Palmaïa - The House of AïA

We stayed at Palmaïa – The House of AïA for a few nights after time in Mexico City, and it ended up being exactly what we needed. What I appreciated most is that it never felt frantic or overwhelming, which can sometimes happen at larger resorts. Palmaïa feels calm and contained, it didn’t feel busy or impersonal while we were there. The food was a real highlight. Everything we ate was plant-based, and the quality and variety were consistently excellent. It didn’t feel repetitive, and it never felt like vegan food was an afterthought. From very casual beach tacos to more refined dinners, we ate well every single day. Service was warm and low-key rather than overly polished. Having a concierge available by WhatsApp was genuinely helpful, but it never felt intrusive. We also liked that there’s a lot of wellness programming available, but absolutely no pressure to participate — you can dip in or ignore it entirely. The spa is beautiful and very peaceful (though expensive). The setting alone — surrounded by jungle and water — makes it feel special. This isn’t a loud, party-style resort. It’s better suited to people who want to slow down, rest, and enjoy good food in a relaxed setting. We left feeling genuinely refreshed, which isn’t something I can say about many resort stays.

Our first stay at Palmaïa was truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, everything felt intentional, relaxing and gorgeously designed. Our room was absolutely gorgeous! It was clean, quiet, and the perfect sanctuary after full days in the sun. The entire property is lush and stunning, with a quiet and relaxing beach that we never wanted to leave. We loved spotting monkeys, sereques, iguanas and coatis during our explorations. I’ve never felt so immersed in or connected to nature during a resort vacation before. The food was … simply incredible. Every meal made us feel satisfied and energized, and we came home actually wanting to make changes to keep that feeling going. It was such a lovely change that healthy food and mocktails were the norm, and not the exception! We visited Plantissa café every single day for soy lattes, and that protein waffle was out of this world. A very special thank you to Roxy, our yoga instructor, whose classes were grounding and beautiful. We were able to do the cacao ceremony and the gratitude ceremony while visiting, and would highly recommend both! And our incredible nomadic guides, Kassandra and Andres, made our stay feel personal and thoughtful in every way. We had some requests during our stay (more water/drinks in our room, changing restaurant reservations, etc.) and they always handled everything perfectly and never made us feel like a hassle. (Communication via whatsapp is a great tool!) What stood out most, though, was the kindness. Every single person we encountered was genuinely warm and welcoming. Even the landscapers and groundskeepers, who didn’t always speak much English, always smiled and said hello. That kind of energy makes a place unforgettable. We’re now back home to several feet of snow and still talking about Palmaïa every day. We’re already planning our return next year. Thank you to everyone there for such a magical birthday vacation!

One of the most beautiful stays in Mexico, we didn’t want to leave! Everything from the service to the food to the wellness experiences to the grounds was absolutely perfect. We went for our baby moon and it was the perfect tranquil and relaxing reset we needed. My husband and I both aren’t vegan and it was the best food we’ve had while on vacation to date. Definitely book the trip!

This resort is a dream come true! Nestled between the jungle and the ocean, it’s an ideal location. Everything was quite obviously meticulously designed and the resulting vibe is phenomenal. It is so peaceful and relaxing, never feels crowded. The staff is fantastic as well!! We loved every minute of our time there and already plan on going back!

My friends and I came here to experience, peace, and relaxation and it exceeded our expectations. All the classes we attended were so peaceful, being out in nature was exactly what I needed, the scents in the variety of buildings were very pleasing. Many people served us above and beyond, but you’re a few I wanted to point out. Arturo was excellent at Su casa. Angel taught the body movement classes as well as the dance and move and several other exercise classes. He is phenomenal and highly recommend any of his classes. Andreas and Kassandra were our nomad guides and anything we needed they made it possible for us during our four nights day. Oscar drove us around in the cart several times and was pleasant and kind and really appreciated him. I wish I remember everybody else’s names, but we had such a great experience. I will definitely be back next year. I can’t go without mentioning the high-quality food. Being a vegan and gluten-free is difficult for me at times and I rarely get to eat any desserts. I thoroughly enjoyed every single meal at every restaurant. They were the highest quality food that I’ve experienced and living in DC I have had very good food as well as other cities and countries I visited.

