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The 128-room Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya opened at the beginning of February 2008 in a long, slim slice of mangrove forest on the edge of a powder-fine beach on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. The contemporary design by its young Mexican architect-owner and Mandarin Oriental's faultless service makes a compelling combination, although the vibe is more Malibu Beach than Mexican. The light and airy white bedrooms with polished granite floors, vast beds and indoor-outdoor bathrooms are arranged in intimate clusters: a handful along the seafront, others overlooking lagoons and cenotes (freshwater pools, sacred to the Mayans, which are connected to subterranean water systems) and the rest around themed 'art courtyards'.
Great swathes of jungle have been carefully preserved between each configuration, so guests are never far from chattering parrots. Beach buggies buzz around the resort, ready to take you anywhere. Most guests kick-start a full day's languishing with fresh fruit and pancakes at the all-day Aguamarina restaurant, next to the main pool. Elsewhere, sushi is served at the beachfront Ceviche Cha Cha Cha, icy Caiprinhas on the roof terrace at M-Bar and innovative Latin-Asian cuisine at Ambar. The spa is gorgeous: a central, low-rise building with treatment casitas scattered in the surrounding jungle. Book a two-hour Mayan Tzolkin Ritual and pick your own herbs beforehand from the medicinal garden.
WHEN TO GO
This is a good year-round destination, although July and August can be intolerably hot.
ROOM TO BOOK
One of the five seriously cool Beachfront Casitas, each of which has its own rooftop terrace, sun deck and large, infinity-edged swimming pool.
KM 298.8 Carretera 307, Playa Del Carmen, Quintana Roo (00 52 984 877 3888; www.mandarinoriental.com). Doubles from US$578; Beachfront Casitas from US$2,274
Find out more about Yucatan in our destination guide |
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