continued
Drawn by the name and my curiousity, Steven and I were set to enjoy the Food of the Gods treatment, which began with a cocoa scrub. After a rinse in our private shower, we returned to our tables for a delicious cocoa-infused massage. Finally, as we were led away from the treatment room, our therapists handed us a commodity that was once prized as much as gold—authentic Mayan cocoa—a rich, sinful, and delightful way to end this unique treatment.
After a delicious dinner at La Laguna Grill & Bar, we sauntered back to our room. As I was lying in bed that night, I realized that the Maroma and Mayakoba experiences each offer something unique and cater to a wide array of tastes and interests. Maroma is secluded, forcing even the busiest of us to slow down and savor the sweet, warm air. Mayakoba reconnects us with the sun, encouraging both leisure and activity. After our rebirth at Maroma, it was refreshing to lounge by the Fairmont’s pool, sip margaritas, and watch as the waves crash into the shore. The essence of the Riviera Maya is found by just settling in, letting the pace of the people, the beauty of the food and views, and the glorious treatments entice you to unwind and reflect, gently coaxing you to experience your own rebirth.
Address Book:
Fairmont Mayakoba
(984) 206-3000
www.fairmont.com/mayakoba
Maroma Resort & Spa
(866) 454-9351
www.maromahotel.com
The Mayakoba Complex: A Wealth of Choices
Born from a mangrove jungle and designed with green in mind, the Mayakoba (Mayan for “city on the water”) complex offers a wealth of luxury brand choices in one ecologically balanced site near Playa del Carmen. Here, even the golf courses are woven into the landscape with environmental integrity. Sitting on a series of lagoons and canals (like a Mexican Venice), four exciting hotels interpret their space by the sea. Recently opened, The Fairmont Mayakoba, consists of low-lying casitas grouped along the canals, which guests may traverse by electric boat to visit the various hotels, spas, and restaurants. The Fairmont’s golf course has a family of friendly iguanas that inhabit it, and the entire hotel adheres to the Fairmont’s innovative green initiative. Opening this spring, the Rosewood Mayakoba employs its penchant to embrace the history, culture, and geography of a place. Here, the Mayan landscape is celebrated in low-slung structures built with Yucatan limestone. Spacious hut-style rooms perch beachfront, along the lagoon, and by the jungle. Others float on pylons over the water. The unforgettable spa, situated on its own island atop a cenote, features an indigenous menu. Opening this year, the Viceroy Mayakoba, brings a sophisticated, yet tranquil, urbanity to the site. Innovative spa treatments include authentic Mayan rituals and holistic and organic therapies with ingredients picked fresh from the spa’s own garden. Finally, the Banyan Tree Mayakoba, slated for 2009, plans to fuse a little Asia to the Mexican sea. The hotel plans include free-standing rooms with private pools, meditation pavilions, and luxurious poolside terraces. Outdoor spa pavilions will line the lagoon, and the hotel’s signature restaurant, Saffron, will hover over a freeform pool. www.mayakoba.com
—Becca Hensley
So Many Choices, So Little Time
Mingling Caribbean color with Mexican joie de vivre, the Riviera Maya boasts as many hotels as it does beaches. The key is picking from the plethora of offerings. Wherever you stay, you’ll want to explore the Great Mayan Reef, nearby ancient ruins, jungles, caves, cenotes, beaches, and parks. Consider these hotels when heading down south.
• Wedged upon a private beach, intimate Paraiso de la Bonita is a symphony of open courtyards, fountains, Mayan-inspired architecture, and decorated villas. Its Thalasso Spa spoils guests with treatments utilizing deep sea derived salt water, thermal clay, plankton, and marine mud. We love the seaweed body treatment. www.paraisodelabonita.com
• Unpretentious yet elegant, the eco aware Tides Riviera Maya, near arresting Xcalacoco village, splurges the spirit. The Maya Spa specializes in holistic, indigenous treatments and an oceanside yoga studio faces the rising sun. www.tidesrivieramaya.com
• Set against the sleepy fishing village of Puerto Morales, flanked by sea and jungle, Ceiba del Mar defies the cookie-cutter formula of some Riviera Mayan resorts. Amply spaced, its buildings meld with the environment to evoke solitude and tranquility. Its holistic spa renews with your choice of fifty essential oils. www.ceibadelmar.com
• Europe meets the Yucatan at Le Meridian Hotel and Spa, just ten minutes from downtown Cancun. There is nothing miniscule about Le Meridan; the Spa del Mar—a 15,000-square-foot haven that indulges with local ingredients like chocolate, coffee, and coconut—is no exception. www.starwoodhotels.com
• Riviera Maya’s new kid on the block, the Mandarin Oriental sits on 36 acres of tropical land. A sanctuary attune with Mayan influences, the soul of the place is a 25,000-square-foot spa that offers such traditional Mayan treatments as temazcal and time journeys. www.mandarinoriental.com
• Situated at the tip of the Yucatan peninsula, the Ritz-Carlton Riviera Maya excels with classic brand standards. Best of all, Keyanta, the beachfront spa, offers unique, ancient treatments like Lol-Ha, a sacred Mayan bridal ritual and Zac-Xib, a scrub and bath ritual for men. www.ritzcarlton.com
—B.H.
March/April 2008
