Obscured by a tropical canopy and giant palms, an unassuming entrance leads to the serene Maroma. Blissfully removed from neighbouring hotspots of Cancun and Tulum, 200 acres of jungle and coconut plantations encase the white sand beach, hiding this quiet gem. The feeling is that of being a privileged guest in a charming Mayan private home – exquisitely finished with Mexican tiles, local art and handcrafted touches.

Every room has a terrace slung with places for daily siestas, which set the scene for the pace expected here. It’s the kind of bolthole you come to just to loll by one of three pools, sample fresh ceviche paired with one of over 100 tequilas, and try the farm-to-(spa) table action at Maroma Spa by Guerlain – where honey harvested from native Melipona bees and a mud bar with four different types of remedies are used for local healing techniques. That’s not to say that this can’t be an explorer’s paradise. What with the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (the world’s second largest) accessed right off the shore, treks through dense jungle to the remains of a lost civilization and trips to the UNESCO ecological biosphere of Sian Kaan.