Palmaia, The House of AiA

We stayed at Palmaïa – The House of AïA for a few nights after time in Mexico City, and it ended up being exactly what we needed. What I appreciated most is that it never felt frantic or overwhelming, which can sometimes happen at larger resorts. Palmaïa feels calm and contained, it didn’t feel busy or impersonal while we were there. The food was a real highlight. Everything we ate was plant-based, and the quality and variety were consistently excellent. It didn’t feel repetitive, and it never felt like vegan food was an afterthought. From very casual beach tacos to more refined dinners, we ate well every single day. Service was warm and low-key rather than overly polished. Having a concierge available by WhatsApp was genuinely helpful, but it never felt intrusive. We also liked that there’s a lot of wellness programming available, but absolutely no pressure to participate — you can dip in or ignore it entirely. The spa is beautiful and very peaceful (though expensive). The setting alone — surrounded by jungle and water — makes it feel special. This isn’t a loud, party-style resort. It’s better suited to people who want to slow down, rest, and enjoy good food in a relaxed setting. We left feeling genuinely refreshed, which isn’t something I can say about many resort stays.

It has been almost a year since we stayed at Palmaïa with our family (six adults and children ages 1, 5, and 7), so this review is based on the best of my recollection. Overall, it was truly an amazing trip. I’ll start with the biggest highlight: the food. We mostly eat pescatarian (no shellfish) and vegetarian outside the home, so this resort’s plant-forward approach was extremely appealing. We were able to order almost anything on the menus, which made dining stress-free. There were still fish and protein options available, but the focus on vegetarian and vegan cuisine was refreshing. The quality was consistently very good, and some dishes were genuinely amazing. They did serve fish, and it was always very fresh and well prepared. One small note is that it tended to be the same type of fish across most of the restaurants. It would have been nice to see a little more variety, but given that this is a vegetarian-forward resort, it’s not something we can really complain about. Breakfast stood out as a favorite. It was always delicious, with fast and attentive service. The café was another highlight, offering great coffee and a variety of savory and sweet options. Our only complaint was the early closing time. It closed at 5 PM, and it would have been nice if it stayed open until at least 6:00 or 6:30—an early-evening coffee would have been perfect. The Asian/sushi restaurant was another standout. It offered creative vegetarian rolls along with very fresh fish. Across the resort, presentation and ingredient quality were consistently excellent. One downside to evening dining was the slow service. Because we were traveling with young children, we tended to eat earlier, and dinners often took much longer than ideal. Adults who are not in a rush will probably be fine, but families with young kids should expect leisurely meals. The drinks were very good. I only drink mocktails, and the only issue I noticed was that many of the same signature cocktails and mocktails appeared across all restaurants. It would have been fun if each restaurant had its own unique signature drinks. The taco truck was delicious, but very busy, and frequently ran out of popular items—especially the street corn, which was incredible. The fresh coconuts by the beach and pool were also a highlight, but they tended to run out early in the day. Service throughout the resort was excellent, and the property itself is beautiful. The grounds, rooms, and overall design were stunning. The cenotes were especially memorable and made for a refreshing, unique experience. Palmaïa offers a wide range of wellness activities, and the ones we attended—yoga, sound baths, and a painting class—were all very well done and enjoyable. The children’s play area was nice and seemed best suited for toddlers and younger kids (around ages 2–5). Our 5- and 7-year-old had little interest in it, but my wife and I were able to comfortably spend time there with our 1.5-year-old. While the environment was calm and peaceful, the women working in this area were not overly welcoming and rarely interacted with us unless we initiated conversation. One thing worth noting is that there was essentially no nightly entertainment for either adults or children. In the evenings, the only consistent option was a DJ at the beach bar who played music until around 11:00 PM. The music leaned heavily toward bass-heavy house/club music, which we did not find particularly inviting or relaxing. Live music—even something simple and acoustic—would have gone a long way and could really elevate the nighttime atmosphere without feeling out of place at this type of resort. Overall, Palmaïa is a beautiful, serene, wellness-focused resort with excellent food, thoughtful experiences, and outstanding surroundings. It’s a very calm atmosphere—which we enjoyed—but it may not be for everyone, especially families who prefer a more energetic or highly interactive resort style. One final note: I can’t take anything away from this resort based on a change that took effect after our stay, but it does appear they are no longer accepting children under the age of four. This was very disappointing to learn, and I’m sure many other young families feel the same way—especially those who hoped to return as their families grow. We will be traveling back to Playa del Carmen this February, and because of this new policy, we’ll be staying at the Grand Velas instead.

Great food. Great accommodations. Great service. I would definitely go back! Very quiet and peaceful! The most stress free experience I have ever had!

We just returned from another relaxing and restorative trip to Palmaia. There are so many things that we keep coming back…the beautiful design, peaceful atmosphere, yummy, healthy vegan food (you can get non- vegan food too), but it is the people that make our stay so enjoyable. From our incredible Nomads, Oscar and Karen, who went out of their way to make our stay as comfortable as possible, to Enrique, Debbie, Dany and Fernando on the beach, who made sure we stayed hydrated and well fed. And the staff in the restaurants like Jacky, Sergio, Elizabeth and Karla, who are now becoming more like friends. The staff at Palmaia are so welcoming and warm and make the resort feel like home away from home. We travel with our two children who love going to Awen (the Waldorf inspired kids club). Claudia, Roxy, Diana and Sarah went out of their way to make are children feel comfortable. The kids made some beautiful crafts with them which we will cherish as heartfelt souvenirs. My son and I also take advantage of the many classes they offer. We start our day with yoga. This week it was mostly Angel teaching the yoga classes. My son particularly liked this as at home there are not many men who teach and practice yoga. We are thankful Angel shared his beautiful practice with us. We also did a few sound baths with Renee (the medicine of sound) which were so, so good. You get around the resort on bikes which is a really fun experience. However if you don’t feel like walking, you can get a lift from one of the extended golf carts. The drivers are always so friendly! (Oscar is always super warm with my family) If you’re looking for a beautiful, relaxing and restorative trip, Palmaia is the resort for you. As another guest said, the experience is truly addicting.

I had a great experience and loved my Nomadic guide Esteban. He did everything we asked and more! I sadly didn’t get to say goodbye and would have liked the opportunity to tip him. If it is possible please let me know.