| Hi (HAP)pers, Welcome back to Spa Day. Certain destinations have wellness built into their identity. Think Sedona, the Swiss Alps, or Bali. Others surprise you. Take Los Cabos. Often described as the Hamptons of Los Angeles, it's a place where glamorous hotels, sleek restaurants, and tequila- and mezcal-fueled nights dominate the narrative. Wellness isn't necessarily the first thing that comes to mind. But perhaps it should be. Los Cabos has emerged as one of North America's most compelling wellness destinations. Here, wellness extends far beyond the traditional spa model. Think floating sound baths beneath the stars, hydrotherapy overlooking the Sea of Cortez, and guided breathwork in the desert- all rooted in the surrounding landscape. What makes wellness here so distinctive is that it's deeply connected to place. The desert, the ocean, the mountains, and the culture of Baja California Sur aren't simply the backdrop. They're part of the experience. Wellness Through Longevity, Recovery & Science At The Cape, a Thompson Hotel, wellness comes in the way of the Oceanfront Surfer Residence: an entire oceanfront villa complete with a fitness studio, on-call personal training, private sauna access, hydrotherapy experiences, spa treatments, and surf adventures. It's wellness designed for longer stays and deeper restoration. Meanwhile, One&Only Palmilla bridges ancestral healing traditions and modern science. Guests can participate in Temazcal ceremonies inspired by Indigenous traditions and sunrise purification rituals before booking advanced treatments from renowned aesthetics expert Dr. Barbara Sturm. Ocean, Sound & Desert-Led Rituals Some of Los Cabos's most interesting wellness offerings happen well beyond the walls of a traditional spa. Across the region, properties are embracing therapies that draw directly from the surrounding sea, desert, and sky. At NEST Baja near Cabo Pulmo, guests can float through sound baths, participate in cacao ceremonies, and practice Tai Chi overlooking the ocean. La Valise Los Cabos offers its own take through Janzu water therapy, Chi Kung, hammock meditation, and surf experiences, while at Paradero Todos Santos, wellness is woven into the fabric of daily life through breathing rituals, sound therapy, herbal workshops, Temazcal ceremonies, and stargazing. The common thread is a sense of connection—to nature, to place, and, ideally, to yourself. Slow Wellness & Conscious Living Not every wellness experience needs a biometric scan or cutting-edge technology. In Todos Santos, some properties are embracing a slower, more foundational approach centered on restoration and connection to place. |
At Desierto Azul, that takes shape through plant-based cuisine, wellness tonics made with regional botanicals, mindfulness practices, and long stretches spent beneath Baja's famously star-filled skies. Nearby, Hotel San Cristóbal encourages a similarly unhurried pace with oceanfront yoga and guided sound baths. The focus isn't optimization. It's slowing down enough to actually feel restored. Wellness in unexpected places doesn't stop in Baja. I was reminded of that recently during a visit to Lambertville, New Jersey, a charming town on the Delaware River that often plays second fiddle to neighboring New Hope. Tucked inside the historic LaceWorks Factory Building, Zanya Spa occupies 10,000 square feet and feels worlds away from the bustle of the Northeast corridor. Founded by celebrity stylist Zanya Gisler, the retreat has become a destination in its own right. An infrared sauna before and after a treatment- whether that's a massage, facial, body scrub, or, for maximum indulgence, all three- elevates the entire experience. It's the kind of place worth building a day trip around. From Other HAPers Out in Colorado, we recently checked into Well & Being Spa at The Hythe in Vail, where recovery from a day spent on the mountain—whether skiing in winter or hiking in summer—is front and center. The menu spans everything from high-performance bodywork to facial rejuvenation treatments, making it equally appealing for those looking to repair sore muscles or simply unwind. Internationally, Rebecca McVeigh recently reviewedLes Sources de Caudalie, the celebrated five-star retreat set on the grounds of Château Smith Haut Lafitte just outside Bordeaux. Surrounded by vineyards, the property combines the pleasures of French wine country with one of Europe's most acclaimed and extensive spa programs. Now, over to HAP contributor Lauren Harano for the biggest wellness buzz of the month. More soon, Shivani SHIVANI VORA |
