Welcome to Maroma

Located on the Riviera Maya, Maroma is a luxury resort in the tradition of the Mexican hospitality where personal service, warm hospitality and privacy are unsurpassed.

The property benefits from its location on the second largest barrier reef in the world, providing a unique environment for water activities with crystal clear water and an unspoiled beach that provides the utmost in privacy and natural beauty.

Maroma coined the phrase “handmade hospitality” to describe the total ambiance of Maroma. It also describes our philosophy of taking care of our guests on a very individual and tailored basis.

The basic building materials used in Maroma are concrete blocks and cement that are put together in a masterly way by a team of masons who have been working for us for over 20 years. The architect need only draw a few lines in the sand with his cane and in a week or two a building has taken shape. When it is finished this building is truly handmade, raised without the aid of machinery or electricity and shaped and finished by hand.

Each outward corner is rounded off with a chisel; each inward one is filled with cement and smoothed to soften its lines. Niches for lights are carved out of solid walls, and windows and columns are trimmed with cement molding.

Then the building is plastered and stuccoed by hand inside and out, the stucco thrown with a trowel until every surface is covered evenly. (The exterior stucco finish is an energy–saving device: the bit of shade cast by each tiny bump  reduces the heat absorbed by the building as much as 50%.)

Local artisans using local materials make most of the finishing details of Maroma. The driveway is limestone harvested on the ranch and laid piece by piece. The front portico platform is of the same material, but the stones have been flattened and precisely shaped with a chisel to fit into a jigsaw-puzzle design as used by the ancient Mayas to ensure a sturdy construction without cement.

The huge wood pillars supporting the portico are zapote, or ironwood, trunks in their natural form and the square beams above the door are the same wood shaped by machete. (This is also the tree that yields chicle, and you can see it growing in our jungle, scarred with many horizontal slashes where the tree was bled of its valuable sap in years gone by.) The hand-hewn stone frame around the double entrance door is from an 18th century hacienda near Mérida. The stone tablets on each side of the door are hand carved reproductions of Mayan works.

The thatched roofs used in the reception area and on many room terrace are the traditional form of roofing in the Yucatan and are made with leaves of the xit palm grown on the ranch and carefully harvested to keep the plant intact and growing.

In the dining area, the white stone flooring, called conchuela because of the many shell fossils embedded in it, and the salmon colored accent stone are quarried near Mérida , and their soft colors blend perfectly with the cool tropical style of the room. All of the woodwork and furnishings in the guest rooms and public areas is designed and made in our workshop using mahogany for its beauty and also for its bitterness which discourages termites.

The bamboo used in shutters and furniture is harvested here on the ranch. And of course the hammocks are a tradition of the Yucatan and are woven in homes in the many villages dotting the countryside.

We want Maroma to be a showcase for the beautiful and unique arts crafts produced in each region of Mexico; two of the best examples  are the exquisite pottery mermaid and the whimsical tin soldier watching over the dining room. The hand-painted tile used in the bathrooms, the bedside lamps in each room, the hand-loomed natural cotton bedspreads, decorative pillows and throws and soft wool rugs are all fine examples of Mexican artistry. The rooms and public areas feature original art by Mexican and International artist (a catalog is available), and each room also has its own special objects and placed with love.

The care we have taken in creating Maroma is mirrored in the smiles of our staff and in our desire to evoke the style and warm hospitality of a gracious hacienda, where “mi casa es su casa” is very true.

Hospitality
Anfitrionas are in the beach kiosk, the Hospitality office and the dining room throughout the day and evening to answer questions and arrange tours, activities and transportation. They also have an extensive selection of videos and a library of special books. The Hospitality office is on the left side of the entrance as you enter the hotel.

Boutique
Located in the round building on the left side of the parking lot as you leave the hotel, the boutique carries several unique lines of clothing, handmade jewelry, pottery, glass and other handcrafted items; a selection of original oil paintings, watercolors, serigraphs and photographs; and sun lotion, sun glasses, hats, cameras, postcards, etc.

Theater "El Violoncello"
Our multi-media theater, located near the north end of the swimming pool behind the Rosa building, seats up to 50 people in air conditioned comfort and has a state-of-the-art sound and projection system. The theater is available for small group meetings and private functions. Our list has more than 380 movies. Hospitality will be happy to help you select from our many videos and DVDs and get you settled comfortably in the theater.

Marina
We have a full array of water activities right in our front yard. See Jean Claude for snorkeling, wind-surfing, kayaking and sailing and Ramon and Carlos for diving. As for fishing, check with Hospitality about all the different possibilities:  bottom fishing, deep sea or fly fishing.

Library
Our air-conditioned library is stocked with paperbacks and magazines as well as a television and a video player. A collection of fine art books about the Mayan culture, Mexico, birds, health, Mexican kitchen, and haciendas, videos and games.

Laundry
Laundry service is provided at the hotel, Dry cleaning is sent to Cancun and requires two days. Please leave dry cleaning with Hospitality.