I recently returned from an Ahana Yoga Retreat in Riviera Maya, Mexico where I find myself completely relaxed, recharged and grounded. So for starters, thank you to Dawn, Vivianne and the dope group of souls who I met while at this particular retreat.
Secondly, I most certainly wanted to share a hotel review on where we stayed — Etéreo Auberge — because it’s a perfect 10. I am so not kidding. I rarely say this because as a former a travel editor, the bar is quite high for this seasoned pro, but this property nestled between a verdant mangrove reserve and ocean is downright ethereal — as its name, Etéreo, implies.
Arriving at the resort (a short 30-minute ride from Cancun Airport) guests are greeted — quite literally — by the spirit of Mayan tradition. When I pulled up to the retreat, a man dressed in white linen dramatically blew a conch shell as I exited my airport transfer. “Welcome to Etéreo,” said my personal guide who then offered me a fresh-squeezed juice and asked if I wanted to receive an ancient copal blessing. I said “yes” to both obviously as this gal can use all the good juju she can get!
Now on to the over-the-top rooms. Luxe in every sense of the word — this is a five-star Auberge hotel after all — the property is small and intimate unlike the sort you expect in Mexico — there are 75 rooms to be exact. An appreciation for nature is woven into every aspect of Etéreo’s spaces. With architecture by Migdal Arquitectos and interior design by New York-based studio Meyer Davis, the resort brings its surrounding splendor indoors through the use of local materials like lava stone, copper, and indigenous tzalam wood.
So when booking your next stay in Mexico, most definitely look into Etéreo. Only two years old, the hotel feels fresh and new and boasts pristine beaches, delicious eats, serene Sana spa, groovy pool and spectacular snorkeling, too.
As I departed the hotel, my guide handed me a white crystal and puffed on his flute for good measure. I know these good vibes will carry me for quite some time.
