The Mexican Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, is awaiting reopening

This May the Riviera Maya will welcome the much-anticipated return of Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, the storied hideaway in the beating heart of the Riviera Maya. Nestled between 80 hectares of lush tropical jungle and the secluded white sands of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, the legendary property has been completely reimagined with Mayan culture at its core.

This new chapter of Maroma will reveal ten new waterfront suites, a nature-focussed wellness experience in partnership with Guerlain, ground-breaking sustainability initiatives and a new gastronomic era under Mexican-born executive chef Daniel Camacho. 

Internationally renowned designer Tara Bernerd is at the helm of the comprehensive restoration, working with local artisans to honour Mexican heritage. Blending contemporary craft with the sourcing of indigenous materials, the team will create timeless spaces channel the healing energy of the locale. The original design and architecture of the property have been 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 rooms, suites and villas. Each of the 72 accommodations are spread across Maroma’s private stretch of sand, three quarters of which now have ocean views, including a spacious new waterfront suite complete with private pool and garden. In addition, the property’s three pools have been completely redesigned, featuring Sukabumi tiles hand-made from volcanic stone, in the same vibrant turquoise tones as the region’s many natural cenotes.

Maroma will also showcase an extraordinary collection of pan-Mexican art and design: 80 percent of furnishings and objects will be made by Mexican craftspeople, from a hand-blown glass chandelier, painted clay pots, to traditional ‘Saltillo’ floor tiles.

Founded on the principles of nature and vitality, wellness at Maroma will take on a new dimension with the launch of the first Guerlain Spa in Latin America. Guests will feel the vital flow of healing energies from the jungle oasis and wide open sea in the newly renovated biophilic space. A temple for rejuvenation and a place of deep spirituality, treatment rooms will look out onto the jungle, while local design elements will be incorporated throughout geometric shapes and artisanal objects. Healing rituals are born from the power of nature, ancient practices and that of the sacred Melipona bee, revered by the Mayans for more than 3,000 years as a symbol of spiritual resonance.

Centred around balance and harmony, Guerlain creates a unique spa menu with its iconic face and body treatments and exclusive experiences designed around the Mayan wellness philosophy, sound and healing rituals. A true holistic wellness retreat, including a selection of daily workshops in meditation, movement and yoga to resynchronise body, mind and spirit.

Guests will also dine well with Mexican-born executive chef Daniel Camacho set to continue his legacy of celebrating his country’s rich culinary diversity at Casa Mayor restaurant. Working on a sustainable provenance approach, 90 percent of ingredients will be sourced from Mexico and almost half from the Yucatán peninsula. A member of #PescaConFuturo, promoting sustainable fishery and aquaculture, freshly caught seafood will be sourced from Amigos de Sian Ka’an. Reinventing traditional Mexican cuisine, colourful dishes will range from seafood towers and Michoacan corundas, to Jalisco-style Birria and chocolate cake with Oaxacan black mole, flamed with house mezcal.

For the perfect sundowner, Bambuco offers a more casual affair, where seasonal herbal drinks made fresh from the garden sit alongside Mexican wines, tequila cocktails, and an extensive selection of Mezcal. The legendary beach hangout, Freddy’s Bar will continue to channel the vibrant spirit of the Riviera Maya, with live music and DJ sets, fresh seafood and cocktails.