Paradise Among the Ruins: Relaxing in The Mayan Riviera

So my girlfriend and I decided we needed a holiday before the holidays - a little R&R before the heavy lifting called family time. We chose the Mayan Riviera, which falls on the Caribbean coast of Mexico.

A four-hour flight from LA to Cancun and a 40-minute shuttle landed us in paradise. We have nice beaches in Los Angeles, but they do not even begin to compare to the white sand, clear water and tropical air of this region.

We wisely chose Maroma, a boutique resort with only 66 rooms and a famous spa. It wasn't the Disneyland style of the surrounding mammoth resorts, and instead offered a lush, quiet Shangri La. Keeping with the Mayan tradition, the décor includes smoothed stucco arches, carved teak, thatched roofs and tiled floors. They have gone to great lengths to ensure quality in every detail of the resort and spa. From the parrots that greet you in the courtyard, to the carved wooden furniture, to the candlelit pathways, we felt pampered. We marveled at the beautiful white sand in front of the hotel upon arrival. Soon we discovered that the hotel actually has staff raking the beach all day to keep the seaweed or debris off the beach!

Our room was the simplest they offer ($440/night), and still it was amazing. We had a spacious patio with a comfy hammock and beautiful, open room, complete with a romantic netted bed and the largest, deepest, tiled tub you've ever seen. Turn down service included burning oils (a scent of our choice), delicious chocolates on your pillow and bedside slippers. They left us complimentary coffee every morning and a letter with suggested activities from the manager, and every waiter and bartender knew our names.  

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Maroma's spa is world-renowned, so I had to book a 60-minute luxurious treatment. Relatively small, the steam room and sauna was empty every time I visited. The soak pool had rose petals floating - another example of their attention to detail. My massage was excellent, but somewhat pricey. They include a 10% tax and 20% gratuity bringing the cost to $165. We also took a morning yoga class ($30/per person). The yoga room was on top of the spa and had a breathtaking 360-degree view. The windows were open, which created a sense of being outdoors as he guided us through the asanas. With only four of us practicing, it was intimate and relaxing. What a lovely way to start the day!

Offering both 7 and 14 day detox and relaxation retreats, Maroma is designed for the health conscious person who wants a peaceful, luxurious getaway. This mindset is even reflected in the menus, which offer clean eating via organic and healthy preparation methods. That said, the food was really delicious! After our poolside breakfast, we rolled out to the beachfront for some sunning and cocktails. They have cabana boys at your beck and call, which allows for maximum relaxation. In fact, I managed to read my Vanity Fair cover to cover- a rare, but treasured indulgence!

The air is warm and tropical in the Mayan Riviera, however after sunset the winds pick up and warm rains would come and go in spurts. We had afternoon drinks at the bar (pictured above) and marveled at the postcard view.

My adventurous girlfriend booked some activities so we didn't spend all our time lounging. Our second afternoon we signed on to a zip lining trip that turned out to be much more. It did include three hair-raising passes through the jungle belted to a wire, but it also included snorkeling in cenotes, the underground rivers, inner tubing, and a pow wow with a shaman, among other random exploits. 

We did venture into Playa del Carmen, the local town, one night to explore. Out of the desert popped a long, glittering promenade of shops and restaurants selling almost identical items. There were the expected tourist trappings of t-shirts and jewelry as well as a handful of interesting traditional Mexican wares. The restaurants are all priced like you're in LA, however nothing tastes quite how you might expect.

We both agreed to return to Maroma, ideally with more time blocked. A notable activity we missed was visiting the ancient Mayan ruins, which require a long bus ride and full day of dedication. It was just too inviting to sprawl on the queen sized, beachfront beds and stare at the sea.

I highly recommend visiting this part of the world next time you need a little R&R of your own. You can see additional photos and hotel info at maromahotel.com.

Photos by Jenn Kennedy