Mayakoba

Visiting Mayakoba

If you haven't yet heard of Mayakoba in Mexico, you soon will.

Mayakoba, which is located on the Riviera Maya, is a master-planned resort village that hugs the country's Caribbean coast. Mayakoba is a 40-minute drive south of Cancun.

In Mayan, the word "mayakoba" means "city on water," and its boosters are claiming it will become the Venice of Mexico.

Many of the accommodations are right on the water, and guests will be transported around in water taxis that navigate the lagoon and canals of Mayakoba.

Planned as a luxury resort destination by the Mexican government and private concerns, Mayakoba promises to be a relief from tacky, rowdy, and overcrowded Cancun. Construction at Mayakoba is expected to be completed in 2008.

Several of the world's best hotel companies have staked a claim on Mayakoba, building low-rise structures that respect the local ecology. If you're considering a trip to experience Mayakoba first-hand, these are its jewels:

• Fairmont Mayakoba - the development's anchor, 401-room Fairmont Mayakoba has lagoon and oceanside casitas overlooking sand dunes and the turquoise Caribbean waters.
• Rosewood Mayakoba - offers 128 rooms, all on the water with their own plunge pool, private garden, and outdoor shower.
• Banyan Tree Mayakoba - brings a bit of Asia to the Americas in its 136 Banyan Tree villas that all have a private pool with spacious terrace, outdoor Jacuzzi, and meditation space.
• Viceroy Mayakoba - hip havens for honeymoon couples and other romantics, this resort has 146 villas, 105 of which overlook lagoons and fairways and the remainder alongside the Caribbean coast. The resort contains a full-service spa and beach club.

Golfers who visit Mayakoba can test their mettle on Greg Norman's 7,000-yard El Camaléon, which weaves through a variety of terrain including jungle, beach, and limestone canals.

How to Reach Mayakoba

The main point of arrival is Cancun International Airport. From there, visitors can travel to southern points on the Riviera Maya via the coastal highway.

While the official currency is the Mexican peso, the U.S. dollar is accepted almost universally in Maykoba.

For more information, go to Mayakoba.

Riviera Maya Hotel Directory

Discover the area's small and modest boutique hotels, luxury hotels, all-inclusive hotels, clothesfree hotels, and hotels exclusively for adults.