Review: Rosewood Mayakoba, Riveira Maya (Mexico)

May 22, 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:

Today: Review of Rosewood Mayakoba, Riveira Maya (Mexico)

Surrounded by verdant emerald jungle and white sands, Rosewood Mayakoba defines a private world of rare luxury and refined beauty. Located in the heart of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, the ultra-luxury hotel lies along a stretch of Caribbean beach and features an indulgent Sense, A Rosewood Spa, El Camaleón championship golf course designed by Greg Norman and an array of active and leisurely recreational pursuits. A journey to this serene retreat captivates the soul with stunning natural beauty and pure refinement. Rosewood Mayakoba features 129 suites – located either along the mangroves or along the beach – plus 15 two-six bedroom villas and the famed six bedroom beachfront Founders Villa.

Rosewood Mayakoba features in my top 10 lists of the best luxury hotels on the Riviera Maya and the best Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in the world.

Have you ever stayed at Rosewood Mayakoba? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.

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

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

Surrounded by emerald jungle and winding lagoons, Rosewood Mayakoba is situated at the center of a gated resort enclave – called Mayakoba – which is located just north of the picturesque seaside village of Playa del Carmen and 40 minutes south of Cancun International Airport. Encompassing 595 acres of pristine lagoons, jungles and beaches, Mayakoba is home four award-winning hotels (Rosewood Mayakoba, Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Fairmont Mayakoba, and Andaz Mayakoba), luxury residences and world-class resort offerings, including world-class cuisine, wellness, golf and beach clubs, designed to preserve and enhance the native landscape. Guests of Mayakoba enjoy easy access to white sand beaches, numerous land-and waterbased activities, nearby Mayan ruins and Mayakoba’s El Camaleón Championship Golf Course.

Rosewood Mayakoba is an ultra-luxury retreat where ocean, jungle and sky meet. It is a unique property comprised of two completely different resort areas. One part of the resort covers many small islands which are surrounded by a mangrove jungle and a labyrinth of freshwater canals, while the other resort area is situated along a mile long beach, bordering the second largest coral reef in the world. Both resort areas are home to distinct accommodations, restaurants and facilities, and connected by a beautiful path that cuts through the mangrove forest. All guests get bikes for the duration of their stay and 24/7 buggy service is provided as well, so wherever you are, you are always just minutes away from every area with the resort, despite the enormous size of the Rosewood Mayakoba’s private resort grounds.

Designed by American architect firm Three, Rosewood Mayakoba was created with the intention of providing a deep connection with the natural mangrove landscape, which is home to over hundreds of indigenous wild birds, iguanas, turtles, and monkeys. This is already achieved during the check-in process, when guests arrive at the resort’s open-air lobby, which is set at the heart of the mangrove, offering magnificent views of the wilderness due to its elevated position. The lobby, just like the other resort pavilions, features a contemporary design and was built using the finest local materials, mainly wood and limestone, that were proven to be the most appropriate materials for construction in such a delicate environment. A staircase spirals down from the lobby to the lagoon, where small boats are waiting to shuttle guests to their accommodations, gliding through the peaceful canals.

Rosewood Mayakoba features 129 oversized suites, which are either built along the serene mangrove lagoons or set along the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Each suite is crafted from indigenous materials such as Yutacan limestone and renewable wood, and offers panoramic views of the surrounding natural habitat. Depending on the location, the view ranges from the serene winding lagoons of Mayakoba to the rooftop ocean views of the resort’s beachfront accommodations, each providing a very different and unique experience. Besides these beach or lagoon accommodations, there are also wellness suites, which are located close to the spa and whose guests enjoy complimentary access to scheduled fitness and wellness classes. All luxurious retreats are complemented with 24-hour butler service.

