Bikini Bootcamp, Tulum, Mexico

Perfect for: Eager exhibitionists

Sweat it out: Although the neighboring Casa Magna once belonged to drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, it's a white powder of a different sort—the sugar sand of Riviera Maya's beaches, and looking good on it—that motivates the Bikini Bootcamp retreats at Amansala resort. Yet the end result is the same: a pep in your step and a few pounds down. Not as intense as its name suggests (if you want a tan, you'll get it), Bikini Bootcamp means starting your days with journaling at dawn and silent power walks on the beach, followed with classes such as beach-body sculpting, Pilates, and vinyasa flow yoga. Off-site adventures, such as biking to Mayan ruins and sea kayaking off the shores of Sian Ka'an, spice up the routine. An it's-your-vacation ethos keeps the coaching low-key but enthusiastic.

Cool down: Body/spirit re-centering, rather than revolution, with plenty of fun and camaraderie, is the focus of this eco-chic retreat with its touch of Lost beach camp. Expect to spend more time in a hammock or socializing with other guests (mostly women in their thirties and forties) in the common areas than in the thatched-roof, back-to-basics casitas. Beachside massages and Mayan clay treatments keep things loose, while organic meals like jicama and chia salad with grilled fish and tropical fruit provide healthy fuel. Nights bring salsa and belly-dance lessons, washed down with margaritas and beer. Think moderation, not deprivation. (Make it two!)

Bikini Bootcamp
Tulum, Mexico
Six-night retreats, including meals, from $2,194 per person (double occupancy) or $2,894 (single supplement)

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