Mayakoba El Camaleon Golf Club

Location: Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya | Par: 72 | Designer: Greg Norman

Set within the luxury Mayakoba resort complex on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, El Camaleón Golf Course is one of the most celebrated golf courses in Latin America. Designed by Greg Norman, this championship layout is famous for its dramatic natural variety, weaving seamlessly through tropical jungle, mangrove forests, freshwater canals, and oceanfront dunes.

The golf club forms the sporting heart of the Mayakoba community, featuring an elegant clubhouse that offers panoramic views across the course and surrounding lagoons. Facilities include a fully equipped pro shop, modern locker rooms, extensive practice facilities with a driving range and short-game areas, and professional instruction services. The clubhouse restaurant and terrace provide an upscale yet relaxed setting for post-round dining, with a focus on fresh regional cuisine and premium hospitality.

Home to the PGA TOUR’s Mexico Open at VidantaWorld (formerly the Mayakoba Golf Classic), El Camaleón offers a tour-tested challenge while remaining highly playable for resort golfers. The course rewards precision and course management, with generous fairways balanced by strategically placed hazards and undulating greens.

Travel tip: El Camaleón is ideal for winter sun golf, with the best playing conditions typically between November and April, when humidity is lower, and temperatures are more comfortable.

El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Course overview

Ranked the no.6 course in Mexico by Top 100 Golf Courses

El Camaleón is an 18-hole, par-72 championship course that takes its name from the Spanish word for “chameleon,” reflecting how the layout constantly changes character as it moves through different ecosystems. Several holes play alongside natural waterways, while others emerge onto exposed coastal terrain with stunning ocean views.

The course design emphasizes accuracy over power, making it an enjoyable test for golfers of all abilities. Immaculate conditioning, dramatic backdrops, and tour-level presentation combine to deliver one of the most memorable rounds in Mexico.

Signature Holes

The par-3 15th is the signature hole at El Camaleon. It’s only 155 yards, but it runs alongside the Caribbean, and the strong ocean breeze always makes club selection tricky. Enjoy the sweeping views of Cozumel and the world’s second-largest coral reef.

Clubhouse & facilities

El Camaleón features a modern clubhouse, a fully stocked pro shop, locker rooms, and dining options offering Mexican and international cuisine. Service levels reflect the luxury standards of the Mayakoba resorts, ensuring a premium experience on and off the course.

Golfers can take advantage of excellent practice facilities, including a full driving range, putting greens, and short-game areas - ideal for warming up before your round or refining your game during a golf vacation.

Location

El Camaleón Golf Course is located approximately 45 minutes south of Cancun International Airport, within easy reach of Playa del Carmen and the wider Riviera Maya.

Travel tip: Pair El Camaleón with nearby courses such as Riviera Maya Golf Club or Iberostar Playa Paraíso to create a varied and high-quality Mexico golf itinerary.

Did You Know?

Fred Funk was the first winner of the PGA TOUR’s Mayakoba Golf Classic in 2007.