The aesthetic at the sprawling Iberostar Paraiso del Mar resort takes its inspiration from Mexican and Caribbean style and culture. The large, open-air lobby is bright and breezy, decked out in tropical pastels and thematic accents: a blue sunburst mosaic, white wicker armchairs, a jungle mural, ocean-blue couches, and architectural seashell sculptures that look out of a 1940s Miami resort. At night, the lighting turns the lobby and its low-key bar (considered the hotel's best) into a more romantic space. Two mangrove-dotted ponds -- in which flamingos wade during daylight hours -- flank a column-lined walkway that leads into the resort. The gardens and grounds are landscaped as a continuation of the surrounding native jungle, and, in addition to the flamingos, are home to wandering swans, peacocks, lizards, ducks, and coatis.

The pool is, naturally, a center of life at the hotel, especially as it's one of the largest on the Riviera Maya. There are lots of lounge chairs and cabanas, but the main pool can get crowded and lively, especially with families -- there's also a separate kids' pool -- so adult guests often prefer to stake out spots at one of the quieter pool areas or on the white-sand beach. Throughout the day, the entertainment staff hold activities and games for all ages in the pool, and music keeps the mood lively and festive. There are also beach activities during the day, including limbo contests.

In the evenings, the nightclub offers music, dancing, and live shows, with an emphasis on Caribbean culture. The atmosphere is fun, not fancy, and performances run until 11 at night. The Galaxy disco opens at 11 p.m. and guests must be eighteen to be admitted. Teens have their own disco, the Underground Nightclub.

In 2017, a 20-year-old guest drowned in the pool at Iberostar Paraiso del Mar within a few hours of arriving. It was reported that her death was due to her consuming tainted alcohol at the resort. Her brother was also found unconscious in the pool, but he survived.

The Iberostar Paraiso del Mar is centrally located on the Riviera Maya, near one of the Yucatan Peninsula’s most beautiful white-sand beaches, Playa de Punta Maroma. The resort is surrounded by mangroves and rainforest, and the grounds are beautifully cared for, with an eye to protecting the native wildlife. There are several eco-parks nearby, including Xcaret, where families can spend a day exploring the jungle and caves, swimming the park’s underground river (or cenote), visiting the butterfly pavilion, swimming with dolphins, and more. Xplor Park, also nearby, is a more adrenaline-fueled day-trip, with zip-lining, ATVs, underground rafting, and night-time adventure activities. The Mayan ruins at Tulum are an easy day-trip, as well, located an hour to the south. Scuba divers may also want to head to the nearby island of Cozumel, where the diving is legendary. Cancun airport is 30 minutes north of the hotel, and the popular tourist city of Playa del Carmen, with its nightlife and shopping, is 13 miles south.

Rooms at the Iberostar Paraiso del Mar are clean, spacious, and comfortable -- if a bit dated in style -- and all have private balconies. The walls are painted bright Mexican colors, and embroidered fabrics and stenciled headboards only add to the cheerful, rustic atmosphere. The wood furniture is painted with Mexican motifs, and the walls are adorned with colorful paintings of parrots and tropical flowers. The marble floors stay cool in even high summer, but all rooms also have air-conditioning. The modern, limestone-tiled bathrooms have walk-in showers. Balcony furniture is plastic, and there could be more of it; views are either of the lush grounds or out towards the ocean. All rooms have safes, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels and movies for purchase, video game consoles, and minibars that are restocked daily with free soda, beer, and bottled water.

The four Presidential Suites are larger and more elegant than the quirky standard rooms, and their wrap-around balconies have hot tubs. Suite bathrooms are especially spacious, with separate tubs and walk-in showers. The decor is still Mexican, but in a more subdued gold-and-brown palette.

Guests in ground-floor rooms should be aware that the resident wildlife enjoy hanging out on guest patios. Rooms near the beach tend to be quieter; building 10 is the only one with ocean views. Entertainment runs late in the evenings, and rooms near the main buildings get the residual noise. There are no elevators in the complex. Those with mobility issues may want to request rooms near the restaurants and lobby. 

With its secret hot tub and lounge chairs in the water, the enormous, lagoon-style pool is the jewel in the Paraiso del Mar's crown. One of the largest in the region, the pool winds among islands, trees, peninsulas, and two swim up bars, all the way to a large rock formation with several tall waterfalls cascading down. Balinese beds and lounge chairs surround the pool in many areas, and many of the main areas have activities and music throughout the day, but there are also quieter areas, where guests can float undisturbed. The white-sand beach is wide, lined with white plastic sun loungers under palapa umbrellas, with plenty of spots to rest a cocktail. Water shoes are recommended for wading, as there are some rocks in the surf. Snorkelers will love the angelfish that swim around them as they explore the reef.

The Iberostar Paraiso del Mar offers a wide array of activities for kids and adults, from athletes to sun worshippers. For golf enthusiasts, there is an 18-hole golf course next door. For divers, there is a PADI dive center, run by Dressel Divers International, which offers basic scuba lessons in the pool and off-site dive excursions for more advanced divers. Yoga classes and private lessons are available, as are gymnastics, aerobics, target shooting and archery, tennis, ping pong, billiards, basketball, beach volleyball, soccer, bocce ball, and much more. There is a game room, a kids' club with supervised play and movies, and a kids' pool. There is a conference and event center with six meeting rooms. In the evenings, there is live entertainment, including dancing, magic, bands, and shows.

The resort also has a full-service spa and a fitness center. Valet parking is free, but the lot holds only about twenty cars. Note that there is a fee for Wi-Fi and that guests complain that the signal is weak, so the business center's computers might be the best option for Internet connectivity.

There are a variety of dining options at the Paraiso del Mar and the neighboring Paraiso Beach, including two buffet restaurants, a host of snack bars by beach and pool, the El Puente Ice Cream Shop, and seven different à la carte restaurants. The buffets are not exceptional, and reservations are not guaranteed at the à la carte restaurants for all nights. The El Mercado buffet offers theme nights, including Caribbean, Mexican, and Brazilian cuisines; from three to six a.m., late-night snacks are served. For a casual lunch, the taco stand in the shopping area is highly recommended. El Rodizio serves Brazilian cuisine among stained-glass screens adorned with images of the Brazilian rain forest. La Dorada serves Mediterranean seafood dishes in a dining room furnished with woven bamboo chairs and decorated with Greek-inspired mosaics. Japonez serves Japanese food, including table-side hibachi cooking, in a vivid orange and gold dining room. La Hacienda, the resort’s Mexican restaurant, is painted in vibrant Mexican colors. Don Alfredo serves Italian cuisine in an airy, old-world-inspired dining room with chandeliers and upholstered chairs. Gentleman over the age of 12 are required to wear long pants and shirts with collars in the à la carte restaurants. Vegans and those with food allergies can find plenty of food options here.