Auberge Resorts Collection last week opened on nine oceanfront acres within the landmark Kanai destination.
Just 40 minutes by car south of Cancun International Airport, Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection is as removed from everyday life as heaven from earth. Poised above the mangroves that have thrived on this shoreline since time immemorial, almost every area of the resort offers all-encompassing ocean views. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed into the gallery-esque reception area, an artfully curated collection of gathering spaces, and the realm of Sana, the resort’s spa and wellness center.
75 dramatic ocean-front guest accommodations offer consummate peace and privacy. Ranging from 875-square-foot Studios to 3,925-square-foot, three-bedroom Penthouse Suites, every one of the resort’s accommodations offers an expansive private terrace. Floor to ceiling glass doors create a seamless transition between indoors and out, and private plunge pools, hot tubs, and sky-deck roof terraces - ideal for sunbathing, private dining, and stargazing - invite relaxation immersed in nature.
A seemingly endless stretch of brilliant white sand lapped by the turquoise bay, the beach at Etéreo is one of the resort’s finest amenities, revealing the region’s largest reef just 250-feet offshore. Just steps from the beach are the resort’s five restaurants, two swimming pools, events lawn and kids’ club where guests will revel in life’s simplest and most important joys: savouring delicious meals, immersing sun-warmed skin in blissfully cool water, and celebrating moments - both the significant and the beautifully mundane - with family and friends.
Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection has been curated by New York-based design studio Meyer Davis to nurture, soothe, and renew. Nature is brought within through the use of raw materials such as lava stone, copper, and indigenous tzalam wood, while custom-designed furnishings and textiles by local artisans are set against a backdrop of work by the late and highly celebrated Mexican artist, Manuel Felguérez.
Felguérez’s sculptural lattice screens in wood and architectural plaster feature throughout the resort, creating a delicate, constantly changing interplay of light and shadow. There are also custom rugs by Daniel Valero, focal pieces in the spa by Guatemala’s Agnes Studio, and outdoor dining tables handcrafted by Puebla’s Bandido Studio. Striking contemporary art installations include a hanging woven rope sculpture by Marcela Diaz and a monumental, steel and glass sculpture by Hector Esrawe. Works by Charabati Bizarri, Tapiz, Peter Glassford, and Tere Metta adorn the walls, adding yet another joyful layer to the visual feast laid on by the resort.
The culinary program at Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection encompasses five unique dining venues and a host of personalized gastronomic experiences designed to stimulate sensory renewal with spontaneity and a sense of adventure. Infusing traditional Mayan with modern Mexican cuisine inspired by local ingredients, menus are designed to satisfy and transport, taking diners on a culinary journey of discovery.
Wrapped around the trunk of an age-old tree, Mayan-inspired signature restaurant Itzam offers innovative exploratory flavors and panoramic ocean views from its open-air restaurant, lounge terrace, and private dining room, Pixán. Set beside the main swimming pool, Che Che serves up Nikkei-esque Japanese-Peruvian bites and hosts international DJs after dark in its atmospheric bar area. Laidback Alberca features a casual menu of tacos, raw bowls, ceviches, and Che Che favorites; and right on the beach, El Changarro promises lively, feet-in-the-sand, catch-of-the-day dining at its best. Playfully meeting guests’ grab-and-go gastronomic needs from sunrise to sunset, El Carrito’s cart-to-hand morning coffees and pastries segue into afternoon street snacks and evening cocktails.
Designed with community in mind, beautifully appointed event spaces include the magnificent Kin with its view-embracing interiors and vast deck. Ixchel, a salon named for the Mayan Goddess of the moon and love, and El Nicho, the resort’s library, are ideal for more intimate gatherings. Resol, the elevated lawn alongside Itzam, and the beach itself, are perfect for outdoor ceremonies and celebrations.
With a name signifying resplendence, prayer, and healing, Sana is a spa sanctuary promoting the art of living well through sensory pleasures, holistic therapies, and the active manipulation of energy. Surrounded by the emerald brilliance and burgeoning growth of the jungle and inspired by idyllic cenotes and local botany, Sana combines the powerful elements of water, nature, and indigenous self-care to create space for transformation and sensory exploration.
Bringing together a community of ethically conscious individuals and wellness seekers looking to restore balance, elevate their spirits, and reach their fullest potential, Sana supports healing from within, exploring nature and layering aromas and textures to unleash curiosity and discover each person’s inner healer. Wellbeing experiences focus on renewing self-connection and righting imbalances through a combination of ancient Mayan healing practices and emerging wellness trends.
Offering a journey through Mayan traditions, guests progress through the spa accompanied by the rituals used to honor earth, sea, and heavens. Detoxifying Mayan clay wraps, crystal healing, sound baths, a full-day exploration of the senses, full moon ceremonies, and custom scent blending are just a few of the experiences inviting guests to slow down and renew body and mind.
The first spa worldwide to offer organic, wild-crafted Circe Brujeria de Origen skincare products and Kypris facials, Sana’s healing rituals are offered alongside an extensive menu of personalized bodywork treatments, curated retreats with visiting practitioners, and daily movement and mindfulness classes including aerial yoga, chromatic breathing, and reiki circles.