JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa is, in many ways, a traditional upscale Los Cabos resort. It has numerous pools — including one of the swim-up bar variety — and several eateries offering decadent delights.
While one could spend all day at the oceanfront, adults-only pool sipping cocktails, it’s certainly not the only way to pass the time. There’s an expansive spa and gym, relaxing guestrooms and healthy culinary options.
During my stay, I used my time at the hotel to recoup and relax. Some days, when pressed for time, that meant soaking in my guestroom’s large bathtub, supplied with chamomile salts and products from Aromatherapy Associates, the brand used in the spa. The shower also had a spa-like feel thanks to its large size, which allowed for a bench set with a towel.
I also slept exceedingly well, due to a comfortable mattress and plush pillows, and the ease of getting my room to an ideal, slightly chill temperature. I also appreciated little things — such as being able to turn off the glowing light on my bedside clock, which allowed the room to get completely dark. Finally, few things can beat the white noise that comes from opening the balcony door of an oceanview room.
At more than 21,000 square feet, Jasha Spa & Salon encompasses 12 treatment rooms and numerous amenities. In the locker room area, guests can enjoy a Jacuzzi tub, a cold plunge pool, a sauna and a salt steam room, which emits a notably strong and invigorating eucalyptus scent.
There are a few chaise lounges opposite the tubs, but they likely play second fiddle to the outdoor lounge chairs which sit opposite a long and narrow infinity pool that juts toward the ocean.
On the opposite end of the pool is a hydrotherapy circuit. For those looking for a more traditional wellness experience, the spa features a temazcal — a Mexican sweat lodge which originated in Aztec times.
Treatments include facials and massages, including a hot stone treatment and an aromatherapy massage. I opted for the aromatherapy treatment — the most popular offering — which commenced with sniffing four different mixtures of essential oils, each targeted for a different goal. My choice, “Inner Strength,” included geranium, cardamom, clary sage and frankincense, and nicely complemented the essential oil poured into my hands upon entering the spa.
My masseuse, Monica, expertly applied the oil onto my skin for a medium-pressure massage that methodically dissipated all tension in my body using long upward and downward strokes. During my favorite moment of the treatment, Monica simultaneously cradled and massaged the left side of my scalp while using her other hand to gently press on my third eye.
The spa, like the rest of the hotel, is chic in its minimalism; use of natural materials such as wood and concrete; and embrace of geometric lines, which artfully duplicate in the sun and frame the surrounding ocean and tropical foliage.
Treatments begin and end with unsweetened beverages — but fortunately, the gym is not the only option for healthy drinks and bites.
At Ua Culinary Artisans, the oceanfront location of the breakfast buffet, a juice bar serves several freshly pressed options, including a tasty green juice that features cactus, spinach and orange juice.
A local twist can also be found in the omelet section, which offers a huitlacoche (corn truffle) and mushroom version. A gluten-free and sugar-free selection of baked goods is also available. And among a quartet of bacon on display is a vegetarian option made from dried eggplant.
Mimah Gym is equipped enough to stand up to the hotel’s many lures. Daily workout classes are offered, and a JW partnership with fitness trainer Nora Tobin allows visitors to follow prerecorded workouts in the gym or in the privacy of one’s own guestroom.
I confess that I didn’t use the gym, but in my defense, the hotel’s easy access to miles of tourist-free beach made for an ideal fitness alternative.
The Details
JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
www.marriott.com
