Luxury Travel

Evaluation: Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, Riviera Maya (Mexico)

May 19, 2024

Wednesday newsletters at all times characteristic a lodge or flight evaluation.

Just a few weeks in the past, I loved a calming vacation within the Riviera Maya, Mexico, the place I stayed on the space’s high three luxurious resorts. You possibly can learn my journey stories right here:

Right now: Evaluation of Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, Riviera Maya (Mexico)

Positioned within the beating coronary heart of the Riviera Maya, Belmond Maroma feels extra like a Mexican hacienda than a resort. Right here is the place the true spirit of the Riviera Maya was born, between the jungle and the wide-open sea, and the place Mayan mystique blends with refined vitality. This secluded hideaway captivates with the sights, sounds, and smells of genuine Mexican tradition. Superbly renovated and absolutely reimagined, the resort boasts 72 gentle, ethereal, art-filled rooms by acclaimed designer Tara Bernerd. Beachfront eating places supply mouth-watering delicacies whereas the bars serve up artisanal mezcals and uncommon wines. The property can also be house to the most effective spa on the Riviera Maya.

Maroma, a Belmond Lodge options in my high 10 lists of the greatest luxurious motels on the Riviera Maya and the greatest Belmond Inns & Resorts on the earth.

Have you ever ever stayed at Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, Riviera Maya? In that case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

On this evaluation (extra information and images beneath my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

Maroma, a Belmond Lodge is situated alongside a stunning stretch of seaside in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. As soon as belonging to the traditional Mayan Empire, the Riviera Maya contains a 130 km (80 mi) stretch of Caribbean shoreline. A single principal highway – Freeway 307 – runs the size of the area, from Cancun to Tulum. Branching eastwards are small roads resulting in resorts and the seashores, whereas westward takes you inland to rural cities and historic ruins. Though it could be laborious to tear your self away from Belmond’s self-contained world of luxurious, those that select to discover the Riviera Maya are richly rewarded as they unearth a area filled with pure and cultural sights, akin to genuine fishing villages and historic ruins. The resort is a 30-min drive from Cancun Worldwide Airport, a 20-minute drive from Playa del Carmen, and a 1-hour drive from Tulum.

The historical past of Maroma, a Belmond Lodge started with a love story. In 1976, architect José Luis Moreno was flying over the white sands, turquoise waters and luxurious jungle of the Riviera Maya when he discovered himself enthusiastic about the great thing about Punta Maroma, a distant bay situated 40 km ( 25 mi) south of Cancun. Years later, he and his spouse settled down in a small dwelling by the seaside. Over time, Moreno would add a restaurant, rooms and suites to accommodate his family and friends. He labored with a household of Maya masons – true believers of the Sacred Geometry – to align the white stucco buildings with power fields; take a more in-depth look and you’ll discover solely spherical finishes, guaranteeing optimistic power movement. Maroma was the primary lodge within the Riviera Maya, utilizing the most effective of Mexican craft and supplies, and established itself as the guts of this magical coastal stretch.

Though the Riviera Maya was largely untouched till the early Eighties, the realm is now a crowded vacationer mecca with mega-resorts sitting shoulder to shoulder. Nevertheless, Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, is in a distinct league because the lodge is situated inside 200 acres heaven of beachfront jungle, providing tranquility and seclusion that may be a world aside from the mass tourism that the Riviera Maya is now identified for. The luxurious property is approached by way of a gravel highway, which winds its approach by means of thick forest, the place spider monkeys play within the tree cover. Upon arrival, a small welcome foyer results in the lodge’s principal pavilion, which seems like a lavish Mexican hacienda, full with courtyard pool, white stucco turrets and palapa rooflines. From right here, idyllic walkways by means of the jungle and alongside the seaside results in lodging, spa, two different swimming pools and gymnasium (extra on that beneath).

In 2023, Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, reopened, following a full renovation with Mayan tradition at its core. Internationally famend designer, Tara Bernerd, was on the helm of the excellent restoration, working hand-in-hand with native artisans to honor Mexican heritage. The unique design and structure of the property was preserved, together with the white stucco buildings, aligned to the Sacred Geometry of Mayan masonry. Curved strains and natural kinds impressed by the property’s wild surrounds inform the harmonious indoor-outdoor movement of public areas and the rooms. Each design particulars on the lodge is exclusive, from every of the 700,000 items of tile (that have been created only for the lodge by grasp ceramist José Noé Suro) and hand-carved wood furnishings by Alfredo Alfaro Joffroy to custom-made glassware by Max Kublailan (that may be discovered within the furnishings) and authentically crafted textiles by Concepción Orvananos.

