MAYAN RETREAT

The draws of Mexico's Riviera Maya are obvious: glamour, grand hotels, sugar-fine sand beaches, and an endless parade of tanned bodies. Although these features are dazzling, they may not be rejuvenating.

That's why a recent makeover at Ceiba del Mar, a favorite escape among travelers looking for sun and sand in an intimate and affordable setting, brings a previously absent style of retreat to the Cancun scene.

In 2004, the diminutive resort (126 rooms and suites), added the Aromatherapy and Holistic Spa with treatments based on a unique combination of Mayan ritual and “PAT,” (Personalized Aromatherapy Treatment). Using Bach Flower principles, each treatment is personalized by a custom blend of oils and native ingredients like achiote, beeswax, and chaya. Treatment rooms boast private garden views but there are also beachfront and jungle palapas available for outdoor massage.

The resort's rejuvenation amenities also include oceanfront yoga, guided meditation, and an Aztec temezcal. Twenty miles south of the Cancun airport, Ceiba offers shuttle transfers and complimentary bicycles for auto-free vacationing. For more information call (877) 545-6221 or visit www.ceibadelmar.com

—Amy Reiley

May/June 2005