Chablé Maroma Mexico - Redefining Wellness on Riviera Maya
Overview
Looking for a relaxing fortnight in Mexico before heading further to the USA and Palm Springs for Modernism Week, we first visited Cartesiano in Puebla before travelling up to the Yucatán Peninsula for two Chablé Hotels. The first was Chablé Yucatán near Merida (you can read my full review of that experience here) before we drove cross-country to the second property, Chablé Maroma on the beach at Punta Maroma / Riviera Maya.
Having had an amazing stay at Yucatán (check-in and check-out experience aside) we had extremely high hopes for the sister property at Maroma. Sadly the check-in experience and initial room allocation was disappointing (a serenity villa), but the stay vastly improved by moving to an upstairs villa king (bizarrely a downgrade). Add to this an incredible beach location, extremely high standards of service, an amazing pool and morning yoga on the beach; not to mention an utterly fabulous spa treatment (which you can find my full review here).
Hotel website: https://chablehotels.com/maroma/
Would I stay here again? After having really enjoyed the Chablé experience at Yucatán and their amazing standalone villas, to be honest I don’t think I would return to Maroma. Yucatán dining options too seemed to suit us better, but it was still a wonderful experience and if you’re a beach lover then this is the property for you.
Chablé Maroma Mexico: Punta Maroma, Rivera Maya Coastline
Location
We drove from the sister property at Chablé Yucatán (which took us just over four hours) with extra time for a lunch stop just outside of Valladolid. The total journey was a total distance of around 340km or 210miles. On our return we drove back to Cancun International Airport, this journey only took about 40 minutes (40km or 25 miles). The resort is set right on the beach, south of the busier areas of Cancun itself and Riviera Maya, but north of Playa Del Carmen and Tulum.
Although it was an easy drive, some of the roads were toll but all well maintained with lots of services, once we got near the resort we had to follow the sat nav to get us off the main roads and heading towards the beach itself. There are a number of resorts that share an entrance, but if you keep on going you’ll eventually get the Chablé Maroma entrance. There isn’t much else around there, once you’re on the beach (which is great for seclusion). We’d thought we would be able to walk to the Belmond Hotel (Maroma) along the beach during our stay for lunch or dinner, but this was actually closed for refurbishment.
Accommodation
Seventy villas in total, these are split across forty buildings in total, quite a different arrangement to Yucatán, not nearly so well spaced out or private. Each block had a serenity villa (15 double and 15 king) on the ground (or 1st floor depending on whether you’re UK or USA) with either a double or king villa above on the 1st/2nd floor. They are almost identical, other than the lower (serenity villas) have an extended indoor/outdoor shower area with an extra WC in the bathroom (in place of the upstairs indoor shower). There were then 8 standalone villas (similar but without anyone above) with a slightly larger private pool - all villas had a pool, even the upper level villas. Finally there were two presidential villas, two storeys, with a similar master suite on the lower level (but with a substantially bigger pool) with both a king and double bedroom suite again with another pool on that level.
We had booked a serenity villa thinking this would be private and secluded (as the name implies) with the option of an upgrade from booking through Leading Hotels of the World. Despite this being explained as a benefit on checking in; the resort was quite busy (there was a wedding when we were there) and no upgrade was offered. In actual fact, on seeing the serenity villas being so enclosed and quite frankly dark and ours so near to the paths, we immediately asked if we could see alternative options and changed (downgraded) to an upper level base villa. We found this to be much better with more open views and so much brighter. The villas were extremely well appointed, a large bedroom area with supremely comfortable king size bed, seating and small lounge area, huge TV, complimentary mini bar and tea/coffee. There was then a massive bathroom area with twin sinks and a huge vanity unit, reclining sofa in the corner, separate WC, inside shower and also an outside shower too. There was loads of storage space and all superbly appointed, beautifully designed and spotlessly clean throughout.
Food & Drink
There were two main restaurants, Kaban which was the all-day poolside restaurant/bar (where a delicious breakfast was served) and also the evening-only fine-dining Bu’ul (the Mayan word for bean), which also had a stunning bar area too. The Kaban restaurant had an indoor area, covered areas around the perimeter and also outside dining around the huge pool. Service was excellent in both restaurants, and during the day there was both a beach and pool service for food and drinks. We did eat once at Bu’ul, which was definitely an experience, with great service (Samuel, Head of Food & Beverage, was excellent); but my preference for us had to be the food options at Kaban.
Above Bu’ul was the Raw Bar, only open in the evenings, where you enjoy a majestic sunset view. There was an excellent selection of cocktails and drinks, we particularly loved the gin selections (Citrus, Green, Honey, Hibiscus, Tangerine or Apple Spicy); and there was also a good selection of snacks. Quite seafood based, but what drew my eye immediately as a long-time vegetarian was fried brussel sprouts with guajillo julianas (chilli) and parmesan bread - absolutely delicious and went extremely well with a gin cocktail (or two) and the sun setting behind the resort.
Facilities & Service
Other than a disappointing welcome (room issues as above) and again disappointing on departure where an agreed credit for the room change had not been applied to our account, service was amazing. All the staff throughout the resort were great, from the wait staff in restaurants and by the pool and beach, spa staff etc. The focus here is clearly on the beach and the huge expansive pool, but there was also a fantastic spa area and a separate gymnasium/fitness room. To find out much more about the spa and gym, please have a read of my dedicated blog post which you can find here. Isrrael one of the waiters in Raw Bar ensured we had a great sunset experience, and it was great being served a daily refreshing drink around the pool and on the beach every morning, as well as a nice treat of a daily ice pop (like guava juice) after lunch. There were lots of loungers, parasols and tables around the pool, as well as they all being spread across the expansive beach area.
ThePrivateTraveller’s top tips (any areas for improvement?):
Front desk check-in - similar to Yucatán, not a highlight it has to be said.
I’d actually rate the serenity villa lower than the (base level) villa king, having the upper level suites as being superior (better view, more open, lighter and brighter, and no one above you).
ThePrivateTraveller’s absolute highlights:
My Ya’axche Forest Awakening Ritual at the spa - absolutely world class (read all about it here).
Morning yoga on the beach.
Standard of villa and facilities were second to none, but don’t compare (in my mind) to the seclusion of Chablé Yucatán.
Useful website links:
Hotels:
Cartesiano 360 https://cartesiano360.com/en/
Leading Hotels of the World https://www.lhw.com
Chablé Hotels https://chablehotels.com
Chablé Yucatán https://chablehotels.com/yucatan/
Chablé Maroma https://chablehotels.com/maroma/
Spa Reviews
AeroMexico https://aeromexico.com/en-gb