Maroma, a Belmond Lodge options 72 art-filled rooms and suites, simply steps away from the seaside. This contains 10 new waterfront suites which have been added in the course of the 2023 renovation. Throughout my vacation, I stayed in a stunning ocean-front one bed room suite, whose entrance was situated simply across the nook of the lodge’s principal pool space. The suite featured a separate dwelling space, a spacious bed room with kingsize mattress, and a toilet geared up with double wash basins, a stand-alone bathtub, and a separate walk-in bathe. A spacious terrace fitted with chaise lounges supplied a view of the seaside and the resort’s bar space. The suite featured elegant furnishings all through, akin to patterned woven baskets, tasseled pillows and a stunning handcrafted minibar. In-room welcome facilities included a carafe of tequila, recent fruits, dried grasshoppers (!) and a bowl of guacamole.

Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, has two on-site eating places, each of them serving scrumptious delicacies:
- Belmond has partnered with Michelin-star chef Curtis Stone to handle Woodend by Curtis Stone, the lodge’s signature restaurant. A celebration of the connection between sea and jungle, the venue options seasonal dishes impressed by the farmers and fishermen whose substances are the guts and soul of the native fare, ready utilizing Curtis’ signature open-fire approach. Dishes embrace grilled blue shrimp with inexperienced mango, apple, daikon and charred almonds; oyster crudo with pineapple mignonette and lemongrass; and Baja Striped Bass with tomato fondue, habanero vinegar and pink peppercorn.
- Mexican-born Government Chef Daniel Camacho celebrates his nation’s wealthy culinary variety at Casa Mayor. Sustainability is a central focus, with 90% of substances sourced from Mexico and nearly half from the Yucatán peninsula. The venue’s artistic, colourful dishes vary from seafood towers and Michoacan corundas to Jalisco-style Birria and chocolate cake with Oaxacan black mole, flamed with home mezcal. Every morning, an à la carte breakfast can also be served at Casa Mayor, with conventional tacos and quesadillas being ready by Maroma’s La Tia, Olivia.

Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, options two bars, each of them situated on the lodge’s principal pavilion:
- Bambuco bar gives a extra informal affair, serving seasonal natural drinks made recent from the backyard alongside an in depth assortment of mezcal. Every signature cocktail tells the story of a distinct Mexican state such because the Solteco that includes watermelon, citrus, peppers and mezcal tobala from Oaxaca or the smoky Gallina Borracha with mezcal salmiana sourced primarily from Guanjuato and Zacatecas.
- The seaside hangout Freddy’s Bar channels the colourful spirit of the Riviera Maya with energetic music, recent seafood, cocktails, and a domestically sourced uncooked bar. Each seat within the bar has sea views; the design channels the great thing about the environment, with inlaid pebble motifs, domestically sourced woven materials, and tropical pops of inexperienced and orange tones.

Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, Riviera Maya is situated immediately on Maroma Seashore, one of the vital pristine and well-known seashores in all of Mexico – suppose powdery white sands lapped by the turquoise Caribbean Sea. The big and extensive stretch of seaside proper in entrance of the lodge’s white pavilions is lined by elegant solar loungers and umbrellas that are solely out there to lodge company. When you don’t prefer to lounge by the ocean, you may at all times retreat to one of many lodge’s three pool areas. The principle swimming pool is situated within the hacienda-style courtyard on the coronary heart of the property. A second, a lot smaller pool is about within the lush gardens close to the pavilion that homes the wellness suites. A 3rd pool is situated on the far finish of the property, proper close to the spa, and is barely out there to adults; this pool is the one one that gives direct seaside entry.

