Palmaïa, The House of AïA has officially opened in the Riviera Maya with the ethos of “reconnecting with nature, the sanctity of life and the true human spirit.”
One of the highlighted experiences is the Architects of Life program led by the in-house shaman, Balder. Alongside visiting teachers and guides, Balder will lead guests through rituals such as cacao ceremonies, yoga, multi-vibrational sound healing, meditation, plant ceremonies and ancient practices that intend to inspire reflection, exploration and connection. The resort will also have a Rituals of Sound program that pays homage to the music environment of Tulum and Mykonos. Palmaïa will welcome creative and experimental musicians; these “music rituals” will take place in various forms daily from 4 p.m. until midnight.
Good to know: Palmaïa has all oceanfront suites in seven categories, each with its own private terrace. Options include suites for families with bunk beds for children, as well as suites with swim-out access to one of the hotel’s four infinity pools and suites set in the ocean-side jungle. (All rooms are designed sustainably and without the use of animal products.) A Nomadic Guide will be assigned to each guest to attend to their needs throughout the stay—and for parents, Palmaïa says it operates the only holistic children’s activities program, run by certified Waldorf Educators.
While on property, guests can dine from four restaurants, along with a rotating food truck, each serving ethically sourced food from farms and fisheries around Mexico. Executive chef Eugenio Villafaña, who has worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants, oversees the culinary programming, including creating parallel plant-based menus for each dining venue. Leading the plant-based dining programing, however, is Noma alumni, Mauricio Alvarez.
The signature fine-dining restaurant LEK serves gastronomic Mexican; Mar de Olivio serves redefined Mediterranean cuisine; and the Oriental-fusion restaurant Ume blends Thai and Continental cuisines for à la carte dinner experiences. Su Casa, a beach bar and restaurant on the dunes, offers a laid-back Caribbean beach ambiance, while El Caminante offers an authentic food truck experience with a daily rotating menu.
Eolo Beach Club plays beats by visiting artists; two pool bars serve fresh fruit cocktails and custom creations based on guests’ mood; and the exclusive Atlas Club creates libations late into the night and houses a Health Café where guests can order matcha lattes and avocado toasts.
The resort also includes a jungle spa, Atlantis, where ancient ceremonies like the Temazcal are included in the menu of services. At Atlantis, guests are guided by the Book of the Nine Paths to Health, designed to treat emotions as root causes rather than physical pain. Treatment rooms have floor to ceiling windows that look out onto the foliage. The fitness center is also hidden in the jungle.
Palmaïa says it strives to become one of the first true carbon-neutral properties in the world in 2021 by compensating the energy it uses by building solar panels on the resort and in other parts of Mexico. Additionally, guests will not find plastic water bottles on property and all bathroom amenities will be refillable and made with 100 percent biodegradable ingredients and essential oils.
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