Issue: January 2012


Living La Luxe Life

The Riviera Maya is a haven for some of the most drippingly decadent activities in the world.

BY CATHERINE GORDON —

Get off the beaten path and onto the lavish track by adding some swank to your Mexican vacation. Take a Bond-worthy car for a spin, or try your hand at Polo à la Will and Harry. There's a myriad of singular and mostly unknown activities around Cancun, and we've uncovered the crème de la crème.


Coqui Coqui, Tulum

The ultimate decadence is still a day where you spoil yourself rotten at a spa — and this laidback spa hotel on Tulum's jungle-fringed beach is where those in the know come to get pampered. The co-owner, model Nicolas Malleville, encourages guests to turn offtheir cell phones to preserve the peaceful ambience and multiply the spa's relaxing magic. Unwind with the three-hour ocean bath ritual that includes an aromatherapy foot soak, a Mayan clay wrap, a massage and a coconut-infused bath. You can also stay in one of the hotel's seven elegant rooms or peruse the boutique shop for delicious perfumes, lotions and potions, all of which are handmade at the spa's nearby perfumeria.

YOU'LL DROP: Rooms start at $180 per night; ocean bath ritual $245
DECADENCE:

Carretera Tulum Boca Paila KM 7.5, Tulum; +52 985-856-5129; www.coquicoquiperfumes.com


Lolo Lorena, Isla Mujeres

For the ultimate in al fresco dining, sail over to Isla Mujeres and attend one of chef Lolo's exclusive and intimate dinners in her private garden. Join a small gathering of 20 other food lovers at a candle-lit, communal table under the stars while Lorena serves up an unforgettable five-course feast. The menu, which changes with each meal and according to what's in season, is usually a European/Mexican fusion with Mediterranean influences. Past meals have included gastronomic delights like conch salad with ginger and lime, grilled lobster with "devil sauce," baby squash soufflé, rose water sherbet and iced crème brûlée.

YOU'LL DROP: $35 per head
DECADENCE:

Rueda Medina, Isla Mujeres; +52 998-139-2310; lololorena@yahoo.com


El Rey Polo Country Club, Puerto Morelos

Polo is the sport of royalty and rich heirs, one of perfectly manicured lawns, impossibly green grass and sweat-shined (but not overly so) horses. In other words, it's perfect for you. You'd think it unlikely to find a polo field in the middle of the jungle, but that's just what you get here. A lesson from a pro should help you wrap your head around whacking a ball with a giant stick from atop a horse. If you don't have the chops for chukkers, you can opt for a sauntering horseback ride through the jungle.

YOU'LL DROP: $100 for polo lessons with a pro (horse included); $60 for horseback rides; and $1,200 for a week, which includes three polo matches and a lesson.
DECADENCE:

Central Vallarta Ruta de los Cenotes KM 11 No57, Puerto Morelos; +52 998-185-4122; www.elreypolocountryclub.net


Exotic Rides, Cancun

Nothing screams luxury louder than a flashy set of wheels. Be an Andretti for a day and get behind the wheel of some of the world's most exclusive cars. Take a Ferrari F430 V8 or Lamborghini Murcielago V12 out for a spin around the racetrack at speeds of up to 196 miles per hour. With a professional driver by your side to show you how to drift and fishtail around ... ahem, negotiate corners, this is the ultimate driving experience.

YOU'LL DROP: $349+
DECADENCE:

Highway Cancun Airport KM 7.5, Residential Campestre Private Racetrack, Cancun; +52 998-882-0558; www.exoticrides.com.mx


Casa Caracol, Isla Mujeres

Built and designed by Mexican painter and sculptor Octavio Ocampo, The Conch House is a luxury holiday rental with a twist. Literally. Built in the shape of a conch shell, this 5,500-square-foot house is one of the most unique in the world. The two-bedroom home, with sweeping ocean views, continues its aquatic theme inside — where not a single corner or straight wall is to be found — with shell-shaped king-sized beds and a shell fountain bath. This deluxe beachfront property might seem a little ostentatious, but, then again, so are you. 

YOU'LL DROP: $1,750 per week
DECADENCE:

Carretera Perimetral Al Garrafon KM 5, Fraccionamiento Mar Turquesa, Isla Mujeres; + 52 998-888-0221; www.homeaway.com

Reader Comments

  • There are no comments posted yet. Be the first one!

Submit your own comments