St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, has opened a new luxury hotel and wellness retreat in Mexico called St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya.

Built above a natural mangrove reserve, the 143-key oceanfront resort in Playa del Carmen is connected by elevated walkways with ocean views and is home to a signature St Regis wellness facility.

Called the Iridium Spa, the wellness area is home to eight treatment rooms, a steamroom, plunge pools, foot baths and separate male and female relaxation lounges. The space is designed to connect guests with nature by bringing the lush outdoors inside with treatments inspired by ancient practices and featuring local ingredients.

Treatment highlights range from Ayurvedic rituals to massage lessons, as well as a selection of couple’s experiences, hair and scalp treatments, scrubs, facials, wraps and paraffin hand rituals.

Signature rituals include the 90-minute Secret Garden journey (MXN 7,700, US$417, £341, €388) which sees guests hand-select ingredients from the hotel’s garden to personalise a body scrub and mask – as well as a Celestial Energy treatment inspired by Mayan cosmology. Priced at MXN 8,500 (US$460, £377, €428), this 90-minute ritual incorporates herbal cleansing, hot stones energised under the moon and stars and aromatherapy based on the phase of the moon.

Beauty services for makeup, hair and nails are also available at the hotel’s salon, plus guests have access to a fitness centre decked out with an outdoor yoga platform as well as cardio and strength-training equipment.

Owned by Grupo Alhel, St. Regis Kanai marks the third destination in St. Regis’ Mexican portfolio, joining its Mexico City and Punta Mita locations.

Built from white concrete and reflective semi-transparent crystal, the new resort has a striking circular exterior design inspired by the geometry of the local mangroves and the constellation Pleiades – known as the celestial birthplace of the Mayans.

The destination was brought to life by Mexican architectural firm Edmonds International with interiors by Chapi Chapo Design.

St. Regis has plans to further expand its presence in Mexico in 2023 with the launch of St. Regis Los Cabos Resort. The property will open with 120 rooms and 60 residences, as well as a luxury spa, golf course, beach club and three dining experiences.

The bigger picture

St. Regis Kanai is the second property to open within the new 680-acre Mexican multi-resort complex named Kanai.

Kanai is a gated community nestled among a jungle and mangrove reserve that’s been designed to respect its natural surroundings and take up only nine per cent of the location once finished.

Expected to be completed in 2025, Kanai will encompass four luxury hotels and a selection of branded residences.

The first hotel in the complex opened in 2022, Etéreo Auberge Resorts Collection, complete with a luxury wellness sanctuary inspired by Mayan mysticism.

The third 180-room property has been confirmed as an Edition. The Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai is anticipated to open in Q2/3 of this year, complete with a destination spa, and six food and beverage outlets including a signature restaurant, pool bar and beach club.

The fourth hotel operator is yet to be announced.