One Day of Spa in Puerto Vallarta

As someone that has been to Puerto Vallarta twice, let me tell you that it is one of the most beautiful destinations that I have ever been. Its pristine waters, the golden sandy beaches, the wide variety of exciting places to visit are some of the things I loved from Puerto Vallarta. Besides this, what I also enjoyed was the excellent service of the spas at the top-rated hotels.

The Westin Spa

If you want to spend one day of spa in Puerto Vallarta, the Westin Spa is one of the best options around. Here got to relax my body and spirit in this intimate environment of peace and calmness. Thanks to this, I was able to get rid of the stress of my everyday routine and feel completely renewed. The Westin Spa offered me a wide range of excellent, rejuvenating treatments, massages and skin services. Among the body treatments, I chose the Seaweed Wrap with Guarana, the Green Coffee Body Wrap and the Aromatic Black Mud Wrap. But my favorite part were the massages. I almost got them all: Lymphatic Drainage, Sweet Waiting, Sunset Massage, Relaxation Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Sports Massage, Face & Head Massage, Back and Neck Massage on Chair, Deep Tissue Massage, Reflexologyand Ocean Front Massage. Apart from this, I could also buy spa packages. Some of them are specially designed for couples.

Hacienda Buenaventura Spa

But it is not the only option in Puerto Vallarta. Many other hotels offer great spa services. So which one did I choose? One of my Mexican friends recommended me to visit the spa at the Hacienda Buenaventura Hotel. Its spa is called Piedra Viva and its treatments are based on the holistic philosophy. The spa offers massages, body wraps, facials or body exfoliations. Moreover, they provide an authentic temazcal ritual, an ancient sweat bath that serves as a theurapeutic treatment. So I went for this first. It was one of the most relaxing experiences of my life. After this, I went for my favorite part of the spa treatments: the massages. Here I found different kinds of massages such as the Piedra  Viva (a mix of tequila, hot towels and different techniques such as stretching, lomi lomi etc.), the Back Massage  (it helps to release all the tension in your shoulders, neck or back muscles), the Sacred Hot Stone Massage (it relaxes the central system while warm obsidian stones are placed on your body to calm the nervous system).

Casa Magna Marriott Spa

A third great option for a special day in a spa is at the Casa Magna Marriott Hotel. The spa of the Marriott Hotel is called Ohtli (which means path or journey to perfection) Spa and it features old healing techniques and shamanistic therapies from the Huichol people, a tribe that resides in the Sierra Madre Mountains. These natural and ancient treatments have as a main principle the respect for the ecosystem and the use of natural remedies to balance the body energy. Some of the treatments I tried were the Sensorial Swedish Massage in which they use warm oils infused with citrics such as grapefruit, orange, tangerine and lemon. Another treatment I took was the Rosemary – Peppermint Theraphy, a penetrating deep massage through sore and tired muscles. This treatment stimulates circulation and relaxes muscles.

As you can read, there is no doubt that Puerto Vallarta will make your trip more relaxing, enjoyable and stress-free. All of these great spas (and many more) know how to provide an outstanding service; you will surely feel pampered and relaxed during the whole time of your stay.

Romina Nieto

Image: Flickr

Author: Grand Velas Puerto Vallarta

Three Recommended Places to Visit on a Tour around Puerto Vallarta

Entertainment options and attractions in Vallarta are quite varied. The geography surrounding the city is just extraordinary, since the biggest bay in all North America is located in it. This is the most fascinating place on earth, where tourists come to experience all kind of unforgettable adventures. Under the sea, on its surface, on the beach, in the mountains or the jungle and even in the city, Puerto Vallarta offers all types of activities in order to have fun, chill out or get fit. Once you have already booked your hotel in Puerto Vallarta, you should start thinking which are the three recommended places you may visit on a tour around Vallarta. Is it difficult to make up your mind? Well, let’s check some of the most famous ones.

1) Cuale River. The true Mexican character fills the air in this area, full of shops, bars and restaurants. The main part of the town is divided into two by the river, which has a little island now turned into a museum. The market in Vallarta has also been built in this place, and economical hotels and restaurants as well as different ambulant sellers are pervasive in the area. When visiting Vallarta, do not forget to go on a walk around this part of the town.

2) Las Caletas. Among the most popular tourist places near Vallarta we find Las Caletas. This isolated place on the southern part of the bay of flags can only be reached by sea since it is surrounded by abrupt rocky hills and abundant vegetation. All this contributes to preventing the place from being tampered with, and as a consequence, the place remains almost untouched. The beach is home to splendid palm trees and a whole tropical world which is worth discovering.

3) Watching the Whales and Swimming with Dolphins. After swimming miles and miles in order to give birth to its little babies, hundreds of whales come to the coasts of Puerto Vallarta year after year. These incredible mammals keep on attracting not only foreigners but also locals who want to witness their amazing jumps and melancholic songs, only emitted by the males. At present, different guides take tourists to the best places in order to watch from close these animals. Luckily, a baby whale can come to the boat and you will have the chance of touching it. As regards the dolphins, Puerto Vallarta is home to a dolphinarium where one can learn a lot thanks to its different programs, which enable us to swim around with them, learn about them and also cuddling them. This activity is perfect for animal lovers!

Needless to say, Vallarta provides its tourists with a wide array of attractions and things to do in order to have fun. This destination is much more than simply a vacation destination, since apart from its impressive beaches, it features different tours that will leave you breathless!

Agostina Giacomino

Picture: Flickr (Franci Esteban)