Verana Day Spa, Yelapa, Mexico

While visiting Mexico this past week I had the opportunity to visit a spa that is heralded as Mexico's best Destination spa by numerous travel, spa and beauty magazines. Called the Jungle spa at the Verana Resort, it is located high on a mountain in Yelapa, Mexico, and is reachable only by boat.

I made my spa reservation via telephone before I left the U.S..

A helpful woman named Christina Yugo assisted by answering my questions. I was asked to pay in full for the total cost of the service (I would be receiving the Ginger body scrub) and the cost of the water taxi that would pick me up from, and bring me back to Boca de Tomatlan, a town which is a 20 minute boat ride away from the spa. The cost of the exfoliation is $100, and the boat taxi would be $25. I was happy to oblige.

Upon arriving in Boca De Tomatlan, I was surprised to learn that boat taxis to and from Yelapa cost only $6.00 either way. I emailed the spa to request a refund on my $25 and to let them know I would be enlisting my own taxi. I was told that regular boat taxis are not allowed to pick up and drop off at the Verana dock. Paying the $25 for their boat was my only option. This outrageous fee for a boat definitely made me feel taken advantage of, and I was left with a negative feeling for the spa.

The Day of my treatment I was on the beach waiting for my water taxi that finally arrived 20 minutes late, making me nervous I would be late for my treatment, let alone have any time to relax and enjoy the spa amenities before my treatment began.

After a boat ride down the beautiful Mexican coastline I finally reached the Verana dock. I was greeted by a friendly American who would escort me on the 15 minute hike up hill to the resort. It was a hot day, and was given a glass of ice water once we made it to the resort, which was greatly appreciated. I arrived just in time for my service, and was asked to sit for a moment and wait for my service provider.

Verana is a tropical splendor, gorgeously landscaped with thatched roof palapas and windingg paths through tropical foliage. There are chase lounges where one can look out onto the amazing Pacific ocean, and a beautiful swimming pool, where I saw one other guest, basking in the warm southern rays.

The website for the spa claims that each service begins with a foot bath and a cup of tea. I was offered neither. I paid no mind to not being offered the tea, but a foot bath would have been wonderfully therapeutic for my beat-up, tired feet, not to mention nice for the practitioner who would soon have to touch them!!

Momentarily my practitioner, Lupita, arrived to greet me and I followed her into the gorgeous outside treatment room. As my treatment began I relaxed into the table, eased into a gentle drift by Lupita's confident hands. My body was rocked and my muscles pulled into alignment, while generous amounts of essential oil was applied to my hair; a beautiful beginning ritual to the treatment. The exfoliation to follow was lovely, salt was scrubbed briskly over the back of my body, then removed with warm towels.

After the salt was removed, a warm coconut milk rinse was applied with a paint brush. I then heard Lupita's sweet whisper in my ear to "please turn over," and the front of my body was exfoliated and brushed with the warm milk mixture. Unfortunately, Lupita was not able to remove all the salt on my back and I found myself laying on a damp sheet, the tiny crystals of salt digging into my skin.

Following my exfoliation , I was instructed to rinse off in the beautiful outside shower and get dressed. I luxuriated in the shower, enjoying my lovely rock wall surroundings. As I dried off, I realized the hydrating coconut milk that had been applied to my body was now rinsed down the drain. I emerged from my treatment sad; The Verana Jungle Spa website declares, "All body treatments are followed by an effleurage massage to leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed." No such massage was offered to me.

I am disappointed that my experience at Verana Jungle Spa did not live up to the experience I was led to believe I would have. If claims are make on their website, every guest should receive those extras and services. The foot baths, the tea, and the finishing effleurage massages are the added extras that turn a fine spa experience into a wonderful spa experience, and consistency is key.

Verana leaves me still searching for that exemplar spa experience I know exists...where will I look next?