Maroma

Riviera Maya

Refreshed and refreshing sanctuary with an eye on the future

If you are reopening a legacy luxury hotel after extensive refurbishment, as the Belmond group did with Mexico’s Maroma in 2023, then sustainability should rightly sit at its core. But for this exceptional property to win the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award as part of The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024, its commitment to both people and planet has to be near-unrivalled in the super-premium hospitality space.

Located in acres of jungle in the Yucatán Peninsula, the 72-room resort focuses attention on the long-term protection of the biodiversity that surrounds it. Despite undergoing an extensive rebuild (the original iteration of the hotel opened in 1995), it incorporates as much of the previous structure and fittings as possible, with additions using only sustainable locally sourced materials where required.

As a seaside resort, it is also concerned with the health of the ocean and its inhabitants, with employees involved in a coral-mapping initiative, regular beach clean-ups and a sea turtle protection scheme. Furthermore, Maroma houses a sanctuary for the Melipona bee, an endemic species threatened by deforestation, as well as monitoring and helping preserve two rare species of parrot.

For guests, the focus on long-term sustainability is built into multiple elements of their experience, whether big or small. In-room food and drink items are stocked in reusable containers; fans, beach bags and caftans are crafted by local artisans; the celebrated bar operates a zero-waste policy; and the seafood in the outstanding Casa Mayor restaurant is fully certified and traceable. Any food waste is either used to provide meals at a community dining hall for the less privileged, composted for the gardens or donated to a local farm as livestock feed.

It’s the emphasis on locality and the celebration of Mayan culture that is most striking for an international luxury destination such as this. This ranges from the overall design and aesthetic to the traditional temazcal (a type of sweat lodge) purification ceremony offered on the beach and meditation workshops in the spa, from the food menus to the mezcal tastings, and even the celebration of the night sky via a bespoke stargazing experience (Maroma is certified as ‘starlight accommodation’, meaning it has significantly reduced light pollution).

Many of the team who worked at the property previously have been retained and, as a consequence, provide reams of local knowledge and expertise for guests to tap into. Staff also have access to 24-7 medical services, mental health counselling, nutritional advice and legal consultation.

Maroma may be one of the world’s most beautiful and exclusive jungle-meets-ocean resorts, but it has not forgotten what came before it, while also working to preserve nature’s gifts for the future.

The Eco Hotel Award is given to the hotel that achieves the highest environmental and social responsibility rating as determined by 50 Best’s audit partner, the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

Contact