By Kellie Walton, Freelance Writer
At the end of July, a select group of MIT travel advisors came together in Riviera Maya to experience ultimate luxury at Etéreo, an Auberge Resorts Collection property. During the trip, the group was treated to high-touch service, incredible food, luxury accommodations and an all around fantastic time.
If you have clients heading to the Cancun/Riviera Maya area, Etéreo is an ultra-lux option that feels secluded and intimate, and is sure to be a premium experience for any traveler. Here’s how we spent our time on property.
Day One
Each MIT member was greeted at CUN with a private transfer, complete with bottled water, beer, treats from the property’s executive chef, and an iPad with property information to browse on the 45 minute ride to Riviera Maya. Once you arrive at the property’s front gate, the journey lasts another three kilometers through lush landscape until you reach the stunning grounds of Etéreo.
We explored the property at leisure before meeting as a group for site visits and a photography experience, where a professional snapped this stunning photo for us.
We enjoyed a welcome dinner at Che Che, a Japanese and Mexican hybrid restaurant with outdoor seating that offers stunning views of the property. The “Japex” tasting menu included things like crispy rice with Wagyu beef tartare, chipotle roasted mahi mahi and flan for dessert.
Day Two
Etéreo is passionate about creating experiences that make memories, and day two started off strong with a beachfront HIIT workout at 7 a.m., with an option to attend indoor yoga afterward. We enjoyed breakfast at leisure daily, with an incredible room service menu or seated option inside the property’s signature restaurant, Itzam.
We were each treated to a spa experience rooted in tranquility and Mayan tradition – it started with a cleansing ritual followed by an incredible 60-minute massage and access to the wellness circuit with a man made cenote at its center. The circuit included a sauna, steam room, clay room, sound experience and an outdoor hydrotherapy circuit.
After we all were sufficiently relaxed, we enjoyed an afternoon spent lounging poolside in a private cabana and a family-style lunch on the beach.
That evening, our group met for a Mexican wine tasting led by the property’s sommelier, where we sampled reds, whites and bubbles from varying regions in Mexico, learning more about the unique qualities and flavors found in Mexican wines.
From there, we headed to a stunning outdoor area for the Abuela Dinner, an incredible culinary experience where the property’s chefs prepare a family-style meal utilizing their own abuelas’ recipes. We enjoyed dishes like fresh catch, chicken with poblano and mole, mushrooms birria, and cactus salad. To cap our night, we enjoyed cocktails and conversation around Etéreo’s sunken fire pit.
Day Three
On our final full day at Etéreo, we began with a sunrise sound bath on one of the property’s suspended nets. After a beautifully meditative experience, we enjoyed breakfast at leisure before meeting at the beach for a careful combination of relaxation and adventure. Etéreo offers rentals onsite like paddle boards and kayaks, so we took full advantage by kayaking to a cenote just a few minutes off property. We donned our snorkel gear and explored the stunning Caribbean waters, which were filled with beautiful corals, fish, starfish and more.
Lunch was extra special because we were able to make it ourselves! We gathered in Itzam for a hands-on cooking class experience, where we made guacamole, ceviche, and tortillas from scratch while sipping yummy margaritas.
Our experience-filled day continued with a bracelet making class, where we carefully selected colored beads that represented varying energies – perfect souvenir friendship bracelets for our group!
As the grand finale for our perfect getaway, our group was treated to a coursed meal in a stunning waterfront setting. We enjoyed dishes like oysters, bone marrow, tacos, prawns, pork belly, and cauliflower puree.
Etéreo created an incredibly memorable experience for our group. The grounds were absolutely stunning and the staff was exemplary, and the plethora of onsite activities and experiences make this a “choose your own adventure” experience for luxury travelers. We were well loved, and we know your clients will be, too!