Moon Palace Golf
Moon Palace is the headline course of the Cancun resort scene, the first Jack Nicklaus Signature design the region ever had. The Golden Bear carved twenty seven holes out of the Yucatan jungle in 2002, three nines named Jungle, Lakes and Dunes that combine to a par 72 of more than 7,100 yards. Play it on the all inclusive plan and the green fee buys the round, the cart and unlimited food and drink as you go.
Photo: Charlie Allison via Google.
The verdict
When Moon Palace opened in 2002 it brought championship golf to a corner of Mexico better known for its beaches. Jack Nicklaus laid out three distinct nines, the Jungle, the Lakes and the Dunes, each with its own character, that pair up to make three different eighteen hole routings. Whichever combination you draw, you play a par 72 stretching to somewhere between about 7,165 and 7,291 yards, with water and dense tropical vegetation framing nearly every hole.
This is resort golf at its most generous. Moon Palace sits within the sprawling Palace Resorts complex, and on the all inclusive golf plan the green fee covers far more than the round, taking in the shared cart, range balls, lockers and unlimited food and beverage delivered on the course and at the clubhouse. The conditioning is lush, the service is polished, and the layout is testing enough for the better player while staying playable from the forward tees for a mixed group.
Moon Palace at a glance
- Opened
- 2002
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Tropical resort, 27 holes
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- To 7,291 yds
- Green fee
- About $303
The 2002 opening, the Jack Nicklaus Signature design, the twenty seven hole layout across the Jungle, Lakes and Dunes nines and the par 72 yardage of about 7,165 to 7,291 yards were verified June 2026 from Palace Resorts and Nicklaus Design records. Green fees are indicative, with a 2026 all inclusive rate around 303 dollars covering the round, shared cart and unlimited food and beverage, with lower twilight and replay rates; figures change by season and year. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Nicklaus designed Moon Palace to ask a question on every shot without overwhelming the resort golfer. The fairways are broad enough to find from the right tees, but the approaches are guarded by water and the deep bunkering the Golden Bear favors, so the premium is on club selection and a steady nerve over a forced carry. The greens are large and subtly contoured, quick when the trade winds dry them out.
Each of the three nines has its own signature. The Lakes nine lives up to its name with water in play across most holes, the Jungle nine threads through dense Yucatan forest with tighter corridors, and the Dunes nine, the newest, opens into more rolling, sandy ground. The variety means a thirty six hole day never feels repetitive, and the resort can rotate the combinations so the course stays fresh across a multi day stay.
What makes Moon Palace such an easy course to recommend is the package around it. The golf is genuine Nicklaus, but it is wrapped in the comfort of an all inclusive resort where the round, the food, the drinks and the transfers are all handled. Paired with the beaches, the spa and the wider Riviera Maya, it makes a relaxed and family friendly base for a Cancun golf trip that still gives the serious player a proper test.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to the public and to Palace Resorts guests; tee times are booked through the club or the resort, with packages for guests staying on property |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 all inclusive rate around 303 dollars for eighteen holes, covering the shared cart and unlimited food and beverage, with lower twilight and replay rates |
| Booking | Book ahead in the busy November to April high season; stay and play packages with the Palace resorts bundle golf with rooms and transfers |
| On the day | Carts included with the all inclusive fee; the green fee typically covers range balls, lockers and food and drink delivered on course |
| Getting there | A short drive from Cancun and the hotel zone, roughly twenty five to thirty minutes from Cancun International Airport |
| Best months | November to April for the driest, coolest weather; the summer is hotter and more humid with afternoon showers |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from Palace Resorts; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the resort or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is one of the Palace Resorts properties, the Moon Palace Cancun resort beside the course, which bundles the golf into its all inclusive packages along with the rooms, dining and transfers. Staying within the complex puts you minutes from the first tee and folds the green fees neatly into a single resort plan.
Beyond the resort gates, Cancun and the Riviera Maya offer everything from beachfront all inclusives to boutique hotels in Playa del Carmen and Tulum, all within an easy drive. Cancun International Airport is one of the best connected in the Americas, which makes Moon Palace a simple addition to a beach holiday or the centerpiece of a dedicated Yucatan golf trip taking in the region's other Nicklaus and resort courses.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at Moon Palace and across Cancun and the Riviera Maya.
Play Moon Palace and the Riviera Maya
We build Cancun and Riviera Maya trips around Moon Palace, bundling the all inclusive golf, the resort stay and the transfers from the airport. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Moon Palace questions
Who designed Moon Palace Golf Club?
Moon Palace was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2002 as the first Jack Nicklaus Signature course in the Cancun and Riviera Maya region. Nicklaus laid out three nines, the Jungle, Lakes and Dunes, within the Palace Resorts complex.
How many holes does Moon Palace have?
Moon Palace has twenty seven holes across three nines named Jungle, Lakes and Dunes. They combine into three different eighteen hole routings, each playing to a par 72 of about 7,165 to 7,291 yards.
What is included in the Moon Palace green fee?
On the all inclusive golf plan the green fee covers far more than the round, typically taking in a shared cart, range balls, lockers and unlimited food and beverage on the course and at the clubhouse. Confirm exactly what is included when you book.
How much does it cost to play Moon Palace?
An indicative 2026 all inclusive rate is around 303 dollars for eighteen holes, with lower twilight and replay rates. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can the public play Moon Palace?
Yes. Moon Palace is open to the public as well as to Palace Resorts guests. Tee times are booked through the club or the resort, and stay and play packages bundle the golf with rooms and airport transfers.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tropical resort golf, Nicklaus designs and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.