During my visit, I stayed in a beautiful Deluxe Lagoon Suite, which was set along the mangroves and accessed via its own individual boat dock. The spacious one-bedroom stand-alone villa featured a bedroom with king bed and sitting room – with dining area and sofa bed – that could be closed off from the bedroom with sliding doors for additional privacy. The ensuite bathroom was equipped with two wash basins, an indoor shower, a large soaking bathtub and outdoor rain shower set amidst lush cascading greenery. There was also a second bathroom with a rain shower. The spacious interior was outfitted with contemporary furnishings and a modern design emphasizing chic simplicity. Both the living room and bedroom opened to an outdoor terrace and a tropical garden, complete with a private plunge pool.

Rosewood Mayakoba also features a collection of ultra-luxurious Private Residences which are situated along the property’s winding freshwater lagoons or overlooking the ocean. With interior envisioned by Caroline Masserman of Bando x Seidel Meersseman, the private villas are available for nightly bookings and have four distinctive layouts. Each of the two to six bedroom villas reflect a senses of relaxed sophistication and refined subtlety through a layered approach to materials, colors and textures that complement Rosewood Mayakoba’s modern architecture and celebration of Mexican traditions. All Private Residences offer an open floor plan, oversized terraces and contemporary custom furnishings crafted by Mexican artisans, reflecting the region’s Mayan heritage.

Rosewood Maykoba features three beautiful pools areas, two of them located by the beach:
- Surrounded by a beautiful tropical deck, Casa Del Lago pool is located next to the lobby – in front of Casa Del Lago Restaurant (more on that below) and overlooks the lagoon and waterways of Mayakoba. Since most guests are relaxing at their private pool or near the beach during the day, it’s always quite here.
- The beach-front Punta Benito pool is located in front of the restaurant with the same name. The distinctive infinity edge family pool comes with two built-in Jacuzzis as well as an expansive lounge area. It offers sweeping views of the azure waters blending seamlessly into the vibrant blue sky.
- Right next to the Punta Benito pool area is the resort’s adults-only beach club. Here, open-air palapas, three small pools, and seaside lounge seating exclusive to resort guests offer a pristine oceanfront Caribbean setting to enjoy from day to night.

The heart of wellness at Rosewood Mayakoba is the resort’s state-of-the-art Sense, A Rosewood Spa, which is tucked away on its own private island among freshwater lagoons. This luxurious healing environment offers twelve treatment rooms, full hydrotherapy circuits, relaxation lounges, a private yoga pavilion, eight overnight Wellness Suites, and sensory Kuxtal Garden – a place of profound peace reflecting the Mayan philosophy of life. The wellness destination offers a spectrum of transformative experiences to expand, illuminate, and guide guests toward renewed strength, balance, and health. The spa is also home to a spacious fitness center, which includes a full range of cardio and resistance equipment, a widespread area dedicated to stretching and free weights, as well as functional training accessories such as TRX and BOSU available with private training sessions.

Rosewood Mayakoba features a wide range of restaurants and bars:
- Located along the main pool near the lobby is Casa Del Lago. Each morning, the venue offers authentic a la carte dishes, including classic chilaquiles, traditional sopes, and four variations of huevos rancheros. In addition, a small continental breakfast offers premium cheeses, meats, smoked salmon, local fruit, pastries, cereals, yogurts, and more. At night, Casa del Lago transitions into a sleek dinnertime restaurant with an ever-evolving menu.
- Set next to the lobby is Agave Azul Savor, a contemporary venue serving fresh Baja California seafood with Asian influences overlooking the lagoon.
- Zapote Bar is a day-to-night destination serving craft cocktails that showcase hand-crafted spirits and draw inspiration from the Yucatán. Ranked among North America’s 50 Best Bars for two consecutive year, Zapote Bar also serves Middle Eastern influences and Lebanese live-fire cooking techniques in honor of the Yucatán’s diverse culinary roots.
- Set beneath a stunning Ceiba tree in the resort’s lush gardens, La Ceiba Garden & Kitchen offers authentic al fresco culinary adventure showcasing traditional Mayan cooking techniques. This one-of-a-kind culinary journey celebrates the Yucatan Peninsula’s storied Mayan roots with a multi-course menu showcasing traditional open-flame cooking techniques and hyper-seasonal regional ingredients. Guests are seated at long communal tables alongside fellow guests as well as Rosewood staff members. The restaurant is home to limited-run culinary collaborations with esteemed chefs from around Mexico, the USA, and beyond.
- Located along the beachfront famlily pool, Punta Bonita is a laid-back eatery with indoor and terrace seating showcases the vibrant 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 located at the adults-only beach club, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. During the day, the venue also includes La Cantina, a retrofitted vintage food truck, serving casual Mexican fare such as ceviche, Tijuana-style shrimp tacos, frozen cocktails, and more. Once the sun goes down, Aquí Me Quedo transitions into a sleek nighttime restaurant on the sand, highlighting flavors from the southern coast of Mexico, as well as hosts rotating culinary experiences including Thursday night’s Mexican Grill, and Sunday’s Beach Food Fest, a tribute to the country’s vibrant street food culture.
- Located in El Pueblito village square, La Fondita A chic cantina offering tostadas and mezcals.
- Pan Dulce Ais a delectable Mexican bakery situated in El Pueblito village square.

