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Spa | Grand Velas Riviera Maya

ABOUT VELAS RESORTS

Offering unparalleled All-Inclusive experiences, the four Velas Resorts in Mexico: One at the Riviera Maya, two in Puerto Vallarta and one at the Riviera Nayarit, have earned more than 43 AAA Diamonds, including the prestigious Five Diamond Award. Other esteemed international awards for their services and facilities include Virtuoso’s “Best Spa” and Condé Nast Johansens’“Most Excellent Resort” and “Most Excellent Spa Hotel”. Properties include Casa Velas, a boutique adults-only hotel and ocean club located on the Marina Vallarta Golf Course, Velas Vallarta, a family-friendly all suites resort and Spa located on Banderas Bay, both in Puerto Vallarta; and the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit located in Riviera Nayarit.

Completing the Velas Resorts group is Grand Velas Riviera Maya, located five minutes from Playa del Carmen, offering the most sophisticated, ultra luxury all-inclusive resort experience in the Caribbean with jungle and beach settings. Velas Resorts feature spacious accommodations, Spas, a unique culinary experience at a selection of restaurants, 24-hour in-suite service, fitness centers, Concierge service, state-of-the-art convention centers, extensive family programs, fully stocked upgraded mini bar and more. Velas Resorts are operated by Eduardo Vela Ruiz, majority owner, founder, and President of Velas Resorts, with brother Juan Vela by his side, Vice President of Velas Resorts.

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During March 2015, Grand Velas Riviera Maya was awarded with the “Price Travel Trophy” within the category of “Best Luxury Hotel in Mexico” given by Price Travel, one of the most important online travel agencies in the country.

This award was conferred at a cocktail ceremony for approximately 70 Hoteliers. It was a very significant achievement since the hotel was rated among the top 24 out of 2,000 hotels that were evaluated!

Grand Velas RIVIERA MAYA:Best Luxury Hotel in Mexico

TRAVEL

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About Grand Velas Riviera Maya

The AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya, an all-suites and Spa resort located five minutes from Playa del Carmen, is the latest and most sophisticated iteration of the ultra-luxury, all-inclusive resort experience. The resort offers a gastronomic tour of European, Asian and Mexican specialties, offering five world-class dining establishments including signature restaurant “Cocina de Autor”; the first All-Inclusive resort with a restaurant to be awarded with Five Diamonds by the AAA. The resort’s services include: 24-hour butler Concierge service, fitness center, beauty salon, luxury amenities in suite and the region’s largest Spa sanctuary specialized in signature treatments. The Spa was named “Best Spa” in the world by “Virtuoso” in 2010 and “Best Luxury Resort Spa - Americas” in the 2014 World Luxury Spa Awards.

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Challenge

TRAVEL

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Day to day, we are absorbed by the different social channels that this new technological world offers and the demand for attention increases drastically. As a consequence, we get exhausted faster and our ability to focus diminishes gradually.

Our devices, more than often, feel more like an extension of our hand; we can even identify the different types of social media addicts within our friends: The “oversharer”, the “liker”, the “refresher” and the “commentator”. The only way to tackle these behaviors is to stop feeding the addiction, in other words: Let’s have a digital detox getaway!

Once in a while we need to switch-off from every electronic device; it is an excellent way to recharge batteries and stay productive in such a demanding environment. By doing a digital detox, we give our minds an opportunity to step up momentarily and we encourage ourselves to think outside the box, coming up with different perspectives about determined subjects.

Now, both Grand Velas in Riviera Nayarit and Riviera Maya offer a special package called “Digital Detox Challenge” where our guests, at the time of their arrival, will leave all their electronic belongings locked at the Front Desk and participate in activities like: Cooking, dancing, reading, or practicing another hobby, away from any mobile devices. This way, they’ll enjoy the best of themselves, their loved ones, and of course, the Mexican Pacific or Caribbean coasts.

Addicted to technology?It’s time for a Digital Detox

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Located in Puerto Vallarta between the golden coast of the Mexican Pacific and the verdant jungle of the Sierra Madre Mountains, Casa Velas is a hidden paradise of tranquility nestled amidst the rolling greens of the Marina Vallarta Golf Course. The boutique hotel’s enchanting archways and open spaces are reminiscent of the historic haciendas of Mexico, and its bubbling koi ponds, swaying palms and impeccable tropical landscaping create an ambiance of romance and intrigue.

