Celebrating 20 Years of Viceroy Riviera Maya: A Q&A with General Manager, Pedro Lara
Travel
At the heart of this story is the team, including General Manager Pedro Lara, who has been part of the journey for nearly 20 years, alongside other long-standing team members whose dedication and passion have shaped the soul and character of the resort.
Viceroy Riviera Maya at a Glance
Location: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Perfect For: Couples, romantic escapes, moments of celebration, immersive cultural experience, a calming reset.
On-Property Highlights: an intimate natural setting of only 41 villas (each with its own plunge pool), immersive cultural experiences, white sand beach, oceanfront resort pool, holistic spa treatments, authentic Mexican dining, culinary classes, private dinners in any setting, and even a soap concierge.
Nearby: You’re close to top area attractions such as Tulum and Chichén Itzá archaeological sites, as well as luxury shopping in nearby Playa del Carmen.
Distance to Cancun Airport: 44 minutes (52.5 km/32.6 miles)
Along the Mayan Riviera, the growth of Playa del Carmen can be seen in new buildings popping up, tourists dotting powder white-sand beaches, a bustling city center with a plethora of shops and restaurants and nightlife, and colorful murals lining streets. It’s a vibrant place, laid-back and endearing. But roughly five miles away, tucked in between the lush Mayan jungle and the Caribbean Sea, Viceroy Riviera Maya celebrates 20 years of history, not by becoming bigger and better, but by fine-tuning the art of what it’s done best all these years: creating moments of genuine human connection through personalized service, thoughtful details, and heartfelt hospitality.
At the heart of this story is the team, including General Manager Pedro Lara, who has been part of the journey for nearly 20 years, alongside other long-standing team members whose dedication and passion have shaped the soul and character of the resort. We sat down with Pedro ahead of the property’s special anniversary weekend—July 24 to 26, 2026—to get his thoughts on the property, reflections on change, what it means to connect with guests, and to find out a few of his favorite things.
In a world in which change comes rapidly, and bigger and better seems to be the name of the game, how refreshing, then, to find a hidden gem delightfully untouched by time. That doesn’t mean it’s in the shadows or forgotten. It’s quite the opposite, in fact. Deeply rooted in local traditions, Viceroy Riviera Maya’s evolution has been quiet and deliberate, holding near and dear that which makes its success sacred—connections.
The property is unique—just 41 small villas laced into an intimate natural setting. When Pedro talks about the magic here, magic that starts in the neighboring jungle, it doesn’t take long to understand what he means.
First, there’s the arrival. You don't see buildings, you see trees and see vegetation. You don’t see a desk or a computer, you see an open space with comfortable chairs, a waterfall, some trees. A team member disappears to take care of the details while you take a deep breath—and take in your surroundings. Less a hotel check-in and more like arriving at someone’s home. You instantly recognize this place is different. You may exhale fully for the first time in a while.
And that’s the kind of difference that’s stayed with the property from the beginning. Over the past 20 years, the hotel has evolved into an intimate luxury sanctuary, known for its private villas, immersive experiences, and a philosophy rooted in service from the heart. But it’s details like the arrival experience—personalized service, a welcoming connection, being immersed in a world quite unlike the one you left behind—that make this place so special.
What does make this place so special? What makes the resort different from other luxury resorts in Riviera Maya?
“When I first came to this property,” says Pedro, “what captivated me most was its extraordinary natural setting, the intimate character of its spaces, the lush jungle, and the remarkable sense of peace you feel the moment you arrive.”
“Long before us,” he says, “this land was home to the Maya, who understood the profound connection between nature, balance, and well-being. Even today, that spirit continues to shape everything we do. It reminds us to slow down, to be present, and to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.”
When asked about what has changed the most at Viceroy Riviera Maya over the past 20 years, Pedro explains, “That is why every renovation, every enhancement, and every thoughtful detail has always been guided by one principle: preserving the essence and energy of this extraordinary place. We are not simply its hosts. We are its caretakers.”
Caretakers who protect that spirit, but also act as hosts. Pedro says he and his team are hosts first and always. He continues, “The passion our team brings every day, the joy they find in caring for our guests, and the love they have for this beautiful place continue to inspire me.” You can't help but feel how proud Pedro is of his team.
The Viceroy experience unfolds naturally from sunrise to nightfall, here in the “little jungle” as it’s lovingly called. But for a special weekend in July 2026, guests got to experience a curated program of wellness and culinary experiences celebrating the spirit and evolution of the property over the past two decades.
The celebrations began, as many good celebrations do, with food and drink.
“We celebrated the cuisine of the region, from the Yucatán peninsula, with a feast of Yucatán-style cuisine prepared by the very talented Maestra Pibil Silvia Campos. Celebrated as a guardian of Yucatecan culinary heritage and cuisine, Silvia preserves and shares ancestral cooking techniques rooted in Mayan tradition, such as pib, the art of underground cooking as the abuelitas used to do, a technique passed down through generations.”
