Adult spring break anyone?! In March 2023, I had the pleasure of taking a “bestie moon” with my best friend to the Andaz Mayakoba located on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. The luxury resort is nestled among mangroves in a gated complex with three other luxury resorts and is the absolute perfect getaway for couples, friends, or families alike. When heading to Cancun or the Riviera Maya area, there are hundreds of resorts to choose from. But let me spell it out for you: Mayakoba is different. You are not just vacationing in Cancun when you stay here… you are getting an entire experience. If you know you know… there’s a reason people who visit can’t shut up about it!
So, should you stay at the Andaz Mayakoba? In this post, I’m reviewing our stay and telling you everything you need to know about the Andaz Mayakoba and the complex as a whole.
Don’t forget, before you book your stay connect with me so I can get you some amazing perks you can’t get when booking on your own!
Table of Contents
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Resort Overview
The Andaz Mayakoba is a luxury resort located about 45 minutes via car from the Cancun International Airport. It is located on 700 acres of mangroves and rainforest with a small stretch of white sandy beach on the property. The Andaz is situated in a complex with 3 other luxury resorts offering an array of amenities.
The complex was created to create luxury resorts but also have the utmost respect for the nature that already existed there. The lagoon is manmade but has made a huge impact on the ecosystem. Before construction, the mangroves were home to a little over 100 species, and now over 300 species call this area home including crocodiles, monkeys, tropical birds, and more.
At the Andaz Mayakoba, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a tropical rainforest even though you’re just steps away from the Caribbean sea. Use the complimentary bikes or golf carts to get around the sprawling property and enjoy dining at one of five restaurants onsite. Whether you choose to relax at the beach or pool, you’ll have service right to your lounge chair as you soak up the Mexican sun. There’s so much to explore here, so let’s dive in!
Rooms & Suites
The Andaz Mayakoba houses 214 rooms including 45 suites, and offers a variety of room categories from a King studio to the Presidential Villa. As the resort is located on a beautiful man-made lagoon, you’ll have the option of a lagoon view room (about 1km from the beach), a beach area lagoon view room, or a beachfront room. The lagoon is a defining feature of this property, so I highly recommend a lagoon view!
Even the base rooms are very spacious with plenty of room for your luggage, a small seating area, and a generously sized balcony. You’ll have the option to choose two double beds or a queen bed. As it is an Andaz, the snacks and non-alcoholic beverages provided in the mini-bar are complimentary. You’ll also love the rainfall shower head and plenty of counter space in the bathroom.
Find yourself traveling for a special occasion or with a family? Treat yourself to a two level suite with a plunge pool. You’ll have a dining and living space, as well as a separate bedroom. Just want the plunge pool? You can book a studio plunge pool suite as well!
If you need room for a group or just want the utmost in luxury, book a presidential villa. There are 3 villas located on the property near the beach, so you can experience the best of both the beach and the lagoon. Although… you’ll have your own private pool, personal butler with room service and a kitchenette, so will you even want to leave?
Bottom line: I loved the base room so much I can only imagine what a suite would be like! This is definitely a great value for the money.
How is the food at the Andaz Mayakoba?
There are a myriad of restaurants to choose from at the Andaz Mayakoba.
Tinto del Pulpo
This is their signature poolside restaurant. You can get breakfast, lunch, or dinner here with a nice selection of indoor seating or picnic-style tables outside by the pool. You’ll have traditional Mexican dishes with plenty of seafood and more simple fare like salads and tacos.
Vegan Bar
The Vegan Bar is similar to a smoothie bar and is only open for breakfast and lunch. They have a couple sandwich options but the menu is rather bare bones! They have a DJ every night so the bar stays open til midnight.
Sotavento
Sotavento is quite literally set right on the beach so shoes are optional! The chairs and tables are in the sand and you can listen to the gentle lapping of the waves as you dine. Here, you’ll dine on primarily grilled seafood options. Reservations are highly recommended and this is weather dependent–there’s no covering if it rains!
