On 3 August 2023, the Riviera Maya’s most storied hideaway Maroma, A Belmond Hotel has made its much-anticipated return. Set amongst 200 acres of lush tropical jungle and the secluded white sands of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Maroma has been carefully reimagined with Mayan design, traditions, and culture at the forefront. The reborn icon now has 72 rooms, suites, and villas outfitted with a blend of local materials, artisanal patterns, and traditional craftsmanship and four dining destinations including a new gastronomic restaurant, Woodend by Curtis Stone, by the renowned Michelin-star chef and Casa Mayor by Mexican-born Executive Chef Daniel Camacho, where authentic local cuisine takes centre stage.
The biophilic Maroma Spa by Guerlain is a holistic wellness retreat with a menu of nature-focused treatments and immersive guest experiences including an onsite apothecary and Meliponario, housing the revered Melipona bee. Building on its legacy of care for the community and environment, Maroma also unveils ground-breaking sustainability initiatives both on-property and in the community. Deeply embedded into the soul of the Yucatán, Maroma enters a new era as the beating heart of the Riviera Maya.
A SOULFUL CELEBRATION OF MEXICAN CRAFT AND DESIGN
Internationally renowned design studio Tara Bernerd & Partners honours Mexican heritage while enhancing the original architecture of Maroma, whose white stucco buildings are aligned to the Sacred Geometry of Mayan masonry. Tara Bernerd and her team hand-selected local artisans to work in collaboration with to showcase the extraordinary range of pan-Mexican art and design, with each piece of furniture and décor carefully designed by Bernerd exclusively for Maroma. A journey to showcase the best of the country, 80% of furnishings and objects are handcrafted in Mexico like ceramicist José Noé Suro, who in collaboration with Tara Bernerd and her team, crafted over 700,000 hand-painted Jalisco clay tiles for the guestrooms; Henequen Textiles, with rugs woven from a hemplike material sourced from specific species of the agave plant; and artist Eduardo Ricon, who created shadow boxes displaying native botanicals.
The reborn Maroma channels effortlessly chic, hacienda-style living. The relaxed, residential design encourages guests to flow between the public areas, discovering intimate, tucked-away corners and lingering on exquisite details like handwoven textiles from Oaxaca, traditional glazed Saltillo floor tiles from Guadalajara, traditional Yucatan doors crafted out of heavy timber frames, and chandeliers crafted out of shells to Tara Bernerd & Partners’ designs, who took inspiration from local Mayan jade jewelry. Curved lines, organic forms, and expansive views of the Caribbean Sea inspire a feeling of being aligned with nature. The property’s three pools have also been completely redesigned with Sukabumi tiles handmade from volcanic stone , in the same vibrant turquoise tones as the region’s many natural cenotes.
REGIONAL FLAVORS TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT
Belmond has partnered with Michelin-star chef and world-class restaurateur Curtis Stone to debut Woodend by Curtis Stone, the hotel’s signature restaurant. A celebration of the connection between sea and jungle, Woodend by Curtis Stone 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. Paying respect to the Yucatán Peninsula, its history, and traditions, 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. The menu also features an extensive range of plant-based dishes, cabbage heart with seeded macha and camembert or Mayan rice with maitake mushrooms, Chaya spinach and wheat berries.
SACRED RITUALS, HEALING VIBRATIONS
Founded on the principles of nature and vitality, wellness will take on a new dimension at Maroma Spa by Guerlain. Launching in November, the spa, a temple for rejuvenation and a place of deep spirituality, will mark the first Spa by Guerlain in Latin America. The newly renovated biophilic space will feature nine treatment rooms that look out to the jungle and incorporate local design elements with geometric shapes and artisanal objects. Healing rituals are inspired by the four elements of nature—fire, water, earth, and air—ancient practices, and the sacred Melipona bee, revered by the Mayans for over 3,000 years as a symbol of spiritual resonance. A signature treatment will be the Bee Healing Ritual, a honey-based treatment renowned for its effective healing powers that calls on Guerlain’s Abeille Royale collection.
AN IMMERSION INTO MEXICO’S MOST IRRESISTIBLE REGION
From design and culinary to immersive experiences, every moment at Maroma is seamlessly intertwined into Mayan culture and traditions. Days can begin with a bike ride through the jungle before savoring the flavors of the Riviera Maya, whether discovering the artisanal process of cooking corn and making tortillas by hand during the Nixtamal Journey or signing up for an The Journey Around the Agave to explore the multiple origins, methods, and chemistry profiles that make tequila, mezcal and sotol distinct. The only luxury hotel in the Riviera Maya with a Starlight Tourism Certification by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Maroma is the ideal spot for stargazing each night, where an astronomer will map out the Mayan constellations and share the integral role the night sky played in everyday life. A not-to-miss experience paired with biodynamic wines. To further commune with Yucatán treasures, Maroma offers easy access to the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, where guests can dive into the underwater world on PADI-certified dives and private snorkeling tours, or head to an exclusive cenote nearby , choosing between an open sky dip or an excursion through an underground cavern.
A LOCAL STORY OF SUSTAINABILITY
Maroma has a long history of working with local organisations and will continue collaborating with Fundación Selva Maya and Mayahuum to protect the endangered Melipona bee, which is critical to the ecology of the Yucatán peninsula. Belmond will amplify its impact through its partnership with Guerlain. Initiatives include expanding resident hives, with the aim to reach at least 100 new hives by 2025, and introducing Guerlain’s Bee School and “Women for Bees” initiatives into Yucatán communities. As part of the programme, Mayan women from local communities will raise bees in their respective communities to preserve traditional know-how and raise awareness of the ancient tradition. On property, a Mayan beekeeper will undergo in-depth training to care for Maroma’s hives, while guests can sign up for workshops on the importance of the species’ survival and reap the medicinal and savory benefits through bee-centric spa and culinary experiences. Maroma is also proud member of the EarthCheck program, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking certification and advisory group for travel and tourism, in part to its measures to increase endemic biodiversity. An onsite nursery produces over two thousand endemic plants, some of which are in danger of extinction.
Comments are closed.