Quintana Roo is Mexico's easternmost state, stretching along the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and encompassing world-famous beach resorts, ancient Maya ruins, and the second-largest coral reef system on Earth. From the glittering hotel zone of Cancun to the bohemian clifftop ruins of Tulum and the tranquil island of Isla Holbox, the state offers an extraordinary range of experiences. Beneath the jungle floor, thousands of cenotes—natural freshwater sinkholes—create one of the world's most spectacular cave-diving and snorkeling environments.
Top spas
Curated picks for treatments and day spas.
Nizuc Spa
An extraordinary resort spa built around a private cenote hydrotherapy circuit, offering treatment rooms overlooking the jungle, ancient Maya healing rituals, and master-level therapists trained in Yucatecan traditional medicine.
Signature treatment: Private cenote hydrotherapy circuit; Maya ancestral healing body treatment
Rosewood Mayakoba Sense Spa
Overlooking the lagoon canals of Mayakoba, the Sense Spa specializes in Maya herbal healing rituals, temazcal ceremonies conducted by a traditional curandera, and results-driven treatments using locally harvested ingredients.
Signature treatment: Authentic temazcal ceremony with traditional shaman; Maya botanical body ritual
Coqui Coqui Spa, Tulum
A beautifully designed boutique spa and perfume house in Tulum pueblo, offering custom massage blends using the house's signature natural fragrances, temazcal ceremonies, and Maya-inspired treatments in an intimate colonial setting.
Signature treatment: Bespoke aromatherapy massage with house-distilled Tulum perfumes; temazcal
Be Tulum Spa
An open-air jungle spa within Tulum's most celebrated boutique hotel, offering ancestral Maya sound healing, crystal therapy, cenote swimming, and a curated menu of body treatments by highly trained therapists.
Signature treatment: Ancestral Maya sound healing session; private cenote immersion ritual
Spa at Hotel Akumal Caribe
A welcoming day spa in the Akumal beach resort area offering traditional and Swedish massages, facial treatments using aloe and tropical botanicals, and hydrotherapy in a peaceful setting steps from the sea turtle bay.
Signature treatment: Aloe vera after-sun body wrap; deep tissue massage
Wellness retreats
Multi-day immersive experiences.
Xinalani Retreat
Though based in Jalisco, Xinalani hosts regular yoga and wellness retreats in the Riviera Maya region. A variety of Tulum-based retreat organizers host programs at Tulum beach hotels combining twice-daily yoga, meditation, cenote visits, and raw food dining.
Cenote Encantado Temazcal Experience
A traditional Maya temazcal ceremony in a stone sweat lodge near a jungle cenote, led by an experienced curandero (healer) who guides participants through medicinal herbs, sacred chants, and the four directions ritual. Followed by a cenote plunge to complete the purification.
Azulik Retreat
Azulik Tulum's treehouse eco-resort offers a natural digital detox—no electricity, no Wi-Fi, no clocks—combined with cacao ceremonies, yoga, sound healing, and access to their private cenote and cenote-side art galleries.
Nomade Tulum Wellness Retreat
Nomade hotel in Tulum offers curated wellness retreat packages combining their beachfront setting with twice-daily yoga, breathwork, meditation, ceremonial cacao, sound baths, and holistic therapies with visiting international teachers.
Signature treatments
Local specialties worth seeking out.
Massage
Traditional Swedish and deep tissue massage from $60/hour; traditional Maya massage (incorporating jade stones, cacao, and local herbs) from $80/hour at specialist spas
Hammam
Inspired by the temazcal rather than hammam tradition; authentic Maya temazcal ceremonies from $60-120 per person including herbs and ceremony guide
Body
Body wraps using local ingredients (aloe vera, cacao, sea salt, coconut oil) from $70/treatment at resort spas
Facial
Facial treatments using native cactus extracts, papaya enzymes, and aloe vera from $60 at day spas to $120+ at resort spas
Yoga & meditation
Studios, classes, and meditation centres.
Yoga Shala Tulum
A dedicated yoga studio in Tulum pueblo offering daily drop-in vinyasa and yin classes, workshops, and teacher training programs. One of Tulum's most respected yoga communities.
IxChel Wellness Center, Playa del Carmen
A comprehensive wellness center on 5th Avenue area offering yoga (hatha, restorative, hot yoga), pilates, meditation, and energy healing in a purpose-built studio with consistent class schedule.
Zamas Hotel Beach Yoga, Tulum
Morning yoga classes on the beach and in a jungle palapa at Tulum's Zamas hotel, open to non-guests—sunrise vinyasa with the sound of waves is one of the most peaceful Tulum experiences.
Baktun Tulum
A ceremony and healing space in Tulum offering daily meditation, breathwork (pranayama), sound healing ceremonies, and cacao circles in a purpose-designed ceremonial space.
Wellness travel tips
Get the most from your wellness experience.
Book spa treatments 48-72 hours in advance during December-April high season—resort spas fill up quickly
Many hotels offer in-room massage service for $70-100/hour—ask at reception
Temazcal ceremonies are deeply meaningful cultural experiences, not just spa novelties—approach them respectfully and prepare for an intense physical experience
Cacao ceremonies are widely available in Tulum—good operators should be transparent about the cacao source and the facilitator's training
Cenotes are themselves therapeutic—the cool freshwater, silence, and natural light create a naturally calming environment
Reef-safe sunscreen is essential for outdoor yoga and beach wellness activities—protect both your skin and the ecosystems around you
Stay hydrated in Quintana Roo's heat—most wellness activities should be accompanied by at least 2 litres of water per day