Back
Vidanta Riviera Maya
Rating Snapshot
About
Located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Vidanta Riviera Maya (formerly known as El Manglar Golf Club at Vidanta Riviera Maya and Nicklaus Par Three Experience at Vidanta Riviera Maya) is a par 3 Jack Nicklaus masterpiece. The contrast that exists with the colors of this course gives it a natural Caribbean beauty - its bunkers with radiating white sand, the lakes surrounded by natural stones, area part of the game, and the type of green used on this course’s greens blend your target with the outlying weeds, making it a challenge to make par.
The beauty, the nature and the timelessness of this golf course will not only challenge, but inspire you. Lakes accompany you throughout twelve of the course’s holes, the native vegetation of the Mayan Jungle is your natural enemy and spectator and will distract you. This is all part of the challenge to win and determines the time you spend in the game. Also the design of the greens reflects history since it is constructed with styles found half of century ago.
Donut hole description. The spectacular 17th hole is characterized by its great degree of difficulty. Besides having two bunkers, one at each end, it also has a bunker in the center of the green which makes it unique to its kind. Additionally, the green is in the middle of the lake which makes it very difficult to make the covered par.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 54 | 2923 yards | ||
| Blue | 54 | 2438 yards | ||
| Red (W) | 54 | 2141 yards |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 53.0/102 | 121 | 174 | 142 | 223 | 158 | 145 | 146 | 116 | 177 | 1402 | 160 | 129 | 103 | 276 | 195 | 175 | 156 | 132 | 195 | 1521 | 2923 |
| Blue M: 52.3/101 | 98 | 148 | 131 | 190 | 137 | 116 | 130 | 106 | 152 | 1208 | 145 | 104 | 77 | 214 | 158 | 141 | 124 | 108 | 159 | 1230 | 2438 |
| Red W: 54.1/104 | 93 | 137 | 105 | 163 | 132 | 106 | 119 | 85 | 145 | 1085 | 132 | 95 | 69 | 181 | 129 | 129 | 115 | 103 | 112 | 1065 | 2150 |
| Handicap | 17 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 4 | |||
| Par | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 54 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Snacks, RestaurantLodging
Lodging AvailableAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Showers, Lockers
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
-
Photo submitted by u314163626548 on 08/13/2025
-
Photo submitted by Nightwalker on 01/18/2024
-
Photo submitted by u000007421160 on 05/16/2022
-
Photo submitted by u3424511 on 11/10/2021
-
Photo submitted by Kurt4399554 on 07/04/2021
-
Photo submitted by Kurt4399554 on 07/04/2021
-
Photo submitted by Kurt4399554 on 07/04/2021
-
Photo submitted by Kurt4399554 on 07/04/2021
-
Photo submitted by Kurt4399554 on 07/04/2021
-
Photo submitted by vasbinderd on 12/06/2020
-
Biggest lizard I’ve ever seen! Photo submitted by Darbyd0g on 12/25/2019
-
Photo submitted by u000007421160 on 05/20/2019
-
17 green. Don't get on the wrong side of bunker Photo submitted by u000004034511 on 03/18/2017
-
14 green. Tough hole, great view. Good luck. Photo submitted by u000004034511 on 03/18/2017
-
#5 ...watch the wind Photo submitted by u000004034511 on 03/18/2017
-
#13...276 yards! Why you need driver on a par 3 course Photo submitted by u000004034511 on 03/18/2017
Not again
Unfortunately, the place was completely overcrowded. There were endless waiting times. A basket of range balls costs USD40. In the pro shop you pay USD8 per ball. Unfortunately everything is overpriced. In itself, the place is beautiful and in good condition.
Great par 3 course
Great par 3 course but not without its challenges it has some tough holes for the average or beginners, I’m not the best player and I did lose more than a few balls. I did hear the same consensus from other players that were better than average. Balls are super expensive there so bring your own. Drinks are also super expensive but don’t try to sneak your own in as they X-ray your golf bag upon entry
Either way it was a great deal on golf now especially with the cost of vacation golf. One tip I have is book last minute and save 1/2 the cost with GolfNow
Decent golf course, fair services.
The golf course was OK, staff was not overly friendly, there is problem with parking if you come in with a car. Rented fairly expensive rental clubs without even a towel to clean them, the weather was hot and humid - at the beginning of the round we have received one(!) small bottle of warm water per golfer. It's all about the people - sorry, won't repeat here.
Improving Conditions
The greens were in the best condition since we started playing the course in November. (and they were good before)
Nice mix of pins. Greens in great shape. Fairways nice, and generous if you must lay up. Traps are super. T blocks a little rough.
Was a lot of fun. A little pricey, but holiday golf is expensive everywhere. Residents get a huge break.
Iovely and challenging 3 par course
Played frst time only 3 par course and I enjoyed it a lot, friendly staff, yummy breakfast, beautiful design and plants, lots of iguanas. Not easy at all. I'll come back for sure
Outstanding Once Again
7th round this winter and as always an outstanding challenge. Feels like you played a full 18 hole course, not a Par 3 executive one!
Very challenging par 3
18 hole par 3 was fun,challenging pretty. Greens had been top dressed so not as pristine as i hsd hoped. Great pace of golf .
Good Course, But Way Over Priced
fun 18 hole par 3 but the "tourist rack rate" is ridiculous. I found a hot deal and it was still about $100. Rack rate is $170/$180.
Great Course
Fun course to play.. Yes it’s a par 3 but you pretty much use all of your clubs. Lots of different hole layouts making it an interesting round.
Great par 3 course
Done longer holes mixed in with water and sand gives me ch variety. This is a great paced course for vacation moves fast.
Parr 3 course not worth playing
Terrible staff, once we arrived to the course. We had to wait 40min to get a shuttle once we were inside the resort. Upon departure it was the same. The course is cart path only and was never posted anywhere. The layout was also more like put put golf than a course that charges that kind of money. Won’t be back
Very could considering very wet weather for the last few days.k
Good par 3 challenge
First off, booking through Golf Now previously saved me money at this course. Not this time. Even with booking the “hot deal” it was more expensive. Found that out when I got there. GN without the hot deal was charging $160 not including all the booking fees. The course was charging around $100 with club rental included. This should be fixed by GN to reflect actual course cost.
The course itself is great. Some of the holes are easy but there are some legitimately tough par 3s. Some plays over 200 and 14 and 18 are quite tough with water carry and not a lot of green to work with. Overall tough but fair
Iberostar Paraiso Beach Stay & Play Package
Iberostar Selection Cancun Stay & Play Package
Iberostar Grand Paraiso Stay & Play Package
Wow! This poster is way off base. Just played this course for the 3rd time within the last month (today is Jan. 31) and the comments are way off base.
I can't comment about the shuttle, but all 3 times we've used the shuttle - back & forth was in less than 10 minutes.
Sure it's a Par 3 course, but what a nice layout. Conditions are excellent. Staff is excellent. Post game meals in the restaurant is excellent.
I hope nobody skips this course based on the posters comments.