Every so often a new venue arrives on the Riviera Maya that genuinely changes the conversation, and Alila Mayakoba is one of them. The studio has photographed weddings across this stretch of coast for years, so when a beloved property goes quiet for a full reinvention and returns under a new name, we pay close attention. Here is what we know, honestly, about marrying at Alila Mayakoba.
A new name with a familiar soul
If the setting feels familiar, that is because it should. Alila Mayakoba is the property that operated for years as Andaz Mayakoba, which suspended operations on March 2, 2025 for a complete renovation and reflagging. It reopened to guests on February 12, 2026, and the transformation is significant. This is Hyatt's first Alila-branded resort anywhere in Latin America and the Caribbean, which makes it something of a debut for the entire region.
Alila as a brand is built around place-based, soulful, wellness-led luxury, and that ethos shapes everything from the materials to the pacing of a stay. For couples, the practical headline is simple: roughly 182 rooms and suites set within about 60 acres of protected mangroves and freshwater canals. It is intimate enough to feel like a private world and large enough to host the people you love.
Inside the Mayakoba enclave
Alila does not stand alone. It sits inside the gated Mayakoba community near Playa del Carmen, sharing this remarkable ecosystem with Rosewood Mayakoba, Banyan Tree Mayakoba and Fairmont Mayakoba. The properties are linked by mangrove-lagoon boats and by walking and biking paths that thread through the jungle, which means your guests can move between worlds without ever touching a public road.
For us as photographers, the canals are the gift. Arriving to your ceremony by boat, gliding past mangroves in the late-afternoon light, is the kind of moment we will quietly position ourselves for long before it happens. If you are weighing neighbors, our notes on the wider area in our Mayakoba wedding guide and our Rosewood Mayakoba coverage are worth a read alongside this one.
Alila Mayakoba remains a World of Hyatt property, so Hyatt loyalty points and elite benefits still apply. For families pooling points or members who travel often, that can meaningfully shape room blocks and guest stays.
Who this resort is really for
Of the four Mayakoba hotels, Alila is the most design-forward and contemporary, and it tends to draw a younger, design-literate crowd. If you and your partner read interiors magazines for fun, notice the grain of the wood and the weight of the linen, and want your wedding to feel current rather than traditional, this is your room in the house.
The renovation leaned hard into wellness. The spa was renewed with a Mexican steam-bath experience in the temazcal tradition and outdoor hydrotherapy pools, which makes the days before and after the wedding feel like a true retreat rather than a logistics marathon. Couples who want their celebration to breathe, with morning rituals and slow evenings, find a natural home here.
How we photograph a wedding here
Our style is golden-hour editorial, and Mayakoba's geography rewards it. The light filtering through mangroves is soft and directional, the water gives us reflection and depth, and the contemporary architecture provides clean lines that keep a frame modern rather than busy. We plan portrait windows around the sun, not around the timeline a vendor hands us, and we will gently advocate for that during planning.
Because Alila is new in this incarnation, we approach each celebration here with fresh eyes, scouting the property thoroughly before your day. That is simply how the studio works, and you can read more about our director's approach on Vianey Diaz's page or browse the broader philosophy behind our luxury wedding work.
Planning honestly from abroad
Most of the couples we serve are flying in from the United States, Canada or Europe, and planning a wedding in another country has real texture to it. Timelines, vendor coordination, legal versus symbolic ceremonies and weather seasons all matter. Rather than repeat ourselves, we keep a thorough resource on exactly this in our guide to planning a luxury destination wedding on the Riviera Maya, and it pairs well with everything above.
We will always tell you what we genuinely think, including when a different venue or a different week might serve your vision better. That candor is the whole point.
Let's talk about your day
If Alila Mayakoba is on your shortlist, we would love to hear what drew you to it. Tell us your dates, your guest count and the feeling you are chasing, and we will tell you honestly how the studio can help bring it to life. You can reach us through our weddings page or learn more about the studio first. Either way, the conversation is warm and there is no pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Alila Mayakoba is the property previously known as Andaz Mayakoba. It suspended operations on March 2, 2025 for a full renovation and reflagging, then reopened to guests on February 12, 2026 under the Alila brand. The setting is the same beloved Mayakoba enclave, now reimagined.
It is the most design-forward and contemporary of the four Mayakoba resorts, and as Hyatt's first Alila property in Latin America and the Caribbean, it carries Alila's place-based, wellness-led luxury ethos. It tends to attract younger, design-literate couples who want a current, soulful feeling rather than a strictly traditional one.
Yes. Alila Mayakoba is a World of Hyatt brand, so Hyatt loyalty points and elite benefits still apply. This can be useful for room blocks and for guests who travel frequently.
The renovation renewed the spa with a Mexican steam-bath experience in the temazcal tradition and outdoor hydrotherapy pools, set within roughly 60 acres of protected mangroves and freshwater canals. It lends itself well to slow, restorative days before and after the celebration.