them very well. They said they did not yell at you they were merely have to speak loudly so you could hear them over the engine.
Again, this trip is not for everyone that do not handle boats very well. Sorry about the delay on the pick up time also. That is definitely something we need to work on. But as far as the crew being rude and yelling that is one thing I for sure know didnt happen as our guys are very kind and they enjoy their job.
Hope you back is feeling better and I suggest not to go out in to the open water of the ocean again as that is the way it will always be.
Wishing you the best in your future marriage!
Written June 28, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Leo L
4 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
We are so thankful that Dan reached out to us from VIP Riviera Maya. We expected to have a fun tour visiting two cenotes and the famous Chichen Itza. What we did not expect was that our tour guides Cesar and Vincent would take us to a restaurant and an artisan shopping center that was run and operated by local residents. Many of the residents are descendants from the Mayans, including Vincent. In fact, Vincent took the time to tell us how they prepared the food and how it differs from the way that we expect it to be made in the United States.
By the end of our trip together, we felt like that they were more like family than just your average tour guide.
We highly recommend Cesar and Vincent if you want to know more about the Mayan culture.
Thank you Dan and we look forward to another tour in the future.
By the end of our trip together, we felt like that they were more like family than just your average tour guide.
We highly recommend Cesar and Vincent if you want to know more about the Mayan culture.
Thank you Dan and we look forward to another tour in the future.
Written August 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lori D
Longview, Texas, United States5 contributions
Jun 2022
I planned our trip by emailing Dan at VIP Riviera Maya, based on other reviews that I had read. Just like the reviews, he responded almost immediately. I was able to pay by Paypal ahead of time so I didn't have to worry about carrying a lot of cash. We were picked up at Moon Palace at 6:30 a.m. which seemed a little early for vacation, but once the day unfolded we were very grateful. Our driver, Caesar and guide Vincente were two of the nicest guys you will every meet. Vincente was extremely knowledgeable of everything Mexico including the Mayan people and Chichen Itza. Caesar was an excellent driver and it was clear that he knew where he was going. He also had some pretty good jokes! I had read that some people rent cars and drive themselves, but based on road construction and driving habits of the other drivers I would never recommend it. On the way, we stopped at an extremely clean store with very nice restrooms that also had souvenirs and snacks. You can pay with US dollars or pesos. Then we were off to Chichen Itza. Vincente paid for our tickets and gave us a professional tour and history lesson. As we were leaving, it was just getting hot and filling completely up with tourists. Our next stop was an authentic Mayan restaurant in a small town. Vincente again paid for us and we were allowed to go into the kitchen and make corn tortillas with the women who were working there. The food was delicious and it was definitely not a tourist trap. After lunch we went to the first of two cenotes. Again Vincente paid and let us have as long as we wanted at both. I have been in many caves before but nothing like this. They both were amazing and completely different. Although you can stay as long as you want, the water is very cold so you can't swim for a long time. Both times as we were leaving each cenote, crowds were coming in so we felt fortunate to get to each location early and have the place mostly to ourselves. When we were done we headed back to our resort and got there about 5:15. I definitely recommend this company. We felt safe and managed to enjoy "real" Mexico outside of our resort without being crammed in with a large group of people. It was an experience we won't forget. Thanks Caesar and Vincente!
