Last Updated on June 17, 2022
The Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya is one of the most idyllic resorts on the Riviera Maya. The Andaz combines an intimate setting amongst the lush tropical greenery and waterways of Mayakoba with a seaside location complete with white sand beaches and turquoise waters. When you’re not at the beach or pool, this resort offers amazing dining to satisfy everyone. Everything you need for an amazing Riviera Maya adventure can be found here.
We spent 3 nights at this incredible resort and put together this Andaz Mayakoba Resort hotel review to help you decide where to stay when visiting Playa del Carmen, Cancun and Tulum!
Disclaimer: Our stay at the Andaz Mayakoba Resort was compensated. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and as always, all our opinions on this Andaz Mayakoba review and what to do are our own. Please note that some of the links in the below article are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. Click here for the full disclosure statement. Thank you for supporting the businesses that support us!
Table of Contents
Andaz Mayakoba Resort Location
Most of the resorts near Cancun focus solely on the beach experience, however the Andaz Mayakoba takes it to the next level with a combination of an expansive beach area and tropical jungle. With the Andaz Mayakoba Resort you get the best of both worlds. The Andaz Mayakoba Resort is a 40 minute drive from Cancun International Airport, which most guests will arrive at. The resort is also just a short 15 minutes from the popular Playa del Carmen strip and popular Tulum is just a little further still.
Is the Andaz Mayakoba the best of both worlds? Read our Cancun vs. Tulum comparison to determine which is right for you! Check out nearby Tulum cenotes, Instagrammable locations, and beach clubs!
The Andaz Mayakoba Resort is located in the exclusive Mayakoba private gated community. This private reserve is home to the Andaz Resort, a Fairmont hotel, Banyan Tree hotel, Rosewood hotel, and luxury private residences, a golf course, and small shopping area. As Mayakoba is located on 620 acres, it is extremely peaceful and quiet, which is unique compared to many of the mega-resorts that stretch from Cancun down to Playa del Carmen.
The Andaz Mayakoba Resort does not provide shuttle service, however they can organize private transfer for you. Booking your transfer directly through Cancun Airport Transportation is a great seamless option to arrive at the resort. Alternatively, taxis are readily available at the airport, however not the first choice as one-way costs starting around $75.00 USD. Rental cars are also plentiful, and having a rental car in this area of Mexico is a great way to explore all of the cenotes and towns on your own. Self-parking is included complimentary.
Andaz Mayakoba Resort Arrival
When arriving at the Andaz Mayakoba Resort, you will first have to enter the private grounds of Mayakoba. The entrance is impressive and can be seen from the highway. After confirming your reservation at the Andaz Mayakoba, you will be let in and given directions to the resort. It’s an easy 5 minute drive through the jungle before arriving at the Andaz Mayakoba Resort. As you drive up to the Andaz Mayakoba Resort, you’ll arrive at a beautiful entranceway which opens into the stunning circular check-in area known as The Sanctuary, whose design was inspired by the cenotes that are so popular in this area.
As we arrived during COVID-19 times, safety precautions were in place such as hand sanitizers and all staff were wearing face masks throughout our entire stay, as were most guests except when at the pool or dining at a restaurant.
Check-in was completed quickly and easily, there is also a special area for those with World of Hyatt elite status to make your experience as fast and efficient as possible. We were offered a welcome drink and were provided with an overview of the resort areas. A special touch from the Andaz is that they offer each guest a special stone to make a wish with and toss into the lobby water feature. Once everything was sorted, we were escorted to our room by golf cart, along with our luggage.
Andaz Mayakoba Resort Rooms
The rooms of the Andaz Mayakoba Resort are located in multiple buildings set amongst the property, primarily around the lagoons and waterways of Mayakoba. From the check-in area, some of the rooms are easily walkable, but others will require a golf cart shuttle ride.
All of the rooms and suites at the Andaz Mayakoba Resort have the signature Andaz design. It’s familiarly clean and modern, but with an emphasis on local and natural touches and a splash of color. The Andaz design is clean and works perfectly for this resort, reflecting both the brand and local Mayan culture.
During our time at the Andaz Mayakoba Resort, we stayed in a King Bed Lagoon View room. We loved the natural light let in from the floor to ceiling windows, and the private terrace where we could relax and enjoy some peace and quiet with nature. The bed was incredibly comfortable, and the room also offered a seating area, small bar area, as well as a very large and luxurious bathroom.
The in-room coffee machine was a top-notch Nespresso, which we thoroughly put to good use and enjoyed our morning coffee out on the private terrace overlooking the lagoon.
Andaz Mayakoba Resort Amenities
The Andaz Mayakoba Resort is surprisingly large and covers a large area of the Mayakoba reserve, spread amongst the thick jungle of lush tropical plants and trees, and the meandering waterways.
