Rituals of Emotion

The Riviera Maya on the East Coast of Mexico is home to some of the best beaches in the world; turquoise blue water,  sparkling-white sand and vibrant coral reefs. You’d struggle to find a better place to unwind and forget the stresses of everyday life.

At the heart of the region, in Playa del Carmen, there is a secluded hidden paradise, the Andaz Mayakoba Resort, a place where the ultimate expression of luxury meets the wonder of nature. Situated on 590 acres of breath-taking oceanfront, preserved mangrove and lagoon surroundings, the property boasts 214 rooms, including 41 suites. Guests are transported into a lush natural environment where locally inspired and indigenous experiences, cuisine and wellness are brought to life with an unparalleled level of service.

The beachfront Andaz Mayakoba Resort is secluded in the private, gated-Mayakoba complex, nestled on the coastline of the Mexican Caribbean and surrounded by vegetation and nature.

Within this magnificent retreat, the Naum Spa, offers a sanctuary with treatments rooted on Mayan wellness practices reflective of the mind, body and spirit. All of these “Naum Rituals” use products from natural, locally sourced herbs, spices and oils. This respect for ancient practices is complemented by the best in the world of skincare, working with brands such as Naturopathica and Barbor, renowned for their high-quality formulas that contain natural plant extracts mixed with technology to combat a variety of skin problems. Comprising six open treatment cabins and two hydrotherapy areas, the spa stretches over nearly a thousand square metres in the middle of a jungle environment that envelopes you in a verdant a lush environment.

Naum Wellness & Spa is a 10,000-square-foot hideaway in the center of the resort, surrounded by jungle.

Following the Mayan tradition, each of the Naum ritual targets a specific area of wellness based upon four core intentions and emotions:

Upon arrival at the spa, your therapist works with you to identify wellness intention, treatment focus and ingredients of choice – which will be used in your treatment – and from there, a Ritual is selected. You can also choose to take part in an interactive aromatherapy bar where you can design your own custom products and scents. Alluding to the balancing nature of number three with a beginning, middle and end, each Ritual begins with a Mayan Time of Reflection, followed by the treatment experience itself, and concludes with a Mayan Celebration to help guests balance and reconnect with themselves and the universe.

After choosing a ritual, your therapist helps you select the ingredients that will be used in your treatment.

For a full wellness experience during your stay at Andaz Mayakoba, I’d recommend you visit the Vegan Bar, which offers a full vegan dining menu based on fresh and seasonal food prepared with sustainable and locally sourced ingredients as well as natural juices, fresh fruit waters, smoothies and healthy shots. The casual culinary concept heralds a creative, plant-based approach with an emphasis on colourful, organic foods and vegan snacks inspired by Mexican cuisine. 

There is a dedicated weekly wellness calendarwhich includes fitness classes, yoga, mediation, spa workshops, pilates and more. You must try “Stand up paddle board yoga” which brings a unique twist to traditional yoga practices. Personal sessions in any of these activities are held on the resort’s spacious white sand beach, beach lawn or around the pool area.

Book the wellness stay of a lifetime at the Andaz Mayakoba HERE.