Onsite Review: Puerto Rico—The Luxury of Wellness

Recommend Standard Image TemplatePuerto Rico—The Luxury of WellnessBy Lydia GregoryRecommend was recently invited to sample Puerto Rico’s luxury wellness retreat offer, part of Discover Puerto Rico’s successful effort to put “La Isla” (one of the many local monikers for this tiny, but mighty, island) at the very top of mind for every kind of traveler. Read on to find out how La Isla is sitting right at the intersection of wellness and the new luxury—a combination of immersive experiences, gourmet dining and, of course, high-brow accommodations.Fairmont El San Juan HotelLocated on the urban Isla Verde Beach in San Juan, this iconic resort has maintained its status as one of Puerto Rico’s top hotels since the 1950s for good reason. With 388 sleek guestrooms, suites and villas—including the new Banyan Suites, built under the shade of an ancient tree—the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel has an extraordinarily elegant lobby (the backdrop for many an Instagram pic), one of the most high-tech casinos in the Caribbean, a stylish rum bar (that serves sushi in the evenings), gourmet dining that blends the best of Puerto Rico with international flavors and a wellness offer that was an integral part of the $65 million makeover that took place a handful of years ago.Recommend Standard Image Template-1696268510 The Well & Being Spa and Fitness Center is at the heart of this luxury offer, with experiences such as the yoga session we had under the aforementioned banyan tree—whose massive trunk and branches exude an air of serenity—followed by a refreshing green drink and a light bite at the Banyan Tree Cafe. The state-of-the-art spa, of course, has a full menu of treatments, some of which can be enjoyed beachside or during a Spa in the Wild package, for example, that includes two nights at the Fairmont and one night at a hacienda in the mountains, a helicopter ride to/from, a coffee tour experience, a couples massage and more. Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton ReserveForty-five minutes west of San Juan sits the Dorado Beach, one of only five Ritz-Carlton Reserves in the world. Like the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel, it had its beginnings in the 1950s, courtesy of Laurance Rockefeller. Dorado Beach is a sumptuous estate worthy of that storied last name, with stunning grounds and public spaces, and magnificent suites and villas set in low-slung buildings (pick the east side for more privacy, the west side for beach walkouts). I stayed in a beautifully appointed ground-floor West Beach Plunge Reserve with, yes, a private plunge pool, direct access to the beach and a spa bathroom with an enormous soaking tub (ask your Ambassador to prepare a bath—dreamy doesn’t begin to describe it) plus an outdoor rain shower in an intimate tropical setting. Breakfast was at Coa, which in the evenings offers fine dining and one of the largest wine rooms in the Caribbean, while lunches were at Positivo Sand Bar for a toes-in-the-sand gourmet experience next to the pool. Other eateries include Flor de Sal, where dishes are cooked on salt blocks, Omakase for Japanese delicacies and La Cocina Gourmet – Culinary Center, where your clients can enjoy hot coffee with fresh pastries and other treats, as well as cooking classes and demonstrations. The shining star of the luxury-meets-wellness nexus is Spa Botanico. I was treated to a Manos Santas massage in a Spa Pavilion—a gorgeous well-appointed haven with an outside copper soaking tub tucked amongst the tropical foliage and lush trees (ask about the Tree House Massage). Afterward, the hydro circuit in the Purification Gardens with waterfall showers, steam pavilions, and warm and cool pools is a must, followed by a little quiet reflection on a chaise lounge with fruit-infused water and a handful of dried fruit. Dreamcatcher by DW Luxury wellness can also have a boutique feel, and the vegetarian Dreamcatcher by DW captures that ethos perfectly with just 19 boho-chic rooms in the swanky neighborhood