El Cameleon Course
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, MX
El Camaleón, a Greg Norman design etched into the Riviera Maya coastline, dares golfers to embrace risk amid a unique trifecta of ecosystems: dense tropical jungle, unforgiving mangrove thickets, and windswept oceanfront. The layout, a post-2000 creation, presents a modern test of shot-making, where strategic angles are more valuable than brute force and where each nine returns to a central clubhouse area with its famed tequila bar. The course gained early prominence as the long-time host of the World Wide Technology Championship on the PGA Tour. The event served as a proving ground for both rising stars and established names seeking to navigate the course's distinct challenges, where players frequently have to manufacture shots to contend with the relentless winds. Beyond the tournament pedigree, El Camaleón provides a memorable experience rooted in the surrounding landscape. Unique cenotes punctuate the course, serving as both hazards and natural wonders and the signature hole, the par-3 15th, plays directly over the Caribbean Sea. This juxtaposition of demanding golf and breathtaking scenery offers a distinctly Mexican golfing experience and the adjacent resort has become known as a place to unwind.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Public: #172
Best in México
Public: #4
Best in Quintana Roo
Public: #1
Golfers say this resort course delivers stunning coastal views and memorable features, with reviewers praising the beachside par 3s and creative use of natural elements like the cenote bunker. Most find the routing accessible to all skill levels and appreciate the quirky design touches that feel authentic to the property. The pace of play draws consistent criticism, with some reporting extremely slow rounds exceeding six hours and minimal ranger intervention despite the premium green fee. While one reviewer calls it a favorite destination, others note it's an enjoyable experience they wouldn't necessarily prioritize for repeat visits given the cost and time commitment.
8.4
61 players
Views are amazing, quirks are good and don't feel shoehorned in. Overall great experience but not a course I'd push to play over and over again.
Fun golf course to play where the pros have played. Good resort course layout that’s accessible to all levels of play with a couple great par 3s right on the beach. Fun use of the land it’s on with the cenote bunker and water features. Only real downside is the cost and pace of play. It was one of the slowest rounds I’ve ever played, with 5 groups on a tee box by the 13th hole. We teed off just after noon and the sun was starting to set when we finished at 6:15. Rangers did nothing about it either, likely because of how expensive the round is.
Favorite place on Earth! Will never say no to a course on the water.
Public courses closest to El Cameleon at El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Club.
Most arrivals touch down at Cancún International Airport (CUN), a major Caribbean gateway less than forty miles north along the Riviera Maya coastline. The southbound drive to Playa del Carmen traces the edge of the turquoise sea, transitioning from bustling hotel zones to the quieter stretch of Mayakoba, where the jungle presses close to the shore. El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Club sits within the gated Mayakoba resort enclave, accessed by a private road that winds through mangrove wetlands and tropical canopy - a hushed, green corridor that signals arrival at one of Mexico's most celebrated golf destinations.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
El Cameleon at El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 8.4 out of 10 based on 35 explicit golfer ratings.
El Cameleon was designed by Greg Norman.
Yes. El Cameleon at El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at El Cameleon is 72.
The slope rating at El Cameleon is 137.
El Cameleon is a 18-hole course.
