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Banyan Tree Mayakoba | Riviera Maya | Mexico
Banyan Tree has finally landed in Latin America – and on one of the region’s most beautiful beaches. Mayakoba, meaning “village on water” in Mayan, may be a little larger than your average Mayan village but is nevertheless and a sensitively designed development of four hotels nestled between mangrove lagoons and waterways behind a simply stunning beach.
Perfect for… those seeking privacy, luxury and plenty of square footage. Families, golfers, honeymooners and spa aficionados will not be disappointed.
Where… at the quiet end of Mayakoba’s gorgeous beach on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, about 40 minutes south of Cancun and 10 minutes outside Playa del Carmen.
And the rooms… 132 enormous one-, two- and three-bedroom villas (the smallest is 293sqm/ 961sqft!) decorated in soothing, earthy colours with uniquely designed Mayan-inspired furnishings. Luxuries abound from plasma TVs, wireless Internet and air-conditioning to a selection of pillows and nightly turndown service. All villas come with their own generous private pool, the smallest of which is still a decent 35.5sqm/116sqft, an outdoor terrace and landscaped gardens. Only the three-bedroom villas are on the beach; the rest overlook the mangrove lagoons and waterways behind it – but a short boat ride soon gets you on the sand.
Food and facilities… the hotel offers four excellent restaurants; Oriente for all-day dining, Saffron for Southeast Asian cuisine, The Beach Club and the Tamarind Spa Restaurant if you’re watching your waistline. There’s also the award-wining Banyan Tree Spa with 16 spa pavilions and an extensive range of Asian-inspired massages; the Banyan Tree gallery and shop showcasing indigenous arts and crafts from community projects worldwide, a large free-form swimming pool, gym, library and games room. Children are welcome but there’s currently no kids club. Guests can also make use of the facilities at the neighbouring hotels on the Mayakoba complex – Rosewood, Fairmont and Viceroy Mayakoba – and charge them back to their room at Banyan Tree.
Activities… when you’re not in the spa, in your private pool or hitting the beach, there’s plenty to see and do. Mayakoba has a Greg Norman-designed golf course and there are non-motorised water sports available down on the beach. Nearby snorkelling and diving is excellent and of course Mayan history and culture is right on your doorstep with the impressive archaeological sites of Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba all within driving distance.
In the know… we love the Spa Pool Villas, which not only have oodles of space and luxurious touches, but also come with their own personal outdoor massage area so you can bring the famous Banyan Tree spa to your room. Bliss.
