Tropical Harmony Between Ocean and Forest

The labyrinthine, knotted roots of mangroves weave bridges between the sea and the sugar-fine sands of Riviera Maya's beach. Near the shoreline, covered boats called lanchas glide across turquoise lagoons to Fairmont Mayakoba, a AAA Five Diamond resort. Like the mangrove, the gated resort intertwines aquatic and terrestrial domains: by ferry or by golf cart, guests can freely access all areas of the sprawling 45-acre campus, from the tropical forest shading the main hotel to the waves lapping outside the oceanfront casitas. Five main pools—including a 10,000-square-foot leviathan with water slide, a kid-friendly splash zone, and an adults-only infinity pool seeming to merge with the lagoon beyond it—combine with surrounding canals to create a haven for swimmers and former mermaids.

Diverse environments, including lush jungle, breezy sand dunes, and crystalline sea appear in panoramic view from the terraces and balconies of the hotel's 401 chambers. In Fairmont rooms, gold and amethyst bed linens gleam in the sunlight that streams in through floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. Two- to four-room casitas, or villas, dot the forest floor and beach area in secluded niches, and oceanfront suites stretch toward the sea via individual infinity pools and terrace steps that descend directly onto the sand.

Similarly melding nature and modern luxury, the Willow Stream Spa cossets weary frames in rooftop mineral pools and massage areas that look out toward the treetops. Traditional Mayan materials such as zapote wood and fossil-studded stones are motifs throughout the spa, which integrates indigenous ingredients such as cacao, cornmeal, and ayate cloth into signature treatments. The stable of on-site restaurants rounds out the body's nourishment. Las Brisas, with its global fusion cuisine, and El Puerto, which serves local seafood, both have earned AAA Four Diamond awards; colorful margaritas at the poolside bars and lobby lounge gleam with fresh-sliced fruit kebabs.

Playa del Carmen: Mayan History Meets Modern Nightlife

Named "Xaman-Ha," or waters of the north, by ancient Mayan inhabitants, Playa del Carmen still shelters scattered ruins along its Caribbean shoreline. Aquifer-carved, limestone caves known as cenotes earned the area a long-held reputation of wellspring of fresh water. Among the ocean adventures, the long arm of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef courts snorkelers and divers to explore vibrant subterranean wildlife, and closer to shore, panga boats with scoop-shaped bows hunt tuna, mahi-mahi, and snapper—any of which local restaurants will cook fresh to order for a successful angler.

After meandering along palm-caressed Riviera Maya beaches at sunset, visitors can promenade on the pedestrian-only Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue. A chorus of international languages mingles with the tunes of mariachi bands and street performers as revelers take in after-hours dining, drinking, and people watching along the cobblestoned route. Along the periphery of town, the tropical jungle bustles with a wild party of its own, as wandering tapirs, sereki, coatimundi, and iguanas are easily spottable even outside the many nature preserves and zoos.

Room rates start at $204 per night (including taxes).