I Tried Eco-Friendly Travel and It Changed My Jaded View of Wellness Retreats

Upon entering the resort, I was handed a cup of hibiscus tea with rosemary and agave which was so calming, I spent the rest of the night drifting asleep while watching Netflix. The next day, I asked executive chef Charly if my nervous system had suddenly regulated itself after a life spent working in fashion and being the eldest sister — or this was an intentional move on behalf of the kitchen. "From the moment you walk in, everything is designed to calm you," he explained. "We have music playing at a specific frequency; a calming lavender scent in the air; and in the tea, we put a spice — mostly lavender, rosemary, cinnamon — which is all calming."

According to Charly, every aspect of the culinary experience at Palmaïa serves a specific intention, even down to the local farmers they partner with. "We try to get the best quality ingredients possible," he said. "We need to be aligned with the ethos of the suppliers that we work with because food is a vehicle of energy."

Guests come to Charly for a personalized menu based on their concerns or preferences. If their goal is to lower their cholesterol, increase their fiber intake, or just to satisfy their sugar cravings in a healthy way, Charly identifies the best options at the resort's restaurants like the popular food truck, Charly's Vegan Tacos, or Ume, which serves Thai cuisine.

"I'll ask 'how many times do you eat a day, around what times, what's your workout level, do you fast, do you prefer sweet or salty foods?'" Charly said. "Then, I'll curate a custom menu. We consider calories, vitamins, enzymes, and more to serve a certain purpose. Some of our dishes are meant to transform your body into an alkaline system, some are good for increasing your gut health through fibers, and so on."

And while the resort offers a plant-based-first menu, they also take a non-judgmental approach toward guests seeking non-vegan options. "We created a system called add-on if you're not vegan," Charly said. "For example, you can get risotto or add on shrimp or parmesan cheese. That goes for every meal so everyone feels welcome."

A key part of my experience when I'm on vacation? Massages. The service makes my anxiety melt away and fully transports my body and mind into relaxation mode. At the serene Atlantis Spa, I booked a hot stone massage that was just as enjoyable and transformative as usual — but they took it up a notch.

A floor-to-ceiling glass window in the massage room invited the outside in, making me feel like I was taking a nap in the middle of the forest. The natural surroundings instantly put me at ease and the massage only added to that sense of calm.

After the service, once I had emerged from the massage room, the spa staff performed a sage ceremony replete with drums and asked me to make a wish. (Obviously, I wished for more massages and less stress!)

Spirituality is a big part of wellness, and it's incorporated at the Palmaïa resort in so many ways, from meditative concerts (pictured) to sound baths and astrology. Since I enjoy astrology as a fun pastime and often get readings when I'm traveling, I knew I wanted to sign up for a session. But this encounter was less about predicting the future or analyzing my personality, and more about exploring my chart to find out exactly what areas I need to grow in. Needless to say, it was pretty enlightening.

My astrology partner let me know that although I was fully aware of my Taurus sun traits, I was neglecting that Leo is in my first house (news to me!). To that end, he said I required a lot of acknowledgement for my efforts — as well as 6 hugs a day which initially sounded pretty excessive, but I kept an open mind.

By the time he asked, unprompted, about my dad's mother who helped raise me and had passed away almost 10 years prior, I was sobbing. He simply handed me a tissue and told me guests usually have that reaction.

On my first day, I was introduced to my nomadic guide: Oscar, a kind, animated, former tiger wrangle. Together, we made our way to my suite where I gasped in the middle of the walkway at a view of the jungle that stretched on, uninterrupted, for what felt like miles. It was clear that great care was taken to safeguard the property's natural landscape during construction.

The resort is built around the Riviera Maya jungle to preserve it: the land takes precedence over capitalism and tourism, something you don't see as often in the US. In fact, staffers told me that they are actively working to protect the palma chît from extension and that very plant also inspired the Palmäia name. Likewise, the cenote is carefully preserved and guests are asked not to enter with sunscreen or insect repellant to avoid compromising the fragile environment.

And finally, seeing wildlife is always a sign that nature is being safeguarded, and it was so delightful spotting iguanas moseying around the walkway as I made my way to breakfast or to the beach.

Though I only spent one weekend at the Palmaïa resort, I was inspired to make lifestyle changes that will extend far beyond those three days in Paradise. A few examples? There's no single-use plastic on the property and we were provided with a refillable water bottle to use during our stay, both practices I want to enforce in my home.

We also biked everywhere, and not only is that better for the environment than driving, but it was a great workout and fully reignited my love for a pastime I had mostly left behind in my childhood.

Overall, the experience did change me. From a vegan diet that reframes food as medicine to my renewed love for biking, I feel lighter, more at peace, and more connected to the environment after staying at the Palmaïa resort.

And I'm getting plenty of daily hugs from my nieces and nephews and — can you believe it? — it makes all the stress of the day just melt away.

Jessica C. Andrews (she/her) is the senior content director of shopping and UK at PS. With more than 15 years of experience, her areas of expertise include fashion, shopping, and travel. Prior to joining PS, Jessica held senior roles at Teen Vogue, Refinery29, and Bustle, and contributed to The New York Times, Elle, Vanity Fair, and Essence. She's appeared on "Good Morning America," NBC, and Fox 5 New York, and spoken on various panels about fashion, hair, and Black culture.