The gated development, which could be missed off the highway if you blink, is home to four luxury resorts—Andaz Mayakoba, Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Fairmont Mayakoba and Rosewood Mayakoba—along with a village and event space named El Pueblito that’s designed after a traditional colonial Mexican plaza. Perhaps its most notable amenity is the diverse El Camaleón, the 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course that is home to Mexico’s only PGA TOUR event, the OHL Classic. A Jim McLean Golf School and El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Club complement the course that’s lined with sand dunes, mangroves, cenotes and lagoons. One of the development’s most attractive elements is the ability to resort-hop the four properties. You read that right; guests of one resort have full access to the other three, meaning you can wine and dine yourself at 21 outlets and kick back at multiple spas, beach clubs and pools. And getting from one to another is easy-breezy; free transportation is offered to shuttle guests around the complex, with each resort only a few minutes from the next.
If being in paradise with four resorts at hand isn’t enough for you, consider visiting during the annual Mayakoba Masters of Food, Wine & Golf, like I did. The four-day weekend event includes a two-day golf tournament; food, wine and spirit tastings; a golf clinic; cooking demonstrations; interactive classes; multiple cocktail parties; and guest celebrity chefs and sommeliers. To kick off the weekend, an opening party (more like an upscale fiesta) features tons of tequila and top-notch chefs from around the world each whipping up their own take on a taco inspired by their homeland. I unknowingly hit up Uruguay’s stand first where I was handed a cow tongue taco—surprisingly good, as much as I didn’t want to admit it. The remaining three days are filled with food, food and more food, with special five-course menus offered at a variety of the resort’s restaurants. Everything from casual beachfront ceviche to upscale, meaty Latin American dishes and sweet Mexican desserts paired with regional wines, tequilas and handcrafted cocktails are up for grabs. While the event’s price tag is steep (packages start at $1,299), you easily can (and will) eat and drink way more than you pay for. And isn’t that what a trip to Mexico is all about anyway? The 2018 Mayakoba Masters of Food, Wine & Golf is happening April 26-29.
To learn more: mayakoba.com.
