After a week at the El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico, I wasn’t quite ready to come back to reality. While this Waldorf Astoria property does have a top notch spa with a myriad of services available, the ‘spa experience’ extends far behind the spa. The resort embraces wellness, from it’s salad and juice offerings on their restaurant menus to the yoga classes you can do on-site.
What’s so lovely about the yoga classes is where they hold them. When I was told to meet across from the spa for our class in the Casita Garden, I didn’t realize that the class would be set up just above the driving range of their stunning award-winning par 72 Arthur Hills golf course. In addition to yoga, they have programs and fitness services, including Circuit Training (there’s a gym with equipment on-site), a fitness assessment, cycling, synrgy, TRX anti-gravity training, and meditation.
Happy feet after a fabulous yoga session in the Caribbean sun. For those who love yoga, you might also be interested in their wellness retreats, which include a Silent Meditation Hike in El Yunque Rainforest, Paddle Board Yoga on Palomino Island, Sunset Yoga and Candlelight Labyrith Meditation at Casitas Garden.
Before we get to the spa itself, I also have to boast about the hot tubs around the property, one of which is cushioned within the pool grounds on the main property and faces the bar and another which faces the Atlantic Ocean with stunning views. There are others in different parts of the resort.
They have a number of packages that combine services, such as a massage mixed with a body polish and a facial with a beverage, or a Citrus Sea Salt Glow with a Caribbean bath, a therapeutic fusion massage and a beverage pairing. They also have a Detox Ritual which includes a body treatment, an oxygen facial and a beverage pairing, as well as something called a Sun Salutation, which is an after sun body treatment, facial and beverage pairing.
I opted for a simple massage although they used some hot stones on my achy shoulder and neck which helped soothe that muscle pain away. If I had more time, I would have liked to try one of their scrubs: pineapple body polish, coconut sugar scrub or the coffee scrub, which they do with Puerto Rican coffee, mint and citrus. The coffee scrub is aimed to increase circulation and cellular turnover while assisting with the breakdown of cellulite. Love it!!
The spa also has organic airbrush tans and body glows, aromatherapy, a Caribbean bath in healing waters with infusions of herbs, plants and eucalyptus, Asian reflexology and Ayurvedic Indian head massage, which helps to restore energy and balance, regular mood and relieve congestion and tension. Below, the relaxation lounge area where I waited for my spa appointment.
Afterwards, they also have a hot soaking jacuzzi inside the women and men’s lounges as well.
Above the jacuzzi is a sky light so you don’t ever feel too far away from the Caribbean sky.
Ahhh yes! Who doesn’t love a spa with the multi-directional water jets?
The experience was just what I needed to kick off the trip. I was pleasantly surprised by just how many services they have as noted above, which is by far from an exhaustive list. From healing baths, sea glows, massages, head scalp massages and Thai massage, to Rainforest hot stone therapy, facials, pedicures, detox treatments, Royal Thai Herbal Poultice and herbal wraps, there’s no shortage of options to choose from.
For men, they even have a classic Barber Shoppe Hot Towel facial, which is great for men who suffer from ingrown hairs due to shaving. Additionally there’s special options for pregnant women and a children’s spa program, which is dedicated to kids under the age of 14.
You might be wondering how they can provide so many services at one location however when you learn that the spa takes up 26,000 square feet, has 25 treatment rooms, five facial rooms, five wet rooms, 15 dry rooms, a full service Edouard de Paris salon and a retail boutique, you’ll quickly see why this state-of-the-art spa is calling your name.
While the resort provided comfy robes inside the spa (and inside the rooms), I opted for my vibrantly colored and cosy Jockey robe. Alas, the view from my room — pure bliss!
Details:
The El Conquistador Resort
A Waldorf Astoria Property
1000 El Conquistador Avenue
Fajardo Puerto Rico 00738
787.863.1000
www.elconresort.com
Note: I was hosted by the hotel but all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
