On a recent visit to the Andaz resort at Mayakoba, I found approximately 176 vacation activities to partake in. While I would encourage everyone to complete all 176 of these activities, most people will not have time to accomplish such a vast number of undertakings. To help you sort through the Mayakoba madness, I have compiled a list of my favorite 6 activities.
#6 - Boat Ride
What makes Mayakoba so unique is the lagoon and the surrounding mangrove forest on the property. Slithering its way through hotels, homes, and the golf course, the lagoon provides an ecosystem for a wide range of fauna. Mexican wood turtles, deer, iguanas, crocodiles, and margays (spotted, wild cats) are amongst the most notable. The boat ride around the lagoon will give you the full experience.
Local crocodile gives me the stink eye.
After a top tier brunch at Cocina Milagro, you can catch your boat at the local dock and take off on a voyage that lasts about 40 minutes. In addition to the wildlife, you will be treated to views of the surrounding real estate and magnificent flora.
We encountered a brief rain storm mid boat ride that only enhanced the ambiance.
Coatis, also known as coatimundis, are members of the family Procyonidae in the genera Nasua and Nasuella. Here they search for Pro V1’s.
A female black iguana suns herself on a rock.
#5 - Play Golf at the Riviera Maya Golf Club
Just a quick taxi ride down the road is one of the Riviera Maya’s finest golf courses. PGA Riviera Maya is a Robert Trent Jones II design that is sure to satisfy even the most seasoned golf traveler.
The signature 15th hole plays 245 freaking yards from the back tees. A well struck tee shot is required just to avoid the water.
High above PGA Riviera Maya
My favorite hole on the property is the unique 6th hole. Even after a good drive the golfer will still be challenged with a tough approach shot. A large cave extends out from underneath the green and makes missing the green to the left certain disaster. I blasted mine far right, punched out of the woods and managed to make a clutch bogey.
There is also a fun little par 3 course on the property that is perfect for beginners and those looking for a quick 9.
The view behind the par 5 14th green.
#4 - Beach Party
There are a number of different ways to achieve beach party status when visiting Mayakoba. The first one is the most obvious, head out the front door and walk down to the beach. The service and sea side experience at the Andaz resort are second to none.
If you don’t want to expend the effort necessary to make it to the beach, you can just step outside onto your balcony and enjoy the benefits of your private hot tub. I did some research and since it’s not technically a “Hot Tub Time Machine” you’re just gonna have to live with the fact that you never asked out Jessica Johnson from Junior year chemistry class.
My kind of beach party is the type of beach party that you can find right on the edge of the golf course. The 15th hole at El Camaleón provides the ideal experience. Just shank your 8 iron onto the beach, throw down a towel and let the beach party pop off.
After the beach party I like to hit up one of Mayakoba’s 25 “dining experiences.” The food at Mayakoba is some of the best that I have encountered in my travels. I will be talking about the Octopus at Casa Amate for years to come.
“This food would impress even the great Chef Boyardee.”
#3 - Explore Cenotes
A cenote is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater. Cenotes were commonly used for water supplies by the ancient Maya, and occasionally for sacrificial offerings. The good news is that you don’t have to bring any sacrificial lambs in order to explore the cenotes of Mexico.
There is a cenote on the 7th hole at El Camaleón that has been converted into a fairway bunker.
There are 1000’s of cenotes spread across the Yucatan Peninsula but cenote “el Burrodromo” is just off of the jungle path at Andaz Mayakoba. I would highly recommend checking out this cenote. Warning: there are bats.
“Esta es una cueva de murciélagos radical”
My other two favorite cenotes come on the golf course. The 7th hole at Mayakoba Camaleón features the infamous cenote bunker and the 6th hole at Riviera Maya features a cenote to the left of the green.
Guaranteed tragedy left of 6 green
The top down view of the cenote bunker on 7
#2 - Visit Puebla Bonita
Mayakoba has a strong jungle town vibe, so it makes natural sense that there is a town square. Fortunately, the bustling hub of El Pueblito is there to make sure that all of your retail, entertainment and dining needs are satisfied. It is truly the Mexico City of Mayakoba.
An unusually empty El Pueblito
There is shopping, an arcade, and even a candy store that will keep all members of your party content. I opted for the triple play… Lunch at the Burger Shop, Sweet Spot for ice cream, and a Pop-A-Shot finale at the arcade.
$10 gets you unlimited games at the arcade.
You can pray for birdies at the local chapel.
Browse a wide array of handmade souvenirs crafted by local artisans at El Pueblito.
#1 - Play Mayakoba Camaleón
For me, the #1 reason to visit Mayakoba is to play the El Camaleón course. The golf course made history in 2007 when it hosted the first ever PGA TOUR event to be contested outside of the United States and Canada. With a 2022 purse of $7.2 million The World Wide Technology Championship is the most lucrative golf tournament in Latin America.
The golf course has certainly gained some notoriety from its annual appearance on the PGA Tour, but this Greg Norman designed golf course is also incredibly fun to play. The key is to make sure that you keep your tee ball on the playing field. As soon as you become wild enough to enter the mangroves, it is game over.
A deer photobombs my photograph from #17 tee box.
The green on 17
Most golfers will be excited to learn that El Camaleón reaches the Caribbean Sea on the front and back nine with a pair of scenic sea side par 3’s. However, holes like 2,6 and 17 flow seamlessly along the lagoon and really tie the course together.
The view back on 15 from above the Caribbean
The 10th green and 11 tee box
Beginning with the ocean front 15th hole, the finishing stretch at Mayakoba is perhaps the strongest series of golf holes on the course. A stout 18th hole wraps up the action directly in front of the picturesque Koba Club House.
The strong 2nd hole
The GM of Andaz Resort, Pascal Dupuis, gets up and down on 18.
As we exit this list of my 6 favorite things to do in Mayakoba, I leave you with my favorite spot on the property... The delicious 15th. To experience the warm ocean breeze with your own senses, your journey starts here.