Sorobon Wellness center, located on the Sorobon Beach Resort, offers daily yoga sessions on their private beach yoga deck.

If your fitness routine fell off track in 2020, you’re not alone. In addition to the stress of the pandemic, many indoor gyms and workout studios had to temporarily close as a safety precaution. So if you had a weekly yoga class or gym groove that you regularly enjoyed, your health goals may have been thrown off course.

Gyms and Workouts With the Best Views

In 2021 we are all about the outdoor fitness trend, which allows you to exercise in a safer way with the added bonus of being outside in nature. In fact, many resort destinations are offering invigorating outdoor socially distant exercise experiences from beach yoga to swimming, tennis, surfing, and more. This list of vacation destinations with outdoor fitness offerings will have you dreaming and planning your future healthy travel getaways.

1. Sorobon Beach Resort & Sorobon Boutique Hotel — Bonaire

Workout: Windsurfing, yoga

Whether a beginner or an expert, the combination of tranquil turquoise waters, balmy breezes, and the protective barrier reef and mangrove forests of Bonaire’s Lac Bay make it the ideal outdoor environment for the thrilling water sport and full-body workout of windsurfing. Sorobon Boutique Hotel, nestled along the island's natural salt lagoon, is one of the top windsurfing spots in the world, as well as a great wellness destination.

There is an in-house windsurfing center, Dunkerbeck Pro Center, where guests can learn or practice their skills with the newest windsurfing gear and professional instructors. Additionally, Sorobon Wellness Center, located on the Sorobon Beach Resort, offers daily yoga sessions on a private beach yoga deck, perfect for a pre-or post-surf session.

2. Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa — Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Workout: Yoga, paddleboarding, walks, soccer, beach volleyball, basketball, tennis, stretching, kayaking, and aquarobics.

Enjoy outdoor yoga on the picturesque jetty or take a paddle board lesson on the calm waters of the Banderas Bay, all surrounded by ocean meets mountain views. Guests can also take part in additional open-air activities including walks, soccer, and volleyball on the beach, along with basketball, tennis, stretching, kayaking, and aquarobics. These on-site activities are included in Marriott Puerto Vallarta’s resort fee, require a reservation, and are based on availability.

3. W Fort Lauderdale — Fort Lauderdale, FL

Workout: Outdoor “seasycle” spin classes

It's time to rock and ride! The beachfront W Fort Lauderdale has partnered with Ride Element Spin Studio to offer guests and locals the ride of their life with weekly outdoor spin classes. This new series, aptly named Sea Sycle, features outdoor, oceanfront spin classes with 20 socially distanced spin bikes perched on the fourth-floor Living Room Terrace. A Ride Element spin instructor will help fuel the day with a heart-pumping workout, saturated with panoramic ocean views and lively beats. Cycle shoes or sneakers are required for class and water, sunglasses, and hats are recommended.

Three bikes are reserved exclusively for guests and are complimentary on a first-come-first-serve basis. For all non-guests, single classes are $20 or $54 for a three-class pack. Also, free 90-minute parking is available when you grab a post-workout bite at SoBe Vegan located within the hotel. The best part of all: on Thursdays, all Sea Sycle classes come with a complimentary all-day, all-access pass to the hotel’s Insta-worthy WET Deck. For more information and booking, visit seasycle.com

4. LionsDive Beach Resort — Curaçao

Workout: swimming, open-air gym

Get your fitness on with stunning ocean views. The Olympic-size infinity pool at LionsDive Beach Resort in Curaçao makes it easy to fit in a swim workout without sacrificing any vacation vibes. When you’re not nailing a medley, you can get PADI certified at the resort’s neighboring dive school or just relax on the private beach before ordering an in-room massage. For the ultimate wellness getaway, stay in the Penthouse and enjoy unrivaled ocean views from the open-air gym, complete with patio seating and a bathtub for a post-workout soak. Hitting the gym on vacation has never been so indulgent!

5. W Punta de Mita — Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

Workout: Surfing, yoga

A chic beach resort located on Mexico’s coveted Riviera Nayarit, W Punta de Mita offers a wellness-inspired escape for travelers who want to get some zen while perfecting their hang-ten. The property is situated on one of Mexico’s best surf breaks and offers an incredible surfing program ideal for beginners and advanced surfers.

