With healing waters, inspiring nature and dreamy vistas, you might say that the Caribbean itself is one big spa. But when you’re looking for a that extra level of relaxation and therapy, the region has you covered, with some of the best spas in the world, many of which use a combination of natural ingredients and internationally-renowned products. These are our favorite Caribbean spas for 2014.
Peter Island Resort & Spa — British Virgin Islands
The essence of a great spa is its ability not just to provide relaxation and rejuvenation, but retreat. The private island Peter Island Resort’s 10,000-square-foot spa, with views of Big Reef Bay, achieves just that, and more. It’s got 10 indoor treatment rooms and even a beachside jacuzzi.
Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman — Cayman Islands
The superb Silver Rain, a La Prairie spa, is about rejuvenation, healing and more, from its hydrotherapy treatments to, yes, a “caviar massage.”
The BodyHoliday — St Lucia
The spirit of wellness simply envelops this resort. That means that it doesn’t just have a spa, it has a full-fledged wellness centre, with a broad array of options, from specialized therapies like algae body wraps to lucian ginger and lime scrubs.
One & Only Ocean Club — Bahamas
The spa at this Paradise Island classic has eight Balinese-style treatment villas, blending what it calls ancient techniques and contemporary practice. It doesn’t hurt that it’s at one of the most tranquil resorts anywhere in the region.
Four Seasons Resort Nevis — Nevis
The biggest moment at this spa might come after one of the treatments, when you dip in the plunge pool and look up with a direct view to the towering Nevis Peak. This incredibly versatile spa offers everything from ayurvedic treatments to a special “jetlag pedicure.”
Viceroy Anguilla — Anguilla
The spa at this cliffside Anguilla resort has all the trappings for which Viceroy is known, including its “Signature Experiences,” which range from their “Double Rainbow Ritual” to a “Viceroy Trilogy,” a three-step massage combining foot scrubs, essential oils and a massage. And the views of Maundays Bay are show-stopping. Meads Bay and Barnes Bay.
Parrot Cay by COMO — Turks and Caicos Islands
This private island resort in the Turks and Caicos Islands is a Shambhala Retreat, meaning the entire property is focused on wellness. Its Asian-inspired treatments have an emphasis on Ayurvedic treatments.
Regent Palms — Turks and Caicos Islands
Long one of the finest spas in the Caribbean, the Regent Spa remains so today, with a fascinating range of treatments, from a “protected enclosure” herbal cleansing ritual to a treatment featuring queen conch shells from local waters.
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort — St Lucia
The Rainforest Spa at Sugar Beach in St Lucia sources its treatments from around the world, from products from Switzerland’s Valmont to treatments from South Africa’s Environ to an Amerindian-style steam dome. It’s all set in a treehouse-style environment up among the leaves.
CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa — Anguilla
The property’s Venus spa has a wide variety of treatment areas, including classic massages, “body escapes” and even “healing waters and sea escapes,” which involve a combination of fresh water and local seawater that underscores the revitalizing ability of Anguilla’s blue seas.
Hotel Guanahani & Spa — St Barth
Yes — the Guanahani has a spa branded by beauty line Clarins, meaning a focus on the best in skincare and beauty. Body sculpting, exfoliation and even a “luminosity restorer.” It all means you’ll leave this beautiful, Creole-accented spa feeling younger and fresher.
St Regis Bahia Beach Resort – Puerto Rico
The Remède spa is branded by the famous Laboratoire Remède has an excellent portfolio of treatments, including some truly inspired ones: a Borinquen Coffee Polish and, most notably, an “Encanto Rum Massage.” The latter is made with Puerto Rico’s famous Don Q rum.
Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina — British Virgin Islands
Another gem in the British Virgin Islands, this private island resort is home to the Ixora Spa by the famous French beauty products firm L’Occitane en Provence . Naturally, the treatment rooms look out on the BVI’s sweeping vistas.
Six Senses Spa — Dominican Republic
Six Senses has deservedly earned one of the leading names in the global spa industry. Its spa at the at the Puntacana Resort & Club complex (home to Tortuga Bay and the new Westin) has eight treatment rooms and two right on the beach, with a focus on locally-inspired treatments.
Half Moon — Jamaica
The exquisite Fern Tree Spa at the Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay is true to its old-world, traditional feel, with an emphasis on largely local Jamaican-inspired treatments. (Don’t miss the overwater spa cabanas).
Amanyara — Turks and Caicos Island
This Providenciales retreat has a small but magnificent spa with four treatment rooms featuring a group of visiting holistic specialists from around the world.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya — Mexico
Yes, it’s an all-inclusive, but this spa is spectacular, highlighted by a wide-ranging hydrotherapy room that is part of a sizable 89,305-square-foot spa with 40 treatment rooms.
Sandals LaSource Grenada — Grenada
This recently-opened resort redefines the all-inclusive category, and the Red Lane more than meets that standard, with a focus on European-style treatments with a Caribbean twist. Don’t miss the property’s outdoor treatment huts.
Cap Est Lagoon Resort & Spa — Martinique
Cap Est exemplifies the refined, French-Caribbean luxury of Martinique; its spa is remarkably versatile, with offerings including hydrotherapy, beauty treatments, wraps and, of course, massages. and a Guerlain Beauty Spa.
Boucan By Hotel Chocolat — St Lucia
At a hotel built around chocolate, it’s no surprise that the chocolate inspiration extends to the spa, called Cocoa Juvenate. And the treatments are all about cacao, with everything from a cacao manicure to cacao body exfoliation.
Carlisle Bay — Antigua
The beautiful Blue Spa at the Carlisle Bay resort in Antigua has a total of six treatment rooms and beauty products by Spain’s Natura Bissé with some fascinating treaments, from those using the power of oxygen to an “Arawak” massage.
Jade Mountain — St Lucia
The most impressive thing about this hotel’s spa offerings is their breadth: there’s the Kai Belte spa right on the property’s Anse Chastanet beach; there’s the Kai Mer spa cottage, but, most importantly, you can get treatments right in your room. We highly recommend the latter.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana — Dominican Republic
Among the best all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean in almost every category, the Hard Rock is also home to one of the region’s best spas, the Rock Spa. What you get is the brand’s international-standard experience in a massive, 60,000-square-foot space including a hydrotherapy centre.
Jakes — Jamaica
Jakes’ Driftwood Spa at the funky, boutique property on Treasure Beach is, in a word, exceptional, with inspired treatment options, from a “Coco-Mango Body Buff” and an admirable focus on natural, locally-sourced products.
La Creole Beach Hotel & Spa – Guadeloupe
The boutique spa at this resort in the beach town of Gosier has four treatment rooms, a hammam, a sauna and Payot products in an intimate 2,600-square-foot setting, blending Creole and modern techniques.