Ultimate Wellness in the Mexican Caribbean
Leave the stress of 2020 behind you and experience the ultimate wellness escape in the Mexican Caribbean. Unwind with luxury treatments, invigorating outdoor activities, and even a bit of retail therapy. Your body and mind will thank you later.
Cancun, Riviera Maya, Tulum and Bacalar are four wellness hotspots in the Mexican Caribbean, each offering a different type of wellness experience. From state-of-the-art spas offering luxury treatments, to holistic indigenous experiences like pre-Hispanic Temazcal, crystal healing, and body wraps, there’s something for everyone.
As well as the unique experiences, there’s also wellness favorites, like sunrise yoga classes and beachside massages. And as you give your body a treat, you can also relax your mind, with fascinating culture, beautiful and secluded natural spaces to explore, and the chance to escape from the every day. This could be your most restorative trip yet.
Located in the north part of the Mexican Caribbean is Cancun, one of the most popular destinations in Mexico. Because of this, there’s a wide range of hotels and spas, with many award-winning options to pick from. Life is easy in Cancun, with fantastic weather, great places to eat, and interesting things to do without a short distance of the hotels. The area also has some fantastic archeological zones, like El Rey, El Meco, and San Miguelito. The Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA) should be an unmissable part of your trip as well. Experience the pieces on show up close and personal by diving and snorkeling to them, or check them out from the comfort of a glass-bottom boat. There are 500 intriguing sculptures to look at, each surrounded by stunning coral and sea life.
To experience some living history, head to a spa that offers the ancient prehispanic treatment/experience, ‘The Temazcal’, a steam bath in a stone igloo set against the backdrop of spiritual chanting and local herbs. It’s a rejuvenating experience that’ll leave you feeling relaxed and invigorated. Another must-experience treatment in Cancun is the 80-minute, four-hand Kukulkan Mayan massage at Le Blanc, where two massage therapists mimic the movements of the sacred eagle, snake, and jaguar. Grand Fiesta Americana’s Coral Beach Gem Spa has an exclusive hydrotherapy treatment, which uses extreme heat and ice to relax the body, and a chakra-balancing quartz stone massage. Prepare for extreme pampering.
Continuing south of Cancun we find the Riviera Maya, a unique region of beautiful beaches, lush jungles, and imposing archaeological sites. There are also world-renowned resort spas that turn this paradise into a magical wellness destination. Begin at the SE Spa at the Grand Velas Hotel, where you can book pampering treatments, rejuvenating skin therapies, or even the SE Spa Water Ceremony.
Another essential stop on your wellness trip is the Chablé Maroma on the Riviera Maya. It offers traditional Temazcal ceremonies, which combine rare indigenous plants and holistic treatments into a restorative experience. Make sure you book a purifying massage and a body wrap enriched with powerful botanicals.
A must see stop is Tulum, the eco-chic destination known for its laidback bohemian vibe, in the heart of Rivera Maya, it is a just an hour and a half south of Cancun, but it feels like a different world. This is a place to escape the crowds and find time to breathe. Your stay here will be a mystical, holistic experience, designed to help you unwind in gorgeous natural surroundings. With stunningly clear water, white sand beaches, unique cenotes, underwater rivers, and some breathtaking Mayan archeological sites, there’s a lot to help you unwind before you even discover the wellness centers.
Yäan Healing Sanctuary, which offers traditional indigenous therapies, alongside energy healing treatments and yoga, is the epitome of Tulum’s mystical vibe. From the moon Temazcal rebirthing experience to massages with sacred herbs, everything about this place is designed to help you feel physically relaxed and mentally clarified. This is a must-experience stop on your wellness holiday in the Mexican Caribbean.
A little over two hours south of Tulum is Bacalar, an authentic treasure that has a traditional Mexican feel. This is a great place to visit if you want to immerse yourself in local culture and traditions.
One of Bacalar top sites is the Lagoon of the Seven Colors, Mexico’s second largest freshwater lagoon, which is named for its different shades of blue. The area around the lagoon offers plenty of opportunities to indulge in treatments with healing properties, such as water therapies and ancient massages. Best of all, many come with breathtaking views. The spa at the ecological Rancho Encantado Hotel, located on the shore of the lagoon, is a paradise for ecologically-conscious travelers who seek tranquility. Massages are performed in a hut over the water, and Aguahara therapy, a unique form of bodywork merging principles of yoga, tai chi and massage with additional water therapies, is a unique and renewing experience.
There’s never been a better time to wash away this year’s stresses and emerge relaxed, renewed, and ready for the new year. Start planning your wellness getaway within the incomparable Mexican Caribbean.
