Front Elevation: Rising from the Ruins

Idyllic surroundings make the Riviera Maya Mexico’s newest paradise.

text by: Jessica Taylor

April 1, 2008

The Viceroy Mayakoba, which is slated to open next year, is perhaps the most design-driven property within the development. With architecture by renowned Mexican firm Legorreta + Legorreta and interiors by Kelly Wearstler, the property will offer lagoon and beachfront residences. Banyan Tree Mayakoba will also have residences near and along the beach, with 25 condo-hotel villas and 25 whole-ownership residences scheduled for completion by the end of this year.

In addition to the Mayakoba properties, the Riviera Maya is now home to a Mandarin Oriental resort, which opened in January without a residential component. The Orient-Express recently purchased the Maroma resort and is now breaking ground on a residence program of its own. Other area resorts include the Tides, which is set on eight acres of beachfront and within walking distance to downtown Playa del Carmen, the region’s largest town with a population 130,000. The resort is part of the Kor Hotel Group, which also owns Viceroy Hotels and Resorts, and is currently undergoing construction to include a selection of hotel-managed residences. Nearby, the Fives will open late this year with 265 condos. Rumors suggest that the Regent, Four Seasons, and Ritz-Carlton also are scouting out locations in the area.

Highly anticipated is the opening of a Capella resort, a brand conceptualized by Horst Schulze, former president and COO of the Ritz-Carlton Group, and based on the premise that, in order to provide five-star service, occupancy must not exceed 200 guests. For this reason, the 86-room boutique hotel—located on 254 acres and called Capella Bahia Maroma—will not cater to conventions. When it debuts this winter, it will open with a private 18-hole golf course designed by Rees Jones; membership will be capped at 300. Like the Mayakoba, the Capella Bahia Maroma will offer a selection of residences bordering the ocean, jungle, and golf course.

Perhaps most telling is the Nizuc community, which is technically located in Cancún but is aligning itself with the Riviera Maya’s popularity by adopting a similar low-density philosophy. Located just north of the Riviera Maya, the property once belonged to the Mexican government and was used by former President Vicente Fox as a retreat for entertaining visiting celebrities and dignitaries. Nizuc is scheduled to open in late 2009 with a resort managed by GHM Luxury Hotels. The property’s first phase of real estate will include 160 condo residences and three freestanding villas (there will be 10 at build-out) on the 28-acre site.

An international airport, scheduled to be built in Tulum in the next few years, could threaten the area’s low-key atmosphere as it becomes more accessible. However, the government’s willingness to regulate construction coupled with developers’ increasing awareness of environmental issues suggests that the area may be able to retain its off-the-beaten-path charm. "There are very stringent laws in place to preserve the area’s ecology, and with that comes a very conscious decision to keep the region’s bohemian feel," says Beccar-Varela. "It’s funny to think that a place can be both bohemian and luxurious, but that’s what it is."

DEVELOPMENTS/REAL ESTATE

•1 Banyan Tree Mayakoba
Location: Set within the 1,600-acre Mayakoba development, 30 minutes south of Cancún.
Residences: 25 condo-hotel villas and 25 whole-ownership villas.
Amenities: Access to Mayakoba’s PGA-rated Greg Norman championship golf course, 15 restaurants, five spas, and more than a mile of white-sand beach. Additionally, villas will feature private pools, outdoor Jacuzzis, meditation salas, and poolside terraces. Owners have access to all hotel amenities, including the spa pavilions lining the lagoon.
Timeline: Hotel and residences will open in December.
Pricing: $1 million to $6 million.
866.540.6512, www.banyantreemayakoba.com

•2 Capella Bahia Maroma
Location: On 254 acres of a former coconut plantation.
Residences: 20 beachfront homes, 43 golf course homes, 11 beachfront homes bordered by the golf course, eight jungle haciendas, and 30 condos.
Amenities: A beach club, a mile of white-sand beach, access to the signature Auriga spa and dining amenities at the 86-suite Capella hotel, private 18-hole golf course designed by Rees Jones (membership is capped at 300), and golf clubhouse with fitness center, restaurants, and pro shop.
Timeline: Scheduled for completion in winter 2008/2009.
Pricing: Starting at $2.9 million.
866.248.8466, ­www.capellalivingmaroma.com



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