Mayakoba has always been quieter than other parts of the Riviera Maya. The road disappears into the mangroves. Lagoon channels have still water. The beach feels secluded, with long stretches of white sand and little access to the outside world.
Now there is a new resort on its territory.
Hyatt Hotels has opened the new Alila Mayakoba, a 182-room luxury resort marking Alila’s debut in Latin America and the Caribbean. This opening coincides with Mayakoba’s 20th anniversary and adds a new flag to one of the region’s most established luxury resort communities.
If this sounds a little familiar, this property is Andaz MayakobaIt closed early last year to allow for this rebranding.
Alila Mayakoba is set on 60 acres of beaches, lagoons and jungle. The location is nature-oriented and wellness-focused, with outdoor architecture, mangrove views, and a resort layout designed around a series of culturally rooted wellness rituals connected to living Mayan traditions.
What’s new
Alila Mayakoba is now open within Mayakoba, a master-planned resort community in Mexico. riviera maya This is home to some of the most well-known luxury real estate in the area.
The resort includes 182 rooms, suites and villas, with nearly 40% of the inventory classified as suites. The hotel also offers a beachfront Presidential Suite.
The resort’s plan is structured between the lagoon and the sea. Rooms, swimming pools, dining venues and Spa Alila are located along the lagoon for a quieter and safer experience. Beachfront rooms and outdoor spaces are located closer to the shore and have what the resort describes as a family-friendly layout.
Mayakoba’s owner group, RLH Properties, described the opening as a milestone for the destination and its long-term partnership with Hyatt.
Mayakoba location
Mayakoba is one of those rare places in the Riviera Maya where the natural environment still dominates the experience.
The territory is defined by waterways and mangroves, with long, flat promenades and narrow bridges connecting hotels, restaurants, and public spaces. Guests travel by foot, bike and boat, and many of the resort communities intentionally feel disconnected from the traffic and density outside the gates.
This physical separation is part of Mayakoba’s appeal. It’s still in the Riviera Maya, giving it access to Playa del Carmen and the wider region, but its immediate surroundings give it a self-contained feel. You hear more birds than cars. You can see the surrounding water from almost anywhere. You know it the moment you walk into the place.
But the real draw here is the area’s premier golf course, designed by Greg Norman.
design
The resort’s architecture and interiors were conceived to be what Hyatt calls “the perfect expression of the Alila brand in a beach setting.”
The rooms and suites are designed as indoor-outdoor retreats with a palette drawn from terraces, natural textures, surrounding mangroves, waterways and Caribbean light. The resort emphasizes a deliberately understated approach, with materials chosen to feel more rooted in the Yucatan Peninsula than imported from the usual luxury template.
The result is a resort designed to create a feeling of openness to nature, with less separation between interior and outdoor spaces.
Rooms and Suites
Alila Mayakoba’s 182 keys include rooms, suites and villas, with suites comprising nearly 40% of the inventory.
The resort’s approach to accommodations is consistent with its overall design direction, including outdoor transitions, terrace living, and a sense of privacy created by mangroves and water rather than walls.
In Mayakoba, where guests return year after year, room design and layout can be as important as beach access. Alila positions the property as a private sanctuary, emphasizing quiet and natural materials.
Spa Alila and the resort’s wellness focus
Mayakoba has a destination spa called Spa Alila, which the company curates with a culturally driven wellness program developed in collaboration with local healers, philosophers, and Mayan elders. The resort’s wellness rituals are rooted in living tradition and emphasize cultural integrity rather than superficial Mayan style.
Guests are welcomed with drinks made from coconut water, melipona honey and local plants, followed by a cleansing ritual using clay and honey.
A series of signature experiences, called Alila Moments, are designed to guide guests through shared rituals and ceremonies related to Mayan cosmology and the Yucatan Peninsula. Examples of resorts include Earth and Clay, Winds of Renewal, and Ixchel Water Blessing.
The spa program is guided by the Tzolk’in calendar and offers personalized treatments through daily practices and carefully selected rituals. Experiences range from sunrise intention ceremonies at sea to temazcal excursions and minimalist 528Hz sound immersion.
The resort also includes a Technogym-powered fitness area with smart assessment technology, positioning itself as a personalized training and longevity service rather than a standard gym.
Dining: 6 restaurants and the return of Casa Amate
Dining is one of the key defining elements of the resort, with six venues designed to move between beach, garden and lagoon environments.
The most recognizable name is Casa Amate, Mayakoba’s long-established signature fine dining restaurant, which has returned as part of Alira Mayakoba. The restaurant has been one of the most established eateries in a destination known for its elevated interpretation of local flavors and its more intimate multi-room format.
Other venues include the Alisio Beach Club, a beachfront concept designed to run from daytime cabanas to after-sun seafood and coastal Mediterranean cuisine. There’s also a 12-seat chef’s atelier called El Huerto, led by executive chef Michael Grau, organized around a one-to-one, zero-waste approach using ingredients grown on site. This is a place that more and more travelers are looking for.
Na Cocina Local is the resort’s all-day dining venue with a menu focused on local ingredients and a cocktail program presented in lively and zero-proof formats. Ninguno Taqueria is an outdoor beach spot serving tacos, tostadas, tortas and tamales. Xiim Bar is located next to the resort’s cenote and serves coffee, juice and local drinks in the morning before switching to tequila and mezcal cocktails in the evening.
For Mayakoba, where dining is one of the top reasons travelers choose here, the six-venue lineup is a key part of Alila’s positioning.
Who is it for?
Alila Mayakoba is perfect for travelers who want the beach setting of the Riviera Maya but in a quieter, less dense setting.
The lagoon-side layout, spa program and suite-heavy room mix will appeal to couples and solo travelers who prioritize wellness and privacy. Beach areas and outdoor areas are designed for travelers with children, and the resort describes these areas as more comfortable and family-friendly.
The resort also expands Mayakoba’s appeal to travelers who return frequently and want new options within a familiar destination.
Alila Mayakoba is not just another new luxury resort in Mexico.
It’s also a sign of Mayakoba’s continued strength as a luxury destination at a time when travelers are increasingly looking for calming, eco-friendly and intentionally designed resorts.
How to get there
Mayakoba is located in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, just north of Playa del Carmen.
Most travelers arrive through Cancun International Airport, the region’s main commercial gateway with direct flights from major cities in the United States and Canada. Travel from the airport to Mayakoba is usually by car along the main highway south, with the drive usually taking about 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic.
Once you enter Mayakoba, your experience changes quickly. Roads narrow, mangroves grow thicker, and waterways in resort communities begin to define the landscape. Movement within the territory is usually by foot, bicycle, golf cart, or boat.
For travelers looking for a Riviera Maya trip that prioritizes quiet, nature, and wellness without leaving the convenience of Cancun flights, Alila Mayakoba is now one of the destination’s newest luxury options.
Pricing and Service
The price is much better than Andaz. According to information found on the Google Flights portal, rooms in March start at around $1,735 per night. This is included in the hotel’s grand opening offer and offers rooms with one king size bed in the hotel’s lagoon area. For “beach area” rooms, prices go up to approximately $1,833 per night, based on prices listed on the Hyatt reservation platform.