Rosewood Mayakoba is managed by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s most exclusive hotel brands. The Rosewood story began in 1979 when a historic mansion in Dallas, Texas was transformed into an acclaimed world-class hotel – The Mansion on Turtle Creek – whose success was the blueprint for all subsequent Rosewood properties. Today, the group manages a distinctive collection of residential-style hotels across the globe, including famous properties such as The Carlyle (New York) and Las Ventanas al Paraíso (Mexico). Each property delivers a one-of-a-kind ambience and style, in which location, culture, history and geography are part of the fabric of the hotel, reflecting the company’s “Sense of Place” philosophy. I have previously reviewed the following Rosewood Hotels & Resorts:

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

The effects of climate change – with beach erosion due to gobal warming – are evident along the Riviera Maya. And unfortunately, this is particularly visible at Mayakoba, where chronic erosion has stripped the area of some of its white-sand beachfront. Mayakoba used to have one of the widest and most stunning beaches on the Riviera Maya, but today, it’s mostly just a narrow strip of white sands. In 2017, the Mayakoba enclave took efforts to restore the beach to its former glory by rebuilding the area’s coastal dunes and creating new coral barriers. The aim was to create a far better and wider beach, and although that may have partly succeeded in certain areas of the resort, it did come at a cost since the view of the beach has changed for good (with erosion and algae barrier clearly visible right in front of the resort).

The beaches of the Riviera Maya – including Mayaoba Beach – 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. Unfortunately, the seaweed at Mayakoba wasn’t removed on a daily basis, which was a contrast with the other resorts I stayed at.

Although Rosewood Mayakoba is located in an enormous estate, the resort may feel crowded in certain areas at times of high occupancy. This is particularly the case at the family pool along the beach, the adults only beach club and the restaurants. During peak season, the restaurants, spa and activities also get booked up quickly, so plan and book early. Also, the resort clearly focuses on American tourists, with an American vibe present in most resort areas (e.g. loud music in the bars & restaurants, dining venue with communal tables, etc …)., which you will eaither love or hate, depending on your preferences.

Food at Rosewood Mayakoba is great, albeit expensive, and is not included in most room pacakges. Also, the resort has many bars and restaurants, and at first, I found the wide variety of culinary concepts to be confusing a bit. For example, Zapote is called a bar (and is proud of its inclusion in North America’s 50 Best Bars) but its in fact a restaurant. Also, with the exception of the sushi restaurant, all venues seem to serve Mexican inspired food, without clear distinction. Personally, I also missed the presence of a signature restaurant at Rosewood Mayakba, a true fine dining restaurant offering a serene and tranquil ambiance and with the ambition to collect one or more Michelin stars.

MY VERDICT

Location: 8/10
Design: 9/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 9/10
Food: 8/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Wow factor: 8/10
Value for money: 8/10
Overall experience: 8.5/10 (very good)

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out and $100 USD hotel credit).

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

Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The Riviera Maya in Mexico 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

Rosewood Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico 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.