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Welcome to Vogue’s first-ever spa guide—a compendium of the 100 best spas worldwide, pulling from the expertise of our global editors. There is a lot out there in the world of wellness, and we are here to sort the cryo from the cold plunge, the infrared light treatment from the IV infusion. Or if your path is a more holistic one—there’s something for you here as well.
Why go here?
Arriving at Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection, you are greeted—quite literally—by the spirit of Mayan tradition. When I pulled up to the retreat, a man dressed in white linen dramatically blew a conch shell as I exited my airport transfer. “Welcome to Etéreo,” said my personal guía. He then offered me fresh-squeezed juice and asked if I wanted to receive an ancient blessing. I said yes to both. This ritual, I was told, signaled that I was leaving the mundane world behind and entering the ethereal (which, incidentally, translates to “etéreo” in Spanish). Though the property is just a 40-minute drive from the Cancún airport, it does possess an otherworldly charm.
What’s the vibe?
The 75-room resort sits atop a sprawling mangrove forest that billows out onto nine acres of white sand beaches. An appreciation for nature is woven into every aspect of Etéreo. With architecture by Migdal Arquitectos and interior design by New York–based studio Meyer Davis, the resort brings its surrounding splendor indoors through the use of local materials like lava stone, copper, and indigenous tzalam wood. Wood screens created by the celebrated Mexican artist Manuel Felguérez, which feature throughout the property, represent the Mayan belief in life cycles.
At SANA, Etéreo’s serene spa—the name signifies resplendence, prayer, and healing—ancient Mayan beliefs and techniques are on full display. The bathhouse—a cool cavern with a simple skylight—was designed to feel like a cenote, another nod to the landscape of the Yucatán Peninsula. (There are close to 6,000 of these geographical wonders in the region.) The spa purports to focus on healing from within; in other words, it’s more about balance, nature, and purity. The spa offers organic, wild-crafted skin-care products from the brand Circe Brujeria de Origen, as well as Kypris facials, another brand that touts its superior harnessing of the power of nature.
The history?
Etéreo opened in 2021 as part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, and SANA opened at the same time.
What should you try?
The menu presents an appealing hybrid of old-world traditions—Mayan healing stones, clay wraps made of local herbs—as well as more modern, epicurean treatments. I chose the Skin Alchemy facial, which harnesses energy from crystals (in my case, a rose quartz gemstone) believed to revitalize both spirit and skin.
How environmentally sustainable is it?
Etéreo makes particular efforts to preserve water, even going so far as to manufacture its own recycled glass bottles on-site and distribute them throughout the resort. (It has relied on the help of a company called Nalco Water to accomplish this since 2023.) Other efforts include using environmentally friendly products, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, and LED lighting. All treatment rooms and guest rooms are fitted with water-saving valves that reduce an average consumption of 16 liters per minute to just 3 to 5 liters per minute. In all areas, the conservation of the raw beauty of Riviera Maya is at the fore.
What else should we know?
There are several ways to feed your body at Etéreo that should not be missed. The resort’s five dining options offer fresh twists on local classics. There’s El Changarro, a beachside taqueria that serves a life-affirming shrimp tostada, and Japanese-inspired Che Che. Their marquee restaurant, Itzam, features a huge wood-fired comal for freshly made tortillas, as well as dishes like kampachi crudo in preserved Yucatán lemon, wild prawns, and blackened avocado.
Who can go?
The spa is open to guests and also the public—with an appointment.
Booking details for Etéreo
Address: Paseo Kanai 16, 77730 Q.R., Mexico
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.