When Grand Velas opened its first beyond-luxury resort, all-inclusive and luxury did not often appear in the same description. What began decades earlier as a means to attract clients who preferred convenience over quality, the all-inclusive was not typically targeted to the luxury-minded or discerning traveler.
Food and beverage offerings were designed to keep appetites in check and give guests the impression they were getting what they paid for. Unlimited food and drink was available, though it was often sub-par, or at best, nothing to write home about. Over the years, more sophisticated versions sprang up on popular beach destinations, but the stigma of quantity over quality persisted – until Grand Velas.
Grand Velas Resorts has delivered what no one thought an all-inclusive could – unrelenting refinement. International dining is helmed by Michelin-starred chefs, a personal concierge assigned to every room, premium spirits, and entry-level suites with over 1,000 sq. ft. Of space with luxury amenities and fully stocked mini-bars – all at no additional cost.
Every nuance and detail is catered to a superlative guest experience. The spas, renowned for incorporating ancient traditions and locally sourced ingredients into every service, earn consistent awards from travel critics and well-respected publications such as Forbes. Sustainability is practiced with intense commitment, allowing each property to harmoniously coexist with its surroundings due to numerous environmentally and socially responsible initiatives. From biodegradable cleaning products, solar water heating, recycling, meticulous beach cleanup, and composting to donations to local organizations and wellness programs for guests and staff members,
Grand Velas consists of destination resorts in Riviera Maya, Puerta Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Los Cabos, and their newest property in San Jose del Cabo, Grand Velas has garnered international accolades for its gastronomy and mixology offerings. In addition to the all-inclusive dining options at each property, Grand Velas is proud to introduce an array of specialty culinary opportunities that delve even deeper into Mexican culture and expand the concept of luxury cuisine-conscious travel.
New Mezcal and Chocolate Pairing at Grand Velas Riviera Maya Blends Culinary Traditions
Grand Velas Riviera Maya introduces a new culinary experience honoring the country’s traditions of artisanal chocolate and mezcal. Guests are invited to embark on a guided tasting journey led by the resort’s sommelier, where they will explore a curated selection of dark and white Mexican artisan chocolates from Campeche on the Gulf Coast of Mexico. Each chocolate is expertly paired with mezcal to elevate the tasting notes of both the spirit and the cacao.
Gourmet Cenote Experience Features Private Chef and Ancestral Tasting Experience
Guests staying at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya now have a unique opportunity to dine 60ft underground in one of the destination’s relatively undiscovered cenotes. The experience begins with a private tour of the 130 ft cavern of countless stalagmites and stalactites at Chukum Cenote and a dip in its crystal-clear waters.
Highlights of the dining experience include cheese and charcuterie, duck terrine, and, for dessert, handmade truffles. The lunch will be accompanied by a tasting of ancestral drinks like bacanora, sotol, tuxca, and pox. Guests will learn how these ancestral recipes came to be and how they are being reinvented and reintroduced to a modern palate with cocktail recipes.
Local Yucatecan Honey Now Incorporated in Spa, Culinary Offerings at Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Sweet new experiences incorporating honey produced at the hotel are now available at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya. Freshly harvested daily, the honey is produced by the western honey bee found only in the Yucatan Peninsula. Available
at the resort’s restaurants and 24-hour in-suite dining, the honey is a perfect complement to fresh tropical fruit, buñuelos (fried dough), and capirotada (Mexican bread pudding). Additionally, the honey is used in a treatment at the award-winning SE Spa. Inspired by ancient Mayan practices in the Yucatan Peninsula,
Artisanal Mezcal Stocked In-Suite
Adios Tequila. Velas Resorts in Mexico has swapped its ensuite tequila for artisan mezcal. Created exclusively for Velas Resorts by a master mezcalero, Olvídame Si Puedes (Forget Me If You Can) is a white crystalline mezcal, made with 100% espadin agave. After maturing for more than six years in the central valleys of Oaxaca, the agave is harvested and distilled twice in a copper alembic still before revealing aromas of humid earth and agave and notes of smoke, herbs, and cooked agave. The mezcal is stocked complimentary in-suite at the properties in Los Cabos, Riviera Maya, and Riviera Nayarit.
New Multi-Sensory Tequila Travel Experience with Spirited Spa Treatment, Horseback Riding Through Agave Fields, 24K Gold Ranch Water & More
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit announces a new multi-sensory tequila experience, “Fly Over Tequila.” Highlights include horseback riding through the agave fields, “spirited” spa treatment at one of the world’s top spas, a uniquely designed bottle to take home, cultural mixology, and expansive tastings. Additionally, a personal concierge, tequila pairing dinner, private taco, and tequila tasting, Golden Ranch Water, daily DIY tequila cocktail served in-suite, luxurious accommodations, shopping, a Jima harvest experience, a private barbacoa dining experience prepared amongst the agave inclusive of a Mariachi performance, and more are included.
