The Main Infinity Pool: The photo says it all; Nizuc is pure luxury overlooking the Caribbean.
Nizuc Resort & Spa is both civilized and wild; we spent four days discovering both sides of Cancun’s newest ultra-luxury resort in December.
Let’s get rid of the elephant in the room. Nizuc means “dog’s nose”. And Punta Nizuc is actually the name of the beach area in Cancun in which the resort is located. The emblem of the nose is referenced throughout the property, which sports a pretty high design that’s represented in stone and steel furnishings and fixtures; grays, browns and beiges abound here and show off beautifully as dusk comes on with lanterns projecting natural amber candle light.
All told, it all generates a lovely Zen vibe, which, along with an Asian-style of service, is really what we found Nizuc, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, to be all about.
Let’s start with breakfast in Café de la Playa, the casual restaurant serving a bountiful buffet and menu items. Here, juices on order are not just the standard orange and cranberry sort, but freshly blended papaya and healthy energy drinks as well, in three varieties. That unique offering launched every day of our trip in just the right way, making us feel we were luxuriating in healthy options we never dreamed of finding on vacation.
Picture: The residences are designed for real living, built as condominiums, they’re ideal for families.
The day continued at the main pool area—that’s an infinity pool specifically—with a swim-up bar to boot. It’s all about pampering here, with folks on hand to move the shade umbrellas even an inch or two as the sun makes its way across the sky.
So far we’re talking civilization, but what we loved was the path that led from the main pool area through wild, rustic foliage, passing private lounging areas on small docks in hidden beach nooks (Hint: You can request a private dinner to be served here), which led us to the adults-only La Punta Grill & Lounge, which has its own infinity pool and sunning area. This area is authentic Mexico, as it served once as a presidential retreat for the country and was owned by Fonatur. Considered the most romantic dining venue at Nizuc, La Punta Grill & Lounge serves up seafood and a local fish of the day. Because La Punta is rather separate from the rest of the resort, it’s great for weddings. Contact Lorena ([email protected]), who can create a number of nuptial experiences around the 29-acre property, including a Mayan ceremony. She can also arrange great settings for rehearsal dinners, vow renewals and proposals.
There are 44 Ocean Suites at Nizuc; we stayed in No. 220, which had a large bedroom and living area, a spacious bathroom (double sinks) and a balcony with two chairs and a daybed to sink into to absorb the ocean view. We spoke with Helene Singer of Singer Travel, who stayed in a Garden Pool Villa, who said of that accommodation: “For ultimate luxury, it can’t be beat! Our own butler, our own plunge pool and patio and complete privacy. In the morning, coffee and Danish were delivered and put in a ‘lock box,’ which we opened from our side and took out and enjoyed. Nizuc is great for anyone who likes crisp, clean, linear design.”
The condo-style Residences work well for families; for optimal space for your clan, reserve a Master Suite that connects with an ocean-view Ocean Suite.
The six restaurants at Nizuc all serve incredibly fresh food; we loved lunch at Ni for Peruvian cuisine (think tapas, ceviches and fresh fish daily); dinner at Indochine was also a standout. Craving Italian food on our final evening, we headed to Terra Nostra and sampled the bruschetta for appetizers and risotto for our main course.
Picture: La Punta Grille has a rustic style and is in the adults-only area of the resort.
Bar A-Kan, with seriously soaring ceilings and ocean views, proved to be a lovely retreat to sip Bloody Marys on a rainy Sunday afternoon, or you can consider its signature drink, the IK Margarita. The Havana Bar is quite active in the evenings, cozy inside and exotic outside as it stretches out into a sunken lounge area, lit up by candlelight. (Note: Elegant resort wear is perfect for evenings; gentlemen are requested to wear trousers, collared shirts and closed shoes.)
A visit to the spa is a must. Nizuc Spa by Espa is grand at 30,000 square feet; we spent a few hours enjoying the Thermal Experience, which includes stops at a steam room, sauna, a cold plunge pool and our favorite, the vitality pool. Nice Touch: The spa has a tranquil exterior pool area where it would be easy to relax the entire day.
Contact the spa director, Elena Gracheva ([email protected]), to assist with selecting treatments for your client or to reserve the Private Couple Suite for small group get-togethers.
Consider Maria Elena Armenta, the sales and marketing manager ([email protected]), your main travel advisor liaison at Nizuc. Georgina Garcia in reservations can help you with room selections ([email protected]) and Mariana Arenzana ([email protected]), the guest recognition manager, can be extremely helpful in assisting with VIPs. Francisco Ugalde ([email protected]), the chief concierge, can make dinner reservations or set up special excursions; he can also arrange transfers to and from Cancun International Airport, which is just 20 minutes away. Private jets also land at the airport at terminal FBO.