Nestled in the heart of this jungle paradise, guests can practice their downward dog at AWAY Spa’s relaxation deck surrounded by ancient papelillo trees or on their Camino Huichol—a walkway made up of more than 700,000 individual mosaic tiles with designs inspired by the area’s indigenous natives. The walkway extends from the lobby all the way out to the ocean and has stairs designed to represent the ups and downs of life, not to mention gorgeous beachfront views. After they’ve had a chance to unwind, guests can feast on fresh beachside ceviche or lounge at the poolside WET Deck listening to smooth, relaxing beats.

6. JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa — Cancun, Mexico

Workout: Tennis, personal training

There’s nothing better than a retreat to the mystical, sparkling blue Mexican-Caribbean to hit restart and heal your mind and body. While Cancun may not be the first destination that comes to mind for wellness travel, JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa lures in those that are seeking a serene escape with its 35,000-square-foot Mayan-inspired JW Spa, 14-foot dive pool with an artificial reef, state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis courts and personal training packages, as well as a Health Bar with fresh juices, smoothies, protein shakes, and supplements galore.

The property’s three restaurants will help you nourish your body from the inside out with various superfoods, ranging from cacao, pistachios, and blueberries to green tea, ginger, and seaweed. Guests can also venture to the nearby cenotes for a dip in the magical waters of Mexico or to a local surf spot to tackle the waves. For more information, visit jwmarriottcancun.com

7. Caerula Mar Club — South Andros, Bahamas

Workout: diving, outdoor workouts, kayaking, biking, yoga

Easily accessible by just a 20-minute flight from Nassau, South Andros Island is the largest Bahamian island, but the least inhabited. With the third largest coral reef in the world, divers can explore a kaleidoscope of exotic marine life that runs into the Tongue of the Ocean, a deep ocean trench that begins at about 70 feet deep and at depths of more than 6,000 feet. Tucked away between lush mangroves and untouched powder-white sands, visitors can stay at Caerula Mar—a luxury boutique hotel that opened in February with 18 oceanfront suites and six private villas. Designed by an HGTV Canada reality power couple, it’s the first new hotel in more than two decades and is putting the island of South Andros on the map! Hotel visitors can enjoy a number of outdoor workouts from ocean kayaking to biking and yoga.

8. Jade Mountain — Saint Lucia

Workout: private yoga, hiking

Jade Mountain is one of the most spectacular resorts for travelers seeking a dose of solitude. The gorgeous cliffside retreat is known for its three-walled, open-air guest room 'sanctuaries’ that feature en-suite infinity pools, private butler service, and sweeping views of the majestic twin Pitons and Caribbean Sea. Fitness enthusiasts can opt for private yoga or meditation sessions on the resort’s Celestial Terrace, or hike the famed Gros Piton—a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the help of a Hiking Butler who will accompany travelers and is equipped with gourmet canapés, cool-minted face cloths, and other VIP essentials.

9. Hyatt Centric Las Olas — Fort Lauderdale, FL

Workout: Skyline view Peloton

Looking to avoid crowded gyms? Guests can opt for a private, high-intensity Peloton workout at the hotel’s chic Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale Elev8 pool deck, complete with sweeping skyline views and a personal “Cool Down Concierge” who brings water and cold towels to help keep the momentum going throughout your ride. Fuel the rest of your day with a meal from Harborwood Urban Kitchen & Bar, which offers al fresco dining with prime people-watching on bustling Las Olas Boulevard, and reward yourself afterwards with a mini bottle of Laurent-Perrier from the hotel’s Champagne vending machine…after all, you’ve earned it!

10. Barnsley Resort — Adairsville, GA

Workout: Forest yoga, hiking, horseback riding, sporting clays, archery, golf

Spanning 3,000-acres and just one hour northwest of Atlanta, Barnsley Resort invites you to connect to nature with Forest Yoga. One of the resort's many outdoor activities, yogis can take time to breathe, move, and meditate in a tranquil forest setting. Suitable for any skill level, this slow-flow Vinyasa session will leave you renewed and refreshed. The session ends taking in the quiet beauty of the surrounding area. Guests can also enjoy other outdoor adventures and amenities to keep active like hiking miles of trails, guided horseback riding, sporting clays, archery, golf, and more.

