A Refreshing Retreat at Civana Wellness Resort Near Phoenix

Tucked in the sun-drenched Sonoran Desert of Carefree, Arizona (yes, that’s a real place), Civana Wellness Resort is the mind and body reset you didn’t realize you needed. Just a short drive from Phoenix yet worlds away in its peaceful ambiance, it offers a welcome escape amid the saguaro cacti and spectacular sunsets of the region. Whether you’re hiking the rugged desert trails that fan out nearby, engrossed in a healing workshop or simply lounging poolside with a frozen cocktail in hand, Civana represents the ideal blend of indulgence and intention. And if you’ve never tried a wellness vacation before, this is just the spot to give it a go.

Review and Highlights of Civana Wellness Resort & Spa

Overview

As you pull up to Civana’s entrance, it might strike you as faintly familiar. That’s not your imagination — the property started life as a 1960s retreat and conference center, and that vintage footprint remains essentially intact, though it’s fresh from a 21st-century facelift. The original buildings are long and low-slung with clean geometric lines and classic features of the era, such as room doorways that open to outside corridors. Inside, the decor bears out the throwback vibe: sleek, curvaceous sofas; pale woods; rough-hewn stone; woven accents that evoke the midcentury macramé trend. It’s charmingly nostalgic, a window into the heyday of Atomic Age design (but with Wifi and better smoothies).

Accommodations

Civana offers standard king and double-queen rooms as well as suites, all done in spare, restful style with minimalist furnishings and neutral colors broken up by the occasional vivid accent. Indoor/outdoor connections are prominent — my ground-floor king room had a deep patio with comfortable seating, while upper-level rooms include balconies with views of the central pool and the mountains in the distance. Some rooms have soaking tubs; others are shower-only, so be sure to request a tub if you’ll want one.

If R&R is what you crave most, book a Sleep Studio, which includes amenities meant to send you straight to dreamland: an essential oil diffuser, slumber-themed reading material, a mask and earplugs. Or if you prefer space to spread out, opt for a One-Bedroom Suite, with a bedroom closed off by a door, a combination living/dining area and two bathrooms, one with a freestanding tub.

Rooms are equipped with mini refrigerators plus a pour-over coffee and tea setup, and guests also receive an insulated water bottle to stay hydrated in Arizona’s dry desert heat (there are ample water stations around the grounds at which to refill it). The oversize flat-screen TV serves both as entertainment and a communication hub — it’s a breeze to navigate the daily schedule of classes and activities, peruse the spa menu, order in-room dining and more from the comfort of under the covers.

Spa and Wellness

Civana’s biggest draw is its spa complex — there are guests who hardly poke a toe beyond this area during their stay. Designed around the time-honored art of healing through water, the main spa building is anchored by a hydrotherapy circuit, alternating hot and cold immersions for a soothing, revitalizing effect. Wade and soak in pools at varied temperatures, linger in the sanarium (a humid, cooler-than-average sauna) and then duck under the cold deluge shower for an intentional shock to the system. Each contrast is meant to boost circulation while taming your nerves, all part of the experience dubbed “taking the waters.”

If you want something a bit gentler, opt for a watsu session (a cross between shiatsu massage and water therapy). You’ll float in a shaded, heated private pool as your practitioner cradles you while gently guiding your limbs in a pattern of seamless movements that leave you utterly mellow and calm.

Civana’s spa menu is thoughtfully curated to address diverse needs and preferences, with a full selection of massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps, targeted treatments and more. The Swedish Soothing Massage employs gentle, flowing strokes to lull you into tranquility; for deeper tension relief, loosen up tight muscles with a luxuriant hot stone massage or the Revive to Thrive treatment, which involves exfoliation and and a rubdown with herbal oils. Or if you’re here for a romantic retreat, indulge in the Sacred Time for Two ritual, beginning with Champagne and a luxurious mineral soak followed by a guided meditation with crystal singing bowls. The experience concludes with a customized full-body massage, shirodhara (an Ayurvedic oil treatment) and marma point therapy (focused on specific energy points) — you’ll come away blissfully relaxed and reconnected.

TIP: Between treatments, unwind over a cup of herbal tea or a glass of infused water in the airy, quiet lounge. The wide picture windows make it one of the best spots on-property to watch the sunset … the view from here is to die for.

Civana also