Many vacationers who love all-inclusive resorts go for the opportunity to eat and drink with impunity (or perceived impunity until your clothes feel a bit more snug when you get back home). Most resorts in Mexico will gladly give you your fill of burgers, tacos, pizza, etc., but what if you want something different? What if you want to skip the fast food options to save time from cooking after a hard day’s work? What if you want to reconnect with yourself instead of spending your vacation in the more mindless fashion of eat, drink, pool and beach time, drink some more, and repeat?
Have I got the resort for you. Palmaïa The House of AïA is a wellness resort with a vegan emphasis when it comes to food choices. That doesn’t mean guests cannot get meat as protein, or they are stuck with water or green juice drinks only…guests can add non-vegan choices to their dining options and they can order alcoholic drinks as well. So no, it’s not for hard core vegans who don’t want to be around this type of food or drink choice, nor is it for those who want a completely quiet and secluded wellness getaway. Instead it offers a respite where guests can get what they want out of their vacation while still enjoying their time away while having some fun and eating in a more healthy manner.
This resort is located in a gated community south of Playa del Carmen which has access to one of the more beautiful beaches in the Riviera Maya–Playacar Beach is one of my favorite beach areas with its lengthy stretch of walkable sand, smooth ocean entry at any point, and wide resort beach areas which allow plenty of room for beach fun. The resort is on the smaller side with only 234 suites, most of which have ocean views. They even have swim-up suites for those who enjoy this type of room category (and I am definitely one of those types of vacationers).
The resort offers 4 “Houses” or areas of emphasis:
- The House of the Nourishing Biome. That’s fancy speak for food at this resort. Minimal processed/packaged foods, no refined sugars, no refined seed oils, vegetables used are from organic farms, and breads are made with unbleached natural flours and sourdough starters.
- The House of the Architects of Life. These would be the resort activities centered around the mind, body, as well as incorporating rituals. This would include classes like watercolor painting, different types of yoga, and gratitude rituals.
- The House of the Rituals of Sound. The resort tries to utilize the energy and frequency of sound as a means for healing–the resort schedules casual gatherings which highlight natural instruments, DJ’s that play more “organic rhythms” (I’m assuming this means they won’t be playing songs you are used to hearing at resorts), and I would imagine this means singing bowl experiences as well. (If you don’t know what a singing bowl is, it’s when you use a soft mallet or other object to gently circle the edges of a bowl or bell to create sound that gets louder as you circle. It’s pretty cool, actually, and if you do it long enough you get into a meditative state).
- The House of AïA. This is the resort experience itself which tries to foster an environment of “peace, compassion, and patience” which allows each guest to explore and foster their wellness experience.
Has anyone ever stayed here before? It sounds like an interesting experience, I wouldn’t mind staying here and try to totally relax, something my very busy schedule does not typically allow. Does that mean I would also book a spa treatment? Probably not (anyone who knows me knows that I am not a spa person but I do enjoy some hydrotherapy aspects of spas), but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the other aspects of the property like visiting their on-site cenote.
Below is a video done by That Vegan Babe which highlights some of the most visible aspects of the property. Did I mention this is a family-friendly resort? It’s even got a small water park for younger children. Check it out; what do you think? Have you ever stayed at a wellness resort before, or would you stay at this one?