By: Marcia Abramson
Upon check-in a wrist band was affixed to my right wrist which entitled me to eat and drink in the seven restaurants and bars from morn to late at night, on this huge property gratis. My room was equipped with a minibar with bottled water and soft drinks, restocked every 48-hours free of charge, of course. My room came equipped with a hot tub for two or more as well as a private balcony with a double hammock It came with all the amenities of a deluxe hotel except for the robes. I learned that they are only for honeymooners.
However, the purpose of this trip was to test the spas in Cancun and I did find some of the best at the Ceiba Del Mar Hotel & Spa, Paraiso de la Bonita at the Presidente Inter-Continental, Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa, and the Spa Palace.
The Ceiba ( a sacred Mayan tree) Del Mar Hotel & Spa is located just 20-minutes south of Cancun's international airport, in the quaint fishing village in Puerto Morelos. Puerto Morelos seemed reflective to me of an era untouched by the commercial modernism which some critics claim has affected most of Cancun. The Ceiba Del Mar was designed by Mexican architect Luis Segura who succeeded in building a lost paradise in the most natural of surroundings. He chose to construct the buildings of local hardwood called Chaka and a variety of stones like Conchuela and Tikul on a deserted beach surrounded by a lush green jungle with ocean views, the ideal setting for this state of the art hotel and spa.
Joel, the masseur, gave me a soothing hot stone deep-tissue massage which I thoroughly enjoyed. The special treatment of the Ceiba Del Mar Spa is the indigenous Aztec steam bath Temascal. This is a two-hour treatment designed to purify and renew body, mind and spirit. It is performed in four stages in a round terracotta hut on the beach. This ancient ritual is done on hot volcanic rocks, aromatic herbs and brightly lit torches. It is climaxed by a romp in the nearby ocean. This therapy is most invigorating and a fantastic experience for all the participants.
Another day and an exceptional spa at Le Meridien Resort & Spa located in the hotel zone of Cancun. Amidst a thoroughly luxurious setting, I had the invigorating Moor mud wrap, the Galien jet shower and the choice of either a deep tissue or a Shiatsu massage. This came at a spa package price of $185 U.S. I was totally relaxed and can recommend these combinations of hydrotherapy with seaweed, mineral rich mud and essential oil treatments. I certainly felt revitalized and eagerly looked forward to participating in either the Tae-Bo, Tai Chi, Yoga and stretching classes.
The following day I went off to the Paraiso de la Bonita Resort & Thalasso at the Presidente Inter-Continental Hotel on the Mayan Riviera for some more pampering. The Paraiso de la Bonita is the first resort in Medico to offer the world famous Thalassotherapy
