Tucked away in Carefree – a little less than two hours from Sedona – Civana Wellness Resort & Spa features classic desert scenery. Guests can watch quail roam throughout the property, which is dotted with towering saguaros and surrounded by large swaths of blue skies. Carefree doesn’t have streetlights, which makes the stars in the sky truly glow at night. Civana feels secluded and quiet – like its own world. The property opened back in 2018 and is from the folks behind the iconic spa resort Miraval. Just like Miraval, Civana is renowned for its stellar classes. Many, though not all, are included in the room rate. Here’s how we spent a two-night stay at this wellness destination.
THE ROBUST PROGRAMMING
Although the schedule initially seemed overwhelming due to so many options, we quickly got in the swing of things. The most magical part about Civana is that your entire purpose is essentially to take wellness classes. Each day kicks off with an intention ceremony. An instructor guides the 15-minute ceremony where you focus on what you’d like to achieve during the day and take time to pause and reflect. It’s refreshing to start the day off by standing still and appreciating the day ahead. Next, we headed off to our classes. During one morning, we enjoyed a guided labyrinth walk. We started by picking up a stone, before we walked in the labyrinth that was just outside of the spa and focused on the desert scenery that included a cottontail rabbit. There’s something about just walking in a circle with not much else to focus on that’s centering. We took the rocks that we picked up and then placed them at the end of the labyrinth, where they belonged in a pile, before heading out.
We also took a chakra meditation class where an instructor guided us – seated in a circle – to rest and relax by focusing on chakras or energy centers that line the spine. We also took a yoga flow class, a yin yoga class where we focused on stretching and holding poses for extended periods of time and a journaling class where the instructor gave us writing prompts. Some members of the class shared what they had written. Discussion was encouraged during some of the classes and helped us feel more connected to others. Not all classes were so cerebral, though. On our last morning, we took a buns and bands class where we solely focused on glute work. Each night, we finished with a sleep sound journey class. During class, participants lay on the ground while an instructor played sound bowls that produced deep, nurturing tones. Our favorite feature? The ceiling was lit up with multi-colored lights that resembled a colorful night sky.
THE SOOTHING GUEST ROOMS
The resort features a main lobby, a fitness center and a conference center where most of the classes are held. Just off the main lobby is the main outdoor resort pool where guests love to gather during lively afternoons. Most of the rooms are clustered around the main pool in a horseshoe shape.
Our spacious room was decorated in neutral tones with gray carpets and crisp, white sheets on the bed and a long, outdoor balcony. The best part of the room? The dreamy and oversized glass shower outfitted with a rainfall showerhead and Grown Alchemist bath products.
THE SPA
Civana is a true wellness resort, and its spa is outstanding. Guests can feel that right at the grand entrance featuring a large white archway flanked by two fire bowls and a water feature that flows continuously. Right before you reach the spa’s main entrance, you’ll find a boutique to your left and a small salon to your right. Check in at the front desk, and an attendant will give you a tour of the 22,000-square-foot spa. The spa features locker rooms, an outdoor lounge area and a hydrotherapy circuit.
Prior to our treatment, we spent plenty of time indulging in the spa’s top-notch amenities. We donned our plush spa robe before heading inside the eucalyptus steam room to relax in the heat. But what we loved most was the aqua therapy circuit. The indoor space with a high ceiling featured a cold pool, a warm pool outfitted with jets, a shower where we could do a cool rinse prior to getting in the sauna and another shallow warm pool. We enjoyed rotating from pool to pool and being immersed in that contrast of hot and cold. In the sauna, we enjoyed talking with other guests about what we took away from classes. Even during our two day stay, we started recognizing many people. More than anything else, we enjoyed the strong sense of community at Civana. The focus here is not only on relaxing but on belonging too.
When spa-goers are looking to literally soak up the sun, they can head over to spa’s outdoor saltwater pool. The private spa pool overlooks a nearby mountain and is a quiet place to rest. After a quick dip in the pool, we headed upstairs to wait for our treatment. The upstairs lounge featured panoramic views of the surrounding desert – a perfect scene where we could unwind. Once inside a treatment room, we truly relaxed as a massage therapist used hot stones to soothe our sore, tight muscles. The heat helped loosen everything up and made us feel thoroughly relaxed before we headed off to dinner.
THE RESTAURANTS
Civana is home to two restaurants that serve healthy, tasty fare. Seeds is a quick service café where guests can order coffee, salads and bowls. During our first afternoon at the hotel, we enjoyed a fresh Greek salad and green juice. During one afternoon, we downed a vanilla latte along with a rich chocolate matcha muffin. Seeds is Civana’s more formal dining outlet. For lunch, we devoured a colorful poke bowl filled with fresh ahi and a mix of vegetables. For dinner, we enjoyed sesame-crusted ahi tuna served with buckwheat soba in a shiitake broth. For sides, we dug into decadent vegan mac and cheese and smoked potatoes. For our final course, the chocolate rose mousse wowed. The dessert featured chocolate gelato, brownie crumb, chocolate mousse and chile rose bark that was drizzled with a white chocolate caramel sauce.
It’s been a few weeks since our stay, and there’s one moment we keep returning to. After checking out the spa boutique, we took a moment to hang out in the hammocks by the property’s labyrinth. The hammocks cradled us as we rocked back and forth in the gentle desert breeze. We looked up at the blue sky with no phones or any distractions – our only purpose was turning inward, staying quiet and tuning out the world.
