Nothing makes me happier than escaping to the beach, and when it’s cold outside here in Nashville, any beach will do. That’s likely why I elect to visit as many tropical locales as possible when I get the chance, and I’ve been to more than my share of fantastic resorts set on some of the world’s most gorgeous beaches. But I can say now that I may have found one to label as the best. When I first read about Rosewood’s Mayakobá resort, I was impressed with the number of awards and accolades it had received, as well as the online slideshow of enticing photographs. I’ve been to Rosewood’s other properties and know just how attentive the company is to detail in each location. But until my visit, I really had no idea just how spectacular this one-of-a-kind destination truly is.
For starters, getting there is a snap—and fairly inexpensive. Flying into Cancun from Nashville is simple to arrange, which isn’t the case with many Caribbean and Pacific islands I’ve visited in the past. Upon landing, it’s only a 40-minute drive to the breathtaking development on Riviera Maya. Once there, you feel instantly transported to a completely different world that’s totally serene and in keeping with the lush natural surroundings.
A short visit with the welcoming staff culminates in a boat ride through the river and lagoons, transporting you to your suite. This actually was one of the most fun parts of the trip and a great way to get acclimated to the property and surroundings. Our driver/guide Alfonso showed us a variety of wildlife on the rain forest preserve there, including a small alligator or two (they remove the larger ones), cranes, storks and various other birds along the waterway.
The developers studied the previously dense jungle site for years to create a manmade waterway that is the heart of Mayakobá. While noshing on fresh fruit and drinking welcome concoctions, our education about the efforts for preservation and the concentration on the natural wildlife began. Alfonso also told us about transporting Bono and the members of U2 on the boat the week before and other stories of celebrity guests. This was only the beginning.
After we were taken to the dock adjacent to our suite, the real fun started. I think I actually squealed out loud when I saw the room. From that point, the smile never left my face. Every possible detail was included: An enormous bath with every imaginable luxury, a bed-and-living-room combo with lovely furnishings and all the modern electronics we’ve come to depend on were just part of it. Some suites come with multiple bedrooms or rooftop verandas, and others with private lagoon porches. I was instantly in love with our beach-front suite and highly recommend that option.
Enormous sliding glass doors led to our own private deck/veranda with a breakfast table, teak lounge chairs, a private plunge pool and three small steps that led to a picturesque stretch of white sand beach and crashing waves. The thoughtful design and placement of the suites is beyond remarkable in my opinion. I could have easily had a vacation in the bathroom—with a private garden and outdoor shower access. But, by day, I was anxious to lay on the comfy beach, lounge by my private pool and read magazines while my partner in travel crime (the criminal offense being that we were totally spoiled rotten) walked the beach until I agreed to join. At night, I loved sitting in the same chair while he played guitar with the sounds of the ocean in the background. That kind of privacy in a resort is very rare, and here, it truly was magical. Honestly, this is the kind of place where you could never leave the suite and have a complete beach vacation—but there is also so much more.
Within steps of our steps—literally 50 yards to our left—the beach club and pool beckoned us to watch the beautiful people soaking up the sun and enjoying lunch or cocktails with the pool on one side and the ocean on the other. Here, we could walk over at sunset to enjoy the bartender’s fantastic margaritas and mojitos. The best part of this experience was getting to know the staff, and they clearly had one goal, which was to entertain us and to cater to any possible whim. From my request for no sugar in my drinks to our need for moving chairs as the sun changed position, they went above and beyond.
Each suite comes with a private butler assigned to cater to guests on an individual basis. Due to shift changes, we had two: Nick (from Great Britain) and Carlos (from Mexico). Both of these gentlemen made sure we had ice, toiletries and any reservation we needed at Mayakobá’s fabulous dining options. While it was tempting to just savor every meal on our own private retreat on the ocean via stellar room service, the spirit of the staff had us eager to visit each one....
For more information, visit www.rosewoodmayakoba.com and www.mayakoba.com.