Luxury Travel

Assessment: Rosewood Mayakoba, Riviera Maya (Mexico)

May 22, 2024

Wednesday newsletters at all times characteristic a resort or flight assessment.

A number of weeks in the past, I loved a soothing vacation within the Riviera Maya, Mexico, the place I stayed on the space’s prime three luxurious resorts. You may learn my journey stories right here:

At present: Assessment of Rosewood Mayakoba, Riviera Maya (Mexico)

Surrounded by verdant emerald jungle and white sands, Rosewood Mayakoba defines a non-public world of uncommon luxurious and refined magnificence. Situated within the coronary heart of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, the ultra-luxury resort lies alongside a stretch of Caribbean seaside and options an indulgent Sense, A Rosewood Spa, El Camaleón championship golf course designed by Greg Norman and an array of energetic and leisurely leisure pursuits. A journey to this serene retreat captivates the soul with beautiful pure magnificence and pure refinement. Rosewood Mayakoba options 129 suites – positioned both alongside the mangroves or alongside the seaside – plus 15 two-six bed room villas and the famed six bed room beachfront Founders Villa.

Rosewood Mayakoba options in my prime 10 lists of the finest luxurious resorts on the Riviera Maya and the finest Rosewood Accommodations & Resorts on the earth.

Have you ever ever stayed at Rosewood Mayakoba? If that’s the case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

On this assessment (extra data and photographs beneath my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

Surrounded by emerald jungle and winding lagoons, Rosewood Mayakoba is located on the heart of a gated resort enclave – referred to as Mayakoba – which is positioned simply north of the picturesque seaside village of Playa del Carmen and 40 minutes south of Cancun Worldwide Airport. Encompassing 595 acres of pristine lagoons, jungles and seashores, Mayakoba is house 4 award-winning resorts (Rosewood Mayakoba, Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Fairmont Mayakoba, and Andaz Mayakoba), luxurious residences and world-class resort choices, together with world-class delicacies, wellness, golf and seaside golf equipment, designed to protect and improve the native panorama. Company of Mayakoba get pleasure from easy accessibility to white sand seashores, quite a few land-and waterbased actions, close by Mayan ruins and Mayakoba’s El Camaleón Championship Golf Course.

Rosewood Mayakoba is an ultra-luxury retreat the place ocean, jungle and sky meet. It’s a distinctive property comprised of two fully completely different resort areas. One a part of the resort covers many small islands that are surrounded by a mangrove jungle and a labyrinth of freshwater canals, whereas the opposite resort space is located alongside a mile lengthy seaside, bordering the second largest coral reef on the earth. Each resort areas are house to distinct lodging, eating places and services, and related by a gorgeous path that cuts by way of the mangrove forest. All company get bikes during their keep and 24/7 buggy service is supplied as nicely, so wherever you’re, you’re at all times simply minutes away from each space with the resort, regardless of the large measurement of the Rosewood Mayakoba’s personal resort grounds.

Designed by American architect agency Three, Rosewood Mayakoba was created with the intention of offering a deep reference to the pure mangrove panorama, which is house to over tons of of indigenous wild birds, iguanas, turtles, and monkeys. That is already achieved through the check-in course of, when company arrive on the resort’s open-air foyer, which is ready on the coronary heart of the mangrove, providing magnificent views of the wilderness as a result of its elevated place. The foyer, similar to the opposite resort pavilions, encompasses a modern design and was constructed utilizing the best native supplies, primarily wooden and limestone, that have been confirmed to be essentially the most applicable supplies for development in such a fragile atmosphere. A staircase spirals down from the foyer to the lagoon, the place small boats are ready to shuttle company to their lodging, gliding by way of the peaceable canals.

Rosewood Mayakoba options 129 outsized suites, that are both constructed alongside the serene mangrove lagoons or set alongside the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Every suite is crafted from indigenous supplies comparable to Yutacan limestone and renewable wooden, and gives panoramic views of the encompassing pure habitat. Relying on the placement, the view ranges from the serene winding lagoons of Mayakoba to the rooftop ocean views of the resort’s beachfront lodging, every offering a really completely different and distinctive expertise. Moreover these seaside or lagoon lodging, there are additionally wellness suites, that are positioned near the spa and whose company get pleasure from complimentary entry to scheduled health and wellness courses. All luxurious retreats are complemented with 24-hour butler service.

Throughout my go to, I stayed in a gorgeous Deluxe Lagoon Suite, which was set alongside the mangroves and accessed by way of its personal particular person boat dock. The spacious one-bedroom stand-alone villa featured a bed room with king mattress and sitting room – with eating space and couch mattress – that might be closed off from the bed room with sliding doorways for added privateness. The ensuite lavatory was geared up with two wash basins, an indoor bathe, a big soaking bathtub and outside rain bathe set amidst lush cascading greenery. There was additionally a second lavatory with a rain bathe. The spacious inside was outfitted with modern furnishings and a contemporary design emphasizing stylish simplicity. Each the lounge and bed room opened to an out of doors terrace and a tropical backyard, full with a non-public plunge pool.

