Latest news with #Temazcal
Los Angeles Times
01-08-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Where the Jungle Meets the Sea: Weddings at Four Seasons Tamarindo
Ever dreamed of exchanging vows with the vast Pacific Ocean as your witness, hidden within a sprawling private nature reserve. Forget the ordinary; we're talking about the Four Seasons Tamarindo, a spectacular wedding destination along Mexico's untouched Costalegre coast. Not just a resort, it's a meticulously designed world where lush jungle meets dramatic oceanfront cliffs, all ready to become the breathtaking backdrop for your 'happily ever after.' This property goes beyond being just beautiful. It's an immersive experience, blending modern architectural elegance with a profound respect for the surrounding environment. Every view, every design choice, ensures that nature remains the star of your celebration. If you're dreaming of an outdoor ceremony on a sun-kissed bluff, or perhaps a romantic barefoot beach wedding, Tamarindo has perfected the art of tying the knot amidst nature's grandeur. Their experienced wedding planning team is on hand to guide you every step of the way, ensuring your big day unfolds smoothly. One of the most exciting aspects of Four Seasons Tamarindo for any bride-to-be is the sheer variety of stunning venue spaces. Imagine saying your vows on a bluff, where the Pacific stretches endlessly before you, offering a vista that will make your photos legendary. Or perhaps an elegant, open-air terrace, perfectly designed to blend sophistication with the tropical breeze. With these diverse options, you can craft a multi-day celebration that feels fresh and exciting from rehearsal dinner to farewell brunch. Tamarindo makes it easy to host your entire wedding party and guests. They offer group accommodations that are as comfortable as they are stylish, allowing everyone to relax and fully immerse themselves in the celebration. This means less logistical headaches for you, and more quality time with your favorite people in paradise. Tamarindo has deep commitment to weaving Mexico's rich cultural heritage into the guest experience. It's about authentic connection. A standout offering is the Temazcal ceremony, a profound pre-Hispanic tradition. It happens in a stone steam lodge where a local shaman guides you or your group through a cleansing, reflective ritual. It's a powerful experience that honors the region's history, offering a unique and deeply meaningful start to your new chapter for you and your closest circle. While your wedding is the main event, your guests (and you!) will find a wealth of luxurious amenities and exciting activities to fill the downtime. The cliffside spa offers treatments with a view that will melt away any pre-wedding jitters. If you're feeling adventurous you can explore the extensive walking trails that wind through the reserve or discover one of the resort's two private beaches. The resort's dining options are a celebration of local ingredients, promising fresh and vibrant flavors that tantalize taste buds. From nature exploration to simply lounging by one of the four distinct pools there's something for everyone. Worried about accessibility for your guests? You might feel like you're in the middle of nowhere deep within the reserve, but Four Seasons Tamarindo is conveniently accessible via Manzanillo-Costalegre International Airport (ZLO). This airport offers direct flights from several major cities in Mexico and the United States making travel relatively straightforward. Once you land the resort is about a 50-minute drive away. You can easily arrange private transfers for your entire wedding party and guests, ensuring a smooth and stress-free arrival.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blue Diamond Resorts Will Debut in The Luxury Collection
Paraíso de la Bonita, A Luxury Collection Resort, Riviera Maya, Adult All-Inclusive CANCUN, Mexico, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Diamond Resorts is proud to share that Paraíso de la Bonita, A Luxury Collection Resort, Riviera Maya, Adult All-Inclusive, is set to become part of its expanding portfolio in the coming months. This important step will mark the company's entry into Marriott's prestigious Luxury Collection and reflects its continued evolution in the high-end all-inclusive space, setting the stage for a new era of refined travel guided by Blue Diamond Resorts' expertise. 'As we gradually welcome Paraíso de la Bonita into our journey, this moment stands as both a proud achievement and a meaningful milestone in our 15th anniversary year,' said Jordi Pelfort, President of Blue Diamond Resorts. 'The opportunity to collaborate on such an iconic resort within The Luxury Collection reflects how far we've come and where we're headed. It allows us to honor the legacy of a beloved property while ushering in a new era of thoughtful luxury, elevated service, and operational excellence.' Tucked between the edge of a mangrove reserve and the Caribbean Sea, Paraíso de la Bonita feels like a secret whispered by the Riviera Maya; just 20 minutes from Cancun International Airport, yet worlds apart. This reimagined hacienda-style retreat is not simply a resort, but a living narrative of heritage, artistry and soul. Rooted in the local history and redefined through contemporary sophisticated design, it offers a rare sense of place where every detail tells a story, and service feels intuitive before it's even requested. The resort features 90 expansive oceanfront and ocean-view suites, each one crafted as a private paradise. Terraces open to breeze. Marble bathrooms echo the feel of a personal spa with their details and deep soaking tubs. Hand-carved furnishings and artisan accents reflect the legacy