Date of publication 09/12/2022
Jamaica Love Find Your Lover’s Getaway in Jamaica
Relax, rejuvenate and invigorate passions in a tropical getaway in the Caribbean
Alongside the beach near Montego Bay, the sounds of the Caribbean water lapping on the sand, a couple lies on two soft beds, together enjoying a moment of ultimate relaxation. The lucky pair are relishing a unique service, specially designed to strip away the stress of the daily grind and accentuate the intimacy of a romantic long weekend. Special decongestive muds from the Brittany coast—known for their health benefits in reducing tension and muscle fatigue—are applied by two experienced masseuses.
This happy twosome has discovered that often the sweetest moments in life are enjoyed together, in a relaxed and nurtured environment. Yet they have only seen the tip of the iceberg. In Jamaica, a romantic island destination waiting to be discovered, relaxation and wellness go hand-in-hand with love and passion.
And even more so if you live this experience in any of the three Iberostar hotels in Montego Bay. Three hotels where luxury is mixed with the landscape and the Jamaican way of life with the utmost care in the details. A jaunt in the “Land of Springs” can be the perfect setting for stoking the flames of ardor.
The natural environment of the Caribbean has long been the ideal locale for rejuvenation and de-stressing, and it is also a perfect place to enjoy all these things with a loved one. In Jamaica, the tropical air, the never-ending sunshine, the tranquility of the waters and the relaxed character of the locals all add up to an unforgettable romantic escape.
Many of the natural elements of the island are utilized in the health treatments for guests, accentuating the connection to the landscape and place, as well as the physical and spiritual connection between lovers, couples and partners. Enjoying the spa treatments together is a wonderful way to spend a dreamy escape.
THE SPA AND THE BEACH
It’s no accident that the best resorts in the world are often on the beach. Coastal areas beckon those looking for adventure, relaxation, a connection to nature and a window to romance. Near Montego Bay, the best hotels offer spa and wellness services that highlight the tropical environment and the flamboyant culture of Jamaica. Amongst thin awnings swaying in the breeze, under palm leaves and thatched roofs, fragrant flowers and soothing ocean sounds, massages in the outdoors offer couples an extraordinary experience.
Enjoying a Four-Hands massage is a particular highlight as two therapists work together in synchronized motions to allow the bliss and tranquility of the island to take over. Mixing a traditional Caribbean theme with ancient Eastern practices, a Shiatsu massage uses the same methods used 5,000 years ago by the Japanese, applying pressure along important energy pathways in the body.
And in addition to the standard couples’ beachside massage, the Beachside Salt Glow uses the cleansing power of the sea to rejuvenate the skin, attitude and physical vigor. The natural skin exfoliation of saltwater is reinforced with a swim in the sea, and then followed by a half-hour relaxation massage. Even the algae of the sea, when mixed with vitamins and minerals found in the water vegetation around Jamaica, has cell-regenerating effects and eliminates water retention, perfect for women who are looking for a refreshing look and feel.
For him, a professional combination of ampoules with botanical extracts and vitamins, hot towel facials, a cool black mask and a scalp massage bring the true nature of the tropics alive, paving the way to relaxation, reinvigoration and romance.
The natural skin exfoliation of saltwater is reinforced with a swim in the sea, and then followed by a half-hour relaxation massage. Even the algae of the sea, when mixed with vitamins and minerals found in the water vegetation around Jamaica, has cell-regenerating effects and eliminates water retention, perfect for women who are looking for a refreshing look and feel.
THE POWER OF THE WATER
Islands are some of the most romantic places anywhere. There is a charm that can only come from places surrounded by water, and Jamaica is no different. Legendary sunsets over the sea, the gentle waves washing on the beach, the sea salt smell in the air. Taking a long stroll hand-in-hand along Seven Mile Beach is a simple pleasure, a memory that can be treasured for a lifetime.
Water-centered sports abound. Paired snorkeling in Montego Bay Marine Park is an exciting couples’ activity, as it gets you up close and personal with exotic underwater wildlife, an experience that both will cherish. Even the simple act of swimming together in the ocean, one of the easiest and most natural activities we can do, can have lasting positive effects on relationships and mental wellbeing.
There are health benefits to water exposure, too, as our bodies are made up mostly of H2O, and hydrotherapies abound, like rose petal baths, Jacuzzis and unique Crystal Marine Baths, which use elements of the sea to reinvigorate skin and soul in a natural way.