Rosewood Mayakoba additionally encompasses a assortment of ultra-luxurious Personal Residences that are located alongside the property’s winding freshwater lagoons or overlooking the ocean. With inside envisioned by Caroline Masserman of Bando x Seidel Meersseman, the personal villas can be found for nightly bookings and have 4 distinctive layouts. Every of the 2 to 6 bed room villas mirror a senses of relaxed sophistication and refined subtlety by way of a layered strategy to supplies, colours and textures that complement Rosewood Mayakoba’s fashionable structure and celebration of Mexican traditions. All Personal Residences provide an open flooring plan, outsized terraces and modern customized furnishings crafted by Mexican artisans, reflecting the area’s Mayan heritage.

Rosewood Maykoba options three lovely swimming pools areas, two of them positioned by the seaside:
- Surrounded by a gorgeous tropical deck, Casa Del Lago pool is positioned subsequent to the foyer – in entrance of Casa Del Lago Restaurant (extra on that beneath) and overlooks the lagoon and waterways of Mayakoba. Since most company are stress-free at their personal pool or close to the seaside through the day, it’s at all times fairly right here.
- The beach-front Punta Benito pool is positioned in entrance of the restaurant with the identical identify. The distinctive infinity edge household pool comes with two built-in Jacuzzis in addition to an expansive lounge space. It gives sweeping views of the azure waters mixing seamlessly into the colourful blue sky.
- Proper subsequent to the Punta Benito pool space is the resort’s adults-only seaside membership. Right here, open-air palapas, three small swimming pools, and seaside lounge seating unique to resort company provide a pristine oceanfront Caribbean setting to get pleasure from from day to nighttime.

The center of wellness at Rosewood Mayakoba is the resort’s state-of-the-art Sense, A Rosewood Spa, which is tucked away by itself personal island amongst freshwater lagoons. This luxury therapeutic atmosphere gives twelve therapy rooms, full hydrotherapy circuits, rest lounges, a non-public yoga pavilion, eight in a single day Wellness Suites, and sensory Kuxtal Backyard – a spot of profound peace reflecting the Mayan philosophy of life. The wellness vacation spot gives a spectrum of transformative experiences to develop, illuminate, and information company towards renewed energy, stability, and well being. The spa can be house to a spacious health heart, which features a full vary of cardio and resistance tools, a widespread space devoted to stretching and free weights, in addition to useful coaching equipment comparable to TRX and BOSU out there with personal coaching periods.

Rosewood Mayakoba encompasses a big selection of eating places and bars:
- Situated alongside the primary pool close to the foyer is Casa Del Lago. Every morning, the venue gives genuine a la carte dishes, together with traditional chilaquiles, conventional sopes, and 4 variations of huevos rancheros. As well as, a small continental breakfast gives premium cheeses, meats, smoked salmon, native fruit, pastries, cereals, yogurts, and extra. At evening, Casa del Lago transitions right into a modern dinnertime restaurant with an ever-evolving menu.
- Set subsequent to the foyer is Agave Azul Savor, a up to date venue serving recent Baja California seafood with Asian influences overlooking the lagoon.
- Zapote Bar is a day-to-night vacation spot serving craft cocktails that showcase hand-crafted spirits and draw inspiration from the Yucatán. Ranked amongst North America’s 50 Finest Bars for 2 consecutive 12 months, Zapote Bar additionally serves Center Japanese influences and Lebanese live-fire cooking methods in honor of the Yucatán’s numerous culinary roots.
- Set beneath a shocking Ceiba tree within the resort’s lush gardens, La Ceiba Backyard & Kitchen gives genuine al fresco culinary journey showcasing conventional Mayan cooking methods. This one-of-a-kind culinary journey celebrates the Yucatan Peninsula’s storied Mayan roots with a multi-course menu showcasing conventional open-flame cooking methods and hyper-seasonal regional substances. Company are seated at lengthy communal tables alongside fellow company in addition to Rosewood employees members. The restaurant is house to limited-run culinary collaborations with esteemed cooks from round Mexico, the USA, and past.
- Situated alongside the beachfront famlily pool, Punta Bonita is a laid-back eatery with indoor and terrace seating showcases the colourful palate of Mexico’s Southern Pacific Coast. Open for lunch and dinner, the venue serves freshly caught seafood, made-to-order ceviche, and mesquite charcoal-cooked tlayudas.
- Aqui Me Quedo is a restaurant positioned on the adults-only seaside membership, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Through the day, the venue additionally contains La Cantina, a retrofitted classic meals truck, serving informal Mexican fare comparable to ceviche, Tijuana-style shrimp tacos, frozen cocktails, and extra. As soon as the solar goes down, Aquí Me Quedo transitions right into a modern nighttime restaurant on the sand, highlighting flavors from the southern coast of Mexico, in addition to hosts rotating culinary experiences together with Thursday evening’s Mexican Grill, and Sunday’s Seaside Meals Fest, a tribute to the nation’s vibrant avenue meals tradition.
- Situated in El Pueblito village sq., La Fondita An elegant cantina providing tostadas and mezcals.
- Pan Dulce Ais a tasty Mexican bakery located in El Pueblito village sq..

