Review: Almare All-Inclusive Isla Mujeres Review

As I was doing a downward dog, I noticed a school silver fish scurrying beneath me. The daily yoga class was held on Almare’s dock. In the cracks in the wood planks, I could see the Caribbean Sea.

I was dropped off at the dock of the resort in Isla Mujeres Mexico a day earlier after a short 25-minute trip from Cancun On the 42-foot catamaran, which is provided by the hotel. The popular vacation metropolis, with its concrete towers, was only eight miles away. sprawling all-inclusives The horizon is a gray smudge. Enrique Solari’s, Almare general manager, told me the two settings could not be more different. Cancun, the Riviera maya, and Almare are all facing east. Isla Mujeres, however, is on the western side.

Solari explains that the island Mayans differed from the earth Mayans who lived on the rest the peninsula. “Isla Mujeres takes a different view of things. After experiencing the fun and parties of the Riviera maya, it allows many of our guests to go to a place that they can spend more time introspectively, and experience more of Mexican culture, without having to leave the Cancun region.”

Almare was the first to open in November. all-inclusive entry Marriott’s luxury collection in Mexico offers a refreshing approach to luxury vacations. This isn’t the type of all-inclusive that you bake on the beaches all day, and eat a buffet in the evening. Hotel guests can take a morning walk to Punta Sur. It is the southernmost tip of the island and has a rich Mayan heritage. From here, Mexico’s first dawn rises. Golf cart rentals—the preferred way to get around the island—are easy to book at reception, as are boat trips on various vessels. I was seated on the net of a sailing catamaran with a glass of michelada, and then jumped into the water off Playa Norte. This is the main beach of the island, with white sands and palm trees.

Almare is a welcome respite from the lively island, where Corona and lime bars are best enjoyed in small quantities. In pockets around the hotel—on a daybed along its private sliver of beach, dining on the rooftop as a local flutist performs, in the golden-lit lobby bar where I took a nightly digestif—the tranquility returns. Maru, my yoga instructor, noticed it too. She told us that she usually plays music in her classes, but the sounds of birds, wind and water were enough for her.

Continue reading to get a complete review of Almare, A Luxury Collection All-Inclusive Resort in Isla Mujeres.

The Rooms

Almare’s 109 rooms and suites feature a light and sand toned decor, with influences from local techniques that are not too rustic. The walls are often plastered in chukum. This protective resin was used by the Mayans and adds a beautiful texture to the concrete. It gives you a velvety sensation, which I find warm and inviting in the hotel,” Galo Rosas said, a principal of Design Positif Interiors, an interior design firm that worked on Almare’s refurbishment. Travel+Leisure.

The second-floor bathroom featured a travertine surface and a large, whirlpool bathtub. The wide balcony was located just above the beachclub, and the water was a stones throw away. Rosas stated that “when you step out onto the balcony, it feels like you’re in a boat as you’re so near the sea and there’s such a direct contact,”

Almare has also seven duplex suites that have private plunge pools with a view of the sea, and its 1,485 square foot presidential suite which features an oversized marble counter and a dining table made from tropical wood.

Food and Drink

It was easy to forget that Almare is all-inclusive with its dining spread out over seven stylish spots, each offering à la carte service. Botanik is the all-day café where I would start my mornings with an espresso and gluten-free cookies, followed by a full buffet breakfast at Boga, the hotel’s main lobby restaurant. The breakfast menu is full of Mayan-inspired dishes like papadzules. This is a hand-pressed, tortilla filled with poached eggs, lobster and a green salsa.

The Breeze menu has all the snacks you need to enjoy while reading a magazine, such as guacamole or ceviche. I also ordered a poke-bowl for lunch. On the day I was on a charter ship, my hotel packed me a box lunch that included a baguette of chicken from Botanik and fruit. It also included a chocolate oblea – a delicate Mexican wafer.

During my stay, I ate at Seasalt (the rooftop restaurant) with its more relaxed menu and at Boga, located downstairs. Both offer excellent service and will make you want to linger for as long as possible. Boga’s tender short ribs chilmole was my favorite. It is a regional sauce that has been blackened by charred tortillas.

AlVento is a palapa bar with a dark rum signature cocktail. AlPaso is a food truck on the beach.

Activities and Experiences

In their app, the hotel provides a complete schedule of activities. They range from wholesome—coconut painting on the beach—to emboldening—new friends were made at the mezcal tasting. Sunset barbecues are usually held on a weekly basis. Chef Carlos, from Boga, distributed the ingredients for the barbecue on a table facing west. tikinThe signature dish of the island is fresh filets mero (a local grouper), along with spices and vegetables sliced thinly. Achiote paste is a peppery mixture of dried seeds, which looks like clay. With gloved hands—the achiote can stain—we dusted the fish with salt, pepper, and garlic, and coated it with the paste. After a quick grilling, the earthy tikin As the sun began to sink below the horizon, the food was brought back to the table.

Bookings can be made on site for excursions to the Underwater Museum of Art and Isla Contoy National Park, an uninhabited island nearby. The hotel also has a well-equipped fitness center, a spa, and two pools—one on the rooftop and one just off the beach, complete with a swim-up bar.

The Spa

Almare’s large spa offers a wide range of services including a shaman consult that lasts 50 minutes. There is also a full hydrotherapy circuit—steam room, sauna, whirlpool, and cold plunge —along with a set of soft cocoon chairs with warm water running through them meant to simulate the sensation of being in the womb. I had a detox and lift 60-minute facial using activated charcoal and volcanic glass. My skin looked like a “movie star”. (My boyfriend’s words).

Accessibility, Sustainability and Sustainability

One room is ADA-certified at the hotel.

Almare’s renovations were done with sustainability in the forefront. The beams in the resort are made from recycled material, the lighting uses LEDs, and the HVAC system is designed to use less water. Water is supplied in Tetra Pack containers, and guests receive a Almare water bottle they can refill at the resort’s fountains.

Location

Almare is near the less touristy southwest part of Isla Mujeres. This results in beautiful sunsets. The restaurant next door, La Casa del Tikinxic is rumored for popularizing the island’s signature dish. tikin fish dish. A 10-minute drive—or a 30-minute walk—will take you to Punta Sur, the island’s southernmost lookout with a sculpture park that honors local history. Playa Norte is a popular public beach and Calle Miguel Hidalgo is the center of island nightlife. Both are within a 15 minute drive. Taxis can be hired, but many people prefer to rent golf carts.

Cancun is closest to Isla Mujeres. From there, I took a car service arranged by the hotel to the Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina in Puerto Cancun. I was then escorted by the Renaissance staff to the slip at which Almare’s twin-engined boat was waiting. It would take me and my fellow guests back to the hotel.

The Best Value for Your Stay

Almare is a part of Marriott Bonvoy, which means that members can book with points to receive special rates and benefits, such as free spa treatments, room upgrades and late checkouts when they are available. 

Rates for nightly stays at Almare, A Luxury Collection, All-Inclusive ResortStarting at $774.

Each T+L Hotel Review is written by a reporter or editor who has visited the hotel. The hotel chosen must also align with our standards. core values.