Alila Mayakoba Review (Formerly Andaz): Riviera Maya, Mexico

My family and I spent six nights at the Andaz Mayakoba in February during winter break. The resort is part of the massive Mayakoba complex in the Riviera Maya, which includes four luxury hotels—Andaz, Rosewood, Fairmont, and Banyan Tree—sharing one expansive property with canals, mangroves, and beach access. We chose this resort for its unique setting and the ability to explore multiple high-end hotels and amenities all in one location.

Note: Since our stay, the property has been renovated and rebranded as Alila Mayakoba. This review is based on our experience at the Andaz Mayakoba, though much of the property and the overall Mayakoba experience remains the same. Here is my review of our six-night stay.

Mayakoba Location

The Andaz Mayakoba is about 45 minutes south of Cancun and 15 minutes north of Playa Del Carmen, in the heart of Riveria Maya, which stretches along 75 miles of the Mexican Caribbean coastline, in the southeastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula.

It is part of the large eco-friendly resort development, Mayakoba, which is comprised of 4 luxury hotels, a Greg Norman-designed golf course, and 6 miles of freshwater lagoons that connect all four resorts and lead to a beautiful white sand beach where each property has a private pool, restaurants, and beach.

In addition to the Andaz, the other properties are The Fairmont Mayakoba, The Rosewood Mayakoba, and The Banyan Tree Mayakoba.  Unlike most hotels in this part of Mexico, none of the hotels in Mayakoba are “all-inclusive”.   The environment is quiet, making it a great escape from the busy, party environment of downtown Playa Del Carmen.

The Rooms at Andaz Mayakoba:

There are 214 guest rooms, including 41 suites, that overlook either the lagoon, golf course, mangroves, or the Caribbean Sea.  These rooms are spread across 590 acres in 28 buildings.  Each building has up to 9 guest rooms and each suite comes with a private plunge pool.

We stayed in a standard double bed, lagoon view room.

The best way for me to describe the decor would be “luxury, eco-minimalism“.   The fixtures and finishes were very high-end, yet minimal and the design had a strong Mayan influence.

Every room has a private balcony with a table and chairs – and a plunge pool for those lucky enough to have a suite!

Andaz Mayakoba Restaurants and Dining Options:

There are four restaurants on the property, plus you have access to the restaurants at the other 3 Mayakoba hotels, so there are about 16 restaurants to choose from within the Mayakoba complex.

The four restaurants at the Andaz Mayakoba are:

• Ollataco,
• Ollaceviche,
• Cocina Milagro, and
• Casa Amate

Ollataco and Ollaceviche are the two beachfront restaurants and are more casual.  Ollaceviche is a bar and tapas-style restaurant specializing in ceviche and Ollataco serves tacos, tortas, and other Yucatan-style specialties.

On the lagoon side of the hotel are Cocina Milagro and Casa Amate.   Cocina Milagro is a day dining restaurant, serving a breakfast buffet in the morning, then lunch and dinner.  It is the only restaurant open for all three meals and overlooks the lagoon pools.

The most unique and my favorite restaurant was Casa Amate.   It is designed as if you are “at the home of a well-traveled friend” – meaning it is set up as a house with different rooms to dine in, none of which seat more than 16 people, so the experience is very intimate.  There is a “living room”, “dining room”, and a “library” decorated with Latin American books, maps, and artwork.  The menu is upscale Latin cuisine.

Activities and Things to Do at The Andaz Mayakoba:

The hotel has two pools, one overlooking the beach and another on the “lagoon side” of the property.  The lagoon pool is a pool “complex” with three separate pools and a kiddie pool.

Within the lagoon pool area are also the fitness center, salon, and spa.  The fitness center is in its building – one side has treadmills and ellipticals and the other is a small area with free weights and a weight machine

For those who like to run, walk, or bike there is a great nature trail that runs throughout Mayakoba.  It is 4.5 kilometers in length and connects the four resorts, the golf course, and El Pueblito.

There is even a cenote to check out while you are on the trail.

If you are a golfer, you have to play the Greg Norman-designed El Camaleón, in Mayakoba.  It is home to Mexico's only PGA tour stop – The OHL Classic.

They have nice Titleist and Ping rental clubs so you don't have to hassle with bringing your clubs if you only plan on playing one round.  We did not plan on playing golf on this trip, but after looking at the course, we realized we had to play it.  I am very glad we did!

Finally, one of the most unique aspects of Mayakoba is the six miles of freshwater lagoons that connect the resorts and lead to the Caribbean Sea and the beaches of Mayakoba.   The Andaz has a small fleet of boats that will transport you from the lagoon pools to the beach throughout the day, as well as a daily eco-tour that winds through the entire lagoon system in the Mayakoba resort.

Concluding Thoughts

Overall, we loved our stay at the Andaz Mayakoba (now Alila Mayakoba) and would definitely return. One of the best aspects of staying here is that you never need to leave the Mayakoba complex—with four luxury hotels (Andaz/Alila, Rosewood, Fairmont, and Banyan Tree) sharing the property, you have access to numerous high-end restaurants, extensive bike trails winding through the mangroves, a charming Mexican town square called El Pueblito with upscale shops and dining, and even cenotes to explore. Everything about Mayakoba is exceptionally high-end, creating a luxury resort experience without the typical all-inclusive feel.

The property strikes the perfect balance between resort convenience and natural beauty, making it ideal for families who want both relaxation and adventure without getting in a car. We'd love to come back and experience the newly renovated Alila version.