I’m not a wellness retreat sort of particular person. Don’t get me mistaken, I attend yoga courses weekly, and I like to eat greens, however my thought of an wonderful trip retreat is when another person cooks for me.
So when UNICO 20°105° invited me to return keep on their newly opened (Fall 2025) adults-only all-inclusive property in Riviera Nayarit, I jumped on the likelihood, although I used to be totally frightened as my go to coincided with the Aura Wellness Retreat. Ultimately, I obtained to attempt some wonderful wellness actions.
I’m so glad I visited. This small-ish resort has solely 140 rooms serviced by 4 eating places, three bars, and two swimming pools. Because of its small variety of rooms, the resort feels extra like a group. The resort, simply 20 minutes from the airport, is located on an simply accessible, broad swath of seaside on Banderas Bay in Nuevo Nayarit. I joined the handfuls of vacationers, canine, and locals every morning who stroll the attractive waterfront searching for shells, birds, train, and peace within the early cool.
So Many Actions
Each room will get assigned a “Native Host”, a form of personalised concierge who helps with dinner reservations, airport transfers, spa appointments, and different visitor wants. Every day, he sends out a schedule of the resort’s occasions and actions, which run the gamut from seaside volleyball to an on-site Mexican craft market. I participated in an agave expertise the place we realized the fundamentals about (and tasted) tequila, mezcal, and the native fave, peppery raicilla, and an “artisan expertise” the place we made beaded knick-knacks.
Because of the presence of the Aura Wellness staff onsite for the retreat, I additionally attended a beachfront breathwork class, a yoga class, and a facial “glow up” with a skin-care skilled on the large palapa’d patio. I watched lots of people do a guided chilly plunge, however keep in mind once I stated I used to be not into wellness? No chilly plunge for me, thanks. I very a lot loved a silent floating sound tub, the place all of us donned wi-fi headphones, hopped on inflatable rafts, and floated across the rooftop pool whereas a “gong grasp” created sounds and vibrations for us to loosen up to.
Huge Breezy Rooms
I stayed in an Alcoba Ocean View room, which had a big furnished balcony overlooking the Pacific pool and past to the Pacific itself, with an outside spa soaking tub that my “Native Host” would fill upon request. (I didn’t request.) Each mattress within the resort is a king, and the ethereal rooms are embellished with native artwork, pure stone, and wooden accents. Beautiful straw hats and baskets held on the wall, which turned your reward from UNICO to take residence.
There’s an artisan painter by the pool who will personalize your hats and luggage on sure days. The large lavatory was stocked with Mexico-made soaps and lotions. The minibar snacks that got here with the all-inclusive additionally hailed from Mexico, one other small native contact that added lots to the resort’s participating sense of place. UNICO, a sister model to Arduous Rock Accommodations beneath the PAM hospitality group, appears to take nice satisfaction within the distinctiveness of its environs and roots. (The opposite, older, and bigger UNICO 20°87° is in Riviera Maya and the Montego Bay UNICO is beneath development.)
Esencia Spa
A beautiful factor a few new development resort is a contemporary new spa, and the UNICO people conveniently constructed their spacious sanctuary on the third flooring, only a brief elevator experience away out of your visitor room. They provide a strong roster of salon, spa, and wedding ceremony companies. I skilled their hydro-therapy circuit, which was a reduce above most I’ve visited. Not solely have been the sauna and steam room fairly expansive, however I had a really skilled information named Abraham who took me via it, from sensations bathe to chilly plunge (which I turned down as soon as once more), plying me with chilly towels, cucumber eye pads, and crushed ice alongside the best way. After my circuit, a relaxation within the serene rest room, a stunning therapeutic massage, and I used to be off for lunch in a mist of scented steam.
All-inclusive Eating
As soon as once more, the intimate measurement of the resort permits for a lot smaller eating experiences. Breakfast takes place at Lia, on the patio or indoors, and far to many’s chagrin, there is no such thing as a buffet. I didn’t thoughts that one bit, because the service was wonderful, accommodating, and the intensive menu left me wanting for nothing.
At evening, Lia turns into an Italian spot (since you can’t, it appears, open a resort sans an Italian spot), which ended up being my favourite dinner venue. I beloved the seafood (the fried calamari dusted in chickpea flour was a wonderful thought) and, as in any respect the eating places, the parts have been delightfully mid-sized, so you might order many issues to pattern. I didn’t love the wine decisions, which stayed the identical throughout all venues. Ingesting a full-bodied Cab shouldn’t be my favourite seaside climate quaff, and it appeared like many members of my group have been selecting the identical factor because the least offensive possibility.
AguaMadre turned my favourite lunch vacation spot, with its lush round wood-lined eating room, beachside location, and menu filled with seafood tostadas, freshly made salsas, and hearty Mexican fare. Don’t miss the salsa macha, a typical condiment made out of dried chiles, nuts, and seeds, that I couldn’t cease consuming. Within the night, the meals vibe will get a bit extra severe and experimental. In all of the eating places on website, let the servers information you; they undoubtedly steered me in direction of the most effective picks. At dessert, for instance, my server gave me his private rank on the menu gadgets, and he was spot on.
At Kobo, the beautiful Japanese outlet on the second flooring of the resort, you may reserve a teppanyaki desk to observe present cooking with a set menu, or order from a big menu of Japanese-style specialties. I didn’t love the maki and nigiri, however the fried shrimp, dumplings, and the wok-tossed entrees have been very satisfying. I additionally loved consuming chilled sake together with my meal.
After dinner, people collect in Coquita, the relaxed foyer lounge and bar, for video games and native musical expertise performances. A lot of the fantastically curated artwork on each shelf, wall, and nook of the general public areas comes from the Huichol traditions of the indigenous Wixarika folks, whose beaded and braided creations are astoundingly colourful and complicated.
Ultimate Poolside Ideas
My adopted group gathered most afternoons by the Pacific Pool for drinks and a swim. The swim-up bar and poolside service gave brisk, pleasant service, however a number of folks complained that the one lavatory was a bit distant, all the best way throughout the pool because the crow flies. First world issues, possibly, however that’s what you discuss on the Pacific Pool. I missed the weekly Pool Get together as I elected to take a “half-day” Puerto Vallarta CIty Tour that saved me off property for a lot of hours, however all stories gave the celebration a thumbs up. I’d come again to UNICO 20°105° anytime!
For households who’d like to go to Riviera Nayarit, attempt these close by choices as an alternative!
