Nestled within the Mayakoba resort community north of Playa del Carmen, Rosewood offers 129 suites and villas connected by a network of lagoon canals, each with private pool and outdoor terrace. The resort features the acclaimed La Ceiba beach club, exceptional Maya-inspired spa treatments, and one of the best golf courses in Mexico.
Rosewood Mayakoba sits within the gated Mayakoba eco-resort community on the Riviera Maya, approximately 25 kilometers north of Playa del Carmen at Km 298 on Federal Highway 307. The Mayakoba complex spans 620 hectares of coastal jungle, mangrove channels, and freshwater lagoons, and Rosewood holds the northernmost position among the four luxury brands sharing the grounds. The property is not on a public road and requires passage through a staffed gatehouse, adding a layer of privacy that larger zone resorts cannot replicate.
The architecture draws on colonial Yucatecan style filtered through contemporary proportions — stone walls, palapa roofs, and open-air corridors create a sense of place without tipping into theme-park historicism. The 129 suites and villas are distributed across casitas on lagoon islands, accessible by both footpath and hand-paddled canoe, giving arrivals the character of reaching a private compound rather than checking into a conventional hotel room. Every unit includes a private pool and outdoor terrace, and the villa categories add outdoor shower gardens and expanded living areas.
Three food and beverage outlets anchor the dining program: La Ceiba Beach Club handles all-day casual dining directly on the beach, El Puerto serves regional seafood with evening menus emphasizing Yucatecan and coastal Mexican preparations, and Bar La Laguna provides cocktail service in an interior lagoon setting. A fourth outlet handles in-villa dining around the clock.
Sense, A Rosewood Spa occupies a dedicated wellness pavilion of approximately 9,000 square feet with 10 treatment rooms, a temazcal steam lodge, hydrotherapy pools, and a menu that incorporates Mayan medicinal plant traditions alongside contemporary bodywork. The El Camaleón Golf Course, designed by Greg Norman and the host venue for the PGA Tour's World Golf Championships, is shared with the broader Mayakoba community and accessible to resort guests.
Amenities
- private pool villas
- beach club
- golf course
- 3 restaurants
- spa
- lagoon canal access
- butler service
- wifi
Location
Carretera Federal 307 Km 298, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo 77710
20.7333, -87.0833 View on map
Highlights
- All 129 suites and villas have private pools; many are set on lagoon islands reached by canoe
- El Camaleón Golf Course — the only PGA Tour host venue in Mexico — is available to resort guests
- Sense Spa's temazcal and Maya plant-medicine treatments are among the most authentic on the Riviera Maya
- Private beach access via La Ceiba Beach Club, shared only with Mayakoba resort guests
- Canoe and footpath network through mangrove channels creates a genuinely secluded arrival experience
Tips for visiting
- Request a lagoon-island casita rather than a garden suite for the full Rosewood experience — the canal arrival by canoe is one of the memorable touches that differentiates this property.
- El Camaleón Golf Course books quickly during high season; reserve a tee time through the concierge well in advance, especially for January–March.
- The beach at Mayakoba is narrower than the broad sands of the Cancun zone — guests who prioritize beach space over privacy may want to factor this in.
- Playa del Carmen's 5th Avenue dining and nightlife is a 25-minute taxi ride; the concierge can arrange transport so guests aren't tied to the resort's restaurants every evening.
- The cenote at the nearby Banyan Tree Mayakoba is sometimes available to Rosewood guests through the shared Mayakoba amenities program — ask the concierge.
When to visit
December through April for optimal weather and golf conditions; May and June offer lower rates before peak hurricane season, with manageable weather.
Accessibility
The lagoon-island layout involves some uneven paths; Rosewood can arrange golf cart access to most villa categories for guests with limited mobility. Advance notice is recommended to ensure appropriate unit assignments.