by Anne Dimon
Embraced by the ocean and over half a mile of beachfront on one side, and an expanse of jungle on the other, Palmaia, The House of Aia, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico is an ideal location for your wellness travels.
There is nothing quite like listening to the sounds of ocean waves washing on to the sandy shores to create an atmosphere of peace and relaxation as an escape from our often hectic, stressful lives. That plus the soft, nature sounds of the jungle only adds to the relaxing atmosphere.
Opened in late 2019, the all-inclusive, beachfront resort offers 234 guest rooms all with ocean views. Beyond the all-inclusive offerings, the Palmaia team can also set up local tours to such sites as the Mayan ruins and landmark local cenotes.
A welcome note in our guest room reads: “Every journey begins the moment you let go and move from where you were to where you dream of being. We have created this place to explore our nature through an authentic and conscious experience. We invite you to take the time to slow down, settle in and enjoy the Palmaia experience.”
In the comprehensive paper guide left in guest rooms, guests can read that, according to Founder and CEO, Alexander Ferri, “We built Palmaia -The House of Aia to share a different way of doing things, to provide a unique space for you to initiate or advance your health and healing journey.”
I was fortunate to meet up with Alexander, who explained to me that with Palmaia he wanted to create something that complemented his own personal lifestyle.
There are four guiding pillars called Houses: The Nourishing Biome, The Architects of Life, The Rituals of Sound and The House of AÏA. Each House is designed, according to the in-room guide “to work holistically to bring each guest balance and healing.”
The first House, and I’d say the most unique, is The Nourishing Biome. Executive Chef Charlie Garcia describes it as “the food philosophy.”
A chef for the past 20 years and an executive chef for the last eight, Chef Garcia has been working for Palmaia since prior to opening and is responsible for the formulation of this food philosophy. “We look at the stomach as the second brain,” says Chef Garcia. “What you eat effects everything in your body including the stomach, the brain, heart, lung and liver. Every process in your body depends on your food intake. What makes Palmaia different is that we understand that food is a vessel of energy.” Beyond that, he says “even positive energy and a positive attitude incorporated into the preparation of food adds quality ingredients to the foods we serve.”
He points out that “80% of foods offered is plant based and 20% is considered “add ons” or “swaps” to please guests who are not vegan.” Add ons may include swaps for certain ingredients. For instance, one might swap papaya for wild salmon, and mushrooms for free-range organic chicken, or scrambled tofu for free range organic eggs. As many ingredients as possible as grown locally and “everything possible is made from scratch,” says chef.
We serve real food and acknowledge that “nourishment itself is a healing experience,” says Director of Marketing, Heidi Garcia Adragna. “However, we don’t want to be radical, but flexible.” The chef adds “we pay strict attention to nutritional value in all our dishes, but we’ve also created an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome to the table.”
The Architects of Life
This House includes more than 30 holistic and healthy activities offered weekly and included in the price. Led by both their in-house and visiting guides, the activities are designed to help steer guests through personal exploration of the physical body and the subconscious mind. A schedule of daily activities is sent to guests via text the day prior, however, for those guests who prefer to have a break from their phones, paper options are also available.
I attended a guided Gratitude Ceremony held in the Gypsy Tent, one of many nature-embraced settings where group sessions take place.
With the live and soothing sounds of a guitarist and a flute-like instrument playing gentling in the background, the ceremony guide, Valerie Huerta, leads a group of guests, including myself, through an ancient ceremony created by the Incas, and. designed to help participants figure out how we feel about ourselves and all we have to be thankful for.
Another session I attended was a Learn to Draw class led by professional artist Iva Visosevic. A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Croatia, Iva has been conducting art classes at Palmaia since the resort opened. Currently offering guests four classes a week (two Learn to Draw and two Water Colors), Iva speaks four languages and her works are showcased at galleries in New York and Los Angeles. Check out her work here
Surrounded by a jungle setting complete with the scents and sounds, one morning’s ceremony designed to help participants dig deep to access info at an unconscious level is called Quantum Family Constellations. Lead by Heidi (who in addition to being Marketing Directory is also a family therapist), the ceremony is simultaneously presented in both English and Spanish. Heidi points out that the ceremony supports the concept that “we are all connected and we all belong, and we are stronger together than alone.” She explains that it was the German psychotherapist Bert Hellinger who passed away in 2019 at the age of 93 was the founder of the theory of Family Constellations which professes that gratitude is the “first order of love.” The ceremony is offered to guests as a weekly session.
The Rituals of Sound
Held in beautiful nature-embraced, on-property locations, music events embrace a deep rhythm associated with the heart beat – echoing the first thing we hear…the beating heart of our mothers.
The House of AÏA
According to the paper guide left in guest rooms, “AÏA Wellness is Palmaia’s retreat experience that promotes wellbeing by means of our innate connection to nature. AIA guides us back to the source, removing the vail of “dis-ease” created by modern living. The multiple distractions of everyday life – what we eat, how we breathe, what we think, what we say, etc – lead to an obstructed body and mind that affects our energetic flow and life. AIA Wellness is rooted in our local traditions and cultures, specifically the ancient teaching of the Maya.”
Surrounded by jungle, cenotes and mangroves, Atlantis The Spa offers a wide variety of ancient cultural rituals. Palmaia’s Senior Manager of Retreats & AïA Wellness Collective, Melanie Malpas-Sands gives me a tour of Atlantis The Spa offering nine treatment rooms and a menu of holistic and indigenous practices. She points out that one of its more unique offerings is the Ancestral Circuit. The three-station circuit offers hot to cold elements including a cold cenote.
Palmaia’s Senior Manager of Retreats & AïA Wellness Collective, Melanie Malpas-Sands gives me a tour of Atlantis The Spa offering nine treatment rooms and a menu of holistic and indigenous practices. She points out that one of its more unique offerings is the Ancestral Circuit. The three-station circuit offers hot to cold elements including a cold cenote. A holistic nutritionist for the last 15 years, Melanie tells me she will soon become the new Senior Retreats Manager. All-inclusive retreats for 2025 are listed here.
Speaking from a personal perspective, and for the many reasons mentioned above, Palmaia, The House of AiA should definitely be on your short list for any upcoming wellness travels, wellness vacations or wellness retreats.