Ventus Ha’ at Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort is a 150-suite all-inclusive built into the Mayan jungle at Puerto Morelos, immersed in mangroves and endemic fauna. Its name pairs the Latin word for wind with the Mayan word for water, and the design follows through: base suites run up to 575 square feet with an extra-large balcony, a hammock, a marble bathroom, and Murphy wall-beds that fold the living space open. Ten categories climb from the Luxury King with Bathtub to a 2,854 square foot Three Bedroom Suite. Two main pools have a children’s area, two more areas are adults-only, and the rooftops at ruf and Na.Ha add sky-level pools with Balinese beds, with telescopes at ruf.

The kitchen is the reason people rebook. Kobo runs an Asian-fusion teppanyaki dinner and stages the ronqueo, the ceremonial slicing of a whole Bluefin tuna. A’akat cooks Ibero-American plates over open firewood all day. Waves pours coffee and pastries in the lobby, Senses and Kaax work the pool, and Exchange Privileges open the whole El Cid Riviera Maya complex, more than 31 places to eat and drink, at no extra charge. El Cocay Spa runs Mayan-technique treatments and a hydrotherapy circuit, two pickleball courts opened recently, and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef sits roughly 500 metres off Puerto Morelos, with the village and its leaning lighthouse just up the road.