All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
Maybe you’re tired of the kids and crowds in Cabo. Maybe you want to explore more of Baja. Maybe you find yourself seeking that happy medium of an adults-only stay within a two-hour flight radius of Los Angeles that’s also in an area noted for its appealingly low-key, remote vibe and natural wonders, and want to feel like you’re on the cutting edge of something but without sacrificing any creature comforts. Oh, and you really like design?
What’s the vibe?
Off the beaten path in a Baja California farm-centric fortress with Brutalist design bona fides, a serious food and beverage program, and an increasing emphasis on wellness, Paradero’s Ojo de Agua spa offers a succinct but sufficient program of facials, massages, sound baths, and a traditional sweat lodge ceremony known as a temazcal, all in the center of the hotel’s oasis-style courtyard. Barring the temazcal—which is its own cement, igloo-like structure—treatments are taken in open-air tents surrounded by lush native plants, or in certain cases, on the rooftop terraces of Sky Suites, with their uninterrupted panoramic views of the Sierra de la Laguna mountains and high-slung stargazing hammocks. Clientele typically come from across Mexico, as well as north of the border, and the attire trends towards drapey linens and desert boots, with warmer layers once the sun goes down.
The history?
Todos Santos, a small town about an hour’s drive from Cabo San Lucas, has for decades been favored by a certain kind of American expat who relished in the small-town bohemian feel, mild climate, nearby surf breaks, and gentle local flavor—as well as the preponderance of English speakers, and restaurants and stores catering to them. COVID, Mexico’s lenient border policies, and the related rise of so-called digital nomads kicked this all into high gear, with the skyrocketing real estate and influx of five-star hotels to match.
Paradero, which opened its doors in the spring of 2021, saw an opening in the market for a design-forward stay that prioritized the wants of a new generation of affluent travelers: elaborate dining with local provenance, architecturally appealing with Instagram-catnip interiors, and well-considered wellness. Four years in, the property—which settled on five acres in what they call “the last unspoiled Mesa farming community,” an agricultural area made up of 160 acres of family owned farms—is in the midst of expanding beyond hospitality, into a lifestyle brand that includes the construction of permanent residences a stone’s throw from the hotel. This is a clear indication that they’ve certainly struck a chord with those travelers who are increasingly ready to settle down (provided the setting is up to snuff).
What should you try?
Sidle up to the bar at the sleek open-air kitchen and stay for dinner. I favor the corner seat by the woodfire-heated clay comal, where the angled perch allows me to watch the tortillas being made by hand and spy any late revelers by the pool.
If you’ve never done a temazcal treatment, Paradero’s peaceful setup would be a perfect place to try it. Otherwise, the spa’s body treatments (like the Yenekamu Ritual, which includes a hot stone massage, hip adjustment, and foot massage) will have you feeling newly realigned in no time. Massages also begin with a small energy clearing ceremony, and end with a hot tea and bowl of nuts, if you want to get the good juju without the time investment of the temazcal.
There is a calendar of wellness-related activities that are included in the room rate, including group physical training sessions (TRX and kettlebells), yoga, surf, and meditation classes, guided art tours in Todos Santos (about a 15 minute drive from the hotel), and most enthrallingly, a 90-minute out-and-back morning hike to a cliffside sea lion colony in Punta Lobos with incredible ocean views. For those who like to hike, or adventure seekers looking to survey even more of the incredible landscape, I recommend seeking out Hernando, who has lead the hikes for Paradero since it opened, and who can either recommend or lead you on a more cardio-intensive journey (think: totally private beaches, freshwater waterfalls, and palm tree groves). “This is a very special place,” he told me, detailing the five distinct ecosystems native to the area—from the desert, with its 200-year-old Cardon cacti, to the miles of unspoiled beaches along the pacific coast. “What we offer is very different from a traditional beach resort.”
How environmentally friendly is it?
Water is a big issue, as one might imagine for a desert property that gets about eight days of rain each year. And so Paradero’s location, smack in the middle of an agricultural plot, is a boon: It has a water source separate from the increasingly stretched reserves of the township of Todos Santos. The property also runs its own small organic farm, where it grows much of the produce deployed so expertly in the kitchen and in the spa. While walking to and from their suites, guests are welcome to wander the rows of carefully planted crops. Reusable water bottles are also available in the suites, as are filtered fill-up stations throughout the property.
What else do we need to know?
Renting a car makes it possible to zip into Todos Santos, nearby beaches, and beyond on your own schedule. Though beach days are on the included activity calendar, along with surfing and other waterfront activities, the hotel is inland and does not have immediate beach access. (If you’d prefer not to drive, there are bikes and a regular hotel van that takes you to some excellent beaches nearby. (Also, a lounger-lined sleek infinity pool.) And bring bug spray—this is a working farm, after all.
Who can go?
Spa visitors do not need to be guests of the hotel. Reservations for treatments can be made through the hotel’s website.
Booking details for Paradero
Address: La Mesa KM 59 +3100, Degollado, 23300 Todos Santos, B.C.S., Mexico
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.