What is thalassotherapy?

Thalassotherapy is wellness treatment using seawater and the marine environment — the word comes from the Greek thalassa, meaning sea. Formal versions run in coastal spas: warm seawater pools, seaweed wraps, salt scrubs, marine mud. The premise is that mineral-rich seawater — magnesium, potassium, iodine — relaxes muscles and skin in ways fresh water does not. The practice took root in French seaside towns in the 1800s and is riding the wellness-travel wave back into fashion. The informal version needs no spa. Float in 84-degree Caribbean water, swim before breakfast, sleep beside an open hatch with salt air moving through. A charter delivers the raw ingredient all day. Explore a wellness charter.