7 places where the mud is lush enough to bathe in

Immerse yourself in the soothing, relaxing depths of ... dirt.

by Michael d'Estries  |  Thursday, March 23, 2017

by Michael d'Estries
Thursday, March 23, 2017

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The mud bath volcano at El Totumo, Columbia is accessed via a staircase. The mud bath volcano at El Totumo, Columbia is accessed via a staircase. (Photo: Amazing Photo Albums / Facebook)

A volcano mud bath in Columbia.
The mud bath volcano at El Totumo, Columbia is accessed via a staircase.
A mother and daughter enjoying the luxurious mud of the Dead Sea.
Iceland's Blue Lagoon spa offers a chance to relax in geothermal waters while spreading silica mud all over your body.
The Calistoga Hot Springs offer a unique, deep mud bath for you and another to enjoy.
The volcanic mud bath at Terme di Vulcano on Vulcano Island in Sicily attracts visitors far and wide.
The mud baths of Dalyan, Turkey.
One of the mud pits at Hell's Gate Bath and Spa.
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El Totumo Mud Volcano

When it comes to mud baths, they don't get much more surreal than inside a 50-foot-tall volcano.

Located in in northern Colombia, the El Totumo Mud Volcano is accessed via a staircase that leads to a crater. After a brief trip down a ladder, you enter a warm mud pool that can accommodate 10-15 people. While viscous, most visitors find they can float quite easily on their backs, enjoying the alleged healing benefits of the mineral-rich mud and massages from local guides.

Afterwards, you can wash off in a nearby lagoon where everything from your sneakers to your bathing suit will be given a thorough cleaning.

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