Secrets Playa Blanca opened in February 2024 at the quiet northern end of Costa Mujeres, adults-only with about 505 suites. Wedding listings name a beach gazebo, a rooftop terrace in the jungle, an infinity pool terrace and a venue called Contoy Plaza. The beach faces the open Caribbean with Isla Mujeres off to the southeast, so ceremonies work best about 90 minutes before sunset.
Secrets Playa Blanca is the newest Secrets on this coast and the furthest north of the big Costa Mujeres resorts, about 45 minutes from Cancún airport and close to the wild sandbar of Isla Blanca. It was designed with weddings in mind, with several distinct venues instead of one beach and one ballroom. This guide looks at each from the photographer's side, with the light, the timeline and the questions to ask before you sign.
The Resort at a Glance
- ResortAdults-only, Secrets brand (Hyatt Inclusive Collection), opened February 2024
- SizeAbout 505 suites, per the resort's own site
- Ceremony sitesBeach gazebo, jungle rooftop terrace, infinity pool terrace, Contoy Plaza
- DiningNine restaurants and eight bars
- Beach facesThe open Caribbean; Isla Mujeres to the southeast
- From the airportAbout 45 minutes by road
Venue names come from wedding planners' listings for the resort; capacities and availability change, so confirm the current list with your coordinator.
Four Venues, Four Looks
The beach gazebo is the classic choice: a defined structure on the sand that gives the ceremony a frame and some shade. As with every gazebo, we place the couple toward the open side so faces are not lost in shadow against the bright sea.
The rooftop terrace in the jungle is the venue that sets this resort apart. Height and green vegetation together give a backdrop no beach can, and at the end of the day the terrace catches the warm light from the west while the beach below is already in shade.
The infinity pool terrace lines the ceremony up with water that seems to run into the sea. It photographs beautifully from a low angle at the back of the aisle, and it is our pick for couples who want a modern, architectural look.
Contoy Plaza, named after the bird island to the north, appears in wedding listings as another option; ask your coordinator what it looks like on your date and how many guests it holds.
Light at the North End of the Coast
Times for this beach on the 15th of each month in 2027, with no daylight saving in Quintana Roo:
| Month | Sunrise | Golden | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:27 am | 5:54 pm | 6:26 pm |
| March | 6:56 am | 6:27 pm | 6:57 pm |
| May | 6:09 am | 6:47 pm | 7:18 pm |
| June | 6:05 am | 6:58 pm | 7:31 pm |
| July | 6:14 am | 7:01 pm | 7:32 pm |
| September | 6:34 am | 6:21 pm | 6:50 pm |
| November | 6:58 am | 5:34 pm | 6:05 pm |
| December | 7:17 am | 5:35 pm | 6:08 pm |
Unlike the resorts further south on Playa Mujeres, Secrets Playa Blanca looks out on open water: Isla Mujeres sits off to the southeast, so the sun rises over the open Caribbean rather than behind the island. The sun sets behind the resort, which gives the beach soft, even light at the end of the day. We plan beach ceremonies about 90 minutes before sunset, and use the rooftop terrace for the last warm minutes.
Isla Blanca, Five Minutes Away
Just north of the resort, the road continues to Isla Blanca, a long, narrow strip of sand between the Caribbean and the Chacmuchuch lagoon, known mostly to kitesurfers and locals. For a day-after session it is one of the most dramatic backgrounds near Cancún: open sky, almost no buildings and water on both sides. It is undeveloped, so plan for wind and bring flat shoes.
Outside Photographers
Expect Secrets Playa Blanca, like the other adults-only resorts on this coast, to charge outside wedding vendors for access, as a vendor fee or a per-person day pass. Ask for the figure in writing before you sign, and ask whether it applies per vendor or per person. Our Playa Mujeres vendor fee guide explains how these charges work on this shore, and we handle the paperwork with your coordinator.
Costa Mujeres Weddings, Through Our Lens
Real IVAE Studios weddings and couples on the Playa Mujeres and Costa Mujeres shoreline.
Coverage and Prices
IVAE Studios publishes its prices. Half-day coverage of up to four hours is 1,800 to 2,800 USD; a full day of eight to ten hours with a second photographer is 3,500 to 5,500 USD; adding a wedding film brings it to 5,500 to 8,000 USD. Galleries are delivered within one to three business days.
Comparing Secrets resorts? See our guide to Secrets Playa Mujeres, a few kilometres south, and our comparison of Secrets and Dreams.