My Mayakoba Holiday Vacation
by robin kessler
I was ready to reconnect with nature. To take a break and escape to Mexico’s Riviera Maya. So, my friend Chris and I jetted off to Mayakoba, Mexico, for the holidays. Mayakoba is a private resort carved out of the Mayan jungle along the Caribbean Sea – south of Cancun and north of Playa del Carmen.
A place where nature is sacred, revered, and preserved. Where you are at peace with the natural world.
Carved out of the Mayan jungle, the Village of Water is 480 acres of wild tropical beauty. 60 acres of dense mangroves. 100 acres of jungle and lagoons. 8 miles of freshwater canals. Sugary white sand beach and the clear-blue Caribbean Sea. Winding nature trails. And El Camaleón golf course, 18 holes carved out of the Riviera Maya and home of the PGA’s Mayakoba Golf Classic.
From the moment we stepped into the resort, we felt connected to Mayakoba’s serenity and spirit of adventure. We dropped our bags in our room on the lagoon, threw on our swimsuits, toasted with a mezcal margarita and set out for an adventure. Once we checked in, we blissed out and embraced Mayakoba’s luxury of nature.
My Mayakoba Holiday Vacation
I was ready to reconnect with nature.
To take a break and escape to Mexico’s Riviera Maya. So, my friend Chris and I jetted off to Mayakoba, Mexico, for the holidays. Mayakoba is private resort carved out of the Mayan jungle along the Caribbean Sea – south of Cancun and north of Playa del Carmen. A place where nature is sacred, revered and preserved. Where you are at peace with the natural world.
Carved out of the Mayan jungle, the Village of Water is 480 acres of wild tropical beauty. 60 acres of dense mangroves. 100 acres of jungle and lagoons. 8 miles of freshwater canals.
Sugary white sand beach and the clear-blue Caribbean Sea. Winding nature trails. And El Camaleón golf course, 18 holes carved out of the Riviera Maya and home of the PGA’s Mayakoba Golf Classic.
From the moment we stepped into the resort, we felt connected to Mayakoba’s serenity and spirit of adventure. We dropped our bags in our room on the lagoon, threw on our swimsuits, toasted with a mezcal margarita and set out for an adventure. Once we checked in, we blissed out and embraced Mayakoba’s luxury of nature.
What Happens in Mayakoba
Day 1
10 AM – Woke up to Mexican Caribbean sunshine and a warm sea breeze. We enjoyed breakfast and mimosas in our beautiful suite on the terrace overlooking the mangroves and lagoon.
11 AM – We took a morning swim in the adults-only infinity-edge pool overlooking the mangrove forest and canal. We lounged poolside soaking up the Riviera Maya sunshine. We sipped strawberry mojitos from our mixologist, Israel, at La Laguna restaurant and bar.
1 PM – We rode our bikes along the winding path down to the idyllic white sand beach. We lazed on our loungers facing the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. We worked on our tans and lunched on shrimp ceviche with chilis and grilled steak tacos.
3 PM – We spent the afternoon swimming and tandem kayaking in the gentle waves of the Caribbean Sea. We paddled out past the breakers into the white caps and explored the breathtaking shoreline with Cancun and Cozumel on the waterline horizon.
5 PM – Back on our lounge chairs, we basked in the last moments of sunshine and watched the sun slip into the Caribbean Sea. As the moonlight glistened on the surf and sand, we jumped on our bikes and cycled back for an evening of dinner and drinks.
7 PM – We enjoyed a relaxed dinner at HIX, a Japanese inspired restaurant and bar in the Fairmont Mayakoba lobby. We supped on sushi, sashimi and coastal fare on the terrace overlooking the lagoon paired with a bottle of Mexican sauvignon blanc.
10 PM – We eased into a nightcap with new friends and craft cocktails at HIX Bar. We sipped an old fashioned made with reposado and a Margarita Mayakoba with fresh lime juice and agave nectar. The perfect end to a Mayakoba adventure.
11 PM – We fell asleep to the sounds of indigenous birds and wildlife outside our terrace. We said goodnight to sea turtles, boat-billed herons, cormorants, and the majestic habitat as Orion illuminated the starry skies.
Day 2
9:30 AM – We took a boat tour with Captain Oliver through 8 miles of freshwater canals that edge the mangroves and El Camaleón golf course. We spotted herons, diving anhingas, loggerhead sea turtles, tropical fish, crocodiles and native wildlife. Our guide explained the five diverse ecosystems and conservation of Riviera Maya’s coastal jungle.
