Forgot what you know about all-inclusive resorts. This changed my mind in Playa del Carmen.

Food at most all-inclusive resorts on the Riviera Maya in Mexico is often boring, you have forgotten your favorite meals when you have forgotten your favorite meals.

But it’s been months since I left Palmaïa, a house in Aïa, an all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, and I’m still thinking about waffles. Green and blue from Spirulina and matcha, topped with pureed pumpkin seeds and chopped rich fruits, they nourish and indulge. I ate them on the last morning of my stay because a large iguana kept looking at the debris and the rain made my time on the beach very obvious. Breakfast is a small moment, but captures everything different from the resort.

Palmaïa is not your typical all-inclusive resort, and that’s the point. From food to philosophy, everything about the property is designed to make people feel more intentional, nourishing, and more connected than what you find in most beachfront resorts in the area. This is a healthy destination to woo-woo (or grounded) like you want. Contrary to its earthy style and jungle environment, it doesn’t skip luxury.

That’s what makes Palmaïa unique and why Riviera Maya’s next all-inclusive holiday is considered.

All-inclusive meal

Palmea has been on my radar since I heard about the vegan all-inclusive resort that opened in Mexico five years ago. In just one destination, I need to explain my dietary restrictions over and over in most resorts (and there is always a chance that I will end up with chicken in the enchilada). Just know I can eat Anything On the menu without having to explain yourself is enough reason to visit (although stay away from it) The only one Things to make Palmaïa worth traveling).

By the time I visited, Palmaïa officially began identifying it as “plant-based” rather than strictly vegan, a shift that reflects founder Alex Ferri’s permanent development belief in health and balance. The resort’s cooking program is guided by the so-called “nutrition biome” approach that promises no use of seed oil, minimal processing ingredients, and a focus on organic produce where possible.

The idea is that by depriving the most harmful parts of the modern diet, your food is deeply nourished, unlike foods in other inclusive resorts. Think about health without sacrificing flavor or entertainment. After all, this is a resort with its own vegetarian taco truck, parked on the beach permanently. That’s just one of a few places you can eat. Palmaïa also offers an all-day all-day beachfront restaurant, Asian-style dinner locations, elevated Mexican concept, an air-conditioned cafe filled with spaces, complete with delicious pastries, and 24-hour room service as you are reluctant to change from your robe.

Finally, the resort has over 250 dishes spun around its venue, so the meal is no way Feeling repetitive – There is no sad salad anywhere. Some of my favorite bites on Palmatiana include margarita pizza and cashew cheese topped with sour bread, meatless Kahn Asada tacos, spicy and spicy salsa, grilled mushroom tortillas, vegan nachos and molletes (classic open-air sandwich sandwich with refreshed beans, pico de Gallo and Cheese).

This kind of health is not like a compromise. Even now, a few months later, I’d love to book a return ticket for the matcha waffles. This illustrates the possibility that it is possible when an all-inclusive resort doesn’t treat food like an afterthought.

Luxury design won’t bother

The moment you walk in, most all-inclusive candy impress you with a lot of candy – the lobby, marble floors, chandeliers adorn desperately with crystals, trying to impress guests desperately.

There is nothing wrong with this (resort decoration should Makes you feel like a VIP). But Palmaïa takes a unique design approach, which is part of what makes it stand out from the ocean of all-inclusive resorts in the region. Rather than dazzle the grand guests, through the natural texture, minimalist lines and feel more like shelter than display, you can fit in a sense of calm.

This is not to say there are no amazing design elements. Scattered throughout the property are sculptures larger than life, including psychedelic mushrooms near the beach and an awakened female face designed to represent the spiritual muse of the resort Aïa. The latter was created by renowned artist Daniel Popper and added a mysterious focus that matches the atmosphere of Palmaïa.

Then there is the gorgeous tavern botanical garden, arguably the most modern space on the property. With floor to ceiling windows, luxurious green seats, arched doorways, wooden tables decorated with gold and tropical wallpaper, it feels like an oasis of design for slow breakfast and afternoon pastries.

The same aesthetic extends to guest suites, which are airy, open and subtle. Expect natural wood finishes, soft lighting, geometric textiles and calming green tones to echo the palette of the surrounding jungle. Independent soaking bathtub (my biggest ones once See at an all-inclusive resort! ) The spacious seating area makes the room feel more like a private retreat than a place to put down your luggage. And, if you are lucky enough to rate the Swimming Suite, your own pool is just a few steps away from sliding glass doors.

But overall, Palmaïa lets the setting talk to itself, and the design choices have a deep connection with its jungle-Kisses-the-sea location. Think about it: in the thatched hut on the beach, a driftwood altar full of semi-fusion candles, and a basket-like chandeliers hung in the dining room. This is where it makes it easy to let go – perhaps it’s the most luxurious feel of all.

Choose your own path to health

In the most all-encompassing resorts, “health” can translate into a symbolic yoga class at sunrise or a basic massage at a spa. Palmaïa takes a broader (frankly, more interesting) approach.

Each week, the resort offers over 54 different classes and rituals, led by a rotating cast of local guides. Almost all of this is part of an all-inclusive package, which makes it easy for you to say “yes” and you might hesitate to book if they come with a large surcharge.

During my five-day stay I tried about a dozen different experiences, including gentle yoga, intuitive perfume studio, painting classes by the beach and a sound that almost kept me sleeping on the mat. I also signed up for two additional events: a private soul reading conference and a Mezcal-centric spa treatment, which is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. Although not included as part of the packaging, they are fun enough to justify the surcharge.

But the beauty of Palmaïa is that health is not limited to the schedule. I find myself meditating in a bonsai greenhouse, biking in the jungle, biking in the jungle, biking in the jungle, and spending contemplation in thatched huts overlooking the sea. All of this helped me find my own pace of rest and reflection.

But the best part? The pressure to do anything is zero. You can fill the itinerary to the edge, or spend a day wandering barefoot and stop only when you call you. From your conditions, it is healthy and this freedom is its own recovery.

palmaïa not only chooses a packaging box should Yes – It quietly rewritten them quietly for the travelers they want, and what they want is deeper than the infinite margaritas and glitz-like hotel lobby. Come on the matcha waffles to stay with you and leave new expectations for an all-inclusive resort.