Riu Playa Blanca - All Inclusive

Customer ratings & reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

5760 reviews

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  Black sand beaches at Riu Playa Blanca

  Our journey to Panama started off on a positive note with a smooth flight. Upon our arrival, we were pleasantly surprised by the efficient transfer from the airport to the Hotel Riu, which took only about 15 minutes. Stepping into the lobby, we were greeted by a clean, beautifully decorated space that exuded a welcoming ambiance. However, our excitement was somewhat dampened by the long wait time at reception. After an hour of standing in line, we finally began the check-in process, only to be informed that the "ocean view" room we had booked was unavailable. Instead, we were offered a similar room. Despite our disappointment, we decided to accept the alternative and moved forward, thrilled to find complimentary self-serve welcome drinks awaiting us. Heading to our room, we hoped for the best, but our initial excitement quickly turned to frustration. The room we received faced the opposite side of the resort, obscured by palm trees and adjacent balconies. It was far from the ocean view we had anticipated. After contacting the front desk to express our dissatisfaction, we were met with resistance. The staff insisted that our room was an ocean view, directing us to speak with the hotel manager if we had any issues. Unfortunately, even after discussing our reservation with the manager, we received no resolution; they reaffirmed that the room was deemed satisfactory. We felt disheartened and upset as our vacation nearly began on a negative note. Determined not to allow this setback to ruin our experience in Panama, we resolved to embrace the rest of our stay. Once settled, we ventured to the beach, only to find the pool area congested, with limited beach chairs available. Upon arrival at the beach, we encountered a similar situation—while some areas lacked adequate chairs, others were more plentiful. The beach itself was a lively hub, with locals mingling and pop-up stands offering souvenirs. A group of vendors provided horseback rides along the shore, which, while a charming experience, became intrusive at times as they persistently approached sunbathers. Despite these minor annoyances, the beach itself was striking. The expanse of white sand near the resort gradually transitioned to a unique black, shiny sand farther down the shoreline, a result of volcanic ash. Locals remarked on the health benefits attributed to this distinct sand when applied to the skin. However, we did notice some areas with sand mites, which was uncomfortable. One of the highlights of our stay was the attentive service provided by the bartenders. They communicated beautifully with everyone around, constantly engaging in conversation while keeping a vibrant atmosphere at the bars. Their warm hospitality and enthusiastic demeanor significantly contributed to our enjoyment, transforming our beach days into memorable experiences. Great job! The dining experience at the hotel included several à la carte options, which were a bit hit or miss. There were times when the lines were long, but there were also occasions with no wait at all. Regardless of the wait time, each dish—even the simplest ones—boasted excellent presentation. We took part in a couple of excursions during our stay. One memorable adventure involved trekking through what felt like an Amazon rainforest, where the highlight was spotting a sloth, who paid no mind to us. Another excursion led us to a butterfly sanctuary, where we learned about various species and experienced a unique environment filled with thousands of butterflies happily fluttering around. They were harmless, landing on us occasionally without being bothersome—a delightful experience, though perhaps not ideal for someone easily irritated. We ended one of our excursions at a volcanic hot spring area, indulging in a relaxing mud bath that was a unique and therapeutic experience. Throughout our stay, we spent most of our time at the beach, often relaxing under an umbrella, especially on the humid days. While our experience at Hotel Riu started with a significant hiccup regarding our room, we chose to focus on the positives and make the most of our time in Panama. The beautiful beach, the local culture, exciting excursions, and dedicated staff enriched our stay, making it a vacation we will remember. If you plan to visit, be prepared for some potential hiccups, but rest assured that the warm atmosphere of Panama has much to offer.

  Feb 10, 2026
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  A Very Beautiful Resort

  Overall I had a wonderful time. It was very hot and humid in January, it must get hotter later in the year. The beach was sandy and the ocean was warm !! Sometimes the waves were big enough to make it hard to get in and out, but I managed. There are four pools, the kids pool the adults pool the main pool and the ??? pool, not mentioned on their app. My Sea View room was worth the extra money, the wraparound balcony overlooked the courtyard, the pools and the beach. The all-included food was good and the drinks too. The breakfast omelet station was the best, Blessy remembered my order each morning, it made me feel a bit special !!

  Feb 08, 2026
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  Honest Review

  This is a great resort IF you want: - quiet - rest - good food - few activities If you want nightlife or excitement, pick somehwere else. The good: Food was amazing, buffet was clean, fresh food, lots of variety, different every night. For those complaining about the food, they should never go to an all-inclusive as this was one of the best I've had. Not specialty food, but good, wholesome, well cooked, clean. Restful - it's quiet. entertainment is done by 10pm (and it's loud everywhere) but done early. Someone else complained about construction, they are crazy. there is construction but it starts 8am and finishes by 4pm. it's beside the hotel and not a problem. Pools - there are 4 pools, all clean. they were renovating the kids pool halfway through our week. Service - the staff are wonderful. pleasant and eager to please. not hands out for tips all the time (although we tipped bc why wouldn't you!?) but it was a nice change from Mexico or Cuba or DR. The Bad: Pool chairs - I read the comments and ignored them. Do not ignore them. I got up at 8am, then 7am, then 6:30am then 5:30am - none of these days did I get a chair in the shade. I made a complaint to the hotel, nothing happened except they told me that you cannot reserve a chair until 7am. While they say this, they do nothing about it. The challnge (for a fair-person like myself) is sitting in the direct sun all day = burning. Bring lots of sunscreen! Sunshirts! The sunscreen at the hotel is about $20 USD per bottle. Death ride - the shuttle from the Panama City airport was a ride of death. It was 2 hours of 130km/hr; guy watching his videos on his phone weaving in & out of traffic and my life passed before my eyes. We passed no less than 3 accidents, at least 1 fatality. I strongly recommend flying to closer airport. I will never repeat this death drive again. Overall - good trip. Loved the quiet. Loved the food. if you need a week of relaxing in the sun; you will love it.

  Feb 03, 2026
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  A definitely must try beach resort!!

  Very good resort, everyone and everything was perfect, food, staff, room, environment. The beach was amazing. Also so many entertainment throughout the day and specifically at night. I would come back six month in July/august

  Jan 30, 2026
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  Great vacation. Panama did not disappoint. Hotel and food were great. Beach was beautiful for long walks.

  This hotel was great and the food was plentiful. We were all adults so spent all of our time at the adult swim-up pool bar. It would have been better having servers come around to take drink orders, but that wasn’t a big thing for us. We were out securing chairs at 5:45 every morning as they go fast. We were a party of 10 so we needed to be out early. The beach was beautiful for long walks in the morning. Beautiful sunrises to see. Walked the beach every morning at 6:30 am. So beautiful. Food was great at the buffet. Big variety. Italian restaurant was great as was the Steakhouse. The entertainment was repetitive with mostly lip-singing and dancing. It was way too loud. The disco was fun after the show, opening at 10 pm. All in all it was a great vacation.

  Jan 28, 2026