11. Rush Creek Lodge — Yosemite, California

Workout: Hiking, Yoga, Boga

Rush Creek Lodge in Yosemite, California provides a relaxed yet sophisticated experience surrounded by a 20-acre wooded hillside setting. The lodge features a mix of 143 lodge rooms, suites, and hillside villas—all with private decks (most with sunset views). For some outdoor relaxation, guests can enjoy the heated salt water pool and hot tubs. The hotel also provides guided tours and free planning advice for exploring around Yosemite, in addition to daily on-site activities and adventure gear rentals. Seasonally, guests can enjoy yoga on the Sunset Deck and boga in/on the heated saltwater pool are guest favorites. (Boga is yoga performed on a boga board that is a cross between a paddleboard and a yoga mat, and it’s tons of fun!) For more info, check out our Rush Creek Lodge spa profile.

12. Conrad Punta de Mita — Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

Workout: Sunrise yoga, guided hikes, golf, beach cruiser bikes, tennis courts

Situated beside the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific on a two-mile-long beach lies the brand-new Conrad Punta de Mita. The resort was built as a portal into the landscape, history and rich multi-cultural identity of the region and its Huichol people. Accentuated by lush tropical vegetation, open corridors, and contemporary coastal décor, the resort’s nature-centric aesthetic enhances wellness and reflects a core belief of the Huichol: that transformation and personal development occur through connection to nature. Blurring the line between the natural and built environment, guests are privy to outdoor oases that host a number of active experiences like a long stretch of sandy beach where a sunrise yoga class takes place honoring the ancient Huichol tradition, access to the Litibu Golf Course, guided hikes, beach cruiser bikes, and on-site tennis courts.

13. Couples Swept Away — Negril, Jamaica

Workout: tennis, pickleball, group fitness classes, kayaking, windsurfing, paddle boarding, golf

As one of the most sought-after all-inclusive resorts in Negril, Couples Swept Away provides a tropical oasis of style and sophistication made specially for vacationing adult couples. A true adult playground, the resort’s all-inclusive program features amenities and activities that go beyond traditional all-inclusive offerings. The resort is home to a massive 10-acre fitness complex (the largest in the country), where guests can enjoy a handful of complimentary outdoor fitness activities like tennis lessons and unlimited games on nine tennis courts, four pickleball courts, and group fitness classes like Aquasize. All watersports are also complementary, allowing couples to break a sweat while kayaking, windsurfing, and paddle boarding under the warm sun. Unlimited golf is also available at the nearby Negril Hills Golf Course.

14. Caribe Hilton — San Juan, Puerto Rico

Workout: tennis

Nestled on the pristine sands of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Caribe Hilton sits beachfront on an exclusive peninsula made up of 17 acres of lush tropical gardens and features lighted tennis courts in partnership with Olympic Gold Medalist Monica Puig. Practice your backhand just steps away from the beach with daily lessons from professional tennis instructors that have trained some of Puerto Rico’s elite tennis pros. After working up a sweat, relish your time together at their beautiful oceanfront pools, snuggle up on one of their beachside hammocks, feast at one of their on-site dining options or enjoy the full-service spa. Don't leave without trying the classic Piña Colada—the cocktail was invented at the Caribe Hilton, after all.

15. Aruba Marriott Resort — Palm Beach, Aruba

Workout: AquaZumba, beach yoga, beach tennis and beach volleyball

Located on the pristine shores of Palm Beach, the Aruba Marriott Resort is a Caribbean oasis with a plethora of outdoor activities to get your heart rate up. Work up a sweat with AquaZumba in the main pool or take in the tranquil ocean views with guided yoga sessions on the beach. These classes are offered on a rotating weekly schedule and complimentary to resort guests. If you're looking for even more ways to stay active under the sun, the resort offers beach tennis and beach volleyball for sports lovers. After your workout, relax, stretch out, and simply enjoy the fresh air at this 414-room beachfront resort, which boasts the largest accommodations on the island.

Please be responsible as you travel. Remember to follow local health guidelines and check for the latest updates directly from your destinations.

[Images courtesy of hotels/resorts]

15 Travel Destinations for Outdoor Fitness