MEXICO: TWO COASTS riviera maya + los cabos

MAYAKOBA, RIVIERA MAYA

Fairmont

Or Mayakobahhhh…. Located in the Riviera Maya 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen, the resort is home to three properties with two more in the works. Before ground was ever broken, a team of biologists set work to preserve as much of the local flora and fauna as possible. Six miles of freshwater lagoons connect all the properties through a series of canals some of which were carved from existing cenotes. What sets Mayakoba apart is the care dedicated to the ecosystem. From day one, dunes, mangroves, freshwater lagoons, all of which are home to a bevy of indigenous fish, birds and mammals, were given the utmost respect and care. Mayakoba truly epitomizes luxury for guests and the environment.

Choose from The Fairmont, Rosewood or Banyan Tree, all three are exquisite and different. The Fairmont is a wonderful family friendly option. The main pool is a warmer temperature with crosswalks, smaller coves and tons of nooks and crannies to perch for the day – perfect for kiddos. There’s also a pair of super shallow pools (think 1ft depth) for infants and toddlers. The beach pool overlooking the turquoise water is smaller and quieter. Not to be missed is breakfast at La Laguna. Seriously, one of the best buffets I’ve seen anywhere. Fresh baked mini pastries are to die for, the option of juices and smoothies are enough to make any raw foodie swoon, and a station of sopes, quesadillas and eggs are worthy of a second trip.

Mayakoba Aerial

Rosewood is the perfect romantic getaway or book one of the larger casitas for a bachelorette or family getaway. Modern warm design abounds throughout the suites with private plunge pools, rooftop sundecks, garden showers and individual docks. You’ll find yourself wishing your home looked like this. Not to be missed, and reason alone to book here, is the beach pool. An infinity pool overlooks the Caribbean with poolside cabanas surrounding the highly coveted chaises around the pool. The service is sublime with the friendliest staff with permanent smiles. The beach menu is perfection with a variety of ceviches and figure-friendly options. I loved the complimentary sunglass cleaning service.

The Banyan Tree balances 4 ecosystems perfectly: the mangroves, dunes, low forests and coral reefs. It is the epitome of tranquility and stillness. For authentic Thai and Asian flavors do not miss the intimacy of dinner at Saffron.

A few things to note, golf carts are used to get around at all three properties. They also have bicycles, perfect to really get to know the surroundings. Property designated SUVs are used to get to the other properties. Mayakoba is also home to El Camaleón Golf Club, a Greg Norman designed golf course, which is also host to the only PGA Tour event in Mexico. On-site babysitting is available for an added cost and is excellent. Not to be missed: boat tour of Mayakoba. It offers excellent bird watching, a better understanding of the environment, and you just might get lucky and see one of the crocs. www.mayakoba.com –Carla Valencia de Martinez

Maroma Resort & Spa, Riviera Maya

Capella Pedregal, Los Cabos

Though it’s just 20 minutes from Cancun airport, this dreamy resort feels worlds apart from the tourist fray, thanks to its setting on about 25 jungle acres of a former coconut plantation. Lush foliage, vibrant gardens and plenty of parrots and butterflies fill the property, which sits on what’s arguably one of the best beaches in the area (think wide, white and powder-soft, topped with a fine layer of cooling pink coral dust). With stark white buildings that offer a dramatic contrast to the Caribbean’s blues and greens, this getaway lives up to that term by transporting guests from the minute they pass through the gates.

Maroma is part of the Orient-Express brand, which prides itself on running places that feel true to their location, so it’s no surprise that, as with the setting, the rest of the hotel is unmistakably authentic, too. The simple-yet-elegant rooms and public spaces feature local materials like thatch, ironwood and shell fossils, plus antique accents (like doors from an 18-century hacienda) and the handiwork of local artisans. At night, the entire place is lit with thousands of candles, adding to the magical vibe.

Local influences are also evident in the open-air, Mayan-inspired spa, where treatments use products custom-made with natural ingredients like avocado, papaya seeds and muscovado sugar. (The Kinan Ritual, in which two therapists cocoon you in herb-infused cotton sheets, scrub you with a mix of honey and sea salt, then perform a choreographed four-hand massage, is worth the splurge.) In the kitchen, Chef Jose Pablo Loza – a veteran of Mexico City’s top eateries and winner of a Best Mexican Young Chef award – draws upon Yucatan and Mediterranean influences to create dishes like salmon pizetta with guacamole and soft-shell crab with achiote and habanero. The beachside Freddy’s Bar stocks over 100 kinds of tequila and serves fresh ceviche prepared tableside.

For guests who want to explore, Maroma is 45 minutes from Cancun and an easy drive to eco-activities and archeological sites like Tulum. But we say save the tours for another trip: There is so much to do at this haven – from cooking, tequila and Spanish classes to just lazing on your private terrace or in your hot tub – that it would be a shame to leave. This may be a five-star spot (a distinction definitely reflected in the prices), but the warm service and thoughtful amenities are definitely homegrown. www.maromahotel.com

Capella Pedregal, Los Cabos

Capella Pedregal

Most of the upscale resorts (and celebrity homes) in Los Cabos sit on a stretch of road between quaint San Jose del Cabo and touristy Cabo San Lucas, backed by the ocean on one side and mountains on the other. So it was a little surprising as our taxi to Capella Pedregal, one of the most recent five-star openings in the area, sped past these other hideaways and headed straight for the fray of Cabo San Lucas – then kept driving through town and out to a tunnel on the other side. It turns out this 984-foot tunnel – the only privately owned one in Mexico – was carved through the heart of a mountain that separates the city from the Pacific Ocean, just so the hotel could be built on 24 secluded, beachfront acres on the other side. Perched on the tip of the Baja Peninsula, where the ocean meets the Sea of Cortez and next to the Land’s End rock formations, Capella Pedregal may be the new kid in town, but it certainly arrived with a bang.

