The Rosewood Mayakoba: A romantic golf resort along Mexico's Riviera Maya
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Quintana Roo, Mexico -- You can count on one hand the number of Mexican golf resorts that reach the level of service and splendor of the Rosewood Mayakoba along the Riviera Maya.
Upon check-in, guests get whisked away by water taxis to explore twisting canals and lagoons cut from the mangroves before reaching a lavish luxury suite. The entire Mayakoba complex, home to three resorts and the El Camaleon Golf Club, will host the OHL Classic at Mayakoba -- Mexico's only PGA Tour event -- for at least the next five years, a sure sign that this posh 1,600-acre retreat 40 minutes south of the Cancun International Airport is committed to luxury long-term.
The Rosewood, which opened in 2008, consists of 128 suites loaded with private plunge pools, rooftop sundecks and outdoor garden showers, not to mention private butler service.
There's great variety in the settings and menus at all three of its restaurants. The "Mexican night" at Punta Bonita along the beach goes off-menu for a filling six-taco sampler. The fine-dining Casa del Lago serves a versatile lunch and dinner menu near the main pool. The Agave Azul Sushi & Tequila Bar used to be just a premium tequila-tasting bar until transforming in 2012 into one of Mayakoba's most popular (and most romantic) restaurants.
Sense, A Rosewood Spa is essentially a private spa island hidden in the jungle. Every treatment -- whether in the 12 treatment rooms or eight island suites -- starts with a relaxing foot scrub. Welcome to paradise.