Wanderlust Travel has teamed up with Golf Resort Architecture Specialist, Agustín Pizá, to provide a guide of the best golf courses, luxury resorts and suggested activities in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
To inspire travel for golfers and their companions, over four weeks we are highlighting captivating regions of Mexico: Baja California Sur, Punta Mita, Quintana Roo and Merida. Each area offers a range of luxury accommodations, unique cultural immersion experiences, and let’s not forget great golf. We also uncover opportunities for less experienced golfers or younger family members to take part in golf activities.
This week we are focusing on Quintana Roo.
Vacation is a time when you want to relax and pursue your passions. But, when travelling with family and/or friends more often than not everyone has a different idea of what their ideal vacation looks like.
Avid golfers want to experience championship courses with beautiful views, a range of dining options and luxury accommodations. Those traveling with an avid golfer know that there will be a fair amount of time set aside for the links and they want to make sure the destination has activities to stay entertained.
Agustín Pizá, Golf Resort Architecture Specialist and owner of the award winning Pizá Golf, graciously provided his tips and local knowledge of this golf destination. For more than two decades Pizá has collaborated with legends of the game and world class golf developments. His designs are known for delivering quality, aesthetic and strategic golf courses. Involved in more than 60 projects in 3 continents, Agustín is a writer, tv commentator and director of The First Tee program in Mexico.
Agustín has been seeing a trend in golf courses that are providing amenities to include and attract family members to enjoy additional offerings at their courses. In our interview Agustín explained, “It took me 19 years to understand we should be designing for the non-golfer and create a more inclusive, family-oriented facility that welcomes and offers something for all. I hope you enjoy the list of golf courses I think offer a bit of change and originality and, hope you and your family will enjoy these facilities and fall in love with golf and the warm hospitality of Mexico.”
Wanderlust Travel Boutique has broken down our recommendations by region, course, hotel and local experiences. This guide provides a well-rounded luxury travel experience.
Quintana Roo Region:
When Americans talk about travel to Mexico the majority automatically think of Cancún. Cancún is a city within Mexico’s easternmost state of Quintana Roo, but it is just one part of the state that is over 17,000 sq miles and includes unique cities, towns and islands such as Isla Mujeres, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Akumal and Tulum.
Quintana Roo Courses:
Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Golf Club – Championship Course
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the Championship Course is a spectacular synergy integrating the golf course within the Mayan jungle, natural lakes and cenotes. In addition to the championship layout, there is also a 9-hole par 3 Executive Course that is one of the best 9-hole golf courses in Rivera Maya. Both courses unique beauty offers players of all levels amazing
views as well as the challenge of playing among natural lakes and cenotes. If you are lucky you might get to see foxes, coatis and other local fauna during your round. Those looking for instruction have great options through the Academy, which offers individual and group golf lessons for all ages and levels.
Augustín tells us, “This course is another beauty designed by my dear friend Bobby Jones II. This time in Tulum, in fact, the only golf course in this natural Mayan preserve. Tulum is a top trendy hipster place everyone has to visit. Playing golf at Riviera Maya is arriving to the only licensed PGA of America golf complex south of the border. This guarantees a great experience and top tournament conditions on the golf course.”
HOTEL MATCH: HOTEL ESENCIA
El Camaleón Golf Course
El Camaleón is located in the heart of the Riviera Maya, 30 miles south of Cancún International Airport and 5 miles north of the cosmopolitan town, Playa del Carmen. It lies inside the Mayakoba Resort Complex along with four luxurious hotels and residential homes fronting
the Caribbean Sea and second largest coral reef in the world. Designed by Greg Norman, the course is home of the Mayakoba Golf Classic, the first PGA TOUR event to be contested outside the US and Canada. Created with the goal of producing a tournament-quality golf course while maintaining an enjoyable sense of playability for players of all skill levels, this course was designed to enhance the most desirable natural features of its tropical forest and seaside settings. El Camaleón is certified by Audubon International as a Cooperative Sanctuary for its commitment to the environment and eco-friendly practices and receives high accolades for their mangrove protection program. The practice facility features a driving range, a short game area and a large putting green, all of which can be accessed with unlimited usage of range balls with an All-Day Pass. The club is home to the only Jim McLean Golf School in Latin America, offering a variety of programs for players of all levels as well as group clinics.
