Best Spas Worldwide & Spa vs Hot Springs

A Spa! Really?

December 2016
There is some confusion surrounding the real meaning of the word ‘spa’ and what to expect. Blue River Costa Rica Resort & Hot Springs’s always boasts about its special natural mineral Costa Rica hot springs. Separately, there is also a Spa. What’s the difference between a Costa Rica spa and a Costa Rica hot springs? We wish to ‘clear the water’ by defining the word, “Spa” and to introduce the 10 best countries for Spas in the world. Lets begin with the meaning of ’spa’ and its association with ‘hot springs.’

Definition of “Spa”

Per the Oxford Dictionary, one definition of “spa” is:

A mineral spring considered to have health-giving properties:

1.1  A place or resort with a mineral spring.
1.2  A commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatment through such means as steam baths, exercise equipment, and massage.

The original definition of the word (in 1.1) refers to the importance of the place where mineral rich waters (hot springs) exit from the ground. Today the name is also in use to define an ‘establishment’ (in 1.2); a place providing, physical and beautification treatments.

At some point, the two definitions blended into what has become a gross misrepresentation of its original meaning.

Hot Springs – The Indisputable Factors

Three important elements involved in genuine hot springs (aka natural mineral hot springs) are:

• mineral infused – Where the minerals are combined under pressure and diluted in water.
• natural – All organic elements, pure and originating underground.
• thermal – Heated by the heat generated from the earth’s mantle.

This description has never been in debate. Wherever a spa has been discovered, these three factors were required to provide the healing and comfort from a spa.

Nothing New About Spas

Every year millions of people enjoy what we casually referred to as a “spa”. However, only a few of them enjoy the real thing because the healing benefits of a genuine ‘hot spring’ is absent from most.

Most spas offer a soothing hot bath; produced in a pool of hot water with no other real health benefits. However, that hot bath is not a new phenomenon; the Romans were the earliest civilization participating in regular hot baths in 460 BC.

The Romans enjoyed the pampering of a masseuse (a slave in those days), and sweating away in a steam filled room; the steam coming from a wood fire beneath a cauldron. The hot bath was a cleansing and relaxing substitute for a spa. If you had a health issue you required a good spa then as you do today.

Spas have a decade’s old documented history of providing users with the benefits that we are talking about. There are still some excellent spas on our list (below) that remain from those ancient civilizations.

If you cannot ‘do-better’ then go ahead and enjoy the commercial beauty spa, but never pass up an opportunity to soak in a real ‘hot spring’. Only Mother Nature can make the real thing.

10 Best Countries for Natural Spas in the World

Here are the Countries with the 10 Best Spas, in the world today. As to be expected all are near the Pacific Ring of Fire, a fault line beneath the earth’s crust. They are all natural and they are all considered the best.

Costa Rica

Nature has bestowed Costa Rica with over 200 volcanic formations, mineral pools, mud baths and hot mineral springs. Just north of the active, smoking Rincon de la Vieja Volcano crater is Blue River Resort and Hot Springs where some of Costa Rica’s natural treasures are hidden.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic offers many therapeutic thermal baths and over 30 spa resorts.

Canada

Along the famous Rocky Mountain range, the hot springs, in Banff, Alberta, are one of  nine natural occuring hot springs along Sulphur Mountain. Though Canada is a a very large country with many great hot springs, Banff Hot Springs Reserve was the first of Canada’s National Parks.

Budapest

Near Hungary’s capital city, Lake Heviz is Europe’s largest thermal lake.

England

Thermae Bath Spa, is Britain’s only natural thermal spring. Celts and Romans have enjoyed these waters.

Iceland

The Blue Lagoon, Grindavik, is the most famous of the over 800 thermal springs, rich in therapeutic minerals.

Japan

The Island throbs with volcanic activity. Hot Springs provide the waters for pools flowing at the Ryokans (Japanese Inns).

New Zealand

‘Whakarewarewa’ is a famous Maori cultural experience. Famous for its geysers, hot springs, and mud pools.

USA

Though there are many that are well known, Calistoga Hot Springs, California is well known for its mud baths as well as the hot spring in Napa Valley.

Turkey

Turkey sits on a geothermal fault. Here the famed Pamukkale, Islamic natural steam baths, or Hamam’s are located everywhere.

Benefits of a Good Spa

The waters of the hot springs cleanse, heal, and relax the body. It heals skin problems, relieves chronic pains in joints and muscles, and cleanses the skin. Another enjoyable benefit is its ability to reduce stress as it warms and relaxes the body. The minerals in the water are absorbed through the skin and are known to heal muscles, joints, and internal organs of the body.

Finding the Best Spa

Remember, ‘No volcano! No spa!’

In Costa Rica, volcanic formations are many and this is what the hot springs at Blue River Resort and Hot Springs is so very special. The hot spring located at the Resort is produced by the activity under the Rincon de la Vieja volcano and bubbles up to the surface infused with special minerals a tinted green. Rio Azul gets its name from the color of the mineral rich water flowing in the river.

The volcano’s crater sits atop the clouds a few short miles away from Blue River Resort & Hot Springs. The natural hot springsfeed the Resort’s five natural hot spring pools. Close to the hot spring source is the natural sauna, which is beside the Mud Pit, and therapy Spa. In the spa, trained hands will deliver professional spa-treatments for the weary body. The Resort’s hot springwater is the most natural, mineral rich water in this hemisphere. Temperatures in the hot spring pools are regulated by mixing them with hot spring and cold spring water. This water is 100% genuine and kept below 105 F. The same volcanic thermal currents provide heating for the natural sauna.