Floating over a protected forest of mangroves on one of the Yucatan Peninsula’s most beautiful white sand beaches, Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection opens on nine pristine oceanfront acres within the landmark Kanai destination.
Set in a region steeped in the lore and wisdom of the ancient Mayans, the resort is a sublime contemporary embodiment of the Mayan belief that renewal stems from active exploration of the elements in pursuit of positive change and more conscious living. Offering an immediate connection with the soul of this timeless and breathtaking retreat, Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection draws its name from the Spanish word for ‘ethereal’ and offers a celestial guest experience defined by breathtaking beaches, ae-inspiring natural surroundings, extraordinary cuisine, and experiences that facilitate rejuvenation in every sense of the word.
A rarefied world apart, balanced between sea and sky
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.
Ensconced in the jungle just off the shore, 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.
A nature-cradled portal into Mexico’s contemporary art scene
Inspired by the region’s lush beauty, cultural heritage, and balmy climate, every space within 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.
Exploration and celebration through cuisine
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.
A sanctuary for the attainment of true wellbeing
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.
Renewing every aspect of life through enriching experiences
Central to everything at Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection is the chance to renew that which enriches life: relationships, inspiration, connection to nature, one’s senses, natural rhythms, and sense of appreciation. The resort’s experiences program has been designed to achieve this by celebrating the vibrancy of Mexico and its storied culture.
Guests can do all that they anticipate – exploring the Yucatan’s natural wonders and historic Mayan ruins, swimming in the crystal waters of cenotes, snorkeling vivid reefs, hiking, biking, horse-riding, and diving into Mexico’s epicurean scene with chocolate, mezcal, and wine tastings. But they can also experience adventures and moments offered nowhere else.
Inspired by the notions of honoring the past, living in the present, and creating the future, exclusive Etéreo experiences include painting wooden Alebrije spirit animals; taking part in a Mayan fireside blessing or Equinox Ceremony; tuning in to the sounds of the Yucatan with a local musician; learning local card games and handicrafts; uncovering lesser-known Mexican flavors with home-cooked Nicho de Abuela pop-up dinners; and planting saplings in the mangrove forest – to name just a few.
Interactive experiences are also offered through the resort’s vibrant Carolina K Boutique, which epitomizes the Etéreo connection with community and culture by serving as a creative hub for local makers. Curated by Carolina Kleinman herself – renowned for her pioneering work in sustaining the age-old artisanal craft traditions of Mesoamerica – the boutique features exquisite leisure- and swimwear collections, all-natural apothecary products, homeware, and lifestyle accessories by Carolina K and other Latin American designers.
The Etéreo Team
The owner and developer of Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection is GIM Desarrollos, the global real estate investor based in Mexico City. Auberge Resorts Collection was chosen as operator due to the brand’s reverence for the destination and reputation for excellence across all luxury hospitality spheres. Migdal Arquitectos worked closely with landscape architects EDSA to ensure the resort complemented its pristine setting, minimizing its impact on the natural environment. Interior design specialists Meyer Davis and lighting designers Grupo Mai brought the resort’s interior spaces to life, while Mestre & Mestra Spa & Wellness consulted on the development of Sana, the resort’s wellness sanctuary.
About Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection
Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection is located on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, within the luxury Kanai development just 30 miles from Cancun International Airport, and set amongst a protected mangrove forest along a pristine stretch of the Caribbean Sea. The resort’s 75 luxury accommodations—ranging from 875 sq. ft. Studios to 3,925 sq. ft. three-bedroom Penthouse Suites—are entirely oceanfront or oceanview and feature luxurious bathrooms with dual vanities and soaking tubs and expansive private terraces with floor to ceiling glass doors. From outdoor adventures that offer an up-close look at nature to time spent with local artisans learning about their craft, the resort’s on and off-site experiences program has been designed to celebrate the vibrancy of the Yucatán and its storied culture. Mayan-inspired signature restaurant Itzam offers innovative exploratory flavors and panoramic ocean views from its open-air seating, lounge terrace and private dining room, Pixán. Further exploring the destination’s culture and history, outdoor eatery, Che Che, reveres ‘nikkei’ tradition and tells the story of techniques of Japan as told through Latin American ingredients. For wellness seekers, Sana, An Auberge Spa, welcomes guests to a serene healing space inspired by ancient practices and set forward by modern wellness trends.
