Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita
Paradise for the Beautiful Woman
What amazed us most?
Impeccable service and attention to detail from every member of staff. You don’t need to ask twice or remind anyone about your request. Waiters in the hotel address you by name every morning and bring your favourite dishes without a word being exchanged. A natural mini-zoo. A lot of different animals live in this boutique resort and in the jungles surrounding it: parrots, peacocks, lizards, iguanas, raccoons and even... a crocodile! We just saw a sign but locals say there is one small creature in the jungle but he doesn’t like to get close to people - which is actually good.
Why should you come here?
To experience the unique concept of this boutique resort focused on wellness, serenity and romance, as well as social and environmental responsibility. To wake up every morning in your ocean-front suite to the sound of waves and birdsong. To join the unique and exceptional traditional Mayan ritual, Temazcal, which takes place in the hotel’s spa and is conducted by an authentic local Shaman.
THE MOST
special thing about the hotel
Without a doubt this is one of the best hotels in Mexico and not only in our humble opinion: for the 11th consecutive year, Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita has earned the AAA Five Diamond Award. Only 100 out of 33,000 AAA-rated hotels in the world – and just five in all of Mexico – have received this prestigious award.
We fell in love with this resort even before entering the gates. We were met at Cancun Airport by the smiling and very charming hotel driver, Fernando, who escorted us to an air- conditioned van and made our day with refreshing towels, chilled water and champagne. It was a real life-saver after an 11-hour flight as we were dead on our feet. Our relaxation had begun!
The hotel is called “Paraiso de la Bonita” and is part of the Zoetry chain. The name completely fits the property. This boutique resort is a real piece of heaven, for both people and animals. It was built 15 years ago by a Mexican architect, Carlos Gosselin Maurel, as a gift to his beautiful wife. The name of the resort literally means “Paradise for the beautiful lady”. Mr. Gosselin designed this place like a traditional Mexican hacienda and decorated it luxuriously with rare and antique pieces he brought from all over the world: Indonesia, Africa, America, etc.
The owner is a passionate traveller and never comes back without new treasures for his lovely hacienda, where he spends a lot of time all year round. For example, Carlos bought the two mysterious statues by the resort’s entrance from Thailand. They are not just for decoration, but to protect every guest entering the hotel. These are two 17th century chimeras with the body of a goat, a lion’s head and a snake’s tail – they are called “Hope” and “Prosperity” and they were used to protect ancient royal palaces in Thailand. Now they guard Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita and whenever a guest enters the resort, “hope” and “prosperity” accompany them during their stay. One more treasure we found entering the hotel – the lamps over the chimeras. They are very rare replicas from the Chrysler Building in New York and very costly.
Every suite is individually decorated with treasures from around the globe and they don’t have numbers, just the names of the different countries and cities. For example, Kenya, Rhodes, Peru, etc. It’s very intimate and easy to remember.
The standard all-inclusive programme is upgraded here to Endless Privileges and includes a sunset Catamaran trip, an excursion to the beautiful island of Isla Mujeres by boat, à la carte breakfast, gourmet dinners, in-suite dining around the clock, Bulgari toiletries in the rooms, a complimentary handmade beach bag, unlimited worldwide calls, complimentary greens fees at a nearby golf course, private shuttle to and from Cancun airport and even laundry. The latter is an especially nice bonus. It allows you to come home with a suitcase full of clean dresses and t-shirts.
One more important thing about Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita – there are only 90 suites in the hotel. All of them are ocean-front, spacious and have a terrace (some of them with a plunge pool), where you can enjoy majestic Caribbean Sea views or have dinner under the stars. Because there are just 90 rooms in the resort, you have a lot of comfort - the waiters and management know you by name and greet you personally during breakfast; there’s never a shortage of beach chairs or cabanas on the beach or by the swimming pool. All of the drinks and food are served to you anywhere on the hotel’s property. I am not all-inclusive lover, but such attention to detail made me change my mind.
One more thing that is unusual for all-inclusive resorts – the food here is really exceptional. You won’t find a traditional buffet in this resort, only freshly-cooked dishes of your choice, even for breakfast, which is absolutely delightful. I hate running around the dining hall in the morning with a tray. I prefer to relax and enjoy my breakfast and company with a cup of fresh coffee or a wellness smoothie. And Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita let me do just that.
During the day you can go to the restaurant which suits every taste: a grill tavern by the beach with fresh seafood and meat, a Sushi bar with traditional ceviche (fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices and spices), Kaax with Mexican gourmet cuisine and, of course, the pearl of the restaurants - La Canoa with an AAA Four Diamond award and a must here.
And don’t forget to meet Makita the parrot! No trip to Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita is complete without meeting its long-time resident. Makita speaks Spanish and English and greets guests in the morning with a traditional “Hola” or “Hello”. There are about 20 different parrots in the resort, but Makita is very special. She was found here in Zoetry
Paraiso de la Bonita with a broken wing after a hurricane. Marcus, the bird man who has been taking care of the birds in the hotel for the last ten years, saved her life and now Makita is a local star. She loves to pose for the cameras and even has her own Facebook page. She is the probably the only parrot in the world whose profile you can find on a social network.
We spend a week in this paradise and now we understand why Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita is a regular choice for rich and famous people from Mexico, and American movie stars such as Teri Hatcher from “Desperate Housewives”, Cynthia Nixon from “Sex and the City”, Dustin Hoffman and many other celebrities.
HOW TO MAKE
the most of your stay
*If you are seeking romance and extra privacy, book a Lovers Suite with an extra-large terrace, plunge pool and discreet outdoor shower. To tell the truth, all of the bathrooms in the hotel are amazing: with spa-like marble baths with a Roman-style tub for two and a separate shower.
*Enquire about having an intimate dinner served pier-side or on the beach and other romantic locations. A private table, private servers and intimate moments with your beloved – this really is a must.
*The hotel offers a lot of activities ranging from bracelet making to tequila tasting and Spanish language or cooking lessons. You can take yoga lessons from famous yoga instructors on the pier. It is very romantic and refreshing in the mornings.
*If you want to have fun or to try other gourmet options, apply for your free pass to other participating resorts (Dreams, Now, Sunscape and Breathless). The “Sip, Savour and See” programme allows you to enjoy restaurants, discos, and live entertainment in the evenings at nearby hotels. You have to pay just for the taxi.
*Experience the healing and restorative ceremony of Temazcal, a traditional Mayan ritual conducted by an authentic Shaman. This ceremony is healing and restorative and cleanses the body and soul.
WHAT ELSE
is there to do and see
Explore the Sian Ka’an biosphere, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Visit Chichen Itza – a world-famous complex of Mayan ruins with a massive step pyramid - one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Sail aboard “La Bonita’, the private 4-cabin catamaran or dive the world’s second largest reef.
You can also take a taxi to the popular tourist area Playa del Carmen.
HOW TO
get here
Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita is perfectly situated along Mexico’s famous Riviera Maya just 20 minutes from Cancun International Airport. A private shuttle with a smiling and very charming hotel driver in bright yellow trousers and a straw hat will be waiting for you upon your arrival.
