Riviera Maya: Affordable luxury in the Mexican Caribbean

Want all-inclusive accommodations?
The Barcelo Maya Beach Resort is an all-inclusive resort complex comprising a natural park and five hotels: Barcelo Maya Beach, Barcelo Maya Caribe Beach, Barcelo Maya Colonial Beach, Barcelo Maya Tropical Beach and Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe. With all hotels in the resort built or refurbished in 2005 or later, the complex includes 2,741 guest rooms, over 55,000 square feet of meeting and event space, 43 restaurants and bars, three theaters, a chapel and a 24-hour medical center. Also on-site is the Barcelo Maya Convention Center, which has space for up to 1,400 guests. Amenities include A/V equipment and services, catering, administrative support and more.

Want green meetings?
The AAA Five-Diamond Fairmont Mayakoba is a member of the World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (WHA), an organization that promotes conservation, sustainable tourism, and economic development for communities located in and around UNESCO World Heritage sites. Through the resort’s “green partnership,” planners can incorporate sustainable menus, recycling initiatives, ecotourism options and more into their programs. In addition to the resort’s 401 rooms, which are located throughout the property in two-story casitas (some with oceanfront views) and traditional low-rise buildings, there is 40,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space. Other amenities include several Mexican and international restaurants, a 20-room spa, an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course, five swimming pools, and private beach access with views of Cancun and Cozumel. Groups staying at the resort also have access to an on-site DMC, resort-based transportation such as golf carts and lanchas (boats), BMW bicycles and a fleet of luxury automobiles.

Want to go where the locals go?
In the heart of downtown Playa Del Carmen, Fifth Avenue is a bustling, red brick-paved pedestrian street packed with several stores, including the high-end department store Liverpool, souvenir shops, street vendors and open air restaurants. It makes for a fun day trip, but the street really comes alive at night. Mexico is considered the birthplace of real chocolate, so it only makes sense to incorporate it into your event. Ah Cacao Real Chocolate is a café that specializes in artisan-made premium cacao and chocolate products. The TripAdvisor Popularity Index ranked it as the second-most popular (out of 286) restaurant in the Riviera Maya.

Want to shake up a meal function?
Ajua Maya Restaurant is a favorite among locals and tourists alike. With its live Latin jazz, bohemian gardens and palapa dining, this five-star restaurant specializes in seafood, steak, authentic Mayan and Mexican cuisine and 19th century French-influenced Mestizo fare served by dancing waiters.

Want to get acquainted with the area?
Go on a tour led by a native guide. Your group will likely learn more about the Mayan culture during a two-hour tour than they will their entire stay. Riviera Maya has many nature theme parks that make for informative and exciting day trips. Ask your DMC for suggestions, or visit websites such as travelyucatan.com or locogringo.com.

Want adventurous group outings?
Take the 45-minute ferry ride to Cozumel, a popular diving and snorkeling destination, where groups can explore the jungle on ATVs, ride horses and Segways along the beach or swim with the dolphins, and more. All Tour Native is an adventure travel and ecotourism company that connects tourists to the region’s indigenous Mayan communities via exhilarating day tours. Their Jungle Maya Expedition, which includes zip lining, mountain biking, snorkeling and cavern swimming, is an exciting way to include sustainable tourism in your event agenda. Trekking through ancient Mayan ruins are also popular group activities, as there are numerous sites to explore in the area. Chichen Itza is among Mexico’s most famous ruins and is home to El Castillo, also known as the Pyramid of Kukulkan. Other nearby ruins include Chacchoben, Chac Mool, Coba, Mayapan, Kohunlich, Dzibanche and Oxtankah.

By ASHLEY BRAZZEL
Published: August 6, 2010

Ajua's Fantastic Lobster

A fantastic mix of five star dining, entertaining waiter, Latin music and great service …Ajua Maya, one of the most popular restaurants in Playa del Carmen with a warm and welcoming Mayan ambiance, is highly recommend on many websites and travel guides, including Trip Advisor and Josh Hindale’s “Complete Guide to Playa del Carmen, Tulum and the Riviera Maya.”

Ajua was purchased by Brenda Alfaro (an American from Virginia) and Jorge Alfaro (a Mexican from Chiapas) in 2001. With their Chef Pedro Balam, they created a fantastic menu that includes fresh lobster and seafood, USA Black Angus steaks, traditional Mayan and Mexican dishes, Mayan-Virginian BBQ ribs and shrimp, Caesar salad, and flambé dishes prepared at your table, and more. Truly, Ajua Maya offers one of the finest dining experiences in Playa del Carmen.

Under the helm of Mayan Chef Pedro Balam Dzul, Manager Jorge Huchim Martin, and owners Brenda and Jorge Alfaro, Ajua has become one of the most popular restaurants in Playa del Carmen for fine dining, wedding receptions and great parties. Their upstairs palapa offers an upscale intimate private dining experience and is perfect for special events.

Dining there is an experience you should not miss while you are on the Riviera Maya. The lobster and steaks are grilled to perfection, their Mayan and Mexican dishes are the best in Playa, the BBQ Platter is a must, and the Caesar salad along with the appetizer of shrimp sizzling in garlic oil is a taste experience not to be missed.

Also, what is fantastic about Ajua Maya, is it extensive menu which includes dishes for those who just want a perfectly Black Angus steak grilled or chicken breast served with a baked potato and grilled vegetables; to others who wish a more exotic experience. For the adventurous palate, we would recommend the flambéed lobster and shrimp with a Mayan sauce of Xtabentun and Tequila or their Mayan dishes, including such classics as Tkin Xic (steamed fish in banana leaves with a Achiote sauce), Cochinita Pibil (pulled Mayan pork), and Pollo Mole.

And, don’t forget the desserts! From a fabulous cheesecake prepared in house to flambéed crepes with Carjeta (a caramel Brandy and Kahula sauce and Banana’s Foster flambéed at the table, they are not to be missed by those with a sweet tooth. Prices range from $5.50 usd for fish tacos to $20-25 for main entrees.
Open daily from noon – 1 am – Children welcomed

http://www.ajuamaya.com/

Calle 4 is hot for great food!

We are excited that our signature restaurant was recommended by Trip Advisor – how exciting. Hope you come and enjoy lobster, steaks and authentic Mayan foods with us! Also, Carboncitos was recommended as well and is right across the street from us. There you can enjoy great tacos — umm! I love their Tacos al Pastor – the best in the city — and their sauces — too good to describe.

Download Trip Advisor Guide

Photos courtesy of Amin Dominguez

Lisa LeeKing recently attending one of Ajua Maya’s Mayan culinary demonstrations and writes about it at http://www.area-daily.com/travel/em100611-See-Do-Playa-del-Carmen-Mexico.html.  Lisa is the food editor for Bobby Flay’s cooking show on the Food Network and we were thrilled to meet here at Ajua Maya!

Photos courtesy of Amin Dominguez