Beginning with your welcome at the open-air, ocean-view reception pavilion, where each guest is met by a Personal Assistant, it’s clear the hotel has a flair for making an impression. Rooms and beach casitas are chic and cheery, with custom furnishings accented with splashes of colorful fabric and artisanal handicrafts; even better, all rooms have an outdoor area with a fireplace and plunge pool. The water and soft drinks in the mini-bar, as well as a welcome carafe of tequila, are complimentary, and every afternoon, guests are treated to a pre-dinner amenity like freshly made chips, guacamole and two ice-cold beers.

Though Cabo is a pleasant walk away (making this one of the only resorts where you don’t need a car or taxi), there’s plenty to occupy guests on property. Contact your PA to set up a cooking class with one of the chefs, who will guide you through creating gourmet versions of Mexican favorites in the gorgeous show kitchen, then work it off with a private training session in the fitness center, which is overseen by one of LA’s top celebrity trainers. A whole day (or two) can be spent in the massive Auriga Spa, which houses 10 pod-shaped treatment suites, an indoor-outdoor pool, hot and cold wet areas, and numerous cozy relaxation lounges; services use both Organic Pharmacy products and natural local ingredients, many hand-picked by the on-staff traditional healer. Most importantly, be sure to check in with someone special: From the mood lighting of the outdoor fire pits to the dramatic beauty of the cliffside El Farallon restaurant, the mood here is ripe for romance. www.capellahotels.com/cabosanlucas

By Sandra Ramani + Carla Valencia de Martinez

Mayakoba Photography by Michael O’Bryon, Roberto Hinojos

Maroma Photography by A. Gra Quagliata

Capella Pedregal Photography by Robert Reck

Panama City Panama

From eco adventures, archeological sites and Caribbean Sea-side beaches to new luxury hotels and a funky old town brimming with gourmet restaurants.

1. gamboa rainforest resort | 2. rain forest

It may be best known for its famous canal but modern Panama City offers much more for visitors – from eco adventures, archeological sites and Caribbean Sea-side beaches to new luxury hotels and a funky old town brimming with gourmet restaurants. Both incredibly modern (the downtown skyline rivals Miami) and culturally rich, this unique destination – easily accessed by daily direct flights from Houston – was also named one of the must-see places of 2012 by The New York Times, further cementing its “on the radar” status. www.visitpanama.com What to Do: Start at the beginning with a glimpse into the city’s past. The Museo de Historia de Panamá houses colonial-era documents and artifacts, while the Museo de Ciencias Naturales focuses on geology and paleontology and the Museo de Arte Religioso features a variety of sacred items, from paintings to objects made of silver and bone. Considered an oasis in the city, cultural museum Mi Pueblito brings to life the history of the area’s indigenous communities with replicas of traditional thatched and adobe dwellings. You can also watch Kuna Indian artisans at work and pick up souvenirs like traditional Mola blouses and decorative panels. Then, of course, there’s the Panama Canal – still impressive after all these years. Built in the early 1900s, the Canal helps close to 15,000 ships a year connect from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and watching the ships pass through is a must. A few of the locks are open to visitors, but the most accessible is Miraflores, where you can visit the modern museum and movie theater, then enjoy a tasty buffet lunch at the Miraflores Restaurant (reservations required). Grab a table outside for prime boat views. Another of the city’s most scenic spots, the Amador Causeway was built using stones culled from the construction of the Panama Canal. This long boardwalk and cycling path connects the mainland to three small islands and is flanked by views of the city skyline, the Bridge of the Americas and the ocean. Take your time browsing the shops, cafes and restaurants along the road — or take a cab to one end of the Causeway then stroll or bike back, stopping for lunch or a drink along the way. (Bike rentals are available on-site.) From the Causeway, you can also hop a ferry for the 45-minute ride to the island of Taboga, home to a fishing village, sandy beaches and historic structures like the 1524 church of San Pedro. Enjoy a walk through the quaint town and stunning views of the water and the pelican colonies – all of which inspired the painter Paul Gauguin when he stopped here on the way to Tahiti. Modern Panama City may have skyscrapers and contemporary style (including a cool new Bio-Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, set to open later this year), but its origins are still visible in Casco Viejo, the old part of town. Also called Panama Vieja, this Pacific Ocean-side neighborhood was where the “new” colonial city of Panama was built in 1673.

3. westin playa bonita panama | 4. the museo de historia panamá

Visit key sites like the baroque San José church, home to an altar made of gold, and the beautiful Plaza de la Independencia, then stroll the narrow stone streets lined with colorful graffiti, street vendors, ramshackle buildings and lots of glimpses into the vibrant local life. Many of the historic structures have been turned into bars and restaurants. We like American-owned Super Gourmet for freshly prepared sandwiches and organic chocolate; Di Vino for the stellar wine list and fun vibe (think live jazz and black-and-white movies projected on the wall); and splurge-worthy Mustasa for the buttery oversized lobsters. Where to Stay: Set right on the beach and next to the Punta Bruja Natural Reserve, the brand-new Westin Playa Bonita Panama (www.starwoodhotels.com) features plenty of relaxing distractions, including six restaurants, four bars, a spa, multiple pools and direct white sand access. For a taste of Panama’s tropical beauty, check-in to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, the Westin’s sister hotel set 30 minutes from the city on the banks of the Chagres River (www.gamboaresort.com). From here you can take an aerial gondola ride over the jungle, enjoy a boat trip to spot the capuchins on Monkey Island, or just relax in rooms that reflect Panama’s colonial heritage.

By Sandra Ramani