If you’d like to daydream about mud baths and massages in the tropics, check out our new luxury spa roundup: Costa Rica’s Eco-luxe Spas.

This was written by new contributor Insiya Rasiwala, who leads yoga trips and writes often about yoga, ecotourism, and health for various magazines.

As with Argentina and Mexico, Costa Rica is rightly becoming well-known for its spas. The resorts in Costa Rica have a lot to work with including views of lush jungle, tropical fruit and coffee ingredients, and the twittering of birds as you get your rubdown.

This article highlights five of the most notable spas, one at a hotel we will be reviewing shortly and some at hotels we have already reviewed: the Four Seasons Papagayo, Gaia Hotel and Reserve, and Flor Blanca.

We just posted a feature story from Carole Edrich on the top spas in Argentina, the best places to get pampered in Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Mendoza, and Salta.

Argentina, the land of vinotherapy and cosmetic surgery vacations, may not contain the fountain of youth. But it certainly tries hard. Look around the posh areas of Buenos Aires and the ladies don’t look that much different than the ones trying to keep that youthful look going in Palm Beach or Beverly Hills. Just speaking a different language.

This round-up has spa descriptions of some of the hotels we have reviewed in full, including Llao Llao, Cavas Wine Lodge, and Patios de Cafayate. In my opinion the Park Hyatt in Buenos Aires belongs in this company too, so perhaps it will get added when the writer swings back through the capital. Meanwhile, you can’t go wrong scheduling treatments at one of these spots.

[photo - Hammam at Faena Hotel + Universe]