Sailing by boat to my dwelling makes for a pretty dramatic entrance, and simultaneously imparts the message that nature will, for sure, play the starring role in my experience at this luxurious retreat on Mexico’s Riviera Maya that spans the soft-sand beach of the Caribbean to small islands surrounded by jungle-y mangroves. We glide along the lagoons that weave though the property, past small waterfalls, bright birds, sunning turtles, and whatever other wildlife is hiding beneath the water’s surface and camouflaging with the dense wilderness. Pulling up to the private dock to my Wellness Suite (some might call it a house)—an open, light-filled, double-decker space with huge windows and terraces decked out with tropical flora, a plunge pool, and outdoors shower—I understand that I’ll be spending the next few days in an earthly, verdant paradise that is going to take my breath away at every turn.

Rosewood Mayakoba is part of the larger Mayakoba enclave, a 620-acre community known for its ecological preservation. It is, indeed, all about the environment here, offering the best of both kinds of get-away utopia: sunny expansive coast along a warm turquoise sea, and dense, living jungle with fuchsia flowers and thick emerald leaves. It is also all about Mexican and Mayan heritage, a rich culture, and a pervading spiritual purpose. 

To get to the beach, where two clubs (one adults-only) provide access, I hop on the bicycle that comes with the room (you can also get a ride in a golf cart) and peddle the path that runs along the abundant resort garden that supplies its restaurants with fresh produce, an orchard of blooming banana trees, and through the wild, twisted and woven trunks and leaves of those mangroves, passing a two-foot iguana and some friendly indigenous possum-resembling animals called Kudamundi along the way.

On the beach, there are comfy day beds for lounging under palm trees — you’ll be immediately stocked with towels, cold mineral water and even a cooling face mist. There’s also a very handy sunscreen station. You have to do nothing more than relax and be awed. If, however, you want a closer look at the area’s marine life and wild landscape, you can take an eco-tour of the lagoon, ride a hydrobike out onto the water, or join a guided paddleboarding excursions through the mangroves. Cenotes, ancient sinkholes unique to the Yucatán Peninsula, are another marvel, and one can swim and snorkel in the calm, crystal-clear pools.  What’s more, Rosewood Mayakoba proudly honors local culture by inviting artisans from around Mexico to share their crafts as part of a program called Yo Amo Mexico. I took a pottery class with renown ceramicist Rufina Ruiz Lopez from Oaxaca and came home with a bowl and candle holder made with unique, traditional clay. 

The food, as you would imagine, is true to Mexican heritage, with some delicious twists and turns. The ingredients are sourced from local farms and the resort’s own gardens. There are seven restaurants, but the most social and lively dining experience took place at La Ceiba, an outdoor gathering in the resort’s garden that’s centered around a wood-fired grill and communal tables, where I made friends with my seat neighbors over fancy tequila, Mexican wines, and the thoughtful dishes created specifically for that evening. 

Everything feeds your well-being here. And, Sense, a Rosewood Spa, will top it all off spectacularly. The individual treatment rooms are hidden among the trees and leaves, down a wandering path. So, imagine thatserenity. The menu is a mix of traditional Mayan healing rituals, body work, and facials. I experienced The Temazcal purification ceremony, which had me sweating in a sweat lodge with a personal Mayan shaman guide. The full routine included a ceremony of thanks to the earth, water, and sky, a blessing, singing, hot Vulcanic rocks and healing herbs, all to cleanse the body and mind. It was a trip—and a good one. The Kuxtal Sensory Garden Ritual has guests select plants based on intuition and incorporates them into a tailored treatment focused on physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being. There are also the Lost Remedies treatments, which draw from ancient Mayan herbal medicine practices. I went for the Ground Ritual, which included an invigorating scrub and full-body massage using lovely oil. 

There’s only one problem with the Rosewood, Mayakoba:  Becoming so thoroughly appreciative of all that the jungle, lagoons, ocean waters, sand, flora, and fauna did for my psyche, and to reshape my ideal aesthetic, leaving was that much harder. If, like me, you live in an urban jungle, the thought of existing without palm trees in your view is not easy.  Of course, there is a fix:  book another trip to paradise.