Cocina Milagro
Cocina Milagro is a casual eatery near the lagoon pool offering the breakfast buffet as well as simple selections for lunch and dinner. Think quesadillas, burgers, sandwiches, etc. This is also the restaurant that serves the lagoon pool which is very convenient for lunches and drinks while you lounge in the sun!
Casa Amate
Casa Amate is the signature restaurant at the Andaz Mayakoba! You will definitely want to make dinner reservations well in advance. As the name suggests, the restaurant is modeled after a house and each room is set up as such–bar, living room, library, etc. You can take a tour of the restaurant when you arrive and then select which room you want to eat in. We choose outdoor seating for a beautiful view of the lagoon! The food here is definitely upscale and Mexican-inspired. The octopus is not to be missed!
You also have the option to dine at the other resorts as well. Dining at the Fairmont, Rosewood, or Banyan Tree requires reservations. I highly recommend dinner reservations at both Agave Azul in Rosewood and Saffron at Banyan Tree!
Bottom line: Casa Amate is a standout meal. Breakfast and lunches were pretty standard, nothing I felt overly amazed about. Be sure to make reservations at the other resorts, too.
BEACH/POOL
At Andaz Mayakoba, there is a generously sized beach area and two pools. Let’s talk about each.
How is the Beach at Mayakoba?
The beach is located right on the Riviera Maya. If you’re familiar with this area you know seaweed can be a huge problem. As such, the Mayakoba complex has placed barriers along the ocean to catch some of the seaweed. There’s also employees working non-stop to shovel up as much of the seaweed as they can. We visited in mid-March and felt like the seaweed was not at all an issue, but I’ve heard fall can be a bit worse.
On the beach, there are tons of beach beds and umbrellas. We got to the beach most days between 10-11 am and had no issue finding a spot. This resort is very kid-friendly but the beach is big enough that we weren’t bothered by kids or adults from other groups at all!
There is beach service, but be warned it can be pretty slow, especially if the beach is busy. In addition, you have free access to use paddle boards or kayaks that are located near the lifeguard stands.
Andaz Mayakoba Pools
There are two pools, one larger beachside pool, and one smaller, more quiet lagoonside pool. We enjoyed both! The main pool is definitely more crowded and has more kids splashing but there are plenty of chairs and umbrellas and the pool is large enough to spread out. It’s near both Tinto del Pulpo and Vegan Bar so you have a couple food options and poolside service, as well.
The lagoon pool was our favorite though, as it was set (obviously) by the lagoon with plenty of greenery and wildlife sightings. There is one smaller pool and behind that a larger pool that is adults only. It’s serene and lovely for an afternoon to soak up the sun or read/nap in a cabana! All of the cabanas are first come first served but we never had an issue snagging one.
Bottom line: The service at the beach and lagoon pool were lackluster, especially for a week that wasn’t as busy. The lagoon pool is amazing, the seaweed blocks made the beach a bit less pleasant to the eyes but I did appreciate not swimming through seaweed!
Activities at the Andaz Mayakoba
I personally like to just spend several hours on the beach or by the pool, but if you’re anything like my husband, that would make you bored out of your mind. Have no fear! There is no shortage of things to do at the Andaz Mayakoba.
The resort is set on 700 acres of land that has over 3 miles of trails to be explored. Hop on a complimentary bike or lace up your jogging shoes and start exploring! The trails connect through all four resorts and also into the mangroves.
There is a cenote right on the property that is a short 5 minute bike ride from the resort. You won’t want to miss this amazing sinkhole filled with clear, fresh water… and even some nocturnal friends hanging upside down in there 😉
Just steps from the cenote, you’ll find “El Pueblito,” which is a little mock-town modeled after a traditional Mexican pueblito where you can eat and shop. There’s even an arcade for the kiddos or a rainy afternoon.
For the golfers, you’ll enjoy a golf course designed by Greg Norman. I have no interest in golf but some other couples we spoke with said the course was fantastic! Looking for more adventure? You can book jet skis or Mayakoba’s private yacht to adventure for the day.
And at the resort, they host several activities each day from tequila tastings, cooking classes, fitness classes, and more! We didn’t do any because again, I’m a slug on vacation, but they were reasonably priced and looked fun. There’s also options for kiddos as well.
