Baja Bliss

A popular escape for celebs and jetsetters, Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort (San José del Cabo, Mexico) is true to its name, serving as a window to paradise. The luxury beach resort has long served as a respite to guests with its stunning setting, five-star service, and attention to detail. In fact, the property just recently celebrated its 15th anniversary. Not content to rest on its laurels, Las Ventanas unveiled a host of new amenities and enhancements, including a multimillion-dollar spa renovation. Undergoing a dramatic redesign in late 2011, The Spa at Las Ventanas incorporated more of the outdoors into the overall setting. “The spa was transformed into a desert oasis by creating a dense green canopy with 45 areca and date palms with spreading fronds,” says spa director Martin Sandoval. “Thatched palapas, latilla screens, and walls of vegetation further enhance the sense of protection and retain the intimacy and personalization that remain central to the Las Ventanas guest experience.”

The renovation involved a new spa lobby with a rock fountain, comfortable seating, and a reception desk beneath a large palapa-style roof. The four existing treatment cabanas were also redone, and four additional cabanas were added. They all now boast an outdoor shower and private terrace and garden. Two of the new cabanas were designed specifically for couples and feature an outdoor jetted tub for two. The spa also unveiled a new salon with contemporary artwork and a floor complete with inlaid-tile designs handcrafted by Mexican artisans. The salon has two facial rooms and zero-gravity chairs for manicures and pedicures. A new spa boutique opened early last year and now accounts for approximately 5 percent of the spa’s revenue.

While the renovations certainly take the spa to the next level, the enhancements didn’t stop there. A signature scent, created by Ajne, a Carmel, CA-based creator of organic scents, was infused throughout the spa. The custom blend evokes the indigenous natural flora of the area with a bit of citrus. In addition to the exclusive scent, a new Four Elements treatment menu was also introduced. It incorporates Earth Blend, which combines rue herbs with cedarwood, frankincense, mugwort, and rosewood oils to uplift the spirit and restore life and energy flow; Water Blend, which relies on rose petals and ylang ylang to nurture and cleanse the energy within; Fire Blend, which uses cinnamon, damiana, and rosemary to ignite passion and motivate; and Air Blend, which brings together lavender and sage to stimulate vital energy and generate clear and creative thinking. “The holistic menu was inspired by the ancient healers of Baja who were masters at tapping into the power of the four elements in their quest for emotional balance, spiritual peace, and physical wellbeing,” says Sandoval. “We were also set on using local products from the Baja region.”

The Nopal Detox Desert Wrap ($380, 2 hours; $430, 2 hours 30 minutes as part of Spa Pod experience), for instance, uses locally grown nopal to help diminish cellulite and fluid retention. Another treatment, Flor de Luna ($285, 90 minutes; $335, 2 hours with Spa Pod experience), relies on a signature scrub made from moon flower of the pitaya plant, which is indigenous to the Baja region and blooms by moonlight. Each of these treatments can be paired with the Spa Pod Reawakening Experience, which incorporates a multi-sensory hydro spa system that provides chromatherapy, LED light, steam, a synchronized Vichy shower, water reflexology, a vibratory massage, and aromatherapy in an encapsulated environment.

Catering to a sophisticated clientele, the menu offers an eclectic mix of treatments. “Las Ventanas’s spa-goers are usually interested in one of our many massages,” says Sandoval. “We offer several techniques that are specific to our spa and have been nurtured and developed over the past 15 years.” Even the younger set can get in on the action with the Rose Buds Junior Menu, which is geared for those ages five through 13.

With 16 full-time and 11 part-time staff members, the spa is able to accommodate 40 to 50 treatments each day and an additional 20 in the wet areas. In honor of its 15th anniversary, the spa also offered guests a special Tequila Treatment ($190, 60 minutes; $240, 90 minutes) for a limited time. Celebrating love, romance, and life, the treatment involved a massage using an elixir of Clase Azul Tequila and aromatic Ajne oil made specifically for Las Ventanas. As the resort moves past this latest milestone, the spa’s staff is focused on continuing to deliver the best possible spa experience to guests. Says Sandoval, “We do not see chal- lenges, only ways to become better, more innovative and creative with our treatments and experiences.”

 

Owner: Ty Warner

Spa Director: Martin Sandoval

 

Opened: 1997

 

Client Base

60% female 40% male

 

Most Represented Countries

U.S., Mexico, England

 

Space

14,211 square feet; 8 treatment rooms

 

Offerings

aromatherapy, Ayurveda, body treatments, chromatherapy, couples’ treatments, energy work, eyelash extensions, facials, fitness, guided meditation, hair and scalp treatments, hand and foot treatments, hydrotherapy, hypnosis, injectables, laser hair removal, makeup application, massage, nailcare, nutrition consultation, outdoor treatments, Pilates, prenatal services, reflexology, salon services, sound therapy, watsu, waxing, yoga

 

Signature Service

Las Ventanas Signature Massage ($240, 90 minutes)

 

Most Expensive Offering

Romance Ritual for Two ($900, 3 hours), which includes an aromatic foot cleansing, a full-body exfoliation, a soothing massage, an aromatherapy pressure-point facial massage, a rose petal bath, Las Ventanas signature Passion cocktails, and a taste from the La Cocina del Spa menu

 

Product Lines

Davines, Esencia San Miguel, Kahina, Oribe, Priori, SpaRitual, Tata Harper, Young Living

 

Equipment

Earthlite, Ikonna, NuFace, Oakworks, Precor, Sensi, SpaSoft, Winds

 

Architect

HKS Architects (Mexico City, Mexico), Cabo Development (San José del Cabo, Mexico)