Part of the enchantment of this secluded, luxurious Mexican getaway is experiencing the connection one feels to the wild beauty of Puerto Vallarta. Views of nature can be seen in every direction as you absorb stunning sunrises and sunsets and the warm climate the region is famous for. Even the dining experience incorporates the local surroundings; ideal temperatures and fertile soil create the perfect conditions for cultivating regional produce in the Casa Velas botanical garden.

A garden-lover’s dream, the onsite botanical garden shelters over 30 varieties of organic plants including hibiscus, mint, spearmint, basil, coffee, raspberry, cactus, pineapple, orange, guanabana, strawberry, lime, rosemary, thyme, oregano and chilies. Grown naturally without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers, guests enjoy the botanical garden’s produce in the form of sensorial beverages such as an “agua fresca” made of cucumber, basil and lime, fresh local seafood marinated in a blend of olive oil, organic thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano and spearmint, and an herb-infused Provençal filet.

Aside from being a picturesque place for a stroll, the Casa Velas botanical garden is the perfect setting for Spa treatments and provides the herbs and seeds for a hot compress used during the rituals.

A garden of health and pleasure

TRAVEL

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Every Sunday, Velas Vallarta finds reasons to celebrate Mexico with a party that honors the nation and all its traditions and customs.

Guests enjoy from typical gastronomy like enchiladas, tacos, tostadas, sweets and desserts, to the work of artisans exhibited at the main entrance of the different ballrooms; most of their masterpieces are handmade and are for sale.

Upon arrival, attendants are received with a traditional margarita; the ballroom is decorated with exotic and unique Mexican details. During dinner, some competitions are held for the entire family, and winners obtain prizes like sweets for the kids or crafts for the adults.

The atmosphere is filled with energy, joy, and enthusiasm thanks to the folklore of the typical and regional dances with the company of a live mariachi. At the end, the most popular songs (Rancheras) and the requests of the clients are played.

This multicolor feast of flavors, smells, art, and music is an incredible experience for everybody. It starts every Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in Velas Vallarta.

¡Viva México!

CULTURE

A Tribute to MexicoEVERY SUNDAY

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Ingredients

Garlic peeled 2 clovesTomatoes (green or red) 4 piecesWhite onion ½ pieceGreen serrano chile 1 pieceCilantro 5 branchesBay leaves A pinchWhole cumin, roasted A pinchOlive oil ¼ cupWater 1 cup Salt to taste

Preparation

1. Fry over medium heat using half the olive oil the garlic, onion, tomatoes, serrano chilis, bay leaves and cumin. Add water and boil for 10 minutes.

2. Allow to cool, and grind along with fresh cilantro. Put a saucepan with the remaining oil and return to medium heat. Fry the sauce and season.

RECIPE

SALSARANCHERA

cuisine

The basic Mexican sauces are the result of the combination of local resources. Thus we have, for example, that green tomatoes and red tomatoes are the foundation of our sauces, which are then integrated with onion, garlic, coriander, or parsley, to finally complement with different chilies and salt.

The ranchero sauce is the star of the internationally renowned “Huevos Rancheros”. You may also enjoy it as a snack with tortilla chips, or as an accompaniment to many dishes.

Note: This sauce is perfect for the traditional “Huevos Rancheros” or any Mexican breakfast. The level of spiciness is according to the amount of serrano chile you add to the recipe.

To prepare ½ liter of salsa

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PEOPLE

The prestigious gourmet event, Good France, is organized every year to honor the excellence of French cuisine through time considered by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This year it was held on March 19th, and the collaboration of 43 Mexican chefs was announced. Maître Cuisinier de France, Michel Mustière, Executive Chef of Piaf restaurant at Grand Velas Riviera Maya was one of the participants.

Thousands of chefs around the world serve their culinary masterpieces in a seven-course dinner, and each menu is previously evaluated and accepted by an international jury. This gourmet event had presence in 30 countries and brought together approximately 1,300 chefs from five continents. Mexico is the sixth country with the largest presence in Good France, event organized by his Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, and Chef Alain Ducasse.

Some of Michel Mustiére’s dishes were: Elegant tuna with sichuan pepper crust with vegetables, Amélie-style escargot raviolis, fish filet with mashed carrots mounted with olive oil, Kobe beef sautéed and roasted in butter over truffled mashed potatoes; and for dessert, orange, ginger and black pepper bitter chocolate fondant.

It was a success!

Michel Mustière,participant at the Good France Event

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