“The best experience you can have at El Camaleón is enjoying the ins and outs of the complex,” Augustín says. “Once you play the course and enjoy the views of the rivers that connect the four-hotel complex of Mayakoba, please take the time to experience a boat ride through these canals with an expert in ecology. If there’s one thing I love about Mayakoba, it’s the mangrove world class program they have been committed to sustaining since its grand opening. It’s believed to be the best preservation of mangroves in Mexico and a great example around the world.”
Hotel Match: Rosewood Mayakoba
Quintana Roo Hotels:
Hotel Esencia
Simplicity, elegance and beauty is what you will find at Hotel Esencia. This boutique hotel with just over 40 rooms sits on a 50-acre estate between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, just 50 minutes south of Cancún and 30 minutes north of Tulum by car. Whether you prefer a beach suite, jungle suite or private villa, the rooms have a traditional Mayan feel with pops of color that make you think of the Greek Islands.
Guests will enjoy relaxing on the powdery white sand of this quiet cove and can step right into the Caribbean Sea where there is a reef sanctuary for sea turtles and exotic fish. A variety of non-motorized water sport equipment is at your disposal to enjoy your time in the sea. The farm to table dining on property is simple, yet sophisticated and will cater to any palate. And if by chance guests want to venture out for an evening you have easy access to both Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
Nearby Golf: Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Golf Club – Championship Course
Rosewood Mayakoba
On a mile of white Caribbean sand, you’ll find the ecologically minded Rosewood Mayakoba. This AAA Five Diamond resort is uniquely situated on 25 acres of tranquil lagoons and stunning beach. Natural elements and local materials are masterfully combined to create a contemporary
Mexican design. Each of the spacious 129 suites and collection of multi-bedroom private residences offer a private heated plunge pool with stunning views. Upon arrival, guests are transported to their suite by boat through the lagoons where their personal butler awaits. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway (in one of the adult-only overwater villas) or a family vacation (rooms with ample space for families and an excellent kids club) Rosewood Mayakoba offers a true luxury vacation in the exclusive Mayakoba community.
Exclusive Golf Access: El Camaleón Golf Course
Quintana Roo Local Experiences:
Tulum
Tulum beach is a fun and funky avenue of boutique hotels, beach clubs, outdoor dining, coffee shops, boutique stores and galleries. Ride a bike or stroll on foot to enjoy this very special town that is rich in natural beauty and culture. Tulum is a Mexican beach town that hippies, bohos and wellness wanderers have been flocking to for years that modern travelers want to
experience for themselves.
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
This UNESCO World Heritage Site covers 1.3 million acres of tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. It provides a habitat for a remarkably rich selection of flora and fauna. Tour options include nature encounters, snorkeling, fly fishing, bird watching and more.
Rio Secreto
Many people consider this underwater river to be a wonder of the world. Take an unbelievable underground river tour as you hike and swim through a route of about one kilometer full of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.
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Golf was invented in Scotland and perfected in North America. Quintana Roo, Mexico is flourishing with courses for travelers to enjoy the game. With luxury accommodations and unique local experiences Wanderlust Travel can arrange a memorable vacation for golfers and their fellow travelers.
Stay tuned next week for our final post in this series highlighting the Merida region of Mexico…
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Contact Us:
Jamie Jackson: (336) 263-1977 or [email protected]
Luxury Travel Advisor and Virtuoso Wellness Travel community member at Wanderlust Travel Boutique
At Wanderlust Travel Boutique, we will create a truly personalized, hassle-free vacation with a comprehensive itinerary, so you can enjoy an unforgettable experience.
If not now, when?
https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/jamiejackson
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