The coolest, sexiest holiday on the planet

After six years of definitive research, Escapism Travel Magazine has announced what it believes is the Coolest, Sexiest holiday you can take anywhere on the planet. The coveted holiday is at an eco-chic hideaway called Azulik, just a short distance from the legendary Temples of Tulum, on the Caribbean coast in Mexico.

A panel of journalists and barefoot luxury experts visited over 500 resorts and lodges in over 100 countries during the past 6 years, road-testing every element of what is 'cool' and 'sexy' when it comes to contemporary travel experiences.

Their scoring system included points for romantic ambience and location, visual appearance, authenticity, eco-friendliness, barefoot luxury and integration with nature.

Commissioned by newly-launched Escapism Travel Magazine, the experts had hundreds of possible contenders but in the end chose just one ultimate winner: Azulik, which according to Escapism magazine, offers "the most blissed out, most intimate, most timeless and most paradisiacal experience anywhere".

"You won't find a more romantic and sensual place to stay," commented Nigel Browning, publisher of Escapism, "Azulik is the ideal place to bring out your romantic inner-soul. It's eco-chic and situated on a wildly beautiful, virginal coastline. Attention to detail has been considered in every design aspect employed at the hideaway: there are heart-shaped tables, billowing white cotton day-beds, isolated cabañas and outdoor bath-tubs where lovers can soak whilst watching the sun go down. Azulik successfully mixes tropical, jungle chic with a touch of authentic, Mayan spiritualism".

Renowned Mayan shaman, Daniel Pool Pech, conducts cosmic love ceremonies, a purifying cenote bath, raindrop therapy and a spa treatment which covers the whole body in locally-grown chocolate, itself a potent, natural aphrodisiac. Pool Pech also performs healing touch massages, involving chanting and gentle massage; his gifts of touch and herbal therapy came to him in dreams, he says, and he credits ancient Mayan spirits that use him as a conduit to perform such spiritual ceremonies. And he truly cares about his clients - he trekked into the jungle to search for a plant he needed to complete a ceremony.

Fifteen cliff-top cabañas constructed from organic wood are reached along sandy lanes in the jungle, each topped with a thatched roof and having an intimate terrace facing East over the ocean, ceiling-to-floor windows facing West into the jungle, two day-beds, an indoor bath carved out of a tree trunk, a queen-size bed of billowing cotton, an outdoor bath tub ideal for a soak whilst watching the sun set, private steps down to a sugar-white beach, no telephone, clock, fridge, TV or other mod con, but a constant breeze and never-ending colour, epitomising the pleasures of nature, simplicity and absolute relaxation.

"The owners of Azulik have created an ecological hideaway that focuses on effortless elegance and a fusion with nature." said Nic Havers, who helped write the article, "Tulum itself is endowed with beautiful beaches, archaeological sites, natural pools called cenotes worn into the rock where you can swim and a rich, cultural heritage. It was an immensely-difficult project selecting the world's coolest, sexiest holiday, but we've truly found it here at Azulik".

Just a 30 minute walk north along the beach from Azulik are the magnificent Temples of Tulum, or to the south, a short bicycle ride takes you to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere, a protected coastal reserve where 300 species of birds, jaguar, leatherback turtles and West Indian manatees may be seen on deserted, Robinson Crusoe beaches.

A spokesperson for Azulik, Luciana Leguizamon said: "Azulik embraces a concept that goes beyond place and time. We are honoured to have been chosen by Escapism Travel Magazine as the Coolest, Sexiest Holiday destination on the planet and we will continue to do our utmost to live up to that title".

For a limited time, readers can see the Coolest, Sexiest Holiday on the Planet article online at escapism-magazine.com.