Review: Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya (Mexico)

May 8, 2024

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Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

A few weeks ago, I enjoyed a relaxing holiday in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, where I stayed at the area’s top three luxury resorts. You can read my trip reports here:

Review: Condor A330neo Business Class from Frankfurt to Cancun
Review: Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya (today)
Review: The St Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya
Review: Rosewood Mayakoba, Riveira Maya
Review: Condor A330neo Business Class (Prime Seat) from Cancun to Mexico

Today: Review of Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya (Mexico)

Located in the beating heart of the Riviera Maya, Belmond Maroma feels more like a Mexican hacienda than a resort. Here is where the true spirit of the Riviera Maya was born, between the jungle and the wide-open sea, and where Mayan mystique blends with refined vitality. This secluded hideaway captivates with the sights, sounds, and scents of authentic Mexican culture. Beautifully renovated and fully reimagined, the resort boasts 72 light, airy, art-filled rooms by acclaimed designer Tara Bernerd. Beachfront restaurants offer mouth-watering cuisine while the bars serve up artisanal mezcals and rare wines. The property is also home to the best spa on the Riviera Maya.

Maroma, a Belmond Hotel features in my top 10 lists of the best luxury hotels on the Riviera Maya and the best Belmond Hotels & Resorts in the world.

Have you ever stayed at Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.

In this review (more info and photos below my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

Maroma, a Belmond Hotel is located along a gorgeous stretch of beach in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Once belonging to the ancient Mayan Empire, the Riviera Maya comprises a 130 km (80 mi) stretch of Caribbean coastline. A single main road – Highway 307 – runs the length of the region, from Cancun to Tulum. Branching eastwards are small roads leading to resorts and the beaches, while westward takes you inland to rural towns and ancient ruins. Although it might be hard to tear yourself away from Belmond’s self-contained world of luxury, those who choose to explore the Riviera Maya are richly rewarded as they unearth a region full of natural and cultural attractions, such as authentic fishing villages and ancient ruins. The resort is a 30-min drive from Cancun International Airport, a 20-minute drive from Playa del Carmen, and a 1-hour drive from Tulum.

The history of Maroma, a Belmond Hotel began with a love story. In 1976, architect José Luis Moreno was flying over the white sands, turquoise waters and lush jungle of the Riviera Maya when he found himself smitten by the beauty of Punta Maroma, a remote bay located 40 km ( 25 mi) south of Cancun. Years later, he and his wife settled down in a small dwelling by the beach. Over the years, Moreno would add a restaurant, rooms and suites to accommodate his friends and family. He worked with a family of Maya masons – true believers of the Sacred Geometry – to align the white stucco buildings with energy fields; take a closer look and you will notice only round finishes, ensuring positive energy flow. Maroma was the first hotel in the Riviera Maya, using the best of Mexican craft and materials, and established itself as the heart of this magical coastal stretch.

Although the Riviera Maya was largely untouched until the early 1980s, the area is now a crowded tourist mecca with mega-resorts sitting shoulder to shoulder. However, Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, is in a different league as the hotel is located within 200 acres heaven of beachfront jungle, offering tranquility and seclusion that is a world apart from the mass tourism that the Riviera Maya is now known for. The luxurious property is approached via a gravel road, which winds its way through thick forest, where spider monkeys play in the tree canopy. Upon arrival, a small welcome lobby leads to the hotel’s main pavilion, which feels like a lavish Mexican hacienda, complete with courtyard pool, white stucco turrets and palapa rooflines. From here, idyllic walkways through the jungle and along the beach leads to accommodations, spa, two other pools and gym (more on that below).

In 2023, Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, reopened, following a complete renovation with Mayan culture at its core. Internationally renowned designer, Tara Bernerd, was at the helm of the comprehensive restoration, working hand-in-hand with local artisans to honor Mexican heritage. The original design and architecture of the property was preserved, including the white stucco buildings, aligned to the Sacred Geometry of Mayan masonry. Curved lines and organic forms inspired by the property’s wild surrounds inform the harmonious indoor-outdoor flow of public areas and the rooms. Every design details at the hotel is unique, from each of the 700,000 pieces of tile (that were created just for the hotel by master ceramist José Noé Suro) and hand-carved wooden furniture by Alfredo Alfaro Joffroy to custom-made glassware by Max Kublailan (that can be found in the furniture) and authentically crafted textiles by Concepción Orvananos.

