Mayan BUZZ

This month, the Riviera Maya will welcome the much-anticipated return of Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, the storied hideaway in the beating heart of the Riviera Maya. Nestled between 200 acres of tropical jungle and the secluded sands of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, the legendary property is now placing sustainability at its core, with programmes to protect the endangered Melipona bee and a new eco-conscious approach in the kitchen among its planet-friendly enterprises.

The past 30 years have seen the number of beehives decline by more than 90 per cent in the Yucatán Peninsula. Small, unassuming and stingless, the endangered Melipona bee is fundamentally important to the ecology of region. As they gather pollen, these bees interact with many unique flowering plants and tall forest trees in the area, particularly those of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, making them the little golden protectors of the jungle canyons. The plants they gather from are high in medical alkaloids, giving the honey curative properties ranging from easing digestive disorders and respiratory problems to reducing fatigue and speeding up wound recovery.

In a quest to revive Melipona populations, Maroma has partnered with jungle protectors Fundación Selva Maya and local bee experts Mayahuum to expand resident hives, develop

Turtle conservation and protecting the endangered Melipona bee are among the sustainable initiatives adopted at the newly renovated Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya on the white sands of Mexico’s Caribbean Coast.

a new Melipona bee sanctuary for educational guest experiences, and introduce bee-led initiatives to Yucatán communities. Further initiatives including turtle conservation and preserving the local flora and fauna are currently being interwoven into guest programming.

Melipona honey will also be integrated into the guest’s wellness experience through treatments and workshops at Maroma Spa by Guerlain. The first Guerlain spa in Latin America will be inspired by the royal bees, or beecheii, the name the Mayans used for the bee endemic to Yucatan. Guests can delve into the history and medical uses of the Melipona, including a healing therapy drawing on the sound of bees in motion. Guests visiting the spa can also book treatments incorporating Guerlain’s Abeille Royale collection, products that helps smooth wrinkles and combat loss of tissue firmness.

Beyond the bees, there is plenty else that reflects ecoconscious principles at Maroma. Internationally renowned designer Tara Bernerd helmed the property’s comprehensive restoration and partnered with local artisans to honour Mexican heritage, blending contemporary craft with indigenous materials, with 80 per cent of furnishings and objects produced by Mexican craftspeople, including a hand-blown glass chandelier, painted clay pots, traditional ‘Saltillo’ floor tiles and vibrant woven rugs in guest rooms.

The original design and architecture of the property have been preserved, including the white stucco buildings aligned to the Sacred Geometry of Mayan masonry. Curved lines and organic forms inspired by the property’s wild surrounds inform the harmonious indoor-outdoor flow of rooms, suites and villas, while the property’s three pools have been redesigned and now feature Sukabumi tiles hand-made from volcanic stone, in the same vibrant turquoise tones as the region’s many natural cenotes, or sinkholes, which were commonly used for water supplies by the ancient Maya, and occasionally for sacrificial offerings.

The planet-friendly approach continues in the kitchen, where executive chef Daniel Camacho will celebrate his country’s rich culinary diversity at Casa Mayor restaurant. Working on a sustainable provenance approach, 90 per cent of ingredients will be sourced from Mexico and almost half from the Yucatán Peninsula, including freshly caught seafood from local NGO Amigos de Sian Ka’an, which is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the region’s ecosystems. For lazy sundowners, guests can shimmy over to Bambuco, where seasonal herbal drinks are made fresh from the garden. belmond.com — HELEN DALLEY