Maroma, a Belmond Resort Riviera Maya

Maroma, a Belmond Resort Riviera Maya

Maroma reopened in August 2023 after Tara Bernerd reimagined Mexican architect José Luis Moreno's 1995 original creation. Moreno built the first luxury hotel in what would become the Riviera Maya, a white stucco hacienda designed using Mayan Sacred Geometry after he discovered these untouched shores in 1976, when Cancún had little more than a thatched-roof airport terminal. The 72 rooms and suites spread across 200 acres of jungle and beach are filled with work by named Mexican artisans. Ceramicist José Noé Suro hand-painted all 700,000 Jalisco clay tiles that line the floors and walls, Henequen Textiles wove hemp-like rugs, and shell chandeliers inspired by ancient Mayan jade jewelry hang above handwoven textiles from Oaxaca and Chiapas. The Oceanfront Plunge Pool Suites sit directly on the sand with private pools and outdoor showers, while the four-bedroom Villa Maroma spans 3,939 square feet with a full kitchen and beachfront pool. Woodend by Michelin-starred Australian chef Curtis Stone grills local seafood over open flame. Casa Mayor serves Daniel Camacho's inventive Mexican cuisine. The Maroma Spa by Guerlain—the first in Latin America—centers treatments around the sacred Melipona bee's honey. The three pools are lined with volcanic Sukabumi stone tiles in the exact turquoise of the region's cenotes. Maroma holds the only Starlight certification among Riviera Maya luxury hotels, meaning minimal lighting protects the night sky for actual stargazing with an astronomer who maps Mayan constellations. It appeals to travelers seeking authentic luxury rooted in place, not generic resort polish.