At Iberostar’s Rose Hall Complex guests can even immerse themselves in a soothing milk mousse, brimming with dairy proteins and marine collagens, repairing the skin from all that exposure to the Caribbean sun. Also at this resort, couples enjoy exotic baths of vanilla, once an expensive and sought-after extract from the Molucca Islands, nowadays still used for its fragrance and skin-softening powers.
RELAXATION FOR TWO
When couples experience a holiday together, memories are created and bonds grow stronger. Resort activities are often designed for both people to enjoy, not just for a woman or man alone. In a Swedish massage or a therapeutic mud bath for two, both partners experience the same relaxing effects and reduce their stress together, all the while alleviating the worries of daily life and the lethargy and soreness of working muscles.
Speaking of eliminating stress, locals have been enjoying the Jamaican Bush Bath as a natural remedy for generations. Utilizing a mixture of herbs like rosemary, sage, cerassee, orange and bay leaves, a hot bath instills a warm sense of being and a calmer mind. Couples can enjoy the bath together and experience its holistic effects along with a couples’ massage, paired with organic extracts and a therapeutic legs treatment.
The charm of the Caribbean night can stoke the flames of love and bring a sense of the exotic to a romantic getaway. The blanket of stars in the night sky can serve as the perfect backdrop for a romantic dinner, a night walk on the promenade or even a couples’ massage, surrounded by tiki torches and the soothing sounds of the beach and calm nighttime waters. With the Milky Way above and the indulgence of some chocolate and champagne, an experience is complete.
YOGA, ISLAND STYLE
The practice of yoga helps flexibility, improves cardiovascular health and circulation. It increases overall energy and athletic abilities and performance, too. What better way to invigorate a romantic holiday than practicing your asanas together with the fast-paced, physically challenging ashtanga yoga, or by honing your vinyasa flow by saluting the Caribbean sun? The open-air nature of the beach in Jamaica allows a special connection to nature and the immediate environment, great conditions for meditating and revitalizing the mind and soul.
Throughout the island, from retreats to private classes, from resort programs to simply laying a yoga mat under a palm tree, couples can find bountiful opportunities to practice yoga and take part in the ultimate relaxation. Start the day with one of the exclusive morning yoga classes offered at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall together to continue enjoying the benefits of a thermal circuit in the spa.
A DIVERSITY OF ACTIVITIES FOR COUPLES
Beyond the world of the spa and yoga, couples exploring Jamaica find both relaxation and a bit of adventure. Near Negril, horseback rides take visitors through the backcountry, along rivers and streams, through sugar plantations, and then wind down to the water, where the swimming horses take riders into the Caribbean Sea.
Inland, couples take a relaxing bamboo raft trip down the tranquil Martha Brae River. On this excursion, Island Routes caters to the romantic in everyone with the intimacy of the private raft, complete with a personal gondolier, surrounded by the sounds of the jungle, exotic wildlife and rare birds that fill its aviary. On this trip, visitors also see the sight where Roger Moore’s James Bond jumped over crocodiles in 1972’s Live and Let Die.
Near Ocho Rios, the picturesque Blue Hole looks like a scene from a movie, complete with turquoise water and a waterfall skirted by wild flowers. Visitors in the know arrive early in the morning, when the reservoir is calm, and swim behind the waterfall, where there is a small cuddly corner, perfect for two. Talk about a perfect place to disconnect!
In many cultures, a cruise on the sea has long been a romantic venture, and the tranquil waters around Jamaica offer many opportunities for couples to take in the evening sunset or the supreme silence of the night. Also near Montego Bay, lucky clients can witness the blue glow of bioluminescent algae in Luminous Lagoon while sipping on a rum punch.
And all along Jamaica’s north coast, catamaran cruises offer sunset sails, where day sailors can cuddle on the bow and witness the mackerel sky and ribbons of brilliant clouds, and possibly even the famous “green flash.”
Relaxation and wellness treatments help diminish the stresses of everyday life, stirring the passions of an intimate couples’ weekend, and in Jamaica the options flourish. And sometimes, the simplest of moments are the ones that make a romantic getaway complete, like lounging together on beach chairs after the tranquility of a massage session, under a palapa-style hut, sipping on a tropical cocktail as the golden sun slips behind the Caribbean Sea.
SHAWN MOKSVOLD I 23/04/2018
Photography by Cordon Press and Getty Images
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