Maroma, A Belmond Hotel has made its highly-anticipated return in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Set amongst 200 acres of lush tropical jungle and the secluded white sands of the Caribbean coast, the property has been carefully reimagined with Mayan design, traditions and culture at the forefront.
The reborn resort now has 72 guestrooms, suites and villas outfitted with a blend of local materials, artisanal patterns and traditional craftsmanship, as well as four dining destinations including a new gastronomic restaurant, Woodend by Michelin-starred chef Curtis Stone, and Casa Mayor by Mexican-born Executive Chef Daniel Camacho, where authentic local cuisine takes centre stage. The biophilic Maroma Spa by Guerlain meanwhile 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 has also unveiled forward-thinking sustainability initiatives both on-property and in the community.
Tara Bernerd & Partners has honoured Mexican heritage while enhancing the original architecture of Maroma, whose white stucco buildings are aligned to the Sacred Geometry of Mayan masonry. Bernerd and her team hand-selected local artisans to work in collaboration with to showcase the range of pan-Mexican art and design, with each piece of furniture and décor carefully designed by Bernerd exclusively for the site. 80% of furnishings and objects are handcrafted in Mexico by artisans like ceramicist José Noé Suro, who in collaboration with Bernerd and her team, produced over 700,000 hand-painted Jalisco clay tiles for the guestrooms. Henequen Textiles, meanwhile crafted rugs woven from a hemp-like material sourced from specific species of the agave plant, and artist Eduardo Ricon created shadow boxes displaying native botanicals.
The design scheme also channels hacienda-style living. The relaxed, residential feel encourages guests to flow between the public areas, discovering intimate, tucked-away corners and lingering on details like handwoven textiles from Oaxaca, traditional glazed Saltillo floor tiles from Guadalajara, traditional Yucatan doors crafted from heavy timber frames, and chandeliers made using shells to Bernerd’s brief, which took inspiration from local Mayan jade jewellery. Curved lines, organic forms and expansive views of the Caribbean Sea further align guests 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.
Each of the rooms, suites and villas are spread across Maroma’s private stretch of sand. The 10 new one- and two-bedroom beachfront suites offer unobstructed views and direct beach access, some with private pools and gardens. Those in search of more privacy can opt for the two-bedroom beachfront pool villas or the 3,939ft2 Villa Maroma with its four bedrooms, full kitchen, bar, outdoor terrace, chaise lounges and private pool. Maroma also partnered with socially conscious brand Collectiva Concepción on traditional Manta staff uniforms and in-room guest kaftans that have been hand-embroidered by female artisans in Chiapas. Mexico City-based fragrance brand Xinú meanwhile has created a bespoke scent and bath amenities inspired by the regional Amate tree, the scent of clay, incense and lemon.
Belmond has brought in Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Curtis Stone for the hotel’s signature restaurant, which celebrates the connection between sea and jungle. Woodend by Curtis Stone serves seasonal dishes inspired by the farmers and fishermen whose ingredients are the heart and soul of the local fare, prepared using Stone’s renowned 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 features an extensive range of plant-based dishes too, from cabbage heart with seeded macha and camembert to Mayan rice with maitake mushrooms, Chaya spinach and wheat berries.
Mexican-born Executive Chef Daniel Camacho also continues his legacy of championing 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. A proud member of #PescaConFuturo, which promotes sustainable fishery and aquaculture, Camacho reinvents traditional hometown Mexican cuisine using freshly caught seafood from Amigos de Sian Ka’an. Guests can expect creative, colourful dishes ranging from seafood towers and Michoacan corundas to Jalisco-style Birria and chocolate cake with Oaxacan black mole, flamed with house mezcal. Signature cocktails meanwhile are based on local ingredients such as chile xkatik, habanero and sour orange.
Bambuco bar offers a more casual affair, where seasonal herbal drinks made fresh from the garden are featured alongside a 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 bar embraces a zero waste ethos, recycling and composting 100% of its products and ingredients. Popular beach hangout Freddy’s Bar continues to channel the spirit of the Riviera Maya, with music, fresh seafood and cocktails, and a locally sourced raw bar. Every seat in the bar has sea views, while the design celebrates the surroundings through inlaid pebble motifs, locally sourced woven fabrics and tropical pops of green and orange tones.
Founded on the principles of nature and vitality, wellness will take on a new dimension at Maroma Spa by Guerlain. Launching in November 2023, the spa will mark the first by Guerlain in Latin America. The newly renovated biophilic space will comprise 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 known for its effective healing powers that calls on Guerlain’s Abeille Royale collection.
Other holistic wellbeing experiences incorporate the frequency of the buzzing bees and the healing vibrations of sound therapy to stimulate the brain, balance energy and inspire connection with nature as well as Under the Sea Wave morning meditation combining gentle movement and singing bowls, a Temazcal ceremony, and a constellation massage aligned with the cosmos. The spa also includes a selection of daily workshops in meditation, 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. The Healing Remedies Workshop involves harvesting your own herbs from a traditional Kaánché and learning to make natural balms, scrubs and more using a copper alembic.
From design and culinary to experiences, every moment at Maroma is intertwined into Mayan culture and traditions. Days can begin with a bike ride through the jungle before savouring 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 an 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 provides 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 snorkelling tours, or head to an exclusive cenote nearby, choosing between an open sky dip or an excursion through an underground cavern.
Maroma also 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 savoury benefits through bee-centric spa and culinary experiences.
Maroma is also member of the EarthCheck programme, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking certification and advisory group for travel and tourism, in part to its measures to increase endemic biodiversity. An on-site nursery produces over two thousand endemic plants, some of which are in danger of extinction. The Maroma team rescues seedlings of regional flora, such as palma chit, palma real, ceiba and ciricote from the resort’s surrounding jungle to increase their rate of reproduction and survival. Maroma is also an important nesting and breeding area for Olive Throated Parakeets and White-Fronted Parrots, both of which are endangered species. To help conserve these endemic bird species in danger of extinction, the property has created a comprehensive conservation programme, identifying and protecting nests and hatchlings found on site and providing better environments for their reproduction. The on-site Turtle Sanctuary also protects White, Loggerhead, Hawkbill and Leatherback sea turtles and assists in releasing the baby turtles into the ocean.
Completing the new resort are indoor and outdoor event venues, including the new palapa with floor-to-ceiling windows, a timber floor and an outdoor deck for dancing under the stars. Amid the palm-fringed shores, fragrant gardens, serene pools and lush jungles, there’s no shortage of paces for a Mayan-inspired event – with the option to privatise the resort for up to 200 guests. Maroma offers a timeless backdrop for all festivities, from elopements and honeymoons to destination weddings and corporate retreats. Customisable for every occasion, an array of private activities are available, including curated gastronomic experiences at La Cantina, a traditional family-style barbecue on the beach, private wine and tequila tastings, and water sports.
