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Hyatt announced the official opening of Alila Mayakoba yesterday. The nature-rooted luxury retreat on Mexico’s Riviera Maya marks a major milestone for the Alila brand and replaces the former Andaz.
Alila Mayakoba becomes the first Alila-branded property in Latin America and the Caribbean. It brings the brand’s wellness-focused luxury concept into one of Mexico’s most prestigious resort enclaves. Set within the Mayakoba development near Cancún, the new resort blends architecture, cultural immersion, and wellbeing into a deeply place-led guest experience.
Alila Mayakoba emerges following the closure of the former Andaz Mayakoba in March 2025. In that time, it underwent a full renovation and was repositioned further upmarket. The refreshed property now features:
- 182 guestrooms, suites, and villas (72 of those are suites)
- Beachfront and lagoon-facing settings woven through mangroves
Spanning 60 acres of jungle, lagoon, and Caribbean beachfront, the resort is an intimate sanctuary defined by architectural restraint, natural materials, and cultural authenticity.
Interiors by Huber Design emphasize locally sourced materials and artisanal craftsmanship. Tropical hardwoods such as tzalam, parota, and rosa morada bring warmth, while Mérida limestone and recuperated travertine introduce organic texture. Custom furnishings created with local artisans transform the resort’s spaces into an expression of the surrounding landscape, inspired by mangroves, waterways, and Caribbean light. As mentioned above, nearly 40% of the accommodations are suites, including a beachfront Presidential Suite designed as a private indoor-outdoor sanctuary.
At the heart of Alila Mayakoba is a culturally led wellness philosophy developed in collaboration with Mayan elders, local therapists, and philosophers. Guests are welcomed through ancestral rituals, including coconut water blended with sacred Melipona honey and regional botanicals, followed by a grounding clay-and-honey cleansing ceremony.
Signature Alila Moments experiences include immersive rituals shaped by Mayan cosmology:
- Earth and Clay (a purification ritual culminating in ocean immersion)
- Winds of Renewal (it features mandala creation and a private cenote journey)
- Ixchel Water Blessing (guided by a Mayan elder to renew intentions and strengthen bonds)
Spa Alila at Mayakoba is designed as a restorative sanctuary guided by the sacred Tzolk’in calendar and Mayan understandings of cyclical time and energy. Experiences range from sunrise rituals by the sea to temazcal journeys and Essential Frequency (a minimalist 528Hz sound immersion intended to calm the nervous system).
The resort also features a state-of-the-art Technogym-powered fitness space that offers personalized wellness assessments and smart training designed to support longevity and balance.
Dining at Alila Mayakoba spans six distinct venues. These include:
- Alisio Beach Club (live-fire seafood and Mediterranean influences on the beach)
- Casa Amate (the Mayakoba fine-dining icon returns with globally inspired flavors)
- El Huerto Chef’s Atelier (a 12-seat zero-waste culinary laboratory led by Executive Chef Michael Grau)
- Xiim Bar (pastries and chocolate specialties by day and mezcal cocktails at night)
- Na Cocina Local and Ninguno Taqueria (these are expected to open soon with modern Yucatec cuisine and elevated street classics)
Alila Mayakoba also offers plenty of space for weddings, intimate ceremonies, and lagoon-side gatherings.
To mark the opening, Alila Mayakoba is introducing an Inaugural Stay Offer, including:
- Dedicated pre-arrival planning support
- Complimentary round-trip airport transportation
- A signature Ixchel Water Blessing or Tribal Soundscapes wellbeing experience
- Enhanced hydrotherapy access
Reservations must be made by May 31st for stays through December 31st using offer code “OPENING.” Normal paid rates for the hotel generally range between $500 and $1,000 depending on the season. The hotel is classified as a Category 6 property in the World of Hyatt® program and runs between 21,000 to 29,000 points per night for standard rooms.
Anthony’s Take: I’ve never stayed at an Alila property. Cancún is not on my list of places to go, but this looks far enough away from the resort factories and has a genuinely calming feel.
(Image Credits: Hyatt.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