of Ocean Park. Located a block from the beach, this haven is all macrame hammocks swinging in the breeze, earth-toned decor, outdoor showers and soaking tubs and terraces overflowing with plants. The Zen atmosphere lends itself to introspection, and chef Victor Izeta’s plant-based cuisine at Aovara will please even the most demanding of palates. Want more? Pick from yoga under the stars or on the beach, in-room massages, visits to secluded swimming holes and waterfalls in Puerto Rico’s rainforest-covered mountains, snorkeling or surfing packages and more. Casa AlternavidaPuerto Rico’s first all-inclusive wellness retreat, Casa Alternavida (Rio Grande) was designed (sustainably) by founder Yancy Wright to reduce stress, explore your inner world and bring mind, body and soul to wellness. To that end, Wright has gathered together a group of expert practitioners to create specialty retreats that can include organic meals, in-room massage therapy, guided nature adventures in the rainforest and the beach—we kayaked on a river followed by a dip in the ocean—movement classes on the rooftop with a spectacular view of El Yunque’s rainforest, coaching and more. Guests are welcomed by Honey, the resident dog—she helps lower their blood pressure while they find their work- life balance. The setup is that of a spacious, multi-level private home with nine rooms, each with an en-suite, surrounded by lush gardens. Recommend Standard Image Template-1696268510-1696268512Good EatsLuxury is all about the good life, but it’s also experiential, which is where a visit to the sustainable farm Frutos del Guacabo (Manati) comes in. Owner Efren Robles and his wife have dedicated themselves to increasing local food independence by teaching other farmers to grow organic crops and livestock, and they have also become one of the most versatile suppliers of organic exotic and local gourmet produce to high-end restaurants around Puerto Rico. Our visit included an insightful tour of the farm with Efren, a chance to milk a goat and enjoy freshly prepared goat cheese and a sit-down lunch created from the freshest products you’ll ever taste. During our stay in Puerto Rico we also indulged in two restaurants that subscribe to the organic, farm-to-table and sea-to-table movement: the stylish Vianda in Santurce, where they serve a pared-down, rotating menu based on what’s seasonal on La Isla, and Cocina Abierta, where we stepped into chef Manuel Massa’s kitchen as he guided us in a master class in cooking red curry with local produce, part of a 5-course dinner with wine pairings led by wine director Michi Negron. Contact InformationCasa Alternavida: casaalternavida.comCocina Abierta: cocinaabierta.netDiscover Puerto Rico discoverpuertorico.comDorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve: travelagents.marriott.comDreamcatcher by DW: dreamerswelcome.com/dreamcatcherFairmont El San Juan Hotel: famousagents.frhi.comFrutos del Guacabo: frutosdelguacabo.comVianda: vianda.com

PRINCESS CRUISESPRINCESS CRUISES IFCCOVEREXPLORA JOURNEYSTABLE OF CONTENTSPALLADIUMPALLADIUM SPREADEditor's NotesSANDALSSANDALS SPREADLuxury Travel Trends as we head into the New YearWINDSTAR CRUISESTURKISH AIRLINESWEBINAR HOUSE ADMGM RESORTS SCMGM RESORTSPALLADIUM SPREAD 1Cruise: Up Your Bookings with These 6 BrandsWINDSTAR CRUISE 1OCEANIA CRUISESPRINCESS CRUISES SC SPREADSCENIC & EMERALD CRUISES SCSCENIC CRUISESVIRGIN VOYAGES SCVIRGIN VOYAGESEXPLORA JOURNEYS SCCUNARD SCOnboard Review: American Countess—Kicking it Up a Notch in America’s HeartlandOnboard Review: 10 Highlights From the New Seabourn PursuitOnboard Review: Uniworld’s S.S. Catherine—Intimate Luxury on the Rhone RiverCaribbean/Mexico: Luxury Newsmakers—in the Caribbean and MexicoSANDALS SCPALLADIUM SPREAD 2SECRETS MOXCHÉ PLAYA DEL CARMEN SCSECRETS RESORTSSAINT LUCIA SCSAINT LUCIAOnsite Review: Nassau Paradise Island offers Luxury Digs, Family-StyleOnsite Review: Puerto Rico—The Luxury of WellnessNorth America: Wintertime in AlaskaOnsite Review: The Luxe Lifestyle in Naples...FloridaRECOMMEND EDU HOUSE ADHILTONCUNARD