It can seem near impossible to find a pocket of undiscovered luxury along the ever popular Riviera Maya on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, but that is exactly what you will find at Chablé Maroma.
A 10 minute drive down a meandering dirt road off the main road from Cancun to Tulum takes you to Chablé Maroma's lobby: an airy pavilion with swinging chairs setting the tone for a bohemian-chic stay. Marrying style and substance, Chablé Maroma is a truly spiritual spot, as we discovered through a mascal energy cleansing ritual at the spa during our hotel tour. Carried out by the hotel’s resident Mayan shaman against a soundtrack of bells, a sound bowl, and blowing through a conch, the air thick with copal incense. With the aim to connect you to the ground and sky, leave behind your worries and surrender yourself to a restorative stay.
Moving through the resort we quickly discovered Chablé Maroma truly offers the best of both worlds — a tropical jungle retreat fringed by an uninterrupted 650 foot stretch of pristine white sands and flanked by the Caribbean sea. In short: the hotel truly feels like a private enclave of serenity, a world away from the bustle of neighbouring resorts.
The Villas
The romantic accommodation is where Chablé Maroma truly stands apart. Each of the 70 thatched-roofed villas is found off its own private pathway and ensconced in its own canopy of rich foliage, offering a level of unparalleled seclusion. These villas — executed under the exacting eye of renowned Mexican designer Paulina Morán – have a true indoor-outdoor feel, melding design and nature. Spacious bedrooms are replete with wooden panelling, turquoise accents and artisanal textiles. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with light, but cocooned in your own personal jungle you need not worry about prying eyes of fellow guests, it is only interrupted by the occasional scuttle of a family of sweet coatis coming for a nosy around your terrace or the delivery of something delicious and unexpected from housekeeping. Sliding wooden doors spill out onto your private plunge pool with hurricane lamps and a cabana bed for a spot of pool-side reading. Here you will find a thoughtfully placed bottle of the hotel’s own blend insect repellent — an aromatic blend of herbs that works — to spritz liberally as dusk descends. The bathroom is a destination in itself, a capacious space with an indoor-outdoor shower so you can listen to the gentle melody of tropical birds and chirruping frogs as you bathe.
The Dining
The heated infinity pool is the beating heart of the hotel, around which the hotel’s three restaurants are situated. The full culinary offering is overseen by top Mexican chef, Jorge Vallejo, who imbues all menus with Mexico’s rich culinary heritage, exacting flair, and the freshest of locally-sourced ingredients.
Set yourself up for a day in the sun with breakfast at Kaban. It serves up an assortment of delicate pastries, fresh-pressed juices and strong coffee and you can be as virtuous or decadent as you like: with enticing fruit platters and oatmeal, or French toast with a zesty tangerine cream. Dine on traditional dishes such as hearty Heuvos Rancheros piled high with tortillas, black beans, avocado and lashings of sour cream. Kaban plays host to languid pool-side lunches. It’s hard not to overindulge on the extensive menu: ginormous bowls of ultra velvety guacamole to kick off proceedings, while delicious suckling pig, fish and crispy octopus tacos are not to be missed. There is an extensive menu of zingy and zesty Ceviche and Aguachile, best washed down with a local beer. The team are incredibly affable and attentive, ultra knowledgeable about the local and authentic ingredients in their cuisine.
Perched above Kaban is Raw Bar – a delightful asian-mexican fusion rooftop spot, with a perfect vantage point to watch the lapping waves on the reef. Here you can sip on the hotel’s signature cocktail – the Black Rita — a twist on the classic margarita with refreshing ginger and activated charcoal. Dishes here are fish-focused, light, and perfect for sharing, from crispy rock shrimp tempura with a fiery wasabi, to the freshest tuna tartare with a ponzu sauce, draped in yuzu mayonnaise.
Bu’ul is the hotel’s fine dining outpost, putting local flavours at the heart of a refined tasting menu. Standout dishes include a local tomato salad with a generous cheese froth studded with local flowers, juicy duck in an earthy mole sauce, and creamy, decadent ‘manjar blanco’ served with a tart lime granita and textural shards of peanut brittle. Wines were lovingly paired by the sommelier from a sweet Baja California rosé to a floral Reisling from Alsace.
Wellness
Wellness is a core pillar of the Chablé Maroma experience. Sweat out last night’s mezcal in the hotel’s impressive 17,000 square-foot spa. This al fresco spot laced with the scent of burning incense and engulfed by rich foliage is particularly grounding. The spa pays homage to Mayan culture, respecting water’s powerful healing properties. Dip between a trio of hydrotherapy pools: a heated jacuzzi, bracing plunge pool, and the large marbled rainforest pool (a true Instagram moment). There are myriad spa treatments on offer focused on traditional Mayan therapies. I sampled the restorative couples massage which left me floating out to be welcomed with a sweet hibiscus tea. Each morning hotel guests can partake in a complimentary yoga session, which takes place on the beach or in the yoga pavilion; I experienced a particularly mind-stilling chakra-balancing class which stretched my novice yogi skills in the best way possible.
There are plenty of activities the hotel can coordinate: paddleboarding, kayaking and snorkel tours on the pristine reef for adventure seekers, and interactive cooking workshops and cocktail making classes for those keen to learn more about local delicacies. For those fully immersed in the slow pace of life at Chablé Maroma, there is no better way to soak up every moment of this very special place than to recline on a sun lounger around the main infinity pool with a punchy Mezcalita in-hand….
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A grassy approach to glassed doors, up a short flight of concrete steps. Large double windows, edged by sleek frames and divided by flanks of brown brick.
