Gran Porto Real

Playa Del Carmen Mexico

2000 Beach in front of Gran Porto Real and the beach south of GPR in 2010 before the sand piping

Photos are from October 2007

The Resort used to be optional European plan but now is all-inclusive. It is a resort that is not only a good value but feels "comfortable". The staff that serves is always friendly and more than helpful to the guests.

The lobby seemed to be the center of the action. Lots of activity and a small snack area, a good bar, and several TV's, and a coffee machine where you pushed the button for your Espresso. This machine is a BIG negative as not being able to get a good espresso or cappuccino in the entire resort got to me...it drove me to Java Joes more than once. Lots of couches and chairs/tables and never saw them all full. A small stage and nightly music group of different venue each night. The mariachi group was super. Every night also the large stage at the pool put on a show from 9-10PM. (Era musical, Celebrity impersonators, Mayan dancing, etc) A couple were really quite good...and usually all the chairs were full and you had to sit on the ground or lean on a palm if you came late. They did have merchant tables for jewelry and paintings and knick-knacks a couple of nights also.

There is an activities board that changes daily. Also to the left of the main entrance is a room used by the tour operators. They schedule their time and post when your specific agent will be available.

Do not be surprised to look down from your room and see a wedding on the beach below. They are also currently building a gazebo of about 400 sq feet that could be used for specialties like massage tables or wedding arrangements.

Beach Pictures

To the north of the frontal beach of the Gran Porto Real there is a concrete berm sticking out into the ocean that serves to protect the resort's beach from wave action and erosion. Between this berm and the unused pier the water is always flagged red as they do not want you in the water. The bottom is rocky and there are currents around the piers. However the sandy area is great to stretch out in the sand and let the waves wash over you. The ocean's free massage.

Also the bags of sand along the beach are great to lay on in the sun...the resort should put some portable steps or ramps on them tho to make the water more accessible on the south end. The north end (closest to the Royal) is just fine for water access. It is very shallow and waist deep out about 100 yards.

There are 12 1-2 person kayaks, 3 2-person sail boats and a handful of boogie boards available. They need more boogie boards as they are perfect for the area. The waves beyond the whale are usually 1-2 foot and roll along the diagonal ropes giving a nice ride. Also bring a short string or shoelace and tether your board to the rope and you can float and relax without effort. It's very relaxing. (They should make a boogie board with a cup holder)

The sand area is wide (5 rows of lounge chairs) with plenty of room for both the volley ball and a soccer area. It is more crowded on the south end, away from the Royal Playa del Carmen, due to the beach buffet and tables, pool activities and the fishing boats just off the hotel property. The boats angle across the front of the hotel making the water area triangular. It is good they now have ropes and floats to keep the boats out of the swimming area. The fishermen cleaning fish is a negative if you don't want the "whiff" when the wind is of that direction. I got the impression the fishermen are doing it on purpose and love to break open the entrails just so the smell is worse. They throw them on the sand and the gulls do the cleanup.

A sign gives the shuttle bus times between the Real Resort on 5th and their beach access at the Gran Porto Real.

The beach area closest to the RPDC is shared by the folks from the Real hotel on 5th. They have an activiities booth there and a swing bar and lounge chairs. This area in past years was the designated topless area and you do continue to see more of that in this area. The swing bar has limited goodies including chips, pico, and that nasty cheese stuff they feel is good for nachos. The beach waiters use both this bar and the one by the pool to fill drink orders. Order "dobles" so they know you do not want flavored ice or go to the bar and watch them make them. Any tip you give to the beach waiter is shared with the bartender who makes it...however the reverse is not true. So he has an incentive at the bar to have you keep coming to him. The lounges are standard with no cushion...you sit on a nylon type web. There are plain white plastic lounges in the designated area for the Real hotel. There were no towel games and people seemed to get their chairs ...only groups of over 2 maybe couldn't get them together. Those groups seemed to pull single chairs out of the pack and make an area together on the sand in front of the lines of chairs.

The Pool

The pool is adequate size and varied enough to use for activities. The pool/beach bar was a favorite, the activities people seemed to get people involved, and the kids had a great time.

Drinks at the main bar between the pool and beach are listed.

Third Floor Room

The view is always better from the 3rd floor as you are above the palm trees. The majority of ocean front rooms face the Cozumel ferry pier. A few face Cozumel more directly as there is a "jog" in the resort layout to accommodate the contour of the property and placement of the pool.

Rooms with walls and pillars on the ends of their decks have hammocks. There is a light on the deck that is very aggravating but the bulb is easily unscrewed.

When the rain squalls pass there can also be some wave action. Lightning is not common but can occur. Many stay in the water during the squalls as it is warmer than the cool rain and wind.