The sexiest spas in the world

updated 8:57 p.m. ET Nov. 1, 2006

While sexy is certainly in the eye of the beholder, there is an exemplary handful of new and classic spas that all possess an undeniable charisma, one that drenches the mind, body, and spirit with an awareness of our earthly presence. Steeped in sense-arousing colors, textures, scents, and spa treatments, these ten hot spots are all something to talk about.

Verana, Mexico

The Setting
The unorthodox journey via boat and then steep trek on foot and mule primes you for the wild possibilities of Verana. Carved out of a cinematic swathe of raw jungle south of Puerto Vallarta in Yelapa, the jaw-dropping bay view and jungle backdrop are dramatized by an aesthetic that is as original as it is chic and handmade. Each guest house is unique from the next and almost all force their occupants to engage with nature. The Mayan house, for example, has only two walls. The jaunt to the infinity-edge pool is a walking meditation peppered with itinerant butterflies and Technicolor green banana palms.

The Spa
Casually made up of two palapas and another semi-outdoor room with glass and metal screens, the spa is laced with the scent of lemongrass and plumeria that grows all around. The menu’s lush masks, massages, and facials use mostly handmade potions whipped up from fresh, locally grown ingredients like avocado, coffee, and papaya. By daylight, a live soundtrack of parrots accompanies the treatments, but at night, a chorus of cicadas and courting frogs replaces them — an ideal match for relaxing by candlelight in one of the Japanese-style soaking tubs steeped in a special blend of essential oils, salts, and herbs.

Satisfaction Guaranteed
Verana’s quiet is breathtaking and the lure of the jungle sets a primordial tone, but for me, the new Watsu pool, elegantly built into the hillside, was its own form of bliss. Sliding into gentle reverie, afloat in the arms of my therapist, I can still imagine swirling slowly through the water, completely willing to dissolve into a womblike trance. Even so, the sense of place pervades, and though my eyes were closed, I never lost sight of being within kissing distance of nature.

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Arizona

The Setting
There’s something about desert air. It’s more vibrant, as if compensating for the stark landscape with a richness that is palpable — the gentle breezes are nearly a caress. The mingled scents of sage, creosote, and deep-red earth high up on Camelback Mountain add another layer of gratification. Under the calm gaze of the Praying Monk, a natural rock formation with easily distinguishable features, Sanctuary’s bungalows ensure privacy, sprawled along the hillside and connected by meandering sandstone paths. At night, the twinkling lights of Paradise Valley carpet the desert floor that stretches out beneath the dark silhouette of the mountains.

The Spa
From the Spa Casitas (the sleek modern rooms built closest to the spa), it’s a short walk to the rock and smooth-stucco spa complex, set downhill from an infinity pool that reflects the impossibly blue desert sky. Passing beneath the arched bamboo doorway, I blinked in the transition from bright sunlight to the cool embracing darkness of the anteroom, the only light spilling in from a four-foot-high slit in the opposite wall. The experience gently evolves in the deeper recesses of the spa, such as the sun-filled Meditation Room, where the sound of trickling water and the smell of desert brush wafts in from the courtyard garden. Throughout, spare lines and earth tones calmly eliminate points of reference, heightening the sense of submission.

Satisfaction Guaranteed
Sanctum is the ultimate outdoor suite where stone slab walls spiral inward to a private arena for one or two. After playing in the vitality pool and rain shower, the fire pit ablaze, I surrendered myself to the two-hour, Thai-inspired Luk Pra Kope. Dressed in traditional sabai wear (a loose fitting, thin cotton top and pants), my limbs were stretched and kneaded in the liberating dance of Thai massage. Finally, warm damp compresses smelling of ginger, myrtle grass, and camphor were pressed into my skin, easily penetrating the fabric and my senses, leaving me redolent of exotic spice.

Tabacon Hot Springs Resort & Spa, Costa Rica

The Setting
In the northern Costa Rican countryside — a green-on-green mosaic that’s stunning in its own right — stands the active and unusually prolific Arenal Volcano. Multiple daily eruptions yield a steady and seemingly slow-motion flow of neon-red lava that’s particularly dramatic in the dark, if the clouds cooperate. And situated near the base of the volcano, on what’s clearly a geothermic hot-spot, is Tabacón. The rainforest-enveloped resort is home to a web of naturally heated streams, falls, and pools where you can easily, and sometimes literally, lose yourself — the ever-present steam both relaxes and obscures.

The Spa
The omnipresence of nature’s raw power lends Tabacón a strong, earthy sensuality that makes you want to have someone special along when you visit. Hours passed as I gave each of the streams and pools at least a test dip, if not a lengthy soak. This eco-friendly version of hot tubbing easily becomes addictive as you get to know the subtleties of the various temperatures and mineral contents, and sort out your favorites. Let the main waterfall blast every last bit of stress from your shoulders (and be sure to slip into the steam-filled little cavern behind the cascade), then head to the on-site Iskandria Spa, where you’ll find simple, open-air bungalows (on request) and volcano-derived treatments, as well as reiki, Watsu, and Thai massage.

Satisfaction Guaranteed
The detoxifying Volcanic Body Wrap is a sensory-fest from start to finish: Go for one of the open-air bungalows, where the warm breezes alone are delicious, and the ambient noise of flowing water and an assortment of chirps trumps even the most relaxing spa music. After being copiously rubbed with the local, mineral-rich mud — and left to bask in it for a bit under a cozy blanket — you’re led to a volcanically heated stream, where rinsing off is in reality a skinny-dipping session. Need I say more?  

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