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Feeling invigorated as we docked on the island, we were ready to celebrate Almare’s first anniversary. It was a true welcome, with complimentary cocktails, warm smiles, and a full view of the 109-room resort. Guided down the pier into the open-air lobby for check-in, we met Abril, who told us more about the importance of the hotel’s Mayan heritage. 

Mayan culture runs through every detail, from the underfoot feel of the Mayan calendar in the lobby to the ingredients featured on the restaurant menus. Shortly after a quick introduction to our room, it was time for dinner at BOGA, an haute cuisine restaurant and champion of innovative flavour combinations. Even if initially intimidated by the foreign ingredients, we enjoyed a culinary adventure far away from our day-to-day meals. An exhaustion-induced early night capped off the day, ready for an early start filled with a flurry of classic resort activities.

Day two opened with a paddleboarding lesson followed by hydrotherapy and kayaking, all back-to-back. Feeling well exercised and very ready to eat, we walked to The Breeze Pool Bar for lunch, in sharp contrast to the previous night’s cuisine, this meal was a relaxed selection of burgers, tacos and fries. Then after lunch, we walked to Botanik, the on-site café, for a coffee and a piece of rich opera cake to satisfy our cravings. 

Nicely fed from the all-inclusive offerings, we sat by the pool to let our food settle before taking a dip in the water. Nearly running out of sunscreen and risking a sunburn, the cool water was a relief from the heat. 

A sunset dinner at Seasalt rooftop was next on the itinerary, offering us a 360-degree view of the ocean, beaches and island foliage. Night two was yet another culinary highlight offered at Almare. To close out the night, we wandered to the beach for the official beginning of the first anniversary celebration with a drinks reception and canapés.

Our final full day opened with an early morning to watch the sunrise. Completely cloud covered, it was a somewhat disappointing start to the day. Onwards and upwards, it was then time to return to BOGA for breakfast. An enjoyable ensemble of Mayan inspired takes on iconic pastry and brunch options followed.

The main bulk of the day was all about exploring the local culture, in stark contrast to our time at the resort, the town was a real insight into the modest life of Isla Mujeres. So, unlike the fast-paced urban culture, island life seemed stripped back and personal.

The grand finale to our trip came in the evening, with the first anniversary party. The highlight of the party and potentially even the whole trip was the live tuna breakdown by chef Yusuke Kogure. The 10-minute experience was an awe-inspiring show of skill, and having the opportunity to eat the tuna after was a perfect finish to a memorable island weekend.

Sunday’s boat ride off Isla Mujeres was bittersweet; the ocean was as beautiful as on Friday, but the cold of winter loomed over us. A few hours later, on the way back to New York and tucked away on the last row of the plane right next to the bathroom, we dreamt of our next trip to the quiet bliss of Almare.