Nestled on a secluded and unspoilt part of the coast on the Riviera Maya in Mexico, Andaz Mayakoba is the epitome of cool. Part of the international Hyatt group, this 5 star hotel benefits from their service levels. Yet it has a local feel thanks to its collaborations with Mexican artists and photographers.
First Impressions
Arriving at the resort, you really get the wow factor. There’s an airy open-plan reception lobby with a circular lake at its centre. The friendly staff handed us each a pebble and encouraged us to throw it into the water to symbolically leave our cares behind. After a refreshing fruit drink and quick check-in, the charming Jorge our private butler accompanied us to our suite. Staff here are encouraged to interact with guests and to share details of their own hobbies. The ones we chatted with were into wine, food and photography – in fact one of them gave us a few tips for where to get the best shots.
Accommodation at Andaz Mayakoba
The rooms in Andaz are spread out around the lagoon and beach areas, in order to minimize any impact on the environment. In fact sustainability is a major focus here and Andaz and the neighbouring 3 resorts at Mayakoba work hard to preserve wildlife. We were staying by the beach, so Jorge whisked us there in a golf buggy. They’re a fun way to get around although you might prefer to borrow bikes as we did a few times. Our huge suite had a spacious bedroom, separate lounge area and WC.
All the rooms at Andaz have a bathroom that runs the whole length of the room, with two sinks and a rain shower.
There are also two balconies, one leading off the bedroom and the other, accessible via the lounge, with a lovely outdoor jacuzzi. We admired the colourful basketwork decoration on the living room wall.
Amenities
We particularly liked the walk-in closet, well equipped with an ironing board, safe, torch, hairdryer and insect repellent.
Bathrobes and flip-flops came in handy, as did the stylish beach bag that you can borrow. The fruit and sweets were a thoughtful gift and the mini bar also had many complimentary items such as waters and tea and coffee. We loved leafing through the Birds of Mayakoba book – it helped us to work out which ones we had spotted nearby!
Facilities
Andaz Mayakoba is blessed with several stunning swimming pools.
The beachside one has a funky vibe with a DJ playing and an amazing octopus mural by local artist, Senkoe.
The lagoon side pools have some very cool inflatables. I couldn’t resist this pink flamingo but kept falling off when I tried to climb on top of the white swan ;-).
The drinks at the poolside bar looked very tempting 
There’s also a cool feature here that I’ve never come across anywhere else, a sunscreen dispensing machine!
When you’ve finished sunbathing, head to the nearby gym. Paul is a bit of a gym bunny and pronounced it one of the best equipped that he has seen.
For those more interested in relaxing than sweating it out in the gym, there’s a fantastic adjacent spa too.
It’s designed so that you can do a circuit, passing through hot and cold areas. I loved the leafy view from the ladies’ shower! Paul and I enjoyed a relaxing couples massage in one of the spa’s pavilions and a herbal tea afterwards.
Another great way to relax is at the uncrowded beach. You can walk along its soft white sand to Mayakoba’s other 3 resorts. There’s also a kids club which lays on a wide range of activities for children of all ages.
Dining
There are so many dining options at Andaz that you won’t need to leave. From casual beach side dining at Olla Ceviche to gourmet Mexican dishes at Casa Amate, there’s something for everyone…However if you wish to, you can dine at any of the restaurants in the other 3 luxury resorts in Mayakoba and have it billed to your room. Breakfast at Andaz Mayakoba is a tasty affair with two restaurants to choose from. At Cucina Milagro, there’s a vast array of hot and cold buffet dishes as well as an à la carte menu.
Olla Taco is the other option – it serves à la carte dishes in a casual and cool beach side restaurant.
Casa Amate is the signature restaurant at Andaz Mayakoba. With a stylish yet homely decor, its spread over several small rooms.
There’s a large terrace overlooking the lagoon.
The staff here are very knowledgeable and will advise you on the wines as well as the food menu.
I loved it so much that I returned a few days later for a photo shoot with Sol Tamargo – a Cultural Insider at Andaz and a very talented photographer.
We also had fun at a tequila tasting held at Olla Ceviche, a casual beach side eatery, decorated with colourful basketwork. Who knew that there were so many different types of tequila, from silver unaged varieties to oak-aged vintages? The bottles are very impressive, as are the shot glasses. You don’t have to put salt on the rim of your tequila glass but it does add a certain something to the experience.
Surrounding area
As well as getting around by golf buggy or bicycle, you can take the Mayakoba Connection. It’s a ferry service linking Andaz Mayakoba with the three other resorts at Mayakoba.
Along the way, be sure to look out for rare birds, turtles and other wildlife.
The Mayakoba Connection also drops guests close to El Pueblito, the local square modelled on a traditional Mexican village.
There’s also the only PGA golf course in Mexico, with some stunning fairways and also a Nature Trail which guests can walk or cycle along.
Final thoughts
What makes Andaz Mayakoba so special is its sense of fun and vibrancy, together with its focus on the environment. If you’re the sort of person who prefers a relaxed vibe to a stuffy atmosphere, then Andaz Mayakoba is definitely for you.
Andaz Mayakoba, Carretera Federal Cancun-Playa Del Carmen Km. 298, Playa del Carmen-Solidaridad, Quintana Roo, Mexico, 77710
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