by Angela Fairhurst
The captivating swim-able turquoise waters and climate of the Mexican Caribbean is a main reason why visitors are drawn to Cancun time and time again. Now there’s a new reason to bring the luxury traveler to the area seeking an elevated and authentic beachfront experience… and that’s the JW Marriott Cancun.
The JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa has emerged with a “new point of blue” focusing on a wellness viewpoint of mind, body and spirit.
After a long-awaited rebuild, the resort underwent a head-to-toe $40 million renovation of all 447 ocean-facing guest rooms and suites. Under the tutelage of designers Martha Gaos and Claudia Gonzalez of G+G Interiorismo, the resort brings an authentic sense of place that is both modern and inspirational echoing the Mayan Culture of the area and exemplifying a luxury Mexican Caribbean environment. Each element of the new concept has been carefully thought out to deliver a sense of serenity and harmony. The luxurious touches, inspired by the culture, offer guests a sense of place unique to Cancun.
The room décor is inspired by an excerpt from the Mayan book “Popol-Vuh” chronicling the creation of humankind. Bringing the color palette of shades of ocean blue and the natural tones representative of the sand, the environment comes to life. Local artisans created the herringbone-patterned floors using traditional materials. Traditional Mayan designs are found in the authentic textiles, with the rugs in the corridors simulating the coral reefs. Most of the materials are manufactured and designed by local Mexican suppliers, such as the wooden furniture that has a stand-out cross-stitch engraving feature found on the typical attire of the Yucatan people. The designs incorporate native and spiritual symbols. The pieces of art made by local craftspeople consist of fossils and amate bark paintings derived from Mexican folk art.
The soothing blue waters reflective of the ocean find their inspiration into the bathrooms with stunning blue and white marbled art above the inviting free-standing bathtubs symbolizing aerial-view images of the Mexican cenotes, sandstone sinkholes found throughout the region. The ample-sized bathrooms have double vanity sinks, rainfall showers and luscious Aromatherapy Associates amenities curated by JWMarriott.com.
Suites feature a type of wood called wood screw – typical of the Yucatan Peninsula – while the Presidential Suite features oak. This suite also has gorgeous ceramic tile by Spanish designer Patricia Urqueola. The porcelain on the floors of the rooms and suites simulate the sand, and the recessed lighting allows for a shift in ambiance. The lamps on the sides of the bed are made of a polymer to evoke “a feeling of lightness” according to the designers.
The 35,000 square foot Spa embraces the Mayan heritage in an ultra-modern setting, with breathtaking views of the sea from the large adults-only indoor swimming pool. Treatments and therapies are designed to soothe and balance the mind, body and spirit.
The wellness experience includes sunrise yoga classes, beach bootcamps and classes at the fitness center. There’s a special purification ceremony performed by a shaman that is intended to release negative energy by burning special herbs. With no shortage of sunshine, soak up your Vitamin D and one of the two outdoor pools or rentable private beachfront cabanas. The daybeds come with a personal attendant to service guests’ every need.
The resort has a menu of 150 margaritas, including skinny versions. Served from the lobby bar and select margaritas at other resort locations, expert mixologists and tequila experts got together to feature Classic, Modern, Fusion, and Exotic margaritas using Silver, Resposado, Anejo, and Mezcal bases. Interesting varieties include beetroot, black tea, and serrano chili.
There are ten world-class culinary options between the JW Marriott Cancun and its sister resort next door, the Marriott Cancun Resort. Pick a cuisine – Thai, Japanese, Italian, Southwestern or Mexican, and delight in the atmospheres of each. Gustino Italian Grill serves a signatures dish of Costolette Di Agnelo Al Forno Con Salsa Di Aceto Balsamico with New Zealand lamb chops, prosciutto di parma, asparagus, provolone, and aged balsamic demi-glace. A signature dish for Sedona Grill is Sweet Corn Bisque, a charred corn relish topped with ancho chili oil.
