From the moment one steps out from the lobby at Unico 20º 87º Hotel Riviera Maya and gazes upon the series of pools, terraces, and allées of palm trees that lead to the dazzling turquoise ocean, one is spellbound by the resort’s setting. Defined by the property’s latitude and longitude coordinates (20° north, 87° west) along Mexico’s fabled Riveria Maya, the adults-only resort lays claim to a new interpretation of all-inclusive luxury.
For guests, Unico offers hosts—anfitriones in Spanish—whose laid-back but cosseting service encompasses everything from setting up dinner reservations at Unico’s four restaurants, including Mediterranean, Japanese, Mexican cuisine, and a steakhouse, to organizing tee times, spa appointments, and water sports activities, ranging from stand-up paddle boarding to catamaran sailing, as well as a remarkable array of excursions to the Yucatán’s fascinating Mayan archaeological sites.
The host can attend to the necessary, unpacking and packing of bags, the laundering of resort clothing and sports attire, and beyond. Steeped in Mexican hospitality, the anfitrión opens doors to secret and sought-after spots in the Riviera Maya, from restaurants and clubs in Playa del Carmen, to ancient cenotes—otherworldly underground reservoirs of crystalline waters, for swimming. And if at Unico to celebrate a special occasion, the host will handle all the details, no matter how large or intimate the size of the party.
Steeped in Mexican hospitality, the anfitrión opens doors to the Riviera Maya's secret and sought-after spots.
Designed by the Mexico City-firm Artigas, whose legacy extends to some of the most important residences of mid-century Latin American architecture, Unico delights the senses at every turn. Interior décor of guest rooms and restaurants by the New York firm AvroKO takes inspiration from indigenous, traditional, and contemporary Mexican design. A restful palette of taupe-and-beige furnishings in guest rooms, with lamps embellished with sisal, a reference to Yucatecan manufacture, relinquishes the eye to outdoor vistas of tropical gardens or the Caribbean Sea. Rooms with swim-up pools seduce with added allure. Exuberant tile work inspired by Spanish and Mexican motifs animate the resort’s charming Café Inez, while the Mediterranean cuisine at Mi Carisa can be savored on a terrace cantilevered over a pool of still water. Welcome sounds of clinking cocktail glasses at the Palmera Lounge or the clubby Bar Balaam are counterbalanced by buzzy sets from the DJ at the 20° 87° pool.
Unico is a place for a diversion as well as relaxation. Cocktail classes are led by the resort’s executive mixologist. Guests can participate in painting and cooking classes. And there is live entertainment, the Pachanga, that mixes the best of Latin rhythms, including salsa, and contemporary music. An exercise and fitness menu in a state-of-art gym—including pilates classes to spinning and cross training, and poolside yoga—proffer refocused energy.
Still, there may be few things as transporting as walking along the boardwalk to relax on the white sand beach or, come evening, taking in the magical purple-azure sunset.