Quieting the Mind at Corazon Resort & Spa
As I stood there, eyes closed, blue lighting showering the room, my mind raced through thoughts of the past few months back at home in San Diego. The holidays had been followed by my birthday, a breakup, and a new role at work. February was already beginning to feel like six months trapped into 28 days.
“Take a deep breath in, then a deep exhale,” cooed energy healer Lizbeth Murguia. We were in the middle of a private room at Sparitual, Corazon Resort & Spa’s wellness center in Cabo San Lucas. As my chest lifted and fell, it was difficult to quiet my inner dialogue.
Murguia handed me a sage stick to hold as she softly spoke a spiritual blessing and prayer over me. Sounds of a shamanic rattle echoed throughout the space while she maneuvered in rhythmic movements, touching my hair, shoulders, and face as she chanted. Slowly, every worry, every thought, began to wash away and my stomach began to creep into my chest.
I was emotional, holding back tears in the blackness. My shoulders dropped as a sense of relief crept through me. I was grateful for the opportunity to take time to feel the weight of the past few weeks before finally letting it all go.
“[The energy healing] is a ritual that we offer because our guests like to have a little bit from Mexico. It’s a prehistoric ritual that is used to cleanse all the bad energies,” spa manager Elizabeth Cravioto says. “We are also trying to get you back to the now—[it can be] really difficult to disconnect from work or family or your worries. That’s what the cleansing is for, to give you a moment.”
Following the cleansing, I made my way into a treatment room for the spa’s new service, a tequila-based, 80-minute, full-body massage which starts with a foot washing ritual featuring mint, sea salt, lemons, and tequila. This is followed by a shot of tequila—to “relax you,” I’m told—before the massage begins.
After an exfoliating scrub; body mask; stone facial massage; and plenty of kneading, stroking, pressing, and releasing, I was ready to enjoy the rest of the trip.
Corazon is located in the center of downtown Cabo San Lucas, situated on the beach and nestled in between popular tourist destinations like Mango Deck Restaurant & Beach Club and The Office. I’ve been staying in San Jose del Cabo for years, but this was my first time in over a decade passing a few days in this particular area.
I was looking for a relaxing vacation, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, since it’s known for its daytime party scene and lively nightlife vibes. But, for president and CEO Christopher Erickson, its location is part of why he loves the hotel.
In 1999, Erickson acquired the previous Cabo Villas with his family when only six villas sat in its location. “Everybody said, ‘You’ll never make it,’” Erickson.“They all said, ‘You’re going to be eaten up by the brands’”—that is, hotels like Hilton, Sheraton, Fiesta Americana, and the Four Seasons, which moved in shortly after he bought the property.
While the hotel’s size is not comparable to other big-brand properties, it’s not only lasted, it’s become a favorite for guests looking for a more boutique-like appeal while still being next to all the action.
“That’s been our claim to fame—a family-owned and operated hotel with personalized service right on the main beach,” he adds.
Erickson sees Corazon as a place where visitors can walk out their front door to experience local shops, eateries, and vendors, all while still having a serene space to come home to at the end of the day. For me—and for a friend and fellow guest I happened to run into on my visit—its quiet, more boutique nature made it feel especially safe for a solo woman traveler.
Of course, it also didn’t hurt that three years ago, the hotel reopened following a $100 million transformation. Updates included the debut of a new tower with 204 additional guest rooms and suites and two infinity-edge pools.
Many of the rooms overlook Land’s End, also known as “El Arco” and one of Cabo’s most popular landmarks. The hotel’s newest tower accommodations feature floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, décor influenced by Mexican culture, and, in some cases, hot tubs on the balcony. The largest of the stays is the three-bedroom Sunset Suite, which comes with 715 square feet of space, a full kitchen, four bathrooms, a terrace with private hot tub, and marina or city views.
Among its other upgraded amenities is a 360-degree rooftop bar (currently the highest in the city) and infinity pool which includes a full bar and dining menu. Guests can enjoy ceviches, sashimi, poke, salads, tacos, nachos, and sushi rolls while soaking up the sun.
After a relaxing day of swimming and spa-going, I made my way up to the rooftop for a tequila tasting which features three varieties of Don Julia—anejo, blanco, and reposado—and lessons on what makes each so unique. As the sun slowly disappeared and the liquid relaxation set in, I made my way to Aleta for dinner.
The upscale restaurant features a mix of sushi and raw bar offerings, along with local specialities like tortilla and seafood soups, rolled tacos, paellas, and churros with ice cream for dessert. Guests can also opt for the fish of the day made to order (fire-grilled, steamed, or fried).
On my last evening, as I tucked myself into bed, a sense of calm that swept over me. I had come to Cabo with a million to-do lists and the stresses of everyday life weighing on me, but in that moment, the only thing on my mind was the late-night room-service tres leches cake I ordered. While vacations can sometimes leave us needing a holiday from our trip, this one felt like a cleansing. A restart to the year with only endless possibilities ahead.
The post Quieting the Mind at Corazon Resort & Spa appeared first on San Diego Magazine.
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