As Americans begin to settle into 2004 and continue to work harder than ever, Cancun�s myriad state-of-the-art spas offer the perfect solution for travelers looking to unwind, relax and recharge away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

�Already a popular sun and surf destination, Cancun is also home to some of the world�s top spas and therapies,� said Dr. Miguel Borge Martin, executive director of the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau. �While we continue to attract hundreds of thousands of travelers who come to live it up in the Mexican Caribbean, more and more discriminating travelers are turning to Cancun as the perfect getaway for relaxation and rejuvenation.�

From day spas and resort spas to fitness and brand-name spas, Cancun offers travelers an unrivaled spa experience that blends old world techniques with innovative technologies amidst the breathtaking beauty and unique cultural traditions of the Mexican Caribbean.

Following are some of Cancun�s most popular spas and treatments:

The Power of Seaweed & Stones Thalassotherapy - the art of using the therapeutic powers of seawater and its healthful components to relax, rejuvenate and nurture body and soul � is one of the main attractions at Paraiso de la Bonita (located only 25 minutes south of Cancun in Puerto Morelos), the first resort in North America to offer this spa treatment.

Other spa packages and massages are available to guests at other resorts throughout Cancun and include treatments such as the Le Meridien Spa del Mar�s popular �Hot Stone Massage� � a luxurious and relaxing massage combined with thermal therapy using polished, dark, heated stones to relieve daily stress, loosen tight muscles and help restore energy.

Moon & Stars Provide Natural Canopy Four Cancun resorts offer their own version of a �Moon and Stars� massage � the Melia Cancun Beach & Spa Resort, the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach, the Royal Sands Hotel and the Paradisus Riviera Cancun. The moonlight massage takes place in an outdoor cabana or a private terrace allowing guests to enjoy services in a unique environment with spectacular ocean sounds and views surrounding Cancun.

Margarita-Inspired Baths The �Margarita Bath,� a specialty of the Ritz Carlton, includes a mixture of bath salts, fresh limes and margarita flowers and resembles Mexico�s most popular cocktail. The bathtub is lined with sea salts, designed to resemble the edge of a margarita glass and the water is garnished with fresh slices of lime and lime-scented bath gels for authentic recreation of the popular beverage. To complete the experience guests are presented with fresh margarita flowers, votive candles floating in margarita glasses at the edge of the tub, and a pitcher of margaritas with two glasses for refreshment. The Spa at JW Marriott, currently the largest spa in Latin America, offers a similar experience. The 35,000 square feet, three-level spa offers a full range of Mayan-inspired treatments that are brought to life using a wide variety of raw materials native to Cancun, including fresh exotic fruits, stones and crystals, incense, mud, and milk.

Ancient Aztec Sweat Lodge Cleanses Body and Soul For travelers looking for a one-of-a-kind spa experience, Temazcal is an indigenous Aztec steam bath treatment intended to renew the body, mind and spirit. Performed on hot stones with aromatic herbs, the Temazcal takes place directly on the beach at sunset in a terracotta hut, enhanced with brightly lit torches.

In its traditional form, Temazcal combines elements of the Turkish bath, Finnish sauna, European steam-bath and Arabian hammam, practiced by tribes from Guatemala to Utah and beyond for untold centuries to cleanse and purify the body. The word �Temazcal� itself comes from the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs ��temaz� meaning bath and �calli� meaning house.

Cancun�s Temazcal is offered at the Westin Regina Cancun and La Ceiba del Mar Hotel & Spa, an intimate resort located twenty minutes south of Cancun in the quaint fishing village of Puerto Morelos. La Ceiba del Mar also offers a wide range of spa services, including mud massages, seaweed body wraps and treatments targeted to specific needs.

Yoga and sacred dances It is in a shady residential street of downtown Cancun that one finds the Institute for Harmonious Human Development (IDASH), a center for meditation, relaxation and self-exploration through movement. The workshops and classes offered at the IDASH revolve around the following three disciplines: the Gurdjieff sacred dances for inner consciousness development; Hatha Yoga for the enhancement of body awareness; and Osho practices, which help one achieve greater freedom of mind through meditation. A calendar of classes and other information about IDASH is available at www.idash.ws.

About Cancun A Mecca for travelers from all walks of life, with treasures for every taste, Cancun combines rich traditions and legends of the past with the luxury and comforts of the present � in the heart of an ancient and mysterious Mayan world. With 27,000 first-class hotel rooms, and a host of attractions from adventure, romance and golf, to spa, dining and shopping, The Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau invites visitors to experience the warm hospitality and natural wonders of Cancun. For further information, visit www.cancun.info.

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Media Contact: Ana Mari Irabien +52 998 8846531 amirabien@prodigy.net.mx