There are two main areas of the Andaz Mayakoba Resort: Lagoonside and Beachside. It’s a distance of about 1 mile (1.6 km) between the two, which is surprisingly far compared to typical resorts. To get between the two areas there is a paved pathway and you can choose to walk (at about 20 minutes each way), take one of the Andaz bicycles located all over the property (at about 10 minutes each way), or call for a golf cart shuttle (at about 5 – 10 minutes each way). The bikes can be left anywhere on property, so there are not always some available when you need them. There seems to be enough available, as we never had to wait more than a couple of minutes, or walk far to find bikes available for use. If you are staying Lagoonside, there is usually always some bikes available at The Sanctuary check-in area.
The Lagoonside experience begins at The Sanctuary, where you checked in. Upon exiting, you can choose to go left or right along a looped pathway where all of the lagoon rooms and suites are located. Along this loop you will also find two restaurants, Cocina Milagro and Casa Amate, and a large pool area. The pool area is nice, and a perfectly reasonable place to spend some time, however most guests seem to prefer the larger Beachside pool, which also has more restaurant and food options nearby, plus the beach.
When you reach the Beachside, the central area has a large pool, giftshop, Tinta de Pulpo restaurant, and access to the beach where you will find tons of lounge chairs and beds, and the Sotavento restaurant. The pool is large and offers many separated areas for relaxing.
Just past the pool is where all of the beachside rooms and suites are located. The beach area is extremely large with multiple levels of lounge chairs and beds to relax on. Be sure to try some coconut water in the Andaz branded coconut shell! There is also a designated swimming area in the beautiful turquoise Caribbean Sea. The water is warm, but there can be significant waves, depending on the weather.
With the Andaz Mayakoba Resort being a part of the Mayakoba community, you also have the ability to access the many running, walking, and biking trails throughout the area, golf at the Greg Norman-designed golf course, or visit the small shopping area, which has been beautifully built to represent a more traditional Mexican village square.
The Andaz offers a unique Eco Cruise that tours the lagoons and waterways of Mayakoba. The cruise is complimentary for guests, though has to be reserved in advance, and is a great way to get a better sense of the full scale of the Mayakoba community. You will pass by the other beautiful resorts, as well as the private villas, and golf course. The Mayakoba community is surprisingly large and on this tour you will also likely see a lot of the local wildlife, including multiple bird species, iguanas, and even alligators!
After reading this Andaz Mayakoba review, we want you to be well aware of all the amenities, and be ready to make the most of your stay at this beautiful resort. With such a great location, multiple day trips are also possible to nearby Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel, or Cancun towns, as well as the numerous adventure activities, especially the ever-popular cenotes which are abundant in the Riviera Maya.
Looking for more adventures? Check out the best tours from Cancun or the best tours from Tulum!
Andaz Mayakoba Resort Dining
The Andaz Mayakoba offers an incredible dining experience. We were absolutely blown away by the quality of the food here, and everything we ate was delicious. You won’t be disappointed dining at the Andaz Mayakoba for any meal of the day.
The main restaurant located overlooking the main Lagoonside pool area is Cocina Milagro. Here they offer breakfast, lunch, dinner with an open-air environment. The breakfast options are excellent, and we thoroughly enjoyed the French Toast and avocado toast, as well as the made-to-order omelettes.
If you find yourself Beachside for most of the day, Tinta del Pulpo is open for lunch, dinner, and everything in between in a more fast-casual environment. The fresh ceviche and guacamole are particularly good, and if you have a sweet tooth be sure to save a little extra room for a helping of churros. In this area you will also find VB, a juice and smoothie bar with other healthy options throughout the day.
Just across the lagoon from Cocina Milagro, is the exceptionally fine Casa Amate, open exclusively for dinner. The restaurant has a unique design, in that it is overall themed like you are dining in someone’s house. Each of the different dining rooms are themed as rooms that you might find in the home of an eclectic traveler. The intimate setting perfectly matches the delectable menu. The fine Latin American cuisine we had here was some of the best we had, staying three months in Mexico.
Another standout dinner option is Sotavento, for a feet-in-the-sand dining experience. Sotavento has a wide selection of fresh seafood and other delicious Mediterranean inspired dishes, which are made just that much better by the stunning location right on the beach.
In-room dining is also available 24 hours per day if you prefer to enjoy a meal in bed or from your private terrace. Overall, we were extremely impressed by the dining experience at the Andaz Mayakoba Resort. Every meal was outstanding, with the highlights being dinner at Casa Amate and Sotavento.
Andaz Mayakoba Resort Conclusion
The Andaz Mayakoba Resort is a really well-rounded resort, with a unique mix between Lagoonside and Beachside locations, and a culinary and dining experience that you won’t soon forget. If you’re headed to the Riviera Maya and want a special experience, the Andaz Mayakoba is definitely the place for your next trip.
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