A True Wellness Paradise Where Luxury Meets Genuine Health! Palmaia has completely redefined what a luxury hotel can be. From the moment we arrived, we knew this was something special. Every suite offers breathtaking views and we truly enjoyed taking dips in the turquoise Caribbean Sea that's footsteps from every room! What sets Palmaia apart is their unwavering commitment to wellness without compromise. NO seed oils, NO processed sugars, and NO questionable ingredients! Just pure, high-quality cuisine that actually nourishes you. With 6 diverse restaurant settings, every meal was a wonderful adventure for both our palates and our wellbeing. My stomach has never been happier! The wellness and fitness offerings are truly unique, you won't find anything like the Palmaia programming at chain luxury hotels. The private cenotes on property and the exceptional Atlantis spa add to the magic. But what makes Palmaia unforgettable is the heart and soul that the owner Alex has poured into every detail. You can genuinely feel the care and positive intention in everything. The service and hospitality are second to none. My husband and I plan to return, not just for the extraordinary food and facilities, but because Palmaia is pioneering a new standard for how hotels should operate. This is the future of luxury hospitality, and we're grateful to have experienced it.

We have just returned after a week at Palmaïa - The House of AïA in Playa del Carmen, Mexico and I thought I’d write a review. We booked with TUI and whilst it is a 5* / on the pricier side we absolutely loved it and felt it was worth it as it included our flights and hotel stay (we found it cheaper booking the package holiday rather than paying for flights and hotel separately but we did go in peak season) It is an all inclusive, wellness resort with all menus plant based. You can add on dairy or meat if you wish but it meant everything was vegan straight away which was amazing for us as a vegan couple. We spoke to other guests there who weren’t vegan and they loved all the food too! The food was incredible, the fluffiest pancakes for breakfast, tomato tartar at the Mediterranean restaurant, vegan sushi, scrambled tofu, matcha waffles and of course the seitan burritos at the taco truck. They have incredible cocktail menus (standard without alcohol but you can add alcohol as well if you wish.) Room service is completely free with a full menu, the Palmaia burger was insane! The resort itself was beautiful, a great balance between sea and jungle. The service was excellent, your usual 5* anything is possible service which was fab and you get your own “nomadic guide” concierge who you can WhatsApp day and night for anything. Special shout outs to Wendy at Su Casa, Dany at the taco truck, Abraham on the beach and Alexander at Ume restaurant ⭐ all the staff we encountered were friendly and we loved how they always checked for dietary requirements or allergies too! There are so many activities on each day (everything free of charge apart from the spa or an external excursion). We did morning yoga, sound baths, watercolour painting class, bread making class (called fermentation class), cacao ceremony, all amazing! The highlight of staying here was the nature. We saw spider monkeys whilst walking to dinner, a grass snake , coatis, agoutis, brown pelicans diving into the water, vultures, mockingbirds etc to name a few! Highly recommend this hotel if you are looking for a 5* all inclusive holiday surrounded by beautiful beaches and the jungle We have been lucky to travel around the world staying in stunning resorts but this place for us was the best in our opinion! We can’t wait to go back

I came here with my 2 sisters to celebrate my 40th birthday and we were just blown away by this place. We wanted a peaceful retreat that didn’t have the party scene and huge crowds. We arrived late in the evening and once settled in, I read the bio of the owner and wow - I knew we found the right place!The outdoor decks and studio spaces were beautiful. The food was outstanding, the spa was otherworldly, and the classes were exceptional. We happened to come during a cold front and it didn’t matter! Shoutout to Rossana for a beautiful breathwork meditation class that we will never forget, Oscar and Karen for being helpful guides throughout our stay, and all the other staff who were so friendly. Thanks to all who care for this beautiful oasis. We will definitely be back! Susan, Lizzy and MC