Drawing inspiration from the abundant farmers markets that crowd the local streets, the new Spa Esencia offers an indulgent treatment menu that's pure Trinidad. When developing the facility's signature "farm to spa table" program, Spa Esencia's directors did their homework: before deciding on any spa services, they toured the island from coast to coast, exploring Trinidad's native tribes and cultures 
and selecting the indigenous natural resources that would offer the most relaxing and medicinal properties. The result: a ripe selection of organic spa treatments you'll be pressed to find anywhere else.
Located in the new Hyatt Regency Trinidad, the spa shares access to the Stay Fit club and rooftop infinity pool - but visitors won't find much time for those amid the long list of spa services available. One of Spa Esencia's highlights is the Esencia Dimanche Gras treatment – so named for the island's vibrant festival of Carnival – which includes the spa's best of the best: a two-hour, personalized program of aromatherapy, warm stone, Swedish, and deep tissue massage techniques, followed by detoxifying body wraps.
If rowdy Carnival escapades have left you with sun-, sand- (and probably cocktail-) abused skin, the Express Yourself Body Scrub serves as a
n invigorating fresh start, deriving its nutrients and exfoliating properties from locally grown sugarcane and coconut oil. Or, to step up the glam-factor for the next night out in Port-of-Spain, you might splurge on the Solid Gold Body Wrap; the appropriately named moisturizing and firming treatment uses gold-infused oil and a finishing buff of soft gold powder, and it promises to leave you glowing. Whatever treatments you select, at Spa Esencia you'll be pampered in the privacy of a personal treatment suite, so you'll never need to move between the waiting room and the various spa service rooms.
From $115 US for the Express Yourself Body Scrub (60-minutes) and $225 US for the Solid Gold Wrap (90-minutes), to $275 for the signature Esencia Dimanche Gras package (120-minutes).
Related Content
Looking for some tunes to get you in the Carnival mood? After our editor's recent jaunt to Trinidad for Carnival, she hand-picked the best of the bunch to get you jumping in your seats.
Trinidad’s bucket-list bacchanal incorporates a slew of must-do public events. Here’s the skinny on what happens when.
Trinidad Carnival isn't only for hard-bodied, hard-drinking young'uns. Mere mortals can enjoy the bacchanal too!
The area of Paramin, perched breathtakingly high atop the mountains of Trinidad's Northern Range, is the herb basket of the country. The steeply sloped hillsides and cool mountain air make the region ideal for growing herbs like shado beni, chives, thyme, and parsley. The Creole-descent farmers who cultivate these plants are the go-to guys for every Trinidadian cook, since their spices are an absolute necessity for the local pantry. The addition of shallots, onions, and vinegar, and the omission of oregano, makes it a bit different from standard green seasoning used elsewhere on the island, although you can substitute one for the other where any Caribbean recipe calls for green seasoning. Recipe reprinted with permission, from Sweet Hands: Island Cooking from Trinidad & Tobago by Ramin Ganeshram
Meat patties, or particularly beef patties, are largely credited to Jamaica, but they are made in most of the English-speaking Caribbean, using whatever particular mix of local spices is most liked. Annatto, locally called "ruku," gives the pastry it's deep yellow color. In Trinidad, for example, the version below features green seasoning with curry that gives these patties a totally Trini taste. They can be made with ground chicken, turkey, or beef. Recipe reprinted with permission, from Sweet Hands: Island Cooking from Trinidad & Tobago by Ramin Ganeshram