Be sure you reserve a complimentary boat ride! Lasting about an hour long, you’ll learn about each resort and the lagoon itself. This was such a fun way to spend an afternoon and see more of the lagoon.
For families, there is the Kimbo Kids Club. I can’t speak to it at all because I didn’t have any kids in tow but it’s nice that it’s there!
Bottom line: So. Much. To. Do. We didn’t do any paid activities and still had so much to see and do. I loved riding our bikes to the cenote! I’d go again just to do this.
Naum Spa
The Naum Spa is probably one of my favorite spa experiences to date. The spa uses Mayan influences for their treatments from scents to rituals. The massage was fantastic and each treatment takes place in your own little cabana overlooking the lagoon. Go early so you can enjoy the hot tub, steam room, and sauna before your treatment!
Bottom line: The spa is amazing, don’t miss it. (Don’t forget, you get resort credit you can use at the spa when you book with me!)
Is the Andaz Mayakoba family friendly?
Is the Andaz Mayakoba family friendly? Absolutely! We saw so many families together for spring break and there are so many things for kids to do.
Not bringing kids? We didn’t feel overrun by kids at all. The resort is so spread out and there are options to bring your kids. Or avoid the kids and relax in a quiet adults-only area, too!
How much does the Andaz Mayakoba cost?
Andaz Mayakoba does fall into the “luxury” category (I think that is a bit generous) and you’re in a luxury complex, so you’ll be paying a premium for rooms. Depending on the season, expect to pay anywhere between $450 and $1200 for a base room. However, this is the most affordable option within the Mayakoba complex! I also love that because it is a Hyatt resort, you can pay for this resort with points (or if you pay cash, you can earn tons of Hyatt points!).
All Inclusive Option
Wanting to make your stay a little more simple? The Andaz Mayakoba offers an all inclusive option that they deem the “open kitchen plan.” For a daily fee ($185 per person per day at time of writing), you’ll get all 3 meals and unlimited drinks (premium liquor and wines not included). Is it a good deal? That depends. If you are depending on drinking your way through the days, then yes, most likely. However, if you are a light to moderate drinker and/OR want to try the restaurants at the other resorts, it’s not a good deal. At certain restaurants, like Casa Amate, you also have to supplement in cash for certain menu items.
We opted NOT to do the all inclusive option. I think we probably did spend between $180-200 per person per day on food and drink. We also tried 3 different restaurants at the other resorts, so we would’ve been paying for that on top of the open kitchen cost had we gone that route.
Bottom line: The all inclusive option isn’t worth it unless you plan to drink more than 2-3 drinks per day and only eat at Andaz. However, you’re missing out on some of the best restaurants if you only eat at the Andaz! If you can afford it, I would book one of the other hotels like the Banyan Tree or Rosewood.
Other Resorts in the Mayakoba Complex
The Andaz Mayakoba is situated in a managed complex, The Mayakoba, which includes 3 other resorts: Rosewood Mayakoba, Banyan Tree Mayakoba, and Fairmont Mayakoba. Each are luxury resorts, and in my personal opinion are a bit higher caliber than the Andaz.
As an Andaz guest, you have access to all the resorts. They can be reached by golf cart, bike, or even the boats through the lagoon!
I highly recommend making dinner reservations at the other resorts! Our favorite from our stay was Agave Azul at Rosewood and Saffron at the Banyan Tree is also not to be missed!
Final thoughts on the Andaz Mayakoba Resort
The Andaz Mayakoba is an amazing luxury resort located less than an hour from Cancun International Airport. The resort is perfect for every kind of traveler whether you are seeking relaxation, adventure, or a mix of both. You’ll love the serene lagoon and feeling like you’re in the middle of the rainforest with the Caribbean sea just a short bike ride away. Everything you need for a perfect vacation is right in the Andaz Mayakoba! I think the Andaz is perfect for the mid-to-high level luxury traveler with decent service and good food option. If you are really seeking ultra luxury and next level service I would stay at the Banyan Tree or Rosewood. Overall, I would return to the Andaz Mayakoba, especially with a family or large group because it satisfies a variety of price points and interests.
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