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit Launches New Cactus-Based Cocktail Menu in Partnership with Vanessa Hudgens’ and Oliver Trevena’s Caliwater
Sustainably sourced from Mexico, Prickly Pear cactus is the main ingredient in the new drink brand Caliwater which is in an exciting new partnership with Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit. The celebrity beverage brand started by Vanessa Hudgens and Oliver Trevena is the inspiration for a menu of cocktails and mocktails inspired by nature. Inspired by a shared commitment to sustainability and well-being, Grand Velas teamed up with Caliwater to offer antioxidant-rich beverages to resort guests that have shown an increasing demand for additional health and hydration benefits. The full line of Caliwater’s flavors is also available by the can.
New Molcajete Workshops Explore Mexican Culinary Traditions
Furthering its commitment to Mexican culinary traditions, Velas Resorts is launching new workshops for guests to learn about different salsas and their preparation with molcajete. a Mexican mortar and pestle made from volcanic rock, the molcajete name comes from the Aztec words meaning “seasoning” and “bowl.” Available at the resort collection’s properties in Los Cabos, Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, and Riviera Nayarit, the workshops are offered in both oceanfront locations as well as in onsite botanical gardens based on the hotel.
New Secret Taco Menu
Guests of Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit this spring can experience a new secret deluxe taco menu, only accessible with the “magic” word. This unique offering will take guests on a taco journey of six different varieties. Highlights include octopus with chicharron prensado (pressed pork), as well as a Mexican chocolate mousse taco for dessert. Pairing with Mexican wine or tequila based on the course, the secret taco menu experience is included in the resort’s nightly rate.
Foodie Experience Takes Guests on a Journey Around the World Through Tacos
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit in Mexico launches a new taco tour. Open to resort guests and the public, participants enjoy a variety of tacos on a guided progressive dinner tour through the resort’s gourmet restaurants. Each specially crafted taco is paired with a drink to match.
Grand Velas Ups the Ante on Healthy Dining Options
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit has expanded its healthy dining options. A highlight is the special Vegan Sushi developed by Nikki Sharp, a Los Angeles-based health coach, yoga instructor, vegan chef, and best-selling author of Meal Prep Your Way to Weight Loss and The 5-Day Real Food Detox, who hosted the resort’s 2018 Wellness Getaway. Other additions include a fit bowl with 20 different vegetable, grain, and fruit options to mix and match and four other types of bowls with novel healthy ingredients. This can be teamed up with four different juice combos including one designed for the flu season. The new lineup complements the resort’s vegan and vegetarian tasting menus at its fine dining restaurants.
Fishing Experience Includes Fresh Caught Fish Prepared on Deck
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit has launched a new way for guests to enjoy fish straight from the sea. Guests can bring along a resort chef on a 4 to 6-hour fishing expedition in the Banderas Bay. As catches are made and pulled in, the chef will prepare several dishes to enjoy on deck, including Zihuatanejo-style fish strips, tuna ceviche with mango and habanero chili, fish tartar with tomato and avocado, sashimi, and Carpaccio. For guests who don’t find luck during their time onboard Beluga, a 32 ft. Luhrs sportfishing boat, the chef will have a cooler of fish available to prepare a seafood dinner.
Storytelling Dinners Connect Guests with Local Culture
To connect guests with local Mexican tradition and culture, Velas Resorts in Los Cabos, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit, and Puerto Vallarta are now offering storytelling dinners. In addition to the dishes themselves having a story, wait staff will tell guests narratives about the region throughout the dining experience. The dining area will be decorated with some of the traditional menu ingredients such as blue corn and different kinds of chiles. A Huichol artisan will be creating traditional handicrafts during the dinner.
Insta-Worthy Cooking Class Combines Cooking Skills and Food Photography
Ready to learn how to ‘gram the perfect plate? Select Velas Resorts in Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta are now offering new cooking classes that help guests learn how to not only make the best food but capture it. Classes are led by Executive Chef Guillaume Morancé at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit. Guests will learn how to prepare their dishes before getting a lesson on tips and tricks to capture the perfect picture.
DIY Insuite Taco Bar Offered Includes Variety of Fillings, Tortillas and Specialty Sauces
Grand Velas Resorts in Los Cabos, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit, and Puerto Vallarta – creators of the $25K World’s Most Expensive Taco – launch a more attainable taco treat on room service menus, a DIY taco bar. Included in the nightly rate, the DIY Taco Bar features a variety of soft flour and corn tortillas such as blue, Guajillo, and traditional white. A sampling of fillings ranges from al pastor with roasted pineapple, Poblano peppers with corn, and traditional Cochinita Pibil to fried Baja fish, octopus, and Chorizo with potatoes. To accompany the tacos, an assortment of sauces and additional toppings are served. The DIY Taco Bar is available on the 24-hour suite service menu included in the nightly rate.
Vegan and Gluten Free Tasting Menus from Mexico’s Top Vegan Chef
Vegan travelers can now indulge further at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit with new, curated tasting menus thanks to a collaboration with Mexico’s leading Vegan chef, Miguel Batista, co-founder and Executive Chef of Vegan Planet. Substituting new Vegan-friendly ingredients and new cooking techniques, Batista has produced entirely original vegan-tasting menus. Culinary travelers can enjoy these specialty dishes at any time of day or night, including in-suite dining. Dedicated menus at each restaurant feature four to five adapted traditional dishes of French, Italian, and Mexican cuisine as well as international favorites and comfort food for the specialty diet.
Go to www.velasresorts.com for more information and reservations.