P Photo courtesy Westin Resort and Spa Los Cabos
erhaps you have come to Los Cabos to reconnect with the one and only, irreplaceable, endlessly fascinating you. You feel like doing exactly what you want, with complete abandon—no apology, no compromise, no guilt. What better way to revel in your uniqueness than to book some time out at one or more of our divinely decadent spas?
Join Sandra Berry, Sabrina Lear, and Carol Billups as they succumb to the pleasures of Los Cabos' signature spas. Cabo San Lucas Thalasso Spa at Playa Grande Resort Carrying on a French tradition since 1865, Thalasso Spa is one of only two in the Western hemisphere. On two floors just off the 259-suite Playa Grande's elegant lobby, the sleek lower level reception and full service salon prevent unpleasant sounds or smells from filtering upstairs, according to spa designer and Repêchage México Director Yolanda Amador. Thalasso Spa offers unique and exotic massages, treatments, and facials, using highly regarded Repêchage body and skin care products. Upon arrival, you'll complete a detailed medical and dietary history. Your therapist will then suggest treatments to enhance your energy balance, stress relief, and skin restoration. Ride the view elevator to the treatment area and you're in an entirely different ambience: Asian décor, candles, aromatherapy, and an outdoor seawater infinity pool in a peaceful rock grotto. The two sides of the spa include Thalasso treatment rooms, massage and wet treatment rooms, locker, steam, shower and relaxation areas for men and women. A couple's massage room, and the Honeymooner's package of facial, massage, aromatherapy, and champagne followed by a dip in the seawater pool will 114
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make any couple feel like newlyweds. The core elements of many of the spa's offerings are seawater and sea products. The premise behind Thalasso, derived from the Greek thalassos, meaning sea, is that seawater is good for you—the body interacts with the seawater, exchanging minerals and energy through the skin. The spa draws fresh seawater daily, even the spa's second-story infinity-edge pool is exchanged at least every two days. The technical explanation of Thalasso hydrotherapy aside, the sensation is pure bliss! The French Oxymer baths boast an impressive control panel to target therapies for specific conditions. Your job is to lay back and relax. The 25 minutes goes quickly, so savor every moment. The Thalasso Bath is an excellent preliminary to any treatment—try the 85-minute signature Sea of Cortés. Warm aromatherapy oils and hot sea stones are applied for a full body massage. Then, a cooling facial mask and cold sea stones on your eyelids. Your massage is finished while the mask is working. The hour-long Repêchage Four Layer facial was named "best facial of the century" by Cosmopolitan UK. The treatment uses seaweed to rejuvenate, tone and firm skin, with a facial massage and a seaweed
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mask. The grand finale is a warm mineral thermal mask and a hand and foot massage, leaving you feeling pampered and refreshed. After your treatment(s), you will be invited to enjoy the relaxation area and the beautiful seawater pool. Thalasso Spa is a vacation experience not to be missed. Contact the hotel upon check-in for early week spa specials. Non-guests may also visit the spa; reservations are required. www.playagranderesort.com—Carol Billups
Spa Pueblo Bonito Rosé The compact spa at the 260-suite Pueblo Bonito Rosé— where the Italian Riviera meets Médano Beach—adeptly combines a luxury spa, full-service salon, and first-class fitness and tennis club, while delivering top spa services and treatments. The centerpiece of the women's spa is the water treatment-relaxation area with group-sized hot and lukewarm whirlpool baths. Some treatment rooms feature Vichy showers; the couples' room boasts a waterfall. The 80-minute Sea Breeze Body Wrap is highly recommended, incorporating a body polish, seaweed body masque and wrap, facial massage and finally a Vichy Shower and massage, followed with the hydrating Sea Breeze moisturizer—perfect for combating the effects of Cabo's desert climate. And Rose’s Mare Nostrum serves up Land's End views and a divine Sunday brunch. www.pueblobonitorose.com—Carol Billups