of the region. In select categories, open-air showers blur the line between indoors and nature, inviting guests to reconnect with the elements in quiet, effortless luxury. At Paraíso de la Bonita, luxury reveals itself in ways that are rare, soulful, and deeply personal. Culinary journeys unfold in three oceanfront restaurants, each with its own personality, where local ingredients meet global techniques under the rhythm of the sea. Two refined bars invite quiet indulgence, with spaces where cocktails are crafted, tastings curated, and conversation flows as effortlessly as the breeze. Wellness is immersive and elemental. Guests are invited to soak in one of the only open-air Thalasso pools in the Caribbean, a saltwater immersion once reserved for European thermal sanctuaries, celebrated for its natural ability to restore, detoxify, and rebalance. The experience expands through personalized treatments in garden sanctuaries, an upcoming Temazcal ritual guided by ancestral wisdom, and a fitness space that blends cutting-edge technology with the serenity of a private retreat. For events and celebrations, the resort brings a sense of occasion to every venue. From an intimate indoor salon to lush oceanfront gardens ideal for destination weddings, and a private dock that allows for seamless gatherings, every detail is designed to elevate meaningful moment. Paraíso de la Bonita is fully operational and delivering personalized service at the highest level. As Blue Diamond Resorts celebrates its 15th anniversary, this moment marks a strategic milestone in the company's continued growth. The anticipated addition of this property reinforces its long-term vision to elevate the all-inclusive experience through thoughtful expansion, exceptional service, and authentic hospitality. For more information, visit About Blue Diamond Resorts Blue Diamond Resorts encompasses over 80 properties, exceeding 20,000 rooms in eight countries located in the most popular holiday destinations in the Caribbean. Its nine leading hotel brands include the Award-winning, All-In Luxury® Royalton Luxury Resorts, where Everyone is Family. Whether guests come as friends, parents, kids, couples, weddings, corporate or incentive retreats, or solo travelers everyone is family in these properties that feature personalized services and signature amenities including All-In Connectivity™, DreamBed™, and the Sports Event Guarantee™. To refocus on valued relationships and friendships, Hideaway at Royalton offers an adults-only experience with exclusive dining and preferred accommodations to enhance Togetherness among their guests. Party Your Way at Royalton CHIC Resorts, an adults-only vibrant and effervescent all-inclusive brand to revel in the unexpected. Mystique by Royalton is Miles from Ordinary, offering their visitors the chance to connect with their surroundings in a boutique-style resort collection full of endless beauty and hip vibes. In Jamaica, Grand Lido Negril offers guests over the age of 21, a unique and all-inclusive Au Naturel vacation along with a secluded shore for the utmost privacy. Memories Resorts & Spa offers a vacation designed whether you´re planning a family vacation, reuniting with friends, or just have a relaxing moment with your significant other, while Starfish Resorts provides amazing value, breathtaking surroundings, and rich culture and heritage. Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts invites guests to Vacation Like A Star™ with an engaging and interactive experience, plus famous pop culture items from iconic movies, music, and sports while you will Dodge the Paparazzi at Planet Hollywood Adult Scene where your adults-only vacation will be the center of fascination and attention with glam and exclusivity. To learn more about Blue Diamond Resorts, please visit A photo accompanying this announcement is available at CONTACT: For more information, please contact media@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
28-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
I tried a Temazcal ceremony and my sweat lodge experience was nothing like your average sauna
If you ask anyone who has had a transformative spiritual experience – the kind that gifts a person clarity and perspective beyond the realm of the physical – where exactly they happened to have this experience, chances are they'll tell you that it was deep in the desert, in the belly of a cathedral or in the mystical jungles of Peru. They're unlikely to tell you that it was in the spa of a W Hotel. However, when I visited Mexico City for the first time, it was here; specifically at the W in the upmarket district of Polanco, that I had a transcendent spiritual encounter. I recently spent a couple of weeks in Mexico and during this time I sought out experiences that promised to support improved health and wellbeing. I took part in yoga classes and cacao rituals on the beach in Cancun, visited crystal emporiums and rubbed shoulders with 'light workers' in Tulum, and attempted to practice mindfulness and gratitude while wandering through the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza. I submerged myself in cenotes, soaked up the sun and repeated mantras in well meaning but fairly broken Spanish. I also decided to try my first Temazcal ceremony. Before arriving in Mexico, I had read up on the traditional Meso-American ceremony, which involves sitting in a domed sweat lodge for anywhere between 30 minutes to two hours, while a shaman increases the heat by pouring a 'tea' of medicinal herbs over hot coals and recites incantations. I had read that the experience could be overwhelming and should not be undertaken lightly – partially because of the extreme temperatures but also because of the emotional reactions that