Mexico's Riviera Maya is thriving with new hotels, events, real estate developments, attractions and other novelties to enjoy. The latest of them is Xplor (www.xplor.travel), a theme park located next to Xcaret, which opened its doors just this month and which offers four activities to lovers of nature and adventure: ziplining, cavern rafting, jungle exploration and underground river navigation.
Azul Fives Hotel (www.azulhotel.com) by Karisma, set to open in late summer 2009 in Playa del Carmen, will offer 360 luxuriously designed one-, two- and three-bedroom suites (1,125 to 1,900 square feet), each with private marble bathrooms featuring rainforest showers and oversized balconies or terraces. Penthouse suites and presidential penthouse suites will boast private rooftop lounge decks featuring deluxe double jacuzzis and large lounging areas. Glamorous two- and three-bedroom penthouse suites (1,300 to 1,500 square feet) with separate living rooms, kitchens, powder rooms and more will accommodate up to eight people.
Capella Bahia Maroma Riviera Maya (www.capellabahiamaroma.com) from Capella Hotels & Resorts will feature individual villas opening out directly to the Caribbean, an Auriga Spa, a beach club, gourmet restaurants and luxurious residences as well as the only private, championship 18-hole golf course by renowned golf architect Rees Jones in the Yucatan.
Grupo Grand Coral, a developer backed by prestigious Spanish financial houses including Bancaja and Banco de Valencia, has broken ground on the Grand Coral Riviera Maya (www.grandcoral.com.mx), a US$2.5 billion retail, hotel and real estate development located five minutes from Playa del Carmen, spanning 561 lush oceanfront acres and combining hotels, expansive resorts, entertainment and retail/restaurant outposts. The development's 18-hole golf course will be designed by Hall of Fame golfer Nick Price. In what will be a first for Price, the project will feature the Nick Price Residences, 123 residences available for full or fractional ownership and located adjacent to the clubhouse with views of the course. More than 75 percent of the land will be kept in its natural state or turned into recreational parks and gardens in order to contribute to the preservation of the environment.
Kanai (www.amytis.com.mx), an eco-conscious development situated on the 302-km marker of the Chetumal-Cancun highway, will span 966 acres and 1.1 miles of seacoast and include 847 hotel rooms, two golf courses (36 holes) and a residential area.
Marriott International has announced that in the next five years it will nearly triple its presence in Mexico, including the Riviera Maya, investing more than US$1 billion. The luxurious 450-room JW Marriott Milla de Oro Resort & Spa and the upscale 150-room Renaissance Milla de Oro Resort are expected to open in the Riviera Maya in 2011.
Xcaret (www.xcaret.com), an eco-archeological park located in Playa del Carmen, announced several new and upcoming attractions: Vino de Mexico is a wine cellar that opened in June 2008 for the purpose of showcasing Mexican wines. The space offers a Sommelier's Store, featuring exclusive wines and private tastings; the Regional Hall, housing a historical Mexican winemaking exhibit and Mexican wines organized by region; and the tasting and matching room, accommodating 25 guests and offering the services of an on-site sommelier to explain how to taste Mexican wines and match them with food. The sea turtle exhibition offers visitors the chance to see live sea turtles and even witness their births while it showcases Xcaret's extensive efforts to protect endangered species. A one-hour swim with mother dolphins and their calves offers a unique opportunity to experience the loving care given to the park's dolphins. Xcaret's lagoon is the place to pet, feed and swim with nurse sharks and rays. The Museum of Popular Mexican Arts will open this summer with an extensive exhibit celebrating the creativity and craftsmanship of Mexican artisans.
The adventure tour company Alltournative (www.alltournative.com) offers a new half-day tour called Rio Secreto, or Secret River. Equipped with helmets, flashlights, wetsuits and life jackets, a small group descends into an underground river to explore hidden caverns, stalactites, stalagmites, corals and other natural treasures.
Hidden Worlds Cenotes Park (www.hiddenworlds.com/default.aspx), which offers exclusive access to some of the Riviera Maya's finest cenotes (sinkholes), offers a new and unique attraction called SkyCycle, a cable bicycle suspended at the treetop level of the rainforest, allowing visitors to pedal leisurely through the air while they take in the overwhelming beauty of the jungle. SkyCycle then leads down into and through enchanting caverns filled with natural rock formations. The attraction continues with a snorkeling tour through a natural underground river system.
Aktunchen Park (www.aktunchen.com), which features cave and cenote tours and wildlife encounters, just launched Canopy Adventure, offering a unique view of the jungle canopy from 10 ziplines and two suspended bridges.
Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Residential Golf Resort (www.bahiaprincipegolf.com) will feature a 27-hole, 717-acre golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II. There will also be a 9-hole, par three world-class golf course, practice course and golf academy, all constructed while preserving the wildlife and nature around them. For more information on the Riviera Maya, visit www.rivieramaya.com.
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