As a travel writer, I usually try to fit in as much as possible into every trip—I love discovering great local spots and lesser-known attractions when I’m visiting a destination. So, ahead of my visit to the Fairmont Mayakoba in December, I diligently made a list of nearby spots to potentially explore off property: restaurants in Playa del Carmen, a Cozumel marine park, stylish boutiques in Tulum.
These plans were quickly abandoned once my family and I actually arrived at the five-star resort, located in the coastal Riviera Maya region of Mexico.
Instead of checking off a busy to-do list, I simply wanted to spend the next few days appreciating the dreamy property and immersing myself in the lush, tropical scenery. —Truc Nguyen
A singular setting
Just a 40-minute drive south of Cancun—but worlds apart from its party hotels and mega-all-inclusives—Fairmont Mayakoba sits amidst almost 600 acres of secluded-but-manicured tropical forest, intersected by a network of mangrove-lined canals and planted with only drought tolerant or indigenous plant species. Here, you’re never really far away from nature.
In addition to the usual resort highlights (think: a picture-perfect beach, nine pools and just as many on-site restaurants) the sprawling property houses a lagoon, a championship golf course, and multiple natural sinkholes called cenotes. The “El Burrodromo” cenote near the hotel entrance is a must-see; my kids and I marvelled at the dripping stalactites, hundreds of tiny bats and crystal-clear water in this underground limestone cave.
Memorable wildlife encounters
Mayakoba’s jungle, mangroves, and canals draw in plenty of wildlife, and we delighted in birdwatching from our casita’s balcony, and crossing paths with white-nosed coatis and spider monkeys while walking and biking around the resort. On a guided boat tour of the larger Mayakoba complex, complimentary for hotel guests, we spotted iguanas, freshwater turtles, Anhingas birds and even a majestic great egret.
The beautiful Caribbean Sea also offers ample opportunity for wildlife spotting. Before getting seasick on the coral reef snorkel tour, I joyfully swam amongst a sea turtle, colourful urchins and schools of rainbow-coloured fish in the warm, clear waters of the world’s second largest barrier reef.
Fun in the sun
Of course, no beach vacation is complete without some quality time by the pool and on the sand, and we spent many happy hours rotating between the white-sand beach and the hotel’s nine freshwater pools.
Spread around the property, there’s one with a waterslide for kids, a heated pool for cooler mornings, and several stunning infinity pools. But we found ourselves returning most often to the small, rustic pools on the beach, where we could lay under swaying palm trees—mango smoothies and pina coladas in hand—and hear the waves lapping up on shore.
Culinary delights
We’re a family of food enthusiasts, and the restaurants at Fairmont Mayakoba offered many delights for discerning palates.
We went to the Mexican restaurant, La Cantina, twice, wanting more guacamole, grilled octopus tacos and seafood ceviche tostadas. For evening, the American steakhouse, Tauro, boasts an impressive cocktail menu and in-house dry-aging program led by Chef Aldo Saucedo. A dinner reservation at Gaia, a seafood-forward restaurant by the beach, is another must whether you’re dining a la carte or signed up for the all-inclusive package. The raw bar is not to be missed, and my husband declared the Pacific Rockfish entree some of the best fish he’s ever had, which is high praise indeed.
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