The celebrations then took a culinary leap forward, with a special dinner of contemporary Mexican cuisine at La Marea by Executive Chef Alejandro Salgado, whose cooking is characterized by Mexican ingredients rooted in Mexican heritage, but enriched by Asian and Mediterranean influences and techniques.
When asked about his favorite dishes on the menus, Pedro shared that he would would eat everything, but there are a few that stand out. “Risotto negro, or black risotto, with shrimp and octopus, is a risotto with squid ink together with a relleno negro, which is different traditional spices and chilies from the region that are toasted or burned, then made into a powder and mixed with broth. Chef Salgado also does a fantastic birria, a very traditional dish from the center of Mexico, and a nice taco de jaiba, a soft-shell crab taco. We make everything from scratch in the kitchen, including our own tortillas. Chef is passionate, on the level of a Michelin star chef, but he’s also led by a curiosity to play around with ingredients.”
Viceroy Riviera Maya’s regular culinary offering is complemented by real foodie experiences designed to discover the legacies of Mexican cuisine through tequila and ceviche tastings, as well as workshops where guests learn to prepare tamales, guacamole, and margaritas. Attention to detail and personalized service—fundamental pillars of Viceroy Riviera Maya—are elevated through the concept “Dining Anytime, Anywhere,” allowing guests to enjoy fine dining at the location and time of their choosing—in the middle of the jungle, inside your villa, on the beach. Best enjoyed like everything else here, with friends and family, at an unhurried pace.
The weekend came to a meaningful close with a guided spa ritual, led by a shaman from Quintana Roo, to connect with the earth and the energy of the property, and to celebrate these two decades of our little jungle experience.
When asked if there are any hidden gems around the resort guests shouldn't miss, an experience that people often overlook, or a favorite activity or place on the property that’s meaningful to him, Pedro leads with the jungle.
“The energy of the jungle is always there. One spot that I like to go to, we call it the "Painters' Corner," it’s an open-air spot where guests are invited to express themselves through painting. I like to sit there to hear the sounds and smell the natural environment. I am a bird lover, so I love to sit and enjoy the song of the birds and the connection with the energy of the jungle during the morning or midday or whenever I need an escape.”
For anyone visiting Viceroy Riviera Maya for the first time Pedro offers some great advice.
“Just be yourselves, enjoy life here, and enjoy your time here. The opportunity we have in the hotel industry is to pamper guests during the time they choose to spend with us. So, we do our best to create an experience that will be full of wow factors, but also full of relaxation and connection, so you’re recharged with the energy to go back to normal life when the time comes.”
Describing the experience and the property comes easy to Pedro, and in fact, sums it up in three words: “Natural. Intimate. Love. We are adults-only, so that helps … for romance.”
It’s clear that Viceroy Riviera Maya casts a spell on guests, with many returning year after year. Pedro thinks about what keeps guests coming back and says,
“I think it’s familiarity. We always ask our employees to be themselves and to make a connection with our guests. We create a bond with them. I think the connection between our teammates, together with the service we provide, is familiar and makes guests come back. We care about what they care about. They know they will have the same type of service every year, so they know what to expect.”
There’s nothing big and flashy here. Instead of looking for new trends in hospitality, Viceroy Riviera Maya keeps providing what we really care about—excellent service, attention to every detail, remembering what each guest liked the last time they were here.
While official events took place in July, it’s not too late to join in the revelry; the 20th anniversary celebrations will last all year, with thoughtfully curated experiences, culinary moments, and wellness rituals. To make the milestone event more special, Viceroy Riviera Maya is offering a preferred rate for guests returning to our little jungle by the sea—up to 35% off luxury villa accommodations and daily breakfast for two—making this the perfect time to create new memories in this special place you already know and love.
The beauty of the destination is undeniable, but it’s the sincerity of the people who bring it to life that really makes an impact, so much so that guests often find themselves returning year after year, becoming part of the extended family here at Viceroy Riviera Maya. More than a resort, the team here has created a place where people reconnect, recharge, celebrate life's special moments, and create memories that stay with them long after they leave. In striving to protect that spirit of the property, Viceroy Riviera Maya carefully crafts an intimate environment where guests can experience something truly meaningful.
Viceroy Riviera Maya is an adults-only boutique resort of just 41 villas located in Playa Xcalacoco, in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, celebrating 20 years of history, meaningful connections, and refined hospitality. It has earned a Michelin Key for two consecutive years, a distinction comparable to the emblematic stars of the century-old French guide, thanks to its signature warm hospitality and compelling gastronomy.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the “little jungle” at Viceroy Riviera Maya and discover the magic for yourself.
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