Within the resort-and-cruise-ship-dense stretch of Caribbean coast of Mexico known as the Riviera Maya, the Viceroy Riviera Maya is something special. Unlike the majority of resorts in the area—towering buildings that would not be out of place in Manhattan—the Viceroy, adjacent to the tiny village of Playa Xcalacoco, practically melts into the landscape. To get to my room—one of 41 individual spacious, stucco villas, some on the beach, others embedded in the jungle—I walk a winding trail through the jungle, past a waterfall that cascades from plush, moss-covered stones. The villa itself, 1,722 square foot, thatched roof structure, is airy and bright, and extends outdoors, where there's a personal plunge pool, and the ocean is mere yards away. And while I know there are 40 other such villas, all I can see, and hear, from my own, is the forest. Tropical birds sing in the trees and tiny iguanas run amok at breakneck speeds through the undergrowth.
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