This new resort on Mexico's Riviera Maya was scheduled to open last fall, but Hurricane Wilma had other plans. The property suffered substantial damage to its trees and foliage, but even more devastating was the fact that the resort's furnishings had been in storage in Cancun and were destroyed during the storm. The resort opened this May.

The Mayakoba has 401 guest rooms (including 34 suites), both in the low-rise main hotel building and clustered throughout the property in 90 two-story casitas. And with seven meeting rooms and two ballrooms, it offers 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space.

A canal system meanders through the grounds of the entire property. Launches with environmentally friendly electric motors can take guests on either short cruises to specific destinations on the property or on longer sightseeing cruises. One destination a guest can reach by launch is the Mayakoba's idyllic white-sand beach that features one of the resort's five restaurants, the Brisas del Mar, with seating for 85 indoors, and 50 on the terrace.

The property's Willow Stream Spa features 20 treatment rooms and two treatment suites, many of which have private balconies overlooking the adjacent tropical forest canopy.

The Greg Norman — designed Golf Club at Mayakoba, adjoining the resort, next year will host a new PGA Tour event.