The Royal Haciendas is a Royal Resorts property on the beach north of Playa del Carmen, in a hacienda style. Plan the ceremony about 90 minutes before sunset; the beach faces Cozumel, so the sun sets behind you.
The Royal Haciendas is a Royal Resorts property on the beach north of Playa del Carmen, in a hacienda style. North of town the beaches are quieter and the resorts more spread out. This guide is the photographer's view: venues, light, timeline and vendor rules.
The Resort at a Glance
- ResortA Royal Resorts property on the beach north of Playa del Carmen, in a hacienda style
- AreaNorth of Playa del Carmen
- 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 The Royal Haciendas'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 | 5:56 pm | 6:28 pm |
| March | 6:57 am | 6:28 pm | 6:58 pm |
| May | 6:11 am | 6:47 pm | 7:18 pm |
| June | 6:07 am | 6:58 pm | 7:30 pm |
| July | 6:16 am | 7:01 pm | 7:32 pm |
| September | 6:35 am | 6:22 pm | 6:51 pm |
| November | 6:58 am | 5:36 pm | 6:07 pm |
| December | 7:17 am | 5:37 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. We plan ceremonies to start about 90 minutes before sunset, so that family photos and portraits fall in the warm last light. From roughly November through January the sun rises from behind Cozumel, which makes a sunrise session here unusually striking.
Bringing Your Own Photographer
Bringing your own photographer to The Royal Haciendas is allowed, with an access charge for outside wedding vendors that the resort sets by season and package. Because the number moves, the only figure that counts is the one in your own contract or in an email from your coordinator. Ask two questions: is it per vendor or per person, and does a higher wedding package include it? We register with the resort and send our documents ourselves.
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 The Royal Haciendas.
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.