No need to bury the lead – you need to stay here! Luxury hotels are one of my favorite things, and of all of the ones I’ve stayed at, this is absolutely in the top 2. From start to finish, our only complaint was that the handles of the complimentary bikes they provide for each villa were a touch sticky (#humidity). We stayed here for our anniversary, and they honestly made it the most special experience at every turn. The one thing I want to make sure I call out is how wonderful every member of the hotel staff was – customer service seriously makes all the difference, and it is outstanding at Banyan Tree Mayakoba.
Accommodations
We stayed in the ‘Wellbeing Sanctuary Pool Villa’ and let me tell you, it was a whole vibe. Each villa comes with its own pool, but this one has it’s own hot tub, a second building with a living and dining area, and massage tables on the rooftop if you want an in-villa massage.
Dining
Part of why we wanted to stay in Mayakoba was for the opportunity to try the restaurants at the different resorts – well, we didn’t end up doing that and for our first visit we don’t regret it at all. Banyan Tree had some of the best-sounding restaurants, so we figured we might as well stay there. We ate on the water for almost every meal, which made everything feel even more dreamy.
The breakfast buffet at Oriente was unlike anything I’ve ever seen – SO MUCH FOOD – and it was all delicious. It also included made-to-order items like crepes, omelets, waffles, and more. Cello, their Italian restaurant, was fantastic. I’m still dreaming about that meal and we literally took a picture of the balsamic vinegar they served with the bread because it was so good (here’s the link – thank me later). We had multiple meals at the beach club and at La Copa, all excellent.
Their signature Thai restaurant, Saffron, had the most memorable experience though. While it is walkable from the resort, they offered to take us by boat! It’s only a few minutes, but it is such a luxe touch and an unforgettable way to get to and from this restaurant, and when you walk in, they wash your hands with rose water.
Exploring Mayakoba
If you’re unfamiliar with Mayakoba, the private gated community in Playa Del Carmen/Mexico’s Riviera Maya encompasses 595 acres of pristine lagoons, jungles, and beaches. It is home to four luxury resorts and their golf course, El Camaleón, partners with LIV Golf League to host a tournament there each year.
We explored the resort via the bike trails, but there are also opportunities to explore via kayak or boat rides through the canal. In addition to finding their colorful town square, El Pueblito, on our bike ride, there is also a Cenote on the property. We were the only ones there at the time, so we had a free private tour with the guide.
Let’s Talk Booking
We booked using our partnership with Virtuoso, which started with an upgraded room when we checked in, complimentary breakfast every day, and a $100 food and beverage credit to our bill!