Zoëtry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres Cancun, Mexico

Zoëtry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres Cancun

A luxurious private yacht wafts you across the turquoise bay to this idyllic island hideaway, set right beside a near-perfect white-sand beach on the tranquil south-west corner of Isla Mujeres. The Zoëtry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres Cancun is by far the smallest and most intimate hotel on the island, and stands by itself on a slender strip of land between the beach and lagoon, creating a unique sense of privacy and seclusion. The focus is on serenity, well-being and wellness, and the resort is designed to be in harmony with nature and the environment. 

The island itself, whose name, Isla Mujeres, translates as the Isle of Women, was regarded as sacred to the Mayan goddess of childbirth, and for centuries was a sacred Mayan pilgrimage site. Before the tourism boom it  was a quiet, secluded fishing village, and is still a relaxed and tranquil contrast to the bustle of Cancun, with a densely forested interior. Attractions within a few minutes of the hotel include Dolphin Discovery, where guests can swim with dolphins, an amazing Turtle Farm, and the Garrafon National Park, with its beautiful reefs and unique sculpture garden.  

Arriving guests disembark from the yacht at the private dock in the mangrove-framed Makax Lagoon, right at the hotel's front door, and pass through a lobby full of stained glass, casting an enchanted coloured glow. Straight ahead through the lobby are the three blue-tiled pools, with the beautiful Casa Rolandi Restaurant on the right, overlooking the sea. The architecture of the simple white building, with its blue peaked roof, is a hybrid of Mexican and Mediterranean, which fits in perfectly with the beach-side setting. 

As well as the three pools, the luxurious facilities for guests include an outdoor sea-water Jacuzzi, and the beautiful Thalasso Spa, where many of the treatments are set on a platform overlooking the sea, while others are in private rooms. This spa is one of the first in North America to be certified for thalassotherapy, working with the beneficial properties of salt water. The spa also features mud and algae baths, hot stone massages, and seaweed wraps. 

In addition to snorkelling with angel-fish off the hotel beach, and twice-weekly sunset cruises in the hotel's private yacht, there are a wide range of other enticing activities on offer. Around the spa you can increase your levels of relaxation with classes in meditation, stretching and yoga, as well as massage demonstrations. You can also enjoy classes in Mexican cooking, traditional Mexican silver art, ceramic painting and Spanish language, and green fees at the nearby Golf Club are included in the room price. 

There are two beautiful restaurants, both serving organic fare, using locally grown produce. The award-winning Casa Rolandi, set right over the water, offers Swiss-North Italian menus, with handmade pastas and fresh seafood, including a superb grilled octopus, cooked on a wood-burning oven, while Le Métissage serves gourmet French-Mexican fusion cuisine in a bright contemporary setting overlooking the ocean. Fine wines and creative cocktails are available at the lobby bar and the Cozy Bar, and guests can enjoy a romantic meal for two in their suite at any time of their choice.

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