Written June 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ania G
22 contributions
Jan 2021
We got to Caribbean often, and as a group of friends, wanted an easy, and fun day out from the resort. Given Covid season, we wanted something private. Since we’ve seen all the Mayan ruins already, and have done all the cenotes, we wanted something else! And here is where VIP Riviera Maya delivered big time! We rented a yacht through them, and spent the day enjoying the boat, and the beautiful shores of Cancun and Isla Mujeres. The pick up from the resort was on time, and a relatively quick ride to the marina. The owner of VIP Riviera Maya joined us for the day. He made sure that we were satisfied with the service received, and basically served as our tour guide handling the payments and all the behind the scenes stuff associated with trips. When we were deciding on what to do, he was very knowledgeable about different options, worked with our limitations, and at the end, arranged a very nice day out in the sea for us. We did all the planning back at home before our arrival, and all through the communication, he was easily reachable through the company’s email, and responded quickly with detailed answers. The actual trip was very fun, and we would, and probably will do it again in the future! The boat was nice, and spacious. We arrived at the marina a tad early, and witnessed it being cleaned and sanitized. They even let us take off half an hour earlier, so in a sense we got half hour bonus on the boat. All crew members wore face coverings the entire time too, and were very attentive to our needs serving us delicious drinks, and being very friendly! Included in the trip we had water and beer. We also requested some additional items which were picked up for us beforehand. We didn’t really have a specific schedule for the trip, and I think that that part alone made it special – no need to worry about specific times to keep going to other points of interest etc. This trip was all about the luxury of not having to worry about anything and not being on a schedule. We stopped at one side of the island for some time in the water, with a very picturesque rocks and shore line, and then continued to Playa Norte for some time to booze on the boat, sunbathe, and relax while people watching. We went to a fun spot for lunch. It is called Zuma Beach Club and is situated on Isla Mujeres. The spot is quite nice, the food is exquisite….but the service locks. For the review of the place, refer to a separate review. All in all, all eight of us were very satisfied with a very fun day on the yacht, and the Island. The service of VIP Riviera Maya was very nice, easy and worry free. We have been booking with them for three years now, but always just airport transfers. I strongly believe we have found our new spot for fun excursions.
Written January 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KBoogie
Mooresville, NC136 contributions
Mar 2022
We used VIP Riviera Maya for our airport transfer (the private suburban was less expensive than the hotel provided shuttle!) ... and then we used them to book our catamaran day trip from Costa Mujeres to Isla Mujeres. Perfection. Great instructions were provided prior to leaving home, so we knew EXACTLY who to look for to find our driver (it can be hectic outside the Cancun airport!). Then when we wanted the shortest possible commute time to the marina for the catamaran trip, VIP Riviera Maya said 30 minutes - and it was 30 minutes! (other friends who booked with other companies thru the hotel had to commute TWO hours to pick up people at other hotels before getting to the catamaran!). Communication was fantastic, quick, and really smoothly run. Really great part of our trip. Thanks so much -- will book again!
Written March 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BackPacker522094
2 contributions
Oct 2021 • Friends
Our large group of 19 did a cenotes and snorkel tour one day and then used VIP riveria Maya for transportation to the ferry to Isla Mujeres another day. Dan was super amazing to coordinate all this and separate payments with our huge group! The cenotes were amazing, scary, but amazing and the snorkeling was really beautiful. We also stopped for lunch at a nice restaurant right on the ocean in Puerto Morales. Our drivers were fantastic and so friendly! I would 10/10 recommend using VIP Riviera Maya for all excursions and transportation. They do a wonderful job and work very hard to make your experience amazing!
Written November 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are traveling to Cancun airport Aug 31, 2023. We need transfer to Puerto morelos Agua Azul. On Sept 5 we need transfer to TRS Yucatan and on Sept 12 we need a transfer to Cancun airport. There are 4 adults. Could you give us a price?
Written March 11, 2023
I would message Dan Palka from VIP Riviera Maya gor exact pricing.
Written March 13, 2023
Does the MKX Limo have fun lights? It’s hubby’s birthday and thought it’d be more fun lol.
Written March 20, 2022
Destination252019
Longview, Texas
Are there any fishing tours. We leave July 7-15 2020 staying at secrets akumel.
Thank you
Written July 5, 2020
Transfer time from cancun airport to Bahia Principe Coba
Written February 11, 2020
What kind of Isla Mujeres tours do you offer? Can it be done via catamaran and price please for a group of 8 people staying at Siam Ka’an?
Written September 20, 2019
We were a group of 8. We sailed catamaran with Dan Palka 2 months ago. Recommended.
Written October 3, 2019
Bonjour . Que puis je faire Comme excursions mon Mari Et Moi Avec un bebe De 2 Ans ??
Written September 6, 2019
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