Karisma Hotels & Resorts is opening a new wellness-focused resort this January, Xolumado Inspiration Village. At the company’s recent Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultants Awards (GIVC Awards), which took place December 5 – 8 at the El Dorado Royale Riviera Maya, a Spa Resort by Karisma, Travel Agent attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new property and got to take a tour to learn what agents and their clients can expect.
Set away from the beach between Karisma’s El Dorado and Generations Riviera Maya resorts, Xolumado is aimed squarely at the wellness market. “We’re envisioning doing yoga retreats and events hosted by spiritual influencers,” Kelly Poling, executive vice president of marketing at Karisma Hotels & Resorts, tells Travel Agent. “We think there’s an American market for this, but also a local Mexico market as well.”
Xolumado consists of 2.5 acres of Riviera Maya jungle filled with meandering, intertwining paths, mangroves and 41 cottages. Touches of Buddhist culture are present throughout in statues set along the paths and tucked next to the cottages. The design of the cottages themselves draws inspiration from the natural surroundings, as well as Mexico’s culture. Eye-catching tile is used extensively in the interiors, as well as unique touches like a colored glass chandelier. There are three suite categories: the Serenity Suite, which has an open terrace and a palm-thatch roof; the Zen Garden Suite, which has its own private balcony; and the top-tier Tranquility Suite, which consists of two adjoining Zen Garden Suites. In addition to the cottages, there are also 20 standard Garden View Rooms with what struck us as a somewhat simpler, more modern design.
On-property amenities include one pool, access to beach cabanas and the Xolumado Restaurant BBQ & Bar, which also offers al fresco dining. As part of Karisma’s Gourmet Inclusive Experience, a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner, premium wines and liquors, non-alcoholic beverages and fresh tropical fruit juices are all included, with many ingredients sourced from the company’s nearby hydroponic greenhouse. In addition to the fare on offer at the restaurant, there will also be carts with tamales and paletas – Mexican ice cream pops – throughout the property.
Activities planned at the resort include daily yoga and meditation, Shh Experience sound healing sessions, outdoor breathing exercises massage lessons, Spanish and Mayan classes, Mexican cooking classes, tequila and mezcal tastings, movie nights in the jungle, pottery painting, diving, wine pairing and painting seminars and tours of the greenhouse. Mexican and jazz music will also be played daily in the jungle.
Nearby will be the Bonanza Ranch, which can offer group or private horseback rides through the jungle to a cenote. Xolumado guests will also have access to the neighboring, beachfront Generations Riviera Maya, which has five restaurants, three bars and a number of family-friendly amenities.
For agents booking destination weddings, there will be on-site ceremony locations surrounded by the water and the jungle, including Shiddartha Plaza, Amstar Plaza or Buddha Plaza, as well as a beachfront chapel.
Visit www.karismahotels.com
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