El Camaleón Golf Course at Mayakoba — Local services in Quintana Roo

I’m must say, this place is beautiful and playing in this course has been an amazing experience, until I met Enrique Dorantes, the guy “in charge” of the valet. From the moment I reserved my tee time, when I arrived to the course and even after my round was over, I asked the staff if it would be okay to visit Playa del Carmen (about a 10 min taxi ride) after finishing my round and return at a reasonable time to be transported back to my hotel in Cancun. Everyone I spoke to said it would not be a problem, and that they would be happy to call a taxi for me and take me back to my hotel up in my return, until Enrique got involved.

After my round was done at around 2:30 pm, and after spending approximately $500 USD, for the day in green fees, food, drinks, tips, etc, Enrique approached me to let me know that it would not be posible to transport me back to my hotel at a later time and that they could only offer me transportation back to Cancun right then and there and not a minute after. That came as a surprise to my wife and I, as everyone had already said to us that it was not a problem at all, especially since the last car going back to Cancun was at 6:00pm and the pro shop even checked with Valet staff to make sure it would not be a problem. Even after I explained the situation to the guy, he refused to work with me. Naturally we got upset and asked for him to check with everyone we talked to and said to us that it was not a problem. Once he corroborated what I said to him, he finally agreed to take us (with a really nasty attitude) only if we would pay an additional $50, at which point I was too upset to be willing to give this place any more of my money. He warned me that a taxi would charge me upwards of $80 USD and that he was giving me a deal (which of course turned out to be a lie). Eventually he called a taxi and told me I had 1 hour to come back if I wanted to make it back to Cancun. Fast forward 1hr, as we arrived back to club to be taken to our hotel, Enrique approached me to let me know it would be about 45 minutes before we could be taken back. This was very frustrating to us because he made us rush back only to have us sit there for 45 minutes.

I will say, however, outside of this unpleasant experience, everyone at the course made us feel welcome and was very attentive. If it wasn’t for Enrique’s attitude and treatment, this would have been the greatest round of golf I have ever played. I can only hope that management notices those who give this place a bad name, as it is not fair for one individual to give such a Mexican Gem a bad reputation. Up until my encounter with this person, I was considering coming back and stay at their resort in our next visit, needless to say, this will not be...

Ok, so the greens had been aeriated maybe a week or two before our visit, but that did not alter my opinion of this gorgeous course, despite affecting my putts and chips from time to time.

The first thing you notice when you walk in through the clubhouse and look out over the first hole is how green the grass is.... Being from Texas, you don't see alot of this color green on a golf course at this time of year. Once you are out there, the fairways were perfectly manicured, and the overall layout of the course was fantastic. The staff, from check in, to practice range, to cart girl, to multiple club marshalls were all excellent as well.

From a golfer's standpoint, the course is not the hardest I have played, but it presents a nice array of challenges. For one, you can definitely say Adios to your ball if you get a little wayward on a jungle lined hole. There is plenty of sand on the course, so you will likely get your chance to test your skills in this area as well, oh and don't forget the numerous holes with the river running along it. Overall though, the course is fair. The fairways, in most instances, are plenty wide, the approach shots are not blind, and greens are not overly undulating. It is definitely a course I would play again, should I find myself down in that area.

For those that are looking to rent clubs, you can rest assured the clubs will be top notch. While, I took my own clubs, another player in our group rented some, and they were essentially brand new Taylor Made Stealth irons and Stealth woods.

And like a previous reviewer noted, you can negotiate your rate a little, so make sure to arrange ahead of time. I have only played two of the 4 most recommended courses in the Playa area, but by far, this one stands at the top so far. Make it a point to visit this course if you are an...

"My golf experience at El Camaleon at Mayakoba on February 26, 2025, started beautifully but ended with a heart-stopping adventure. Our 1:50 PM tee time brought us to the picturesque 15th hole, a stunning seaside green with the iconic Mayakoba sign. We were mesmerized by the view, snapping photos to capture the moment.

However, our peaceful enjoyment was disrupted by a troop of coatis, who quickly swarmed our golf carts, pilfering snacks from my bag. Little did I know, they also took my wallet.

Back at my resort (Grand Riviera Princess) around 7:00 PM, I discovered my wallet, containing my credit cards, bank cards, Canadian permanent resident card, and cash, was gone. I was devastated. With the help of my friend Max, we returned to El Camaleon, despite it being closed.

The security guard connected us with the manager, Andros Romero, who responded immediately and sent someone to help. The pro shop staff, especially Miguel, were incredibly supportive. Miguel checked our golf cart and, understanding the urgency, agreed to drive us back to the 15th hole in the dark.

Miguel shared his experience with coati thefts, which helped us narrow our search. We combed the jungle with cell phone flashlights, and after a nerve-wracking 30 minutes, I miraculously found my wallet!

The relief was overwhelming. I am eternally grateful to Andros and Miguel. Their dedication and kindness saved me from a potentially disastrous situation. Losing my travel documents and permanent resident card would have been a nightmare. Finding my wallet in the pitch-black jungle felt like a miracle. I am still astonished by the coatis' ability to steal my belongings. Thank you, El Camaleon, Andros, and Miguel, for your exceptional service and for turning a potential disaster into a remarkable story...