Things are about to get a whole lot more interesting on the island of Cozumel, thanks to the Sept. 15 opening of sister properties Fiesta Americana and Explorean by Fiesta Americana.

To promote the properties, their general manager, Mauricio Moncada said Fiesta America is offering 50 percent savings off rates booked by Aug. 15 for travel through December of next year.

Work on the properties began more than a year ago, with the 102-room, five-star Fiesta Americana being totally gutted and rebranded as an all-inclusive. The Explorean, featuring 56 casitas, is also all-inclusive, and has been carved out of a section of the Fiesta Americana. It is completely autonomous from the Fiesta Americana, but guests will have complete access to Fiesta Americana facilities. Both properties feature complimentary Wi-Fi throughout.

This is Fiesta Americana’s second Explorean property – the first is the Explorean Kohunlich, located near the Belize border – and it blends luxury with soft adventure.

Explorean guests will be kept busy each day with snorkeling, kayaking and hobie cat activities, and a five-hour island tour, among other things. “Every day there is a different tour,” said Moncada, adding that the Explorean brand was designed to create experiential vacations for guests. “People are looking for experiences instead of just the vacation, and that’s what this property offers. The idea of this property is that you feel like you’re at home with your friends.”  

Excursion guides, all of whom are intimately familiar with Cozumel, are part of the hotel staff.

The Explorean’s architecture is Mayan-influenced and incorporates beautiful wood accents in the public area, which features an open-air lobby and indoor/outdoor restaurant.

The restaurant, Loolkna, Mayan for a yellow flower found in the area, will offer a Mayan-influenced menu that changes daily based on the catch of the day and local ingredients. “The menu is based on what is available and fresh from the region,” said Moncada. The restaurant will offer table service, but guests will help themselves to the open bar.

Casitas are divided into 14 buildings, with four in each building. King rooms on the ground floor are adjoined with double rooms to create larger accommodations for families or groups of friends traveling together.

PHOTO: A warm and soothing color scheme brightens the king rooms at Explorian. (Photo by Claudette Covey)

The tranquil accommodations, which are appointed in soothing gold and yellow accents, are designed with sliding glass doors that will open onto manicured lawns and gardens. Rooms feature rain showers, air conditioning and ceiling fans.

Each morning, breakfast, including freshly baked bread, is placed on tables outside each casita. “As soon as the bread is out of the oven it will be delivered to guests,” said Moncada. Twenty four-hour room service is also available.

The property will cater to travelers 16 and above, although Moncada said exceptions will be made for families traveling with younger children. The Fiesta Americana offers teen and kid’s facilities, with the teen center even boasting a movie theater.

For its part, the renovated Fiesta Americana Cozumel updates the brand’s design concepts. “Fiesta America is well known in the market because of its vibrant colors and Mexican flavor,” said Moncada. “This is a new concept for Fiesta America, and while the design is still very Mexican, it incorporates more whites and pastels – making the resort more modern and contemporary.”

Even though the resort boasts only 102 rooms, it features six a la carte restaurants and one buffet restaurant – in addition to the Coffee Club, which will serve sandwiches, snacks and smoothies. Twenty four-hour room service is also available.

Restaurants include Peninsula, an Asian-themed eatery surrounded by water canals; El Mexicana for Mexican cuisine; and Rosato for Italian.

Three other restaurants are picturesquely set on the beach, including The Grill, which will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the Sevicheria, for seafood, also open from 11 to 5; and Vina del Mar, the buffet restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A spectacular addition to the resort is beach sunbeds with netted bottoms that hang over the sea, almost like static hobie cats. The sunbeds will be available to guests accommodated in suites, Moncada said.

PHOTO: A festive color scheme and wooden accents create a peaceful serenity in Fiesta American's suites. (Photo by Ryan Rudnansky)

Spacious suites with living rooms and deluxe rooms either face the ocean or feature pools. Rooms are equipped with smart TVs and minibars that are refreshed on a daily basis.

Accommodation categories include deluxe oceanview and deluxe with private pool; master suite and master suite with private pool; Governor suite; Presidential suite; and Imperial suite and Imperial suite with private pool.

Like Explorean’s casitas, rooms and suites at Fiesta Americana were designed with pastel colors and wood accents, creating a relaxed ambiance.

Two rooms are wheelchair accessible. (The Explorean features one wheelchair-accessible casita.)

The Fiesta Americana also features myriad picturesque pools; a travel agency and computer desk for those guests who opt to leave their computer at home; an indoor/outdoor lobby bar and reception area; and full-service spa.

In the final analysis, Moncada believes the Fiesta Americana and Explorean will have a decidedly positive impact on Cozumel. “We really believe this is something different and better for the island, and we’re 100 percent sure that we will bring a different type of client to Cozumel.”

Fiesta Americans is a brand within the Grupo Posadas holding company. The company also operates Fiesta Inn, ONE, Fiesta Americana Grand and Live Aqua brands – all in Mexico.

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