Pueblo Bonito group's newest hotel, adult-only Pacifica, emphasizes relaxation, rejuvenation, and wellness. Stunning contemporary design and a soothing minimalist feel provide a restful atmosphere, paying homage to the four elements— air, water, earth, and fire. With 143 rooms and 11 suites, it's ideal for couples and honeymooners while being a seductive option for groups looking for an adult-only escape. Upon arrival, guests meet with a wellness specialist to plan their custom-designed treatment path, using natural healing ingredients, including many from cactus and the sea. Armonia, the holistic spa and fitness center, sits discreetly below the magnificent lobby. Signature treatments include the Obsidiana Sacred Stone Massage, using Mexican sacred hot stones placed on pressure points to achieve deep relaxation. The delicious 80-minute Diamond Experience Facial, a unique four-step treatment, uses Dead Sea active ingredients to counter aging. The VIP couples treatment chamber with steam, sauna, and Jacuzzi for two should not be missed. Armonia's amenities include cold plunge and Swiss shower rooms, steam, sauna, and fitness center, along with outdoor treatment, relaxation, massage, and yoga areas near the beach. Two with-it treatments—the Temazcal, a group sweat lodge ritual practiced by the Aztecs, and Watsu, water Shiatsu therapy—are Pacifica signatures. Temazcal is recognized for improving spiritual, mental and emotional health. Immensely restful, Watsu uses Shiatsu massage and yoga movements. A “splurge” menu supplements Restaurant Siempre's health-oriented menu, much of it organic. Ten minutes north of Cabo San Lucas, Pacifica fronts the Pacific Ocean, just minutes away from Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach. www.pueblobonitopacifica.com—Sabrina Lear
Spa Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Up the hill from Pacifica, the 16,000 square-foot Spa Sunset Beach is an opulent two-level ocean view facility, one of Cabo's best. Open since December 2004, the spa mirrors Pacifica's (and Rose's, below) menu, and commitment to a first class spa experience. The Precor-equipped ocean view fitness center has individual TVs, a juice bar, and view terrace. Below, the spa is lavish and soothing, voices are hushed, the Italian marble wet areas sumptuous, and the sixteen treatment rooms spacious and serene. Any guest is sure to find total relaxation and renewal here, along with La Frida, where Chef Tonio de Liviere and award-winning sommelier Juan Carlos Flores make evenings magic at this 327-suite resort. www.pueblobonitosunsetbeach.com—Sabrina Lear
Francisco Estrada
Armonia Spa at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Holistic Retreat and Spa
Thalasso Spa’s al fresco seawater pool and lounge area at Playa Grande Resort, on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas fronting Playa Solmar.
Nahui Beauty & Day Spa at Marina Sol Resort Not everyone has the luxury of time or money for a complete resort spa experience. A day spa is the next best thing. Being pampered and taken care of for even a few hours is a great way to be good to yourself. At this compact day spa, very affordable spa and salon services are available from a surprisingly ample menu. Three expert stylists and three nail technicians keep the stations full while four massage therapists rub, wrap, and polish you from head to toe in the two treatment rooms. Nahui's packages are a bargain, the Land's End Lovers includes a massage, foot reflexology, pedicure and manicure for two, for just $183 U.S. And, the Recline and Dine, a 50-minute Swedish massage followed by a steak and lobster dinner at the resort's Oasis Bar and Grill, is $65 U.S., tax included. Gift certificates are available. Whether it's a cut and color, body polish, or rejuvenating facial, Nahui's full range of services offer a treat for all. Open daily; reservations are required for packages. www.nahuibeautyspa.com— Sabrina Lear & Sandra Berry LOS CABOS MAGAZINE
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Photo courtesy Vistazul Suites & Spa
Achieve physical and inner harmony in Vistazul Suites and Holistic Spa’s Temazcal. Vistazul Suites and Holistic Spa A spa vacation soothes the mind, pampers the body, and can elevate the spirit. Perhaps you're into taking an ancient journey to pre-Hispanic times for purification, well being, relaxation, and ceremony in a modern-day sweat lodge. It's called Temazcal, the Aztec name for the ritual of the magic of earth, air, fire, and water. Those who experience Temazcal say it enables them to achieve both physical and inner harmony, release toxins, subdue stress and anxiety, and allay illnesses associated with modern lifestyles. It is an expression of Mayan traditional medicine consisting of steam based on hot stones and medicine plants inside an adobe structure, looking somewhat like a misplaced igloo. Symbolically, the round dark, humid, and warm Temazcal represents Mother Earth's womb. Coming out symbolizes rebirth. Other a la carte services to soothe your senses at this affordable day spa include full body massages. No exam room cubicle-feel here. The massage area is near the hotel's azure-blue pool, within an enclosed palapa with white billowing curtains to provide privacy. A tabletop fountain offers soothing sounds, while relaxing music drowns out the outside world. To fully feel pampered, spend the rest of the day having a deep cleansing facial, a manicure, and a pedicure. The Vistazul Suites and Holistic Spa might be just the break you need. Private group Temascal sessions are also available. www.vistazulsuites.com—Sandra Berry