11 AM – Sunshine called so we rode our bikes down to the sugary soft beach lined with palm trees and the crystalline sea. We lounged on the white sands near the palapa bar surrounded by jaw-dropping visuals. We chilled out to the sound of the Caribbean waves and swaying palms.
1 PM – We jet skied and kayaked in the sea under blue skies and sunshine. Our beach server, Edy, brought us cervezas and ceviche after our sun-splashed adventures. Sublime day.
5 PM – We stopped at El Patio outside Brisas Coastal Grill and Bar for a sunset tequila before dinner. We sat on the patio overlooking the beach and Caribbean Sea as the sun faded into the horizon.
7:30 PM – We enjoyed a romantic dinner on the gorgeous terrace at El Puerto. We dined on modern Italian fusion cuisine made with local ingredients. We shared the steamed mussels, shrimp and pastas paired with local wine was amazing. We gazed over the waterways and the glistening Christmas tree.
10 PM – We took an evening stroll along the tree-lined pathways and bridge across from our room. The full moon illuminated the canals as we shared a kiss and embraced the moment Mayakoba style.
Day 3
11 AM – We spent an amazing day atEXPLOR by Xcaret, an eco-adventure park in the Mayan jungle. We swam in the crystal-clear underground cenotes through stalactites and stalagmites. We flew 50 miles an hour on 6 sky-high ziplines – the tallest in Riviera Maya – through the jungle canopy with panoramic views of the lush forest, rivers, and Playa del Carmen.
5 PM – We headed down for an early dinner at Brisas Coastal Grill and Bar perched above the beach and Caribbean Sea. We shared the grilled spiny lobster and filet mignon cooked perfectly. We had cocktails on the patio after dinner staring at the moonshined Sea.
Day 4
10 AM – We had coffee on the terrace to the sound of the soft morning rain. We slowly watched the sun peek through the clouds, so we threw on our shorts and shades and headed out.
11 AM – We grabbed bikes at the boat dock and peddled to the beautiful nature trail that winds for miles through Mayakoba. We rode past El Camaleón as the PGA players were sizing up the greens for the 2020 Mayakoba Golf Classic, one of the most celebrated events on the PGA TOUR. We rode through the jungle and canals and saw the coatis, iguanas, and herons.
Tip: Play El Camaleón, a Greg Norman-designed masterpiece carved out of the ecosystems of Mayakoba – tropical jungle, mangroves, freshwater canals, and Riviera Maya oceanfront. The 18-hole PGA championship course wows with spectacular views from every tee box.
12 AM – We walked around El Pueblito, a charming Mexican village lined with quaint shops, restaurants, patios, and a beautiful church. We browsed the stores, picked up souvenirs and enjoyed cold cervezas and tacos in the plaza square.
3 PM – The sun came out. We rode down to the beach for some stand-up paddle boarding and a catamaran ride on the waves. My friend Chris, a seasoned sailor, caught the wind into the clear blue sea and setting sun.
7 PM – After a siesta, we rode the shuttle down to the water’s edge for dinner under the stars at Ki Beach Bar and Korean Grill. We indulged in grilled Korean beef and shrimp with tropical drinks by the glow of the firepits. Toes in the sand, BBQs blazing, and the Caribbean Sea.
9:30 PM – At Hix Terrace, we toasted with our last vacation libation with our friends Mike and Marina from Orlando. We walked back to our suite and fell asleep with our terrace doors open and a tropical breeze.
How We Do Mayakoba
Fairmont Mayakoba offers beautiful rooms, suites, and casitas on the edge of the canals, mangroves, and the pristine Caribbean Sea beach. Everything is connected by paths and bridges, with bikes and shuttles everywhere to explore.
The resort showcases chef-driven restaurants, bars and patios with Mexican and global fusion cuisine and views of the waterways and sea. Kayaking, paddle boarding, catamaran cruises, boat tours, golf, tequila tastings, parasailing, and a spa. When your sense of adventure calls, it’s all here.
Travel Tip: The weather is perfect in Riviera Maya in December and during the holiday season. Check out Fairmont Mayakoba’s seasonal specials and escape to paradise. Mayakoba is seriously beautiful, luxurious, and tranquil. It is connected to nature in a way that changes you forever.