I just returned from five blissful days in Riviera Maya, the eastern tip of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on the Caribbean ocean. For my first time in this part of Mexico, I chose to stay at a Conde Nast Traveller Top 100 Hotels of the World pick, El Dorado Royale, a Spa Resort by Karisma.
El Dorado Royale is an adults-only, gourmet all-inclusive retreat, set on its own mile-long private beach in Playa del Carmen. This AAA Four Diamond Resort has everything one could ever wish for while on vacation, which is precisely why I chose to stay here with my boyfriend for a romantic beach getaway.
Upon my arrival, I was surprised to learn how expansive the property was. The hotel itself sits on 450 acres of tropical jungle, boasting 13 pools, 7 restaurants, 5 bars, a full service spa/salon, and countless activities.
We decided to stay at El Dorado Casitas Royale, an exclusive section of the hotel that offers a lot of privacy. The casitas feature super luxurious furnishings, wood-beamed ceilings, canopy beds, jacuzzi tubs, private patios, an outdoor shower, and in some cases, your own private pool.
I was most impressed with the grounds of the hotel, which were maintained meticulously by groundskeepers who worked day and night making sure everything was perfect. The tropical jungle atmosphere was highlighted with coconut lined paths, sparkling blue pools, sprawling green grass, traditional hammocks fastened between palm trees, and beachside day beds with thatched roofs.
The resort certainly keeps guests entertained with a daily schedule of rotating activities and entertainment, ranging from horseback rides, salsa lessons, snorkeling, bike tours, morning beachside yoga, to fire dancing shows.
The 7 restaurants on property are à la carte gourmet menus, with options such as Italian at D’Italia, Asian Fusion at Kampai, Caribbean at JoJo’s, and Mexican at Fuentes.
There was certainly plenty of things to do to keep us entertained for five days. For relaxation, we took advantage of the morning yoga, poolside butler service, swim-up bars, couples massage on the beach, and secluded hammocks for mid-day siestas. For a little more activity, we rented bikes and rode around the property, played tennis, took a cooking class and kayaked on the Caribbean.
Alongside the beautifully kept grounds, I was also impressed with the hotel’s commitment to being eco-friendly. The resort has its own 70,000 square-foot greenhouse which provides fresh, local and sustainable produce to not only for El Dorado Royale, but also for its sister El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels throughout the region. The expansive greenhouse—the first resort greenhouse in the region—celebrated its first harvest in 2009, and now produces a variety of organic vegetables and herbs, including cucumbers, bell peppers, chilies, basil, cilantro, and mint. The hotel also has a water treatment process to reuse the water for the grounds, and uses solar panels to heat the water at the resort.
Since it was my first time visiting the area, I was advised by not only the personal concierge at the hotel, but many friends and family members, to visit Tulum, so on the last day, we took a day trip 45-minutes south of the hotel to explore the Mayan Jungle and Ruins. The day was exhilarating — we took a 4×4 jeep deep into the Mayan Jungle, where we swam and snorkeled in the ancient cenotes, zip lined hundreds of feet above the trees, had an authentic Mexican meal which was prepared outdoors, and then finished the day off by visiting the Mayan Ruins of Tulum.
The vacation was both relaxing and rejuvenating, allowing me to explore a part of Mexico I had never seen. I definitely recommend visiting the Mayan Riviera, and treating yourself to a memorable stay at the El Dorado Royale.
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