The Tourist Corridor Cactus Spa at Sheraton Hacienda del Mar The 270-room, 31-suite Sheraton Hacienda del Mar at Cabo del Sol, a Starwood property, is reminiscent of a grand hacienda. The coup de grace is The Cactus Spa and Fitness Center, one of an elite thirty in the Starwood Spa Collection. It can save your body and soul. The spa honors the seven pillars of well being: Beauty, Harmony, Water, Vitality, Life Balance, Nature, and Nutrition. Upon entering this peaceful sanctuary, the quiet serenity causes guests to whisper and walk softly. The word spa comes from Latin meaning “healing through water.“ The Cactus Spa, with its variety of conscious choices that speak to your very essence, is the only spa in Latin America offering the exclusive Soft Pack System. Cocooned and submerged in warm water, you float in a peaceful environment as the special wrap aids your body in the absorption of oils, creams, and therapies in one exquisite spa experience. The ultimate signature service is the primrose oil and goat butter cream facial, for skin that glows and feels like silk, expertly performed by professional, certified, and nurturing staff. This European-style spa offers every type of massage from aromatherapy to reflexology, as well as shiatsu 116
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and hot stones, and a pregnancy massage designed to relieve aching back muscles. The modern facility provides seven traditional therapy rooms and one couples room. Complete salon services complement the cutting-edge fitness center with state-of-the art cardiovascular equipment, professional trainers, and a sauna and steam room for a glowing resonance after your workout. Guests who fancy pampering are in for the very best of relaxation, rejuvenation, and renewal of mind, body, and spirit. www.sheratonhaciendadelmar.com—Sandra Berry
The Spa at Las Ventanas al Paraiso The trendsetting destination spa at this celebrity-studded hideaway put Los Cabos on the world's spa map in 1997. Consistently ranked in the top 100 hotels worldwide, Ty Warner acquired the 61-suite property in 2004, his goal to, “extend and enhance the incredible beauty and amenities that now define Las Ventanas.” With that in mind, the spa is evolving—while retaining their signature Baja desert treatments, rated #1 in North America by Conde Nast Traveler. New directions include non-surgical facelifts, body contouring, and expanded treatment areas and facilities. The spa's new Baja Beauty Trends menu will debut for the 2006 season, but the big news is the opening of three over-thetop spa suites. Full services will be offered in-residence with every amenity, promising unparalleled pampering and exclusivity. This is a superbly restful, rejuvenating one-of-akind garden spa, and you don't need to be a guest to visit, but count on a minimum two-week wait for reservations. www.lasventanas.com—Sabrina Lear
Ixchel Spa at Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort A favorite of corporate groups, the 375-room Hilton is what many vacationers anticipate at a luxurious Mexican resort. Representing the Mayan Goddess of the Moon, at Ixchel Spa fulfilling visitor's objectives is their goal. Upon entering, each guest completes a health and spa expectations questionnaire, so that attention is focused on these areas. Therapies are available for men, women, and even children. For adults, massages run the gambit, with a special one for golfers. Ixchel Spa's signature therapy is the Temaztac, a deep hydrating exfoliation, with a wrap of papaya crystals, vanilla milk, and orange pudding. The Sweet Moon is a wonderfully relaxing, luxurious private hydrotherapy bath in a
LOShotels CABOS tub full of bubbles that burst, leaving the skin feeling alive. Packages are available, including one for the bride. Something new on the spa scene is specially-designed spa treatments for kids, with flavors that sound good enough to eat. From head to toe, a day at Ixchel can revitalize the most stressed out body. Take a deep breath as you inhale Ixchel's surroundings and exhale stress. This is a place where only the moment exists, a place where you can indulge, invigorate, or be inspired. www.hiltonloscabos.com— Sandra Berry
Spa Marquis at Marquis Los Cabos
Photo courtesy Pueblo Bonito Pacifica
Walking into the breathtaking ocean view lobby of the Marquis Los Cabos is like looking through a gigantic window to the other side of the world. The personable, competent, and caring staff members treat guests as though this is their home. The 216 suites are complemented by 28 dream casitas, each with a private pool. Indulge in the Spa Marquis, a 15,000 square foot sanctuary—soon to double in size—with some of the finest treatments anywhere. Unlike most spas, sunlight enters through wooden slatted ceilings where guests can see the endless ocean view from almost every area. The Mayan theme is echoed throughout, and the décor lends itself to subtle elegance. Guests may lounge or even nap on the outside terrace on low benches draped with plush white towels, alternating
The sensuous couples chamber at Pacifica’s Armonia Spa includes an inviting Jacuzzi for two. LOS CABOS MAGAZINE
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Photo courtesy One&Only Palmilla
A ritual footbath begins each spa experience at One&Only’s Mandara Spa.
