You touch down in Cancún, but soon you are heading away from that teeming tourist mecca. A short, pleasant drive south along the coast brings you to the resort complex of Mayakobá.

IN BALANCE WITH NATURE
Created in harmony with its natural environment, Mayakobá artfully blends crystalline white sand beaches, mangrove jungle and stunning limestone canals into a truly relaxing destination. This is not just one resort, but a melding of several luxury hotels intertwined with a Greg Norman-designed PGA golf course – all connected by waterways and paths that pull everything together into one unforgettable experience.

Each hotel has its charm, unique attractions and special personality, but you choose Rosewood Mayakobá, for its beautiful suites, its promise of serenity and its spa, Sense – recently included on the Condé Nast Traveler Annual Hot List. One of the most delightful advantages of Mayakobá, though, is that no matter which hotel you select, you can freely choose among all of the amenities throughout the resort.

A SPA FOR YOUR SENSES
You could easily spend your entire visit relaxing in your suite, with its spectacular view, personal plunge pool and other enticements – but there are far too many temptations in the resort and in the surrounding history-laden region. Once you are situated, you stroll over a stunning walking bridge to Sense, located on its own private island, for physical and spiritual escape, rejuvenation and inspiration.

MAYAN MARVELS
The next morning, you head down the coast a short drive to Tulum, one of the most spectacular Mayan coastal ruins, with remarkably well-preserved temples and other remnants of the civilization that thrived here more than 800 years ago.

Just 30 minutes inland, the less-visited archaeological site of Coba was, more than 1,500 years ago, home to nearly 50,000 people. It features marvels of Mayan engineering and industry, including the tallest pyramid in Mexico – Nohoch Mul – that you can still climb.

Your day of immersion into Mayan culture is not over yet. On the journey back to Mayakobá, you cannot pass up the evening extravaganza at Xcaret, an ecological park for all ages right on the beach. Considered the best folklore show in Mexico, Xcaret Spectacular Nights explores Mexican history through music and dance from every corner of the country.

GOLF NIRVANA
The next day is reserved for a casual 18 holes of golf at El Camaleón Golf Club. You step directly from your patio onto a “lancha,” one of the electric-powered boats navigating the emerald canals that have earned Mayakobá the title “Venice of the Caribbean.” It is the most pleasant transport imaginable, taking you directly to the clubhouse, where you soon discover why El Camaleón, completed in 2006, became the first course in Mexico to host a PGA Tour event. It is also the second golf course in Mexico to be certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, one of the world’s leading environmental certifications.

EXPLORING THE REEF
On your final day at Mayakobá, you have so many choices – exploring the resort grounds on complimentary BMW Cruise bicycles, tubing down an ancient Mayan canal, a horseback tour, connoisseur tequila tasting, snorkeling in the crystal-clear water of a cenote (limestone cavern). But it would be a shame to visit this area without spending some quality time on the water, so you choose a charter yacht expedition.

The Meso-American Barrier Reef – the world’s second-largest reef system – runs along the coast offering a wide variety of experiences and diving or snorkeling adventure for every level of experience. Your yacht gives you a buffet of options, including deep-sea fishing and lunch on a secluded beach. You simply head out for the day and let your whims dictate the agenda.

READY TO RETURN
After another restful evening in the warm, restoring breeze, it is time to bid adios to Mayakobá and the Riviera Maya. Fortunately, you have only scratched the surface of the adventures you could have here – leaving you with endless reasons to return.