Lying aside the pool with a book on my lap, a fruity cocktail beside me and the sun warming me to my bones, I finally felt relaxed after a trying few months. Before long, my reverie was interrupted with an excitable game of volleyball taking place in the main pool, after which a live band played some terrific tunes from one of the resort’s three beach bars, which made for a welcome soundtrack to my lazy afternoon.
I had travelled to Mexico’s Riviera Maya – a stretch of Caribbean coastline on the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula – a few days before to immerse myself in one of Karisma Hotels’ recent resort openings – Margaritaville Island Reserve.
I quickly discovered that this adults-only and all-inclusive spot on the coast is a popular place for couples and groups to bask in the sun, indulge in some fun activities, enjoy bountiful meals and to recharge and reset before heading back to their everyday lives once again.
The Yucatan Peninsula, which is part of the Quintana Roo region, was recently named one of the 30 places on National Geographic Traveller’s ’Cool List’ for 2024, and with UK visitor numbers to the region on the rise and seemingly more direct flights added by the day, I was eager to see what the fuss was about.
Hotel
Opened in June this year, the five-star resort works hard to encourage its guests to enjoy their time here. From Jimmy Buffett quotes littering the walls of the corridors to a host of daily changing activities to partake in and facilities galore to make use of – a game of pickleball anyone? – enjoyment is certainly encouraged.
And fans of the aforementioned U.S. singer will no doubt have already realised there’s a connection to be had between Buffett’s famed 1970’s song and the name of the resort – Margaritaville – for it was he who came up with the idea of creating a set of luxe hotels in dreamy destinations for people to experience the laid-back island lifestyle he immortalised in his iconic track.
This latest resort in the Karisma Hotels portfolio offers 355 suites in different categories, three swimming pools to take a dip in, a spacious rooftop terrace with panoramic sea views dedicated to weddings and events, a sprawling spa and state-of-the-art fitness centre, regular events, ballrooms for special events, and plenty more. Just be aware that there’s no beach as the website photos suggest due to recent storms bringing the water up to the sea wall.
Room
One benefit of travelling to a time zone that’s six hours behind is that you’ll no doubt be up early enough on your first day to enjoy a full sunrise in your new destination, and at Margaritaville Riviera Maya, which has the Caribbean Sea lapping the boundary below, you can expect something pretty spectacular when the sky is clear.
With an espresso in hand from the in-room machine, I headed out to my fifth-floor balcony close to the sea and marvelled at the sublime view, while enjoying the sounds of the local birds making their noisy morning calls and I couldn’t resist a family FaceTime call to share this magical moment.
Sometimes with hotel rooms you don’t feel all that inspired to spend a huge amount of time in them, choosing instead to use them as a base to simply store clothes, wash and sleep, but the cool and colourful interiors of my spacious room were rather welcoming. The fresh, beach inspired décor draws elements in from its surroundings and offers a bright palette with batik wall hangings, colourful soft furnishings to brighten up the neutral walls and floors, a margarita station, and plenty of space to ready oneself in the morning or for dinner in the smart shower room.
Coupled with the air con, thick curtains, lightweight bed covers and the size of the bed, I slept wonderfully every night, while a seating area came in handy on the night I ordered room service (which is available 24 hours a day) and an umbrella was very useful when a tropical storm briefly hit and I had to head out for dinner.
Rooms are equipped with a fridge and guests are allocated credits, depending on how many night they’re staying, to spend in the on-site shop, Joe Merchant’s, so that they can curate their own minibar. I think this is a great idea! Soft drinks, sweets, snacks and some alcoholic beverages are included as well as items, which are perfect to take home should you have credits left over, such as granola, chocolate to make cocoa and local jam.
Food and drink
This place certainly caters to the US crowd with its steakhouse, Italian and brewery bar, and I was somewhat surprised not to experience all that much authentic Mexican food at the resort, albeit from the sprawling breakfast, which was a highlight of each day. But more on that below.
And don’t expect a strong cocktail, but then this is an all-inclusive resort, which invites you to relax pool-side for most of the day, so that could be a good thing if you want to make it to dinner in one piece!
As mentioned, breakfast was a real highlight for me and I enjoyed the sumptuous buffet put on each day at The Boathouse. Service was good and certainly came with a smile; coffees were kept topped up and the omelette station called to me on most mornings, as did the burritos and creamy coconut atole drink – a great way to start the day. There were so many delicious foods and drink to choose from that were regularly replenished – fruit, juices, Bloody Marys, sparkling wine, cheese, breads, churros, pancakes, pastries, meats, Mexican favourites and much more – that one visit to the buffet each morning was never enough.