Open Daily from 10am to 8pm Reservations: (624) 143-7066 Located in the Lobby of Marina Sol Condominiums, Downtown Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S. México.
www.nahuibeautyspa.com
GRUPO TORTUGUERO is a Baja California peninsula and Northwestern Mexico network dedicated to sea turtle conservation.To learn more about our work and activities, or to make a donation, visit our website or call:
Westin Resort and Spa Los Cabos The architecturally stunning 243-room Westin Resort and Spa Los Cabos, a gem in one of the world's leading hotel chains, is a heavenly experience. Each well-appointed room and suite is ocean view; suites boast patio whirlpool plunge tubs and daybeds. Room amenities include aromatherapybased Equilibrium products, available at the spa's retail area. After waking from a restful sleep in your Heavenly Bed (and it is indeed heavenly), treat yourself to The Spa, one of an elite group of thirty in the Starwood Spa Collection worldwide. Completely revamped and expanded in 2004, the two-story spa, designed with corporate groups in mind, is an
Francisco Estrada
(619) 574-6643
with a dip in private hot and cold tubs filled with aromatic and healing oils and elixirs. Once inside, nine facials for men and women ensure immediate results and lasting beauty. The signature treatment is a relaxing ancient Indian Ayurvedic massage—your personality determines which massage therapy and essential oils are best. Using herbs, botanicals, and natural ingredients, the ultimate Spa Marquis treatment is the Quetzalcoatl Oxygenating Experience. Cucumber cream, carrot milk, rose seed, lavender and rosemary oils, honey, aloe vera, sea and mineral salts cannot help but heal, restore, rejuvenate, soften, or stimulate. Couples can indulge in treatment rooms complete with over-sized Jacuzzis. Massage tables specially-designed for pregnant women offer relief from fatigue. The Marquis also boasts an over-the-top ocean view fitness center next to the spa, with high ceilings and TVs on almost all equipment. México is famous for its warmth and hospitality, and the Marquis Los Cabos is a shining example. www.marquisloscabos.com—Sandra Berry
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ideal getaway, with magnificent views from the upper level Reebok-powered fitness center. The stand-alone beauty salon is off the main floor reception area, with expert cuts and full services. Facilities include spacious men's and women's locker rooms, wet areas with sauna, steam, Swiss and Vichy showers—all in marble with earthy soothing tones. Special treatments for golfers and pregnant mothers compliment the wide range of massage therapies, wraps, and facials, using marine extracts, seaweed, honey, and nopal cactus. The signature treatment is the aromatherapy massage, a blend of marine extracts and scents selected to enhance your personal essence. Two private massage pavilions on the beach, the perfect romantic retreat for couples, complement nine spacious treatment rooms. The single red long stem rose greeting in my locker was a lovely, thoughtful touch. www.westinloscabos.com—Sabrina Lear
San José del Cabo The Mandara Spa at One & Only Palmilla Kerzner International’s $90 million renovation and expansion in 2003 propelled this landmark, now 172-room resort into the stratosphere of elite properties worldwide. The Spa, operated by Mandara, feels wonderfully separate from the resort. The thirteen treatment casitas allow for air-conditioned or al fresco services, with six double casitas, each opening onto a
Photo courtesy Westin Resort and Spa
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Indulge in an oceanfront massage with caressing soft ocean breezes.
lush private garden with whirlpool and daybed. Honoring Mandara's Indonesian roots, the menu combines Balinese, European, Asian, and Mexican treatments. Body care begins with a ritual foot wash, releasing your cares in preparation for a deep state of relaxation. After your Elemis facial or a sublime signature treatment and massage, linger in the garden for a tea ceremony with your choice of infusions. The soothing design of the outdoor relaxation area combines a Shiatsu pool, heated whirlpool baths, soaking pools, outdoor showers, and water bar. The 2,000-square-foot exercise room has top equipment with personal TV screens. One&Only Palmilla’s Mandara Spa is a remarkable respite from the everyday world, and you won't want to leave its idyllic surroundings. www.oneandonlypalmilla.com—Sabrina Lear
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