Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya

On 3 August 2023, the Riviera Maya's most storied hideaway Maroma, A Belmond Hotel made its much-anticipated return. 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 rooms, suites, and villas outfitted with a blend of local materials, artisanal patterns, and traditional craftsmanship and four dining destinations including a new gastronomic restaurant, Woodend by Curtis Stone, by the renowned Michelin-star chef 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.

Building on its legacy of care for the community and environment, Maroma also unveils ground-breaking sustainability initiatives both on-property and in the community. Deeply embedded into the soul of the Yucatán, Maroma enters a new era as the beating heart of the Riviera Maya.

Internationally renowned design studio Tara Bernerd & Partners honours Mexican heritage while enhancing the original architecture of Maroma, whose white stucco buildings are aligned to the Sacred Geometry of Mayan masonry. 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, with each piece of furniture and décor carefully designed by Bernerd exclusively for Maroma. A journey to showcase the best of the country, 80% 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, with rugs woven from a hemplike material sourced from specific species of the agave plant; and artist Eduardo Ricon, who created shadow boxes displaying native botanicals.

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.

Each of the 72 rooms, suites, and villas are spread across Maroma's private stretch of sand; many have stunning ocean views. 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 3,939-square-foot Villa Maroma, with four bedrooms, a full kitchen, bar, spacious outdoor terrace, chaise lounges, and a private pool. 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.

REGIONAL FLAVORS TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT

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. 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 also features an extensive range of plant-based dishes, cabbage heart with seeded macha and camembert or Mayan rice with maitake mushrooms, Chaya spinach and wheat berries.

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% 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. Signature cocktails 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 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% 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; the design channels the beauty of the surroundings, with inlaid pebble motifs, locally sourced woven fabrics, and tropical pops of green and orange tones.

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