If first impressions matter, the one made by the Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai’s lobby delivers. Emerging from the orchid-lined staircase at the main entrance, I’m struck by the hanging topiary dripping from a soaring, three-storey-high ceiling and lushness of the plant-filled room. Straight ahead, through vertical shutter screens, a tranquil reflecting pool extends from the ocean-facing lobby into serene views of a glistening lagoon-like main pool surrounded by a flourishing mangrove forest. This must be why Kanai means "paradise on earth."
It's a stark contrast from Cancún’s busy international airport and the 46-kilometre trek along Mexican Federal Highway 307 that I travelled to get here.
The collaboration between Ian Schrager Company – co-creator of the 'boutique hotel' category – and the renowned architecture and design firms Edmonds International and Rockwell Group has created a sanctuary for travellers seeking a comfortable, sustainable retreat outfitted with every modern amenity. Opened in late February 2024, the resort seamlessly blends modern luxury with ancient Mayan heritage.
It is the first Edition hotel in Mexico and the Caribbean and named one of the best hotels of 2024 by Travel + Leisure.
The Riviera Maya Edition calls Kanai home. Located along Mexico’s Riviera Maya, the 680-acre gated community is also home to an Auberge and a St. Regis. As the newest resort in the oceanfront complex, the Edition Kanai is enveloped by a 620-acre nature reserve recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. A refuge for the area’s vibrant fauna and tropical flora, the hotel was designed with a minimal environmental footprint. Its buildings are linked by elevated walkways to help preserve and protect the surrounding ecosystem and the property adheres to resource-conscious practices such as prioritizing energy efficiency, water conservation, and using eco-friendly materials. This commitment to sustainability extends to the resort's culinary program, which highlights locally sourced ingredients and farm-to-table experiences that celebrate the region’s natural bounty. More on that later.
Everything feels inviting. Walking along the shaded boardwalk path towards my room, I’m soothed by the reflection of the clear blue sky in the expansive decorative pool. In the distance, I gaze in fascination at the resort’s curves and slated exterior. Constructed mainly from Yucatecan limestone and bamboo, the long, low buildings are suspended over a lush, 400-year-old mangrove forest.
The property’s 182 guestrooms – including 30 suites and two villas – are housed in three wings that converge into an undulating woven structure, floating above the complex’s spa. While I’m not a practitioner of meditation or yoga, I could be swayed by the magic inside this magnificent pavilion. (Sadly, the yoga deck had suffered some hurricane-related damage and was under repair during my visit.)
I notice a large circular feature peeking from below the water’s surface. The design, inspired by the opening of a cenote – the freshwater-filled limestone sinkholes that are peppered throughout the Yucatán Peninsula – turns out to be the skylight of the spa’s circular relaxation room. It’s just one of many appealing outdoor-indoor features at the property.
That sense of Zen continues as I head down a long, stone-lined corridor towards my first-floor room. I pass by a large accent boulder and a thick bamboo wall set into a reflecting pool, enjoying the breeze drifting in through the wing's open-air ends.
My spacious premier guest room is lofty and bright. Bathed in the Edition’s signature neutral tones, it features a soothing white-on-white colour scheme, with limestone flooring, white linens and blond wood furnishings.
Despite its clean, minimalist aesthetic, the room is equipped with every modern convenience — from ample USB ports to satellite TV — and features discrete slatted wood paneling that conceals the well-stocked minibar and closets. Yes, closets. Separated from the main room by a sliding door, the marble-lined bathroom includes a deep soaking tub that shares the open space with a rainfall shower, plus thankfully ample counter space for my toiletries — despite the hotel providing custom Le Labo amenities.
Instead of rushing back out, I relax and soak in the peacefulness of my room. It’s a well-conditioned escape from the afternoon heat and humidity of the subtropics, which I appreciate from the comfort of my cushy, curved sofa as I debate a nap in my custom four-poster king bed or a dip in the private plunge pool on my terrace overlooking the mangroves. (Some rooms offers an ocean view.)
While chic, it’s certainly not the Sky Rooftop Villa. Billed as North America’s largest penthouse, it boasts a jaw-dropping five bedrooms — each with their own plunge pools — spread across a staggering 27,000 square feet. There's also a semi-Olympic swimming infinity pool, outdoor patio, and kitchen. It's the ultimate getaway for any group ready to splurge on an exclusive, immersive experience in the Yucatán Peninsula.
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Renee Suen Photo. Bathroom.
Famished, I head back out to check out Edition Kanai’s serious culinary and beverage program, led by Latin America’s and the World’s 50 Best Restaurants-recognized Mexican chefs Tomás Bermúdez and Francisco “Paco” Ruano, respectively. I stroll along the elevated boardwalk toward the white sand beach, passing the family-friendly central pool. For a moment I’m tempted by the siren call of its floating cabanas and hammocks, but I resist and carry on.
It’s a five-minute walk along a cleared sand path framed by swaying palms. A thought strikes me: I’m in an ecological heaven. Bordering the path is a vast network of mangroves, whose sheer expanse I only now begin to appreciate. Just beyond that, rising from this lush green sea, it’s the sleek exterior of the Edition. Breathtaking.
