Re-opened: Maroma, a storied hideaway on the Riviera Maya

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 guestrooms, suites and villas outfitted with a blend of local materials, artisanal patterns and traditional craftsmanship.

Image credit: Belmond

In addition, the property shelters four dining destinations including a new gastronomic restaurant, Woodend by 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 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.

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. Each piece of furniture and décor has been carefully designed by Bernerd exclusively for Maroma. A journey to showcase the best of the country, 80 per cent 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 were responsible for the rugs woven from a hemp-like material sourced from specific species of the agave plant and artist Eduardo Ricon, who created shadow boxes displaying native botanicals.

Image credit: Belmond

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.

Image credit: Belmond

Each of the 72 rooms, suites, and villas are spread across Maroma’s private stretch of sand and many have stunning ocean views. The ten 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 more generous Villa Maroma, with four bedrooms, a full kitchen, bar, spacious outdoor terrace, chaise lounges and a private pool.

Image credit: Belmond

Maroma 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. The Mexico City-based fragrance brand Xinú created a custom scent and bath amenities inspired by the regional Amate tree, the scent of clay, mystical incense and lemon.

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. The menu is a nod of respect to the Yucatán Peninsula, its history, dishes and traditions.

Image credit: Belmond

Mexican-born Executive Chef Daniel Camacho also continues his legacy of celebrating his country’s rich culinary diversity at Casa Mayor. Sustainability is a central focus, with 90 per cent of ingredients sourced from Mexico and almost half from the Yucatán peninsula. A proud member of #PescaConFuturo, which promotes sustainable fishery and aquaculture, Chef Camacho reinvents traditional hometown Mexican cuisine using freshly caught seafood from Amigos de Sian Ka’an. Guests can expect creative, colorful dishes ranging from seafood towers and Michoacan corundas to Jalisco-style Birria and chocolate cake with Oaxacan black mole, flamed with house mezcal.

Image credit: Belmond

Bambuco bar offers a more casual affair, where seasonal herbal drinks made fresh from the garden are featured alongside an extensive 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 also embraces a ‘zero waste’ ethos, recycling and composting 100 per cent of its products and ingredients.

The legendary beach hangout Freddy’s Bar continues to channel the vibrant spirit of the Riviera Maya, with lively music, fresh seafood and cocktails, and a locally sourced raw bar. Every seat in the bar has sea views and the design channels the beauty of the surroundings, with 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, 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.

Image credit: Belmond

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.

Image credit: Belmond

Maroma is 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.

The property 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, Maroma 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.

Main image credit: Belmond