could take place. I'm a fan of the heat and find sauna culture in all its forms to be a great healer. Saunas and sweat lodges can be weird and they can be uncomfortable – as I found when I tried the Russian ritual of Parenie for the first time – but overall, I believe the positive physical and mental effects of heat exposure can be life changing. As long as you're practicing safely and following expert advice, the heat can do a lot for you – whether you're using an infrared sauna blanket or doing contrast therapy at your local wellness club. Due to this philosophy, I wasn't at all daunted by the prospect of sitting in a pitch-black dome at 50 degrees celsius. The practice of Temazcal is an ancient one conceived by the indigenous cultures of Mexico and Central America. Aztec codexes depict Temazcal ceremonies, so we're looking at a wellbeing ritual that was documented by Europeans at least 500 years ago but that is understood to be a far older practice. The stones in the centre of the lodge are referred to as the 'abuelitas', the W Hotel's resident shaman Rodrigo tells me. 'We call them the grandmothers because they hold the wisdom of the earth,' he says. Rodrigo explains that before we can enter the lodge to meet our grandmothers we have to be purified, so I close my eyes and open my arms, allowing myself to be wreathed in the sweet smoke billowing from a copalero. From the balcony I observe Mexico City's mad traffic and stained billboards as I'm dutifully cloaked in sage. In just a swimsuit I wonder if I'm underdressed. I'm expecting to sweat a lot, but Rodrigo is wearing a thick woven sarong and glasses, so I wonder if I've overestimated the heat inside the dome. I'll soon learn that this is an incredibly foolish thought. It's warm inside as we step in but things are about to get much, much hotter and in a few minutes my limits will be truly tested. Rodrigo tells me a little about the healing herbs in the tea, the history of Temazcal, how the lodges were originally made and the origin of the volcanic stones in the centre of the small dark room. The domes themselves are intended to represent the womb and the experience itself is equivalent to a rebirth. Inside the dome, you come face to face with nature and to your primal self and in doing so, level up and leave your previous self behind. Minutes in I'm sweating and after just fifteen, my skin is slick with moisture. I can feel my eyelashes soaked through and I feel nauseated. Usually I can stay in a sauna for about forty minutes before I feel lightheaded but standard saunas aren't as hot as this. Plus, the water vapour in here is thick and herbaceous, almost smoky from the tea of sweetgrass and mugwort being poured over the coals. I screw up my face and, fighting the urge to heave, I try to get closer to the ground where it's cooler, planting my feet against the stone floor and pushing my head between my legs. Breathing deeply would usually help in a situation like this, but I've been advised to breathe gently and with good reason – deeper breaths feel like my lungs are being toasted by the boiling air. At this point all I can focus on is the sensation and the words Rodrigo is speaking. Fully in my body, my mind isn't able to wander, so as he tells me to think about my childhood and all the water, woodlands and animals I encountered. So, I do. In my mind's eye I see frogs and newts, and imagine playing in ponds and rivers, smelling the bark of trees and walking yellow clay paths. Rodrigo tells me about the fine balance of nature and how there is no 'good' or 'bad', there is only 'what is' and I'm surprised at how easily I can comprehend this. As I'm suffering in the heat, I feel as though I've opened up a divine hotline and tapped straight into the oneness of everything. Thoughts like, 'no rain, no flowers' and 'everything is everything' fill my head and I start to cry. It's at this moment that the visions behind my eyelids become incredibly clear and the shaman's words drift into the background. I still feel sick but I feel strangely okay with that. He's talking about feeling at peace and moving beyond those who have hurt me, letting go of pain and resentment, becoming wiser. I have no idea how long I've been in the pitch-black dome but it feels like an eternity, so I feel overcome by gratitude when the curtain is drawn back allowing cool clean air inside. I sip a bottle of water and revel in the brutality of fire and earth, and the softness and generosity of air and water. I feel like factory settings have been restored as I slowly climb out of the brick womb and try to breathe normally. I'm advised to drink plenty of water and take it easy for the rest of the day. Some people find that Temazcal energises them and others feel depleted by it. I find myself in the latter category and very much in need of a swim and a lie down afterwards, but the ideas that had struck me during the experience continue to dominate my thoughts for days afterward. I feel more resilient and reflective but also very sensitive – it's a hard feeling to explain. My skin is also soft and glowing and I've sweated so much that I'm craving a jug of electrolytes. Temazcal is certainly not for the faint of heart, or those sensitive to heat. The temperatures alone require a strong stomach and the emotions it can bring up can be unsettling. However, if you think you can handle climbing into a windowless cavern that looks like a spaceship and subjecting yourself to soaring temperatures and herbal vapours for as long as you can stand it, I highly recommend the experience. As luck would have it, you don't have to venture into the jungle to find a practiced shaman. Just be aware that when Rodrigo at the W asks you if you're 'ready to fly' he isn't messing around.