For a rather Instagrammable, yet still delicious, lunch, be sure to book an avocado boat. To be devoured while in the pool, these little attention-grabbing boats are filled with freshly-cooked soft shell tacos with a range of fillings and tortilla chips and dips, and are a fun way to dine on this popular Mexican cuisine. If you fancy something a little more regular for your midday meal, then poolside bar and grill License to Chill and Landshark Brewery might be more up your street.
Dinners were enjoyed across three restaurants – Frank and Lola’s, an Italian trattoria; Landshark Brewery and Grill, where beers are crafted on site; and JWB Steakhouse, which benefits from its own ‘meat sommelier’.
Frank and Lola’s offered Italian dishes including pasta, salads, soups, gorgeously fluffy looking pizzas straight from the wood-fired oven and indulgent desserts. The Arancini Siciliani were really nice to start and contained mozzarella, fresh basil and ground beef within the rice balls, while the Saltimbocca alla Romana – pork fillet topped with crispy prosciutto, sage and butter sauce with pesto pasta was nice. Dessert was a real treat and a decadent way to end the meal – rich molten chocolate cake topped with sweet strawberries and ice cream to lighten the chocolate overload.
For a casual meal, head to Landshark, where you can watch sports on the screens, sip on one of their own beers and dine on smokehouse classics like burgers, pulled pork, onion rings and fries. Here is where the fun continues until late with live music and DJs creating a festive atmosphere well into the night.
JWB Steakhouse is where meat lovers go to experience hearty dishes like bone marrow served in a bone, spicy prawn stew, little meat-filled empanadas – and these are just the starters – and beautifully cooked juicy steaks with side dishes including mac and cheese, spinach in a creamy cheesy sauce, mashed potatoes and summer vegetables. Desserts came in the form of a taster selection board and included crème brûlée and chocolate cake.
For a real treat, book in at Le Chique, a highly innovative and utterly delightful fine dining restaurant at the neighbouring sister resort Azul Beach Resort Cancun (this won’t be included in your all-inclusive rate). Regularly featuring in the World’s 50 Best restaurants in Latin America, the tasting menu takes diners on a journey of creative cuisine prepared in atypical ways and will surprise and delight fine dining enthusiasts in equal measure. Expect to be surprised with the order in which the courses are served, dine on ingredients that you my never have tasted before and be utterly wowed with the creative presentation of each of the 21, yes, 21, courses.
To do: Outside the hotel
Margaritaville is a place where you come to escape, eat, drink, lounge, relax, swim and enjoy activities if the mood takes you, but you must throw in some of the local culture too! This area is famed for its cenotes – natural sinkholes which expose groundwater – and for a small fee you can don a life jacket and go for a dip. There are plenty around and it certainly pays to arrange an excursion or two during your time here in order to experience some of what this part of Mexico has to offer.
Cancun to the north is known for stretches of which sand beaches, while Tulum to the south is renowned for its yoga retreats and some well preserved Mayan port city ruins which sit high up above a stunning beach.
Head further field on a day excursion and explore the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza, one of the ‘new seven wonders of the world’. This archaeological site is more than just the famed pyramid (El Castillo) you see in all the photos and covers four square miles of monuments and temples. On the way back to the resort you could swing by the small city of Valladolid and wander the boutiques, witness the festivals, explore the museums and parks and take a dip in their local cenote.
To do: At the hotel
Of course, within resorts like Margaritaville, which litter the Caribbean coastline, those guests who don’t want to leave, but still want to be entertained will be in good hands. There’s the aforementioned pickle ball court, a large gym with two rooms filled with state-of-the-art equipment, and the 10,000sq-ft St Somewhere spa in which nine treatment rooms, and beauty salon, and indoor pool reside.
In addition to this, guests can swim in the selection of outdoor pools at the centre of the resort, which boast two swim up bars and hold pool parties and competitions, and take part in a long list of activities such as a brewery tour and tasting with food pairing, and a guacamole demonstration by the hotel chef.
In a nutshell
Boasting a range of facilities on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Margaritaville Riviera Maya offers a ideal escape for those who want to bask in the sun, thrust themselves into some fun activities, dine across a range of restaurants and enjoy the laid-back coastal vibe that this area offers so well.
If you’re looking for some winter sun, a place to relax and party and an easy way of life for a week or two then this is it.
Factbox
Getting there – At the airport I noticed that TUI were offering direct flights from Cancun to Manchester, Gatwick and Bristol on the same day, so it’s safe to say it’s well connected. Flights take upwards of 10 hours – opt for the extra legroom seats for a more comfortable journey.
Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya can be booked from £395 per night based on two people sharing.
Address: Bahia Petempich, SM12, MZ38, LTE 7-01
Tel: +52 (998) 689 2600
Website: karismahotels.com
Instagram: @margaritavillerivieramaya
See snippets of my travels on Instagram @tashheard_food_travel
Imagery (except for Chichen Itza image) provided by Karisma Hotels.
