CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa

The resort describes itself as award-winning and says it has been rated a Top Destination Spa in the country. Its listed recognitions span several years between 2019 and 2026, and its home page cites coverage from Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler and USA Today. The stated mission is to leave every guest happier and changed by the stay, with happiness treated as part of wellness alongside health. The resort was built as a new destination, and its spa first operated from an interim location.

The program is organized around four pillars: Movement, Spa, Nourishment and Discovery. More than 100 complimentary classes run each week, spanning meditation, yoga, TRX, floating, sound healing, aerial yoga, myofascial release, wall yoga, sound baths, desert hikes, a ropes course and the science of aqua therapy. Guests can pre-book up to two classes per day before arrival, and private classes can be arranged through the Guest Experience team. The resort welcomes guests aged 14 and older, while the spa and day passes are for adults 18 and over.

The spa has 22 treatment rooms focused on water-based healing. The Aqua Therapy Circuit moves between hot and cold Kneipp walks, a Tepidarium pool, a cold deluge shower and a KLAFS sanarium, which the resort states is the only one in the continental U.S. WATSU is a body and water treatment given in a private outdoor pool, where the therapist guides the guest through floating movements. Personalized spa journeys combine treatments aimed at healing, cleansing and restoring body and mind. A 22% service charge is added to treatment totals, which guests can adjust at their discretion.

Day passes come in two versions, with one or two 60-minute spa treatments, and each includes two complimentary wellness classes. Access covers the Spa Relaxation Lounge, the Aqua Therapy Circuit, the outdoor pool with towel service, poolside food and drink for purchase, and the fitness center. Day pass guests also receive a CIVANA water bottle and can use FloWater alkaline water stations. Day passes are non-refundable, depend on availability and are not offered year-round. Spa reservations must be booked in advance, and guests should arrive at least 20 minutes early. Spa hours run daily from 9 AM to 8 PM, varying by season.

Guests of the resort book spa services through the Wellness Journey Platform, while local guests book through the website, and WATSU is booked by email. The resort is cashless, with card and mobile payments accepted across the spa, dining and retail outlets, and purchases can be charged to the room. Accommodations range from 350 to 1,250 square feet, and every room or suite has an outdoor balcony or patio. Dining includes Terras, a dinner restaurant with regionally inspired cuisine and vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and grain-free options, and Seed Café + Market, which serves a largely plant-based menu with a juice bar, smoothies and grab-and-go items.

Built on four pillars, Movement, Spa, Nourishment and Discovery, with an emphasis on happiness as well as health.

Set on more than 20 acres of Sonoran Desert land just outside Scottsdale, with a quiet, healthy getaway feel.