Riu Palace Riviera Maya is a Riu Palace resort in Playacar, close to the town centre. Plan the ceremony about 90 minutes before sunset; the beach faces Cozumel, so the sun sets behind you.
Riu Palace Riviera Maya is a Riu Palace resort in Playacar, close to the town centre. Playacar is a quiet, gated resort area of gardens and golf, south of the busy centre. This guide is the photographer's view: venues, light, timeline and vendor rules.
The Resort at a Glance
- ResortA Riu Palace resort in Playacar, close to the town centre
- AreaPlayacar, south of the centre
- Beach facesEast, toward Cozumel
Venue names and capacities come from the resort's wedding listings and change with renovations and packages, so your coordinator's current sheet is the final word.
Where the Ceremony Happens
Ask Riu Palace Riviera Maya's wedding team for the current ceremony and reception venues. On this coast the strongest settings are the beach and any raised terrace facing the sea, with pools and loungers out of the frame.
Parque Fundadores, with the Portal Maya sculpture and the ferry pier to Cozumel, is the classic Playa del Carmen backdrop, busiest in the evening and quiet at sunrise.
Sunset and Light by Month
Times for this beach on the 15th of each month in 2027.
| Month | Sunrise | Golden | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:27 am | 5:57 pm | 6:28 pm |
| March | 6:57 am | 6:29 pm | 6:58 pm |
| May | 6:11 am | 6:47 pm | 7:18 pm |
| June | 6:08 am | 6:58 pm | 7:30 pm |
| July | 6:16 am | 7:01 pm | 7:32 pm |
| September | 6:36 am | 6:22 pm | 6:51 pm |
| November | 6:58 am | 5:36 pm | 6:08 pm |
| December | 7:17 am | 5:38 pm | 6:10 pm |
Playa del Carmen faces east toward Cozumel, so the sun rises over the channel and sets behind the town, leaving the beach in soft, even light at the end of the day. A good rule here: start the ceremony about 90 minutes before sunset, and keep the final half hour of daylight for portraits. If you can face an early start, from roughly October through February the sunrise appears from behind Cozumel.
Bringing Your Own Photographer
Expect Riu Palace Riviera Maya to charge outside wedding vendors for access. Resorts call it a vendor fee, an outside supplier fee or a day pass, and they revise it by season and wedding package, which is why we do not print a number here. The moment to negotiate it is before you sign your wedding package; afterwards coordinators have little room. Ask whether it is charged per vendor or per person, and get the answer by email. We handle the paperwork with your coordinator.
Weddings in the Riviera Maya, Through Our Lens
Real IVAE Studios weddings and portraits along the Riviera Maya, so you can see how this light and water look on camera. They show our work in the area, not necessarily at Riu Palace Riviera Maya.
Coverage and Prices
IVAE Studios publishes its prices. Half-day coverage of up to four hours is 1,800 to 2,800 USD, enough for the ceremony, family photos, portraits and the start of the reception. A full day of eight to ten hours with a second photographer is 3,500 to 5,500 USD, and adding a wedding film brings it to 5,500 to 8,000 USD. Every gallery is edited and delivered in a private 4K gallery within one to three business days.