Review by Spa & Wellness MexiCaribe
The beautiful resort of Banyan Tree Mayakoba sits just north of Playa del Carmen and offers an authentic Asian experience to its guests, right here in Mexico. Luxury suites and a variety of restaurants await guests in addition to the stunning and well equipped Banyan Tree Spa. Like the sacred tree, Banyan Tree Spa aims to offer guests a sanctuary for the senses where physical, mental and spiritual renewal can take place.
The impressive private ‘Rainforest hydrothermal circuit’ at Banyan Tree Mayakoba comprises a cascading rain shower walk over a foot-stimulating pebbled floor, aroma steam, sauna, hamam with body and hair masks, invigorating experience showers, an ice fountain and brine cavern. Enjoy these before finishing up in the vitality pool with strong hydrotherapy jets and hot Jacuzzis to work on muscle tension.
Visiting a traditional Thai resort hailing from Phuket while in Mexico may not seem like the obvious choice of brand. We talk a lot about drawing on local ingredients and providing authentic local experiences for spas in Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America, but who’s to say we shouldn’t also provide authentic experiences from around the globe to those who visit or those who are local to the area to the country? I, for one, love Thai and Balinese massage and in my experience visiting spas around the world, I’m yet to find therapists from anywhere else who compare in terms of hand and finger strength. Therapists at Banyan Tree Spas are trained at the academy in Phuket ensuring they consistently deliver high quality spa treatments and the ‘Master Therapist’ massage experience certainly delivered. An experienced massage therapist will complete an in depth consultation to discover areas of tension, preference for pressure whether strong, medium or light and favorite techniques and will then create a bespoke massage incorporating various modalities. Mine included hot poultices to warm the muscles, stretching techniques to release tightness and Balinese massage movements, my favorite!
By Sara Jones, Editor