One&Only Palmilla: Blissful Harmony on the Sea of Cortez
One&Only Palmilla has been nominated for a Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best International Spa.
The property, which is part of the One&Only luxury resorts brand owned and operated by Kerzner International, has long been a favorite retreat for Hollywood celebrities and savvy travelers alike since it originally opened in 1956. One&Only Palmilla is located in Los Cabos, Mexico and offers dramatic views of the Sea of Cortéz. It recently completed an extensive, $120 million expansion and renovation project.
The resort's One&Only Spa is a luxurious indoor/outdoor 22,000 square foot facility inspired by the artistic and architectural themes of Mexico with stunning natural vistas of the Baja landscape. The spa is comprised of six buildings surrounded by lush landscaping and features 13 private treatment villas, accommodating either one or two people – allowing guests to enjoy their spa regime in complete sanctuary, whether for a few hours or a half-day.
Each villa offers a beautifully appointed private air-conditioned massage pavilion and open-air garden. There are also six deluxe villas designed for guests to share their spa experience with a friend or a loved one and include outdoor rain showers, whirlpool baths and palapa-covered Mexican day beds, perfect for relaxing in between or after treatments. A separate deluxe One&Only spa villa is reserved for the most indulgent day of rejuvenation, featuring a Sensory Float Bed for wraps and treatments.
The Moon & Stars Garden serves as a relaxing space for guests to enjoy after their treatments. The space is especially enchanting in the evening, with the stars, glowing lights, natural sounds and aroma from flowers, helping individuals truly unwind.
Guests can choose from a variety of comprehensive menu of ESPA treatments representing a blend of Mexican, Asian and global accents with many of the therapies based on the ancient beauty, healing and rejuvenation secrets of several Asian cultures. Treatments include massages, facials, body scrubs, wraps, and aromatherapy treatments as well as several combination packages.
Each One&Only Spa Signature experience begins with a foot ritual in the tranquil garden of the treatment villa and include a full body Aromatherapy massage. Some end with relaxation in an outdoor bath or on a Mexican daybed while savoring tea and fresh fruit. These ancient traditions focus on both the inner and outer self, with the skin nourished, muscles soothed and the mind calmed. Every detail is an important part of the experience and every sense indulged, from the rituals that accompany each treatment to the exclusive products using the finest indigenous ingredients. Every detail is an important part of the experience and every sense is indulged, from the rituals that accompany each treatment to the exclusive products using the finest indigenous ingredients, from Mexican spices to lime to flowers.
The One&Only Spa also offers a unique family spa experience in which a guest and their child (minimum age is 12) can have private side-by-side treatments in their own room or Palapa Brisa del Mar. One family package, for example, offers the parent a "Soothing Wellness Massage" while the child simultaneously receives a head, hand and foot massage.
The One&Only Spa offers a fully-equipped, 2,000 square foot fitness center with the latest cardiovascular equipment, free weights, an aerobic studio, kinesis wall and an outdoor garden where yoga classes are held. Classes such as Spinning, Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi are offered daily, as well as personal trainers to assist and help incorporate well-being in the guest's vacation. Other highlights include two pools, the hotel's original pool just off the lobby and a second, infinity-edge pool on a bluff overlooking the sea, with a dedicated children's swimming and recreation area – which makes the resort a perfect destination for families. These features, combined with Palmilla Beach, one of the very few swimmable beaches in Los Cabos, put One&Only Palmilla in a category by itself for water sports and relaxation.
Service at One&Only Palmilla is unparalleled yet completely unobtrusive. Butler service is provided around-the-clock to all rooms, with dedicated butlers assigned to each of the suites, offering a host of services to make the guest's stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
The resort's accommodations feature 61 guestrooms, 91 junior suites, 20 one-bedroom suites (many with adjoining private infinity edge pools) and the four-bedroom Villa Cortez (a four-bedroom villa complete with 12-person theater and live-in butler quarters). The resort also offers several fine dining options, including a restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
Other activities offered by the resort include its 27-hole Palmilla Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus, which has been rated among the top 100 in the world by Great Golf Resorts of the World. There's also tennis, sailing, kayaking, diving, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing.
During the winter months, the region is also noted for its whale migrations from the Arctic, and given One&Only Palmilla's unique location, it offers unparalleled views of the giant mammals as they arrive in the Sea of Cortéz.
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