Spa Profile: El Capricho Spa at Cala de Mar Ixtapa

Cala de Mar is an intimate 59-suite hotel located on a cliffside in Ixtapa, Mexico.

Situated on a cliffside in Ixtapa, Mexico (an area on the Pacific Coast known as the Mexican Riviera), Cala de Mar Ixtapa is an intimate boutique hotel that offers the ultimate in luxury and privacy. All of its 59 guest rooms feature ocean views and individual private plunge pools, along with a dedicated personal assistant. The hotel’s four restaurants showcase the best of fine Mexican and international cuisine, and guests enjoy use of the gym with ocean views and relaxing yoga sessions in various locations throughout the property including a Beach Deck.

El Capricho Spa at Cala de Mar Ixtapa is a 6,000-square-foot wellness sanctuary with five private treatment rooms that have ocean views, in addition to a private room designed exclusively for couples. Each treatment room is named after a local flower in the local Nahuatl dialect, and spa-goers enjoy relaxing amenities including dry saunas, whirlpools, and color-therapy steam rooms.

The spa’s treatment menu combines ancient Mexican traditions and unique local rituals with the latest wellness techniques, and each spa service begins with a floral ritual foot bath and a water ritual that includes steam, sauna, whirlpool, and rain showers. Treatments from the spa’s Regional Collection incorporate local fruits and flowers such as aloe, coffee and cacao that have been used for centuries by traditional healers. A full range of manicures, pedicures, and salon services are also available.

We interviewed Spa Manager Vania Flores to learn more about treatments to try, insider tips, and more.

Every suite at the 5-star resort has ocean views and individual plunge pools.

Why You’ll Love It: The facilities, the personalized service, the privacy, the view. The more frequent compliments we receive are about the quality of service we provide.

The resort’s amenities include a stunning infinity-edge swimming pool that overlooks the ocean.

Key Features: We have a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, pressure showers, and a unique Temazcal sweat lodge.

Drawing inspiration from Ancient Aztec healing traditions, the Temazcal is a type of sweat lodge in the shape of a circular dome that originated with pre-Hispanic indigenous people as part of a curative ceremony to purify the body after exertion such as a battle or a ceremonial ball game. Ceremonies are led by a shaman or guide who will gently throw water over a pile of hot rocks in a pit that creates steam scented with rosemary, basil, lemongrass, and other aromatic herbs organically grown in our garden.

We also offer welcome drinks for every mood—our signature Lemongrass welcome drink for relaxation; an Energy Elixir with ginger, lime and celery; or our Glow Juice packed with antioxidants.

We welcome our guests with a flower-infused foot massage before their treatment and a local cacao drink after the treatment to reenergize body and soul, all in a dreamy relaxation area with impressive ocean views available for use before or after the service.

Guests can participate in yoga classes on the Beach Deck while enjoying the sound of crashing waves.

Snacks Served: We offer fresh fruit, our signature lemongrass welcome drink, Energy Elixir, Glow Juice, Water with chlorophyll, cocoa tea, natural water, and anything else available on our menu. Some of our guests’ favorites are mimosas, a glass of champagne, and crudites.

The open-air reception area at the resort’s El Capricho Spa.

Insider’s Tip: Don’t skip the Hydroritual, a treatment through water circuits at different temperatures that is offered complimentary with every treatment.

The spa’s amenities include spacious changing rooms with lockers.

Bonus: Unbeknownst to our guests, a pampering foot massage infused with fragrant flowers awaits before their treatment—a delightful surprise that adds an extra touch of luxury.

Spa-goers can enjoy quiet time in the relaxation lounge before and after their services.

Splurge Treatment: The Anti-Aging Facial by Natura Bisse, an intensive anti-aging treatment that effectively combats skin aging with a unique cocktail of vitamins combined with collagen and elastin amino acids that nourish and firm the skin while providing a radiant glow. It is ideal for all skin types and truly a delight for your skin.

The spa also offers hydrotherapy amenities for guests to enjoy.

Unique Treatment: The Romance at Cala for couples is a 50 or 80-minute treatment that includes a relaxing massage in a private cabin specially decorated for couples where the feeling of wellness is shared. A treatment dedicated to balancing body, mind, and soul accompanied by some exquisite chocolate-covered strawberries and a bottle of wine.

The treatment rooms feature ocean views with relaxing ocean breezes.

Insider’s Favorite: The Toronjil Balm and Lemongrass Wrap is a regional treatment that has its origins in ancient local tradition, made to relieve toxins and ailments from the body. The two botanicals—toronjil, a lemon-scented red flower central to Aztec healing traditions, and lemongrass—combined in a soothing wrap dramatically improve skin condition and detoxify with a bonus: the genuine aromas from the Cala de Mar orchard.

The spa has a Temazcal sweat lodge and offers ceremonies led by a shaman.

Featured Products: Our bespoke signature products, meticulously crafted for Cala de Mar, alongside the renowned Natura Bissé line, combined to elevate the indulgent experience of our guests.