13 spa treatments include:
6 Swedish massages
3 facials with reflexology foot massage
1 loofah salt glow / fango exfoliant
2 hair treatments with neck/shoulder massage (with 1 hair styling)
1 manicure/pedicure
In addition to the above, you may schedule up to 4 sessions in Shangri La’s Roman mineral bath. This private indoor space offers a hot mineral bath, shower and two small beds for resting.
All spa treatments and exercise classes are 50 minutes and start on the hour; this allows for passing time between services.
Most massages, all mani/pedis and hair treatments take place at the main hotel, while some massages, loofah/fango, and most facials take place a short walk down the path at the Shangri La Spa. Spa Holistico, located on the main road at the entrance gate of Ixtapan Spa Hotel, also offers an array of outstanding massages and facials.
Some treatments in the standard spa package can be upgraded for treatments at Spa Holistico or Shangri La. To explore these options, visit the spa registration desk in the main hotel.
7:00am morning walks – Two guides, one fast-paced, one gentler-paced, take us through the adjoining water park prior to its opening and/or up into nearby mountain paths.
Thermal water stretch class in warm and hot mineral baths
Yoga (chair or standard)
Pilates – located in the studio on second floor of the gym (building is next to tennis courts)
Aquatics – water aerobics and aqua Zumba
Salsa dance classes
3 tennis or pickle ball lessons available – schedule via concierge
In addition to the above, occasional guided meditation classes are offered. All participation is optional!
There are excursions that can be enjoyed in addition to all the Spa has to offer. These options are not included in the spa package cost.
Cave tours – Mexico has some amazing caves nearby, where you can take a guided tour. There are two to choose from; see concierge for details. An Ixtapan Spa Hotel van will take you there and back.
Taxco – A hotel van will take us to Taxco for shopping (known for its silver)
Ixtapan flea market - on weekends, walk to town for some fun shopping; bring pesos!
Local events – sometimes there are spring celebration parades, horse parades or other local festivities in town to be enjoyed
Local restaurants – I highly recommend walking around town and soaking in the culture; enjoy a meal, appetizer or cocktail at a restaurant
As trip organizer, I collect package fees from participants and pay the spa hotel for our group.
The discounted group rate for the February 2027 trip is US$1,795 per person double occupancy, or US$2,200 for a single room. A US$200 deposit is due on registration to secure your spot. Balance due date December 2026 (specific date TBD). See how to pay.
Cancellation policy: Full refund less $50 fee if you cancel more than 30 days before the trip. No refund if cancelled within 30 days; you will receive a voucher for a future stay.
You may still register after that, but February is peak season and the hotel may be fully booked by January. There are Villas on the campus adjacent to the hotel for overflow, but the primary hotel is quite beautiful and definitely where you want to stay!
Booking your flight: Fly into Mexico City (MEX). Look for flights that arrive before 2pm local time on our trip start date. Look for flights that depart from MEX after 2pm local time on our trip departure date. If it is easy for you and your friends to fly into Toluca, it is closer to the spa than Mexico City; however, there may be fewer flight options.
Airport transfer details: The hotel van driver greets us at the exit of baggage claim, and the first to arrive will wait for other passengers for the van to depart (at least 4 per van trip). Estimated fees are round-trip, per person; actual cost depends on the total number of passengers. Fees are added to your hotel room bill. For private transfer, consult Michelle for rates.
MEX AIRPORT: The drive takes ~2 hours. US$115, plus gratuity.
TOLUCA AIRPORT: The drive takes ~1 hour. US$85 per person, plus gratuity.
Gratuities: Bring approximately US$150 - US$250 (include small bills for greater flexibility). You can tip in USD or Mexican pesos. To change currency to pesos, you can use an ATM at the airport or just outside the Ixtapan Spa Hotel (ask Michelle where this is located). Sometimes the hotel will have pesos for exchange, but do not rely on this. Tipping for spa services, exercise instructors, bellhop, bartenders and van drivers is typically between US$5 - US$10. Err on the side of bringing more, since you can always go home with cash you don’t use!
Travel insurance: This is highly recommended, as is global medical insurance.
You have so many choices! You can select from a variety of exercise classes and physical activities throughout the day, and you can request your spa treatments for specific times throughout your spa week. About a month or so before the trip, I will ask you to fill out a schedule. See this sample schedule for an idea of how your week could flow.
February 5 is a national holiday in Mexico: Constitution Day. Carnavale is planned for February 6th. In recent years our group very much enjoyed watching the Carnavale parade in town.
Still have questions? Contact me.