Kanai Riviera Maya, Mexico
Opened
2024
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Wellness ResortOutside the door
The house
MarriottStilted mangrove resort
Raised boardwalks and stilted buildings keep daily life suspended above the wetlands, running from quiet mangrove channels to open oceanfront.
“the company’s first property in the region employs sleek architecture that mimics the shape of a wave.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Limestone buildings raised on stilts over mangroves converge around an undulating bamboo dome.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Forbes Recommended
Forbes Travel Guide
2026
UK Readers' Choice Awards – The Americas
Condé Nast Traveler
2025
Also in The 50 Discovery and Wallpaper*.
Rooms riff on the formula — blonde wood, pristine linens, upscale minimalism — but ultimately defer to the view, as they should.
“the contemporary building is tucked into a lush 250-hectare nature reserve, its rooms and suites bathed in natural light, with curvilinear design and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking mangroves, palm trees and jungle foliage.”
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
In the gated Kanai nature reserve along Punta Maroma, fronting two miles of white-sand beach.
The rooms
Ground-floor rooms open onto private plunge pools shaded by mangroves, while upper balconies angle toward the sea.
The spa and pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Private treatment suites look into dense mangroves through picture windows, and an oceanfront infinity pool edges the beach.
The vitality pools
Indoor vitality pools curve beside cushioned loungers, and private stone courtyards tuck hydrotherapy plunge pools beneath timber trellises.
Gym and yoga pavilion
Technogym equipment fills the mirrored fitness studio, and daily yoga sessions meet on an open-air deck beneath woven bamboo.
At the table
Chef Francisco Ruano serves modern Mexican tasting menus at KI'IS, and the three-story lobby bar pours agave spirits beside regional pottery.
The resort was created with cenotes–those freshwater limestone pools found throughout the region–in mind.
How it began
Architect Michael Edmonds shaped the curving buildings to mimic seismic shockwaves from the prehistoric Chicxulub asteroid impact.
“Bathed in local white limestone lined with giant terracotta pots filled with verdant shrubbery, the massive walkways and hallways feel like entering a heavenly dream.”
Good to know
Stay here
The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai
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Riviera Maya
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.