Maroma, A Belmond Lodge is house to a brand-new Maroma Spa by Guerlain, the very first spa by Guerlain in Latin America. The spa marries the French Maison’s wellness savoir-faire with a deep appreciation of nature and vitality providing a complete menu of remedies that draw inspiration from Mayan tradition, alongside a collection of rejuvenating experiences. The spa options options 9 therapy rooms enriched with native design components akin to geometric shapes and artisanal objects. The spa’s signature therapy is the “Bee Therapeutic Ritual”, a honey-based therapy famend for its efficient therapeutic powers that calls on Guerlain’s Abeille Royale assortment. The spa additionally features a collection of each day workshops in mindfulness, motion and yoga in addition to its personal apothecary the place company can learn to determine herbs in nature, classify them, and put together and incorporate them into therapeutic therapies.

Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, has a collaboration with Fundación Selva Maya and Mayahuum, serving to to defend the endangered Melipona bee, a species essential to the ecology of the Yucatán Peninsula. This collaboration is additional amplified with the help of Guerlain, with initiatives akin to increasing resident hives to succeed in at the least 100 new hives by 2025, and the introduction of Guerlain’s Bee College and “Girls for Bees” into the native communities. Each academic applications are designed to boost consciousness of the significance of defending bees and sustaining conventional know-how, the Guerlain’s Bee College caters to kids while the “Girls for Bees” program to Mayan ladies, who will increase bees of their respective communities to protect consciousness of the traditional custom. On the lodge, a skilled Mayan beekeeper hosts workshops on the importance of the species’ survival.

Maroma, a Belmond Lodge Caruso belongs to the portfolio of the Belmond Lodge Group fomerly often called Orient Specific till its rebranding in 2014. Belmond is a lodge and leisure firm that manages a ultraluxe assortment of 49 iconic motels, trains and river cruises in 24 international locations, bringing collectively among the world’s most sensational journeys and locations. It ranks among the many most unique lodge manufacturers on the earth. With Belmond, you may keep in timeless motels in Venice, Rio and St. Petersburg, embrace the spirit of journey at Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat, glide alongside the rails by means of the Swiss Alps, soar throughout the Andes, or discover the mystifying rivers of Myanmar. In 2018, Belmond was acquired by LVMH (‘Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy’), the proprietor of manufacturers like Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Fendi.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

The latest refurbishment of Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, gave all rooms and suites a contemporary and recent look. Nevertheless, the renovation of the lodge was constrained by the unique constructing’s limitation, and due to this fact the format of some rooms could really feel just a little awkward and impractical. For instance, in my suite, the bed room was extremely giant whereas the separate lounge felt a bit slim and cramped. Additionally, the balcony of my suite was situated very near Freddy’s Bar (the resort’s seaside bar) and didn’t present any privateness. I additionally observed that some rooms have been situated near the pavilion with the eating places, which could be a bit troublesome for company. That stated, with solely 72 rooms and suites, Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, feels delightfully intimate and genuine, opposite to most different resorts on the Riviera Maya.

The seashores of the Riviera Maya – together with Maroma Seashore proper in entrance of the lodge – are affected by the presence of sargassum seaweed, which is a priority to many vacationers. Traditionally, the seaweed season usually began at the start of spring (April) as a consequence of an increase in sea temperature, and peaked in the course of the summer season months. Nevertheless, within the final decade and doubtless as a consequence of international 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 realm. That stated, the Belmond Resort makes each attainable effort to deal with the issue (far more so than the opposite resorts I stayed at); every morning, the seaside is totally cleaned and the workers is diligent about raking it up when seaweed seems once more in the course of the day.

MY VERDICT

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

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Lower your expenses: get complimentary VIP perks when reserving by way of Virtuoso (e.g. room improve, each day breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and as much as $200 USD lodge credit score per keep ($200 USD per keep for choose suites; $90 USD per keep for rooms).

Lower your expenses: learn right here my ideas for getting the most effective deal at a luxurious lodge like Maroma, a Belmond Lodge (and/or obtain many free perks).

Lower your expenses: I do suggest to guide a better room class with unobstructed sea view or direct seaside entry (to keep away from being near the principle resorts areas which home the eating places and bars).

Learn my ideas for getting ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

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

HOW TO GET THERE

Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, is situated 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 repeatedly up to date checklist of airways that supply direct flights to Cancun.

PHOTOS

Right here’s a collection of my images of Maroma, a Belmond Lodge, Riviera Maya in Mexico. To view extra lodge images (together with breakfast and dinner), click on right here.