One&Only Palmilla has recently launched a new, steamy wellness experience – a Temazcal. Inspired by ancient regional healing practices, the Temazcal combines traditional medicinal herbs, heat, steam, indigenous music and copal incense to create an intense healing experience to detoxify the body and purify the mind.
Taking its design and ethos from the traditions of the ancient temazcals of Mesoamerica, One&Only Spa’s Temazcal is set into the earth, built in a circular shape and heated using volcanic rocks gathered locally from the state of Baja California Sur.
With its entrance facing east to greet the sunrise, the Temazcal is a re-creation of the womb space – small, dark, warm and humid. The entrance way is built low to the ground so one must enter lowering their head – a humbling position upon which to enter this sacred space. The exit is again the same – head first and low, facing down. This exit is the act of rebirth – cleansed and rejuvenated, and into the physical world once more.
The Temazcal has been designed and administered by One&Only Palmilla’s resident shaman, Raul Retana – a master of the Temazcal, which was inspired by curative ceremonies that have been honored in the region for over a thousand years. All the products and scrubs used during this holistic wellness experience are personally created by the shaman.
Retana is a member of the Sonoran Mayo tribe, and has spent his life developing treatments using indigenous medicine created from natural herbs, clay and energy. An expert in natural medicine, holistic massages, neuromuscular stretching technics, bio-magnetism and bioenergetics, Retana strives to both conserve and build upon his tribe’s ancient traditions.
The 120-minute Temazcal experience is $130 per person for a group session, or $540 for a private session of 1 to 4 people.
For more information, visit: oneandonlyresorts.com/one-and-only-palmilla-los-cabos