Discover Mexico’s Golf Oasis: The Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya

Set out on Federal Highway 307, the artery that runs north and south along the eastern corridor of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, and you’re likely to experience a few momentarily loco things. First, the word highway is a little rich. A roughhewn, utilitarian roadway that for more than half of its 224-mile length is reduced to two lanes, there’s nothing particularly elevated about it. Then there are the speed bumps, or topes. Sometimes well marked, sometimes not marked at all, they can be jolting when you’re ripping along at the 100-kilometers-per-hour speed limit. More jarring, at least for on-edge Americanos with rental car plates, are the scattering of police checkpoints, where drivers are forced to slow their roll for spot inspections. It’s a little bit Nissan Sentra, a little bit Narcos, but mostly — mostly — a benign show of machismo.

Maybe the oddest eccentricity of Highway 307 is its lack of exits. Signage isn’t abundant and neither are off-ramps, especially along the undeveloped, densely jungled stretches of the Yucatán that set apart the coast’s string of sun-blasted tourist destinations: booming Cancún to the north, Playa del Carmen a little further south and the even more southernly outposts of Akumal, Tulum, and Chetumal. For miles and miles, there’s no way to get off Highway 307. But if there’s a hemmed-in, you-can-check-out-any-time-you-like-but-you-can-never-leave quality to it, who’s complaining? In lieu of exits, what dots heavily trafficked 307 are mammoth, ornately designed portals to the luxurious playgrounds hidden just beyond the jungle line. The highway signs don’t read MAIN STREET or MINNEAPOLIS, they read BAHIA PRINCIPE and SECRETS AKUMAL — resort names. And behind each elaborate marble or limestone gateway sits a pleasure palace and a prime piece of the Caribbean.

Tulum International Airport: A New Gateway

Over the years, Highway 307 has complicated the movement of more than just tourists. Development in the lower Yucatán has, to some degree, been impeded by the region’s limited access. Until recently, travelers booked into resorts in and around Tulum, for example, had to put up with a two-hour-plus drive from the airport in Cancún before they could slide into their first margaritas. That long haul kept some of these resorts and municipalities appealingly low-profile, but it didn’t really suit Mexico’s tourism ambitions. After years of drawing-board dawdling, the charmingly boutique, government-funded Tulum International Airport opened last December, with heavyweight carriers — including Delta and American — committed to delivering direct-to-Tulum flights from Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Miami, and Newark, among other key U.S. hubs. International flights will follow.

What does this mean to the Yucatán’s hospitality players? Expansion and, they hope, a rush of new business. What does it mean to golfers? In the case of one high-end resort, an enticing offer.

The Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya: A Golf Oasis

The Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya is tucked behind one of the lavish portals that line Highway 307. An hour’s drive north of the new “jungle airport,” the resort welcomes its guests with what one driver calls a “Mayan massage for free” — a winding journey along a palm-lined cobblestone entryway so spectacularly beautiful and bumpy it relaxes your chi before you’ve even claimed your room key. If you’ve ever blissed out at a cloistered utopia like the Conrad, you’ll be familiar with its immediate rewiring of your senses, starting with a breezy, open-air lobby big enough to contain the Carrier Dome and chic enough to take your breath away. You’ll also know the place’s restorative powers. For a few days, your most pressing life decisions will involve choosing between the sunrise yoga or the overflowing breakfast buffet, the white sand beach or the tiered infinity pools, the paloma or the mojito, the “ocean wave” massage or the detox ritual “connected to the Mayan gods of sun and wisdom,” the authentic Mexican feast or the sublime teppanyaki, sushi, and short ribs.

The Conrad — one of the luxury-branded hotels in the Hilton empire — even tempts you to just hole up. Nearly 200 of its rooms include balconies with ocean views and a private hot tub that, with a couple of Tetris moves, cozily accommodates two. The indoor shower has a Caribbean view too — assuming you can tear yourself away from the views on a flatscreen TV the approximate width of your king bed.

PGA Riviera Maya and El Camaleón at Mayakoba: Golfers’ Paradise

By design, the Conrad Tulum leaves you awestruck and enveloped. But if you’re a golfer, it wants to get you out too. Early this year, the resort teed up an intriguing deal. On top of the cost of a double-occupancy room ($469 per night for an ocean-view king), an upcharge of about $430 buys you and a partner playing privileges on two of the Yucatán’s best courses: Robert Trent Jones II’s PGA Riviera Maya, a five-minute drive from the resort, and, an hour up Highway 307, Greg Norman’s Tour- and LIV-tested El Camaleón at Mayakoba.

“Every day that we’re on this side of the big divot, we’re feeling great,” says Robert Trent Jones II, the architect behind PGA Riviera Maya. The course, situated on 290 acres adjacent to a limestone quarry, features crystal water features, impenetrable tree lines, and inquisitive iguanas. On the other hand, El Camaleón at Mayakoba, designed by Greg Norman, offers tangled mangrove, tropical foliage, hardpan waste areas, and Instagram-ready canals and lagoons. The wildlife at El Camaleón is agreeable, with racoon-like coatis freely roaming the course.

The golf package offered by the Conrad Tulum, which includes four rounds of golf, premium transportation, and road treats, is a steal considering the typical green fees at these courses. With an upcharge of about $430, guests can experience championship-quality golf in addition to the luxurious amenities offered by the resort.

Accessibility and Future Developments

The opening of Tulum International Airport and the development of Highway 307 have made Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula more accessible to tourists. The region’s limited access in the past hindered the growth of resorts and municipalities. However, with the new airport and improved transportation infrastructure, there are opportunities for expansion and increased business.

In the coming years, Mexico plans to introduce another tourism-stoking initiative: El Tren Maya. This train service will span 290 miles and connect resorts, historic ruins, airports, and towns along the Caribbean coast. The development of this project will further enhance the accessibility and transportation options for travelers visiting the Yucatán Peninsula.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya?

The Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya is a luxury resort located in the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It offers stunning ocean views, spacious rooms with private hot tubs, and a range of amenities including yoga, multiple dining options, and picturesque infinity pools.

What golf courses are included in the Conrad Tulum’s golf package?

The Conrad Tulum’s golf package includes playing privileges at two renowned golf courses: PGA Riviera Maya, designed by Robert Trent Jones II, and El Camaleón at Mayakoba, designed by Greg Norman.

How accessible is the Yucatán Peninsula?

With the opening of Tulum International Airport and the development of Highway 307, the Yucatán Peninsula has become more accessible to tourists. Direct flights from major U.S. hubs are now available, making it easier for travelers to reach the region’s resorts and attractions.

What future developments are planned for the Yucatán Peninsula?

Mexico has plans to introduce El Tren Maya, a train service that will connect resorts, historic ruins, airports, and towns along the Caribbean coast. This initiative aims to further enhance accessibility and transportation options for visitors to the peninsula.

With improved accessibility, luxurious resorts, and world-class golf courses, the Yucatán Peninsula offers an enticing destination for travelers seeking a blend of relaxation, adventure, and championship-quality golf. Experience the beauty of Mexico’s Caribbean coast and indulge in the region’s authentic cuisine, rejuvenating spa treatments, and vibrant wildlife. Whether you’re a golf enthusiast or simply looking for a tropical paradise, the Yucatán Peninsula is sure to captivate your senses. Book your trip now and embark on a journey to this golfer’s paradise.