Parked next to the adult pool, I feast on pristine Caribbean seafood at Bermúdez’s French-Mediterranean-inspired SO’OL Beach Club. There’s a half dozen fresh oysters to beautiful chocolate clams dressed in leche de tigre, and sweet fresh abalone kissed with chili mayonnaise — even razor clams are made savoury bright by salsa macha. I spot fresh coconuts on the bar but opt for a spicy paloma. After all, I am at a pool bar.
Too full to jump in with the groups of pool revellers bobbing to the chill music, I meander down toward one of the beach club’s stylish loungers and absorb the picture-prefect view before me. Groomed daily, this two-mile stretch of swimmable beach is covered by pristine white sand. lapped by the azure waters of the Mexican Caribbean. In the distance, a private pier with lavish cabanas, over-the-water hammocks, and direct access to the sea. Before heading back to the hotel, I reserve a beach cabana.
Edition Kanai offers decked out amenities including a fully stocked gym with state-of-the-art equipment, a spin studio, and stretching area. Instead of working out, I bliss out at its cenote-inspired spa. Before my treatment, I visit the spa’s hydrotherapy pools. I’m a little mad at myself for not blocking off a half day to fully soak in the facilities. Besides a dry sauna and steam room, I enjoy a pre-massage from bithermal showers. Next, it’s a Turkish Hammam before I lose track of time doing a hydrotherapy circuit in the massive pools — ludic pool, hot and cold plunge — which I practically have all to myself. When the therapist comes to collect me, I’m almost sad to leave the pools and get a massage. Almost.
It’s hard to choose what to experience from the spa’s deep library of treatments, but I stick to the theme and try the Edition’s signature massage in one of the spa’s six private indoor-outdoor treatment rooms that blends with the natural surroundings.
By the time I head back to my room, it’s dark. I admire how the property glows against the cloak of night.
Dinner at the hotel’s signature restaurant, KI’IS, is a special experience. Showcasing the finest seafood and produce Mexico has to offer, this is the innovative contemporary Mexican fare expected from renowned chef Ruano. Known for his acclaimed restaurant Alcalde in Guadalajara, Ruano presents a menu featuring the celebrated flavours of Mexico’s Pacific coast with Mayan influences.
There’s green aguachile with lush scallops or the catch of the day seasoned with flavours of the Yucatecan – annatto, xcatic pepper and bitter orange. I can’t decide, so I leave it up to the chef and opt for the blind tasting menu. It starts with a trio of bites featuring different parts of a sweet geoduck clam before moving into punchy, harmonious flavours that include lush tuna escabeche paired with homemade corn tortilla crackers, calamari seasoned with savoury bacon ponzu, a meaty Caribbean spiny lobster taco, and a tender lamb chop served with chilmole, a traditional Mayan-Yucatecan black mole. It’s shocking how good the food is, especially knowing I’m at a resort. I can barely find room for dessert, but I do — both the guava foam-topped meringue plus carrot and coconut tartlet are excellent.
Over and above the delicious food and the intriguing selection of Mexican wines (there are international options, but we don’t really get Mexican wines in Canada), the service is top-notch. And if you’re lucky enough to have Darby take care of your table, then I guarantee the evening will be over-the-top fantastic.
Rather than staying up to sample Mexican spirits or groove to the live DJ’s tunes at SO’OL — or lingering to explore the library of agave distillates, cocktails and wines in the Lobby Bar, the property’s only room that pops with colour due to 50-foot-tall red velvet drapes – I head to bed. After a long day, nothing feels more inviting than the promise of crisp imported linens and plush pillows..
The next morning, after a full breakfast at the Kitchen — Edition Kanai’s all-day dining restaurant — I return to the beach, where I’ve booked a half-day of relaxation in a beachside cabana. I finally succumb to the lure of a fresh coconut. As I sip on refreshing coconut water and take in the sweeping panoramic views, it strikes me: sustainability and luxury can coexist. Here, you can immerse yourself in the untouched beauty of nature while enjoying every modern comfort, all within a setting that upholds the highest possible environmental and sustainable practices.
Sadly, my stay is too short to experience the full range of activities and workshops that may interest your clients. The culinary programing includes everything from cooking and cocktail classes to tastings of Mexican distillates, zero-proof beverages and wine. Wellness offerings range from outdoor yoga sessions on the deck to sound healing, mindfulness, and Mayan purifying sessions. There are also artist workshops for the creatively inclined, and plenty of outdoor and water sports activities such as pickleball and kayaking. Off-property experiences include visiting Chicken Itza, swimming in one of the region’s cenotes, scuba diving, or exploring nearby attractions.
Corporate clients may be drawn to the resort's flexible meeting and events spaces, each filled with natural light and equipped with the latest multimedia technology. Those looking to host up to 450 guests might consider the Forum, nestled in the mangroves and featuring an expansive terrace that overlooks the sea — ideal for a glamourous wedding or large-scale events.
Rooms at the Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai start at US$400, depending on the season. Cabana rentals begin at US$100 per half day.
