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Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya
Riviera Maya, Mexico · Belmond · Grand Luxury
Mexico City architect José Luis Moreno arrived on the Riviera Maya in the 1970s, fell in love with the jungle, and built his first restaurant and rooms freehand, sketching designs in the sand with a family of Maya masons who have worked here for over four decades. After Belmond's 2023 renovation by Tara Bernerd, Maroma ranked 33rd in the World's 50 Best Hotels 2025 and welcomed Michelin-starred chef Curtis Stone's wood-fire cooking at Woodend.
- 72 rooms
- Opened 1995
- Neighborhood: Punta Maroma
- Rooms from 420 sq ft (39 m²)
- Architect: Jose Luis Moreno (designed without blueprints, drawings sketched in sand)
- Interiors: Tara Bernerd & Partners
About Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya
- Casa Mayor, the original restaurant Moreno built with his own hands, still stands with its original features preserved.
- The beach fronts the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the world's second-largest coral reef system, just offshore.
- It won the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel of the Year title in 2024 and made Condé Nast Traveller's Readers' Choice top five in 2025.
- Entry-level rooms start at 420 sq ft (39 m²).
History
Mexico City architect Jose Luis Moreno arrived in Cancún in the mid-1970s, fell in love with the Riviera Maya, and built a restaurant at the jungle's edge. He added rooms organically over years, never using formal blueprints — instead sketching free-flowing designs in the sand and building them with a family of local Maya masons who have worked on the property for over four decades. Orient-Express Hotels acquired the resort in 2002. Following Belmond's acquisition by LVMH, Maroma underwent a complete redesign by interior architect Tara Bernerd, reopening in August 2023 with 72 rooms and a new ten-unit beachfront spa villa wing. The resort was ranked 18th in the World's 50 Best Hotels 2024 and awarded the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel of 2024.
The property originated as the private home of architect José Luis Moreno, who built freehand from local stone and bamboo beginning in the 1970s; it opened as a hotel in 1995 and was acquired by Belmond in 2002, making it one of the Riviera Maya's original luxury pioneers.
The setting
Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya sits at Kilometre 51 of the Cancún–Tulum highway in Punta Maroma, 30 miles south of Cancún, on a 500-acre estate where 200 acres of preserved jungle enfold 25 acres of Caribbean beachfront. The property originated as the private home of architect José Luis Moreno, who built freehand from local stone and bamboo beginning in the 1970s; it opened as a hotel in 1995 and was acquired by Belmond in 2002, making it one of the Riviera Maya's original luxury pioneers. The beach fronts the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef—the world's second-largest coral reef—delivering crystalline water of exceptional clarity and proximity to Mayan ruins along the protected jungle corridor toward Tulum. 7 km from Dolphin Discovery Playa del Carmen Maroma.
Restaurants and bars
- Woodend — Restaurant · Seafood
- Casa Mayor — Restaurant
- Bambuco Bar — Bar
- Freddy's Bar — Bar
- K'óben — Restaurant · Wood-fired grill
- La Cantina — Restaurant
Experiences
- Maroma Spa by Guerlain — Biophilic spa with nine treatment rooms, a Bee Healing Ritual, temazcal ceremony, sound therapy and a Meliponario.
- Woodend by Curtis Stone — Signature restaurant with seasonal dishes cooked on an open fire, created with Michelin-star chef Curtis Stone.
- Bambuco — Casual bar with seasonal herbal drinks and an extensive mezcal collection, with a zero waste ethos.
- Nixtamal Journey — Hands-on experience making corn tortillas by hand.
- The Journey Around the Agave — Tasting-style exploration of the origins, methods and chemistry of tequila, mezcal and sotol.
- Stargazing with an astronomer — Nightly stargazing where an astronomer maps Mayan constellations, paired with biodynamic wines.
Amenities
- Maroma Spa by Guerlain (Mayan wellness + Guerlain savoir-faire)
- Three pools
- Private beach
- Cenote access
- Mayan turtle conservation program
- Cooking classes with local artisans
- Sustainable jungle grounds (500 acres)
- Private pool
- Sauna
- Fitness center
- Kids' club
- Water sports
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
- Robb Report 50 Greatest Hotels on Earth (2025)
- World's 50 Best Hotels (2025)
- Flor de Caña Eco Hotel of the Year (2024)
- Prix Versailles (Hotels) — World Selection List (2024)
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