Rosewood Mayakoba is managed by Rosewood Accommodations & Resorts, one of many world’s most unique resort manufacturers. The Rosewood story started in 1979 when a historic mansion in Dallas, Texas was reworked into an acclaimed world-class resort – The Mansion on Turtle Creek – whose success was the blueprint for all subsequent Rosewood properties. At present, the group manages a particular assortment of residential-style resorts throughout the globe, together with well-known properties comparable to The Carlyle (New York) and Las Ventanas al Paraíso (Mexico). Every property delivers a one-of-a-kind atmosphere and magnificence, wherein location, tradition, historical past and geography are a part of the material of the resort, reflecting the corporate’s “Sense of Place” philosophy. I’ve beforehand reviewed the next Rosewood Accommodations & Resorts:

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

The results of local weather change – with seaside erosion as a result of gobal warming – are evident alongside the Riviera Maya. And sadly, that is notably seen at Mayakoba, the place continual erosion has stripped the world of a few of its white-sand beachfront. Mayakoba used to have one of many widest and most beautiful seashores on the Riviera Maya, however at this time, it’s largely only a slender strip of white sands. In 2017, the Mayakoba enclave took efforts to revive the seaside to its former glory by rebuilding the world’s coastal dunes and creating new coral boundaries. The goal was to create a much better and wider seaside, and though which will have partly succeeded in sure areas of the resort, it did come at a price for the reason that view of the seaside has modified for good (with erosion and algae barrier clearly seen proper in entrance of the resort).

The seashores of the Riviera Maya – together with Mayaoba Seaside – are affected by the presence of sargassum seaweed, which is a priority to many vacationers. Traditionally, the seaweed season sometimes began initially of spring (April) as a result of an increase in sea temperature, and peaked through the summer season months. Nonetheless, within the final decade and doubtless as a result of world warming, seaweed has appeared at any time all year long, making it difficult to foretell its seasonal patterns. For instance, after I visited in late January, a large quantity of seaweed washed onshore throughout a number of storms that handed over the world. Sadly, the seaweed at Mayakoba wasn’t eliminated every day, which was a distinction with the opposite resorts I stayed at.

Though Rosewood Mayakoba is positioned in an infinite property, the resort might really feel crowded in sure areas at instances of excessive occupancy. That is notably the case on the household pool alongside the seaside, the adults solely seaside membership and the eating places. Throughout peak season, the eating places, spa and actions additionally get booked up rapidly, so plan and guide early. Additionally, the resort clearly focuses on American vacationers, with an American vibe current in most resort areas (e.g. loud music within the bars & eating places, eating venue with communal tables, and so on …)., which you’ll both love or hate, relying in your preferences.

Meals at Rosewood Mayakoba is nice, albeit costly, and isn’t included in most leeway packages. Additionally, the resort has many bars and eating places, and at first, I discovered the huge number of culinary ideas to be complicated a bit. For instance, Zapote is known as a bar (and is happy with its inclusion in North America’s 50 Finest Bars) however its in truth a restaurant. Additionally, aside from the sushi restaurant, all venues appear to serve Mexican impressed meals, with out clear distinction. Personally, I additionally missed the presence of a signature restaurant at Rosewood Mayakba, a real superb eating restaurant providing a serene and tranquil ambiance and with the ambition to gather a number of Michelin stars.

MY VERDICT

Location: 8/10
Design: 9/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 9/10
Meals: 8/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Wow issue: 8/10
Worth for cash: 8/10
General expertise: 8.5/10 (excellent)

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when reserving by way of Virtuoso (e.g. room improve, day by day breakfast, early check-in, late check-out and $100 USD resort credit score).

Lower your expenses: learn right here my ideas for getting the perfect deal at a luxurious resort like Rosewood Mayakoba (and/or obtain many free perks).

Learn my ideas for making ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The Riviera Maya in Mexico has a subtropical local weather with two seasons – a wet season (Might to October) and a dry season (November to April). The very best time to go to is December to March when the temperatures are a bit extra snug and there are fewer rain showers. Through the wet season, interval temperatures stay excessive and though it rains day by day, downpours don’t are usually extended. There’s a probability for hurricanes, particularly from July to October.

HOW TO GET THERE

Rosewood Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico is positioned 40 minutes by automobile from Cancun Worldwide Airport, which is served by most North- and South American in addition to some European airways. Verify the Wikipedia web page of Cancun Worldwide Airport for a constantly up to date listing of airways that supply direct flights to Cancun.

PHOTOS

Right here’s a choice of my photographs of Rosewood Mayakoba, Riviera Maya in Mexico. To view extra resort photographs (together with breakfast and dinner), click on right here.