Maroma, a Belmond Hotel features 72 art-filled rooms and suites, just steps away from the beach. This includes 10 new waterfront suites which were added during the 2023 renovation. During my holiday, I stayed in a lovely ocean-front one bedroom suite, whose entrance was located just around the corner of the hotel’s main pool area. The suite featured a separate living area, a spacious bedroom with kingsize bed, and a bathroom equipped with double wash basins, a stand-alone bathtub, and a separate walk-in shower. A spacious terrace fitted with chaise lounges offered a view of the beach and the resort’s bar area. The suite featured elegant furnishings throughout, such as patterned woven baskets, tasseled pillows and a gorgeous handcrafted minibar. In-room welcome amenities included a carafe of tequila, fresh fruits, dried grasshoppers (!) and a bowl of guacamole.

Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, has two on-site restaurants, both of them serving delicious cuisine:
- Belmond has partnered with Michelin-star chef Curtis Stone to manage Woodend by Curtis Stone, the hotel’s signature restaurant. A celebration of the connection between sea and jungle, the venue features seasonal dishes inspired by the farmers and fishermen whose ingredients are the heart and soul of the local fare, prepared using Curtis’ signature open-fire technique. Dishes include grilled blue shrimp with green 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 Executive Chef Daniel Camacho celebrates his country’s rich culinary diversity at Casa Mayor. Sustainability is a central focus, with 90% of ingredients sourced from Mexico and almost half from the Yucatán peninsula. The venue’s creative, colorful dishes range from seafood towers and Michoacan corundas to Jalisco-style Birria and chocolate cake with Oaxacan black mole, flamed with house mezcal. Each morning, an à la carte breakfast is also served at Casa Mayor, with traditional tacos and quesadillas being prepared by Maroma’s La Tia, Olivia.

Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, features two bars, both of them located at the hotel’s main pavilion:
- Bambuco bar offers a more casual affair, serving seasonal herbal drinks made fresh from the garden alongside an extensive collection of mezcal. Each signature cocktail tells the story of a different Mexican state such as the Solteco featuring watermelon, citrus, peppers and mezcal tobala from Oaxaca or the smoky Gallina Borracha with mezcal salmiana sourced primarily from Guanjuato and Zacatecas.
- The beach hangout Freddy’s Bar channels the vibrant spirit of the Riviera Maya with lively music, fresh seafood, cocktails, and a locally sourced raw bar. Every seat in the bar has sea views; the design channels the beauty of the surroundings, with inlaid pebble motifs, locally sourced woven fabrics, and tropical pops of green and orange tones.

Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya is located directly on Maroma Beach, one of the most pristine and famous beaches in all of Mexico – think powdery white sands lapped by the turquoise Caribbean Sea. The large and wide stretch of beach right in front of the hotel’s white pavilions is lined by elegant sun loungers and umbrellas which are only available to hotel guests. If you don’t like to lounge by the sea, you can always retreat to one of the hotel’s three pool areas. The main swimming pool is located in the hacienda-style courtyard at the heart of the property. A second, much smaller pool is set in the lush gardens near the pavilion that houses the wellness suites. A third pool is located at the far end of the property, right near the spa, and is only available to adults; this pool is the only one that offers direct beach access.

Maroma, A Belmond Hotel is home 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 offering a comprehensive menu of treatments that draw inspiration from Mayan culture, alongside a selection of rejuvenating experiences. The spa features features nine treatment rooms enriched with local design elements such as geometric shapes and artisanal objects. The spa’s signature treatment is the “Bee Healing Ritual”, a honey-based treatment renowned for its effective healing powers that calls on Guerlain’s Abeille Royale collection. The spa also includes a selection of daily workshops in mindfulness, movement and yoga as well as its own apothecary where guests can learn how to identify herbs in nature, classify them, and prepare and incorporate them into healing therapies.

Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, has a collaboration with Fundación Selva Maya and Mayahuum, helping to protect the endangered Melipona bee, a species critical to the ecology of the Yucatán Peninsula. This collaboration is further amplified with the support of Guerlain, with initiatives such as expanding resident hives to reach at least 100 new hives by 2025, and the introduction of Guerlain’s Bee School and “Women for Bees” into the local communities. Both educational programs are designed to raise awareness of the importance of protecting bees and maintaining traditional know-how, the Guerlain’s Bee School caters to children whilst the “Women for Bees” program to Mayan women, who will raise bees in their respective communities to preserve awareness of the ancient tradition. At the hotel, a trained Mayan beekeeper hosts workshops on the significance of the species’ survival.

Maroma, a Belmond Hotel Caruso belongs to the portfolio of the Belmond Hotel Group fomerly known as Orient Express until its rebranding in 2014. Belmond is a hotel and leisure company that manages a ultraluxe collection of 49 iconic hotels, trains and river cruises in 24 countries, bringing together some of the world’s most sensational journeys and destinations. It ranks among the most exclusive hotel brands in the world. With Belmond, you can stay in timeless hotels in Venice, Rio and St. Petersburg, embrace the spirit of adventure at Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat, glide along the rails through the Swiss Alps, soar across the Andes, or explore the mystifying rivers of Myanmar. In 2018, Belmond was acquired by LVMH (‘Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy’), the owner of brands like Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Fendi.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

The recent refurbishment of Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, gave all rooms and suites a modern and fresh look. However, the renovation of the hotel was constrained by the original building’s limitation, and therefore the layout of some rooms may feel a little awkward and impractical. For example, in my suite, the bedroom was incredibly large while the separate living room felt a bit narrow and cramped. Also, the balcony of my suite was located very close to Freddy’s Bar (the resort’s beach bar) and did not provide any privacy. I also noticed that some rooms were located close to the pavilion with the restaurants, which might be a bit troublesome for guests. That said, with only 72 rooms and suites, Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, feels delightfully intimate and authentic, contrary to most other resorts on the Riviera Maya.

The beaches of the Riviera Maya – including Maroma Beach right in front of the hotel – are affected by the presence of sargassum seaweed, which is a concern to many travelers. Historically, the seaweed season typically started at the beginning of spring (April) due to a rise in sea temperature, and peaked during the summer months. However, in the last decade and probably due to global warming, seaweed has appeared at any time throughout the year, making it challenging to predict its seasonal patterns. For example, when I visited in late January, a massive amount of seaweed washed onshore during several storms that passed over the area. That said, the Belmond Resort makes every possible effort to tackle the problem (much more so than the other resorts I stayed at); each morning, the beach is completely cleaned and the staff is diligent about raking it up when seaweed appears again during the day.

MY VERDICT

Location: 9/10
Design: 9/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 9/10
Food: 9/10
Breakfast: 9/10
Spa: 9/10
Service: 10/10
Wow factor: 8/10
Value for money: 8/10
Overall experience: exceptional 9/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Save money: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and up to $200 USD hotel credit per stay ($200 USD per stay for select suites; $90 USD per stay for rooms).

Save money: read here my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel like Maroma, a Belmond Hotel (and/or receive many free perks).

Save money: I do recommend to book a higher room category with unobstructed sea view or direct beach access (to avoid being close to the main resorts areas which house the restaurants and bars).

Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Riviera Maya has a subtropical climate with two seasons – a rainy season (May to October) and a dry season (November to April). The best time to visit is December to March when the temperatures are a bit more comfortable and there are fewer rain showers. During the rainy season, period temperatures remain high and although it rains every day, downpours don’t tend to be prolonged. There is a chance for hurricanes, especially from July to October.

HOW TO GET THERE

Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, is located 40 minutes by car from Cancun International Airport, which is served by most North- and South American as well as some European airlines. Check the Wikipedia page of Cancun International Airport for a continuously updated list of airlines that offer direct flights to Cancun.

PHOTOS

Here’s a selection of my photos of Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya in Mexico. To view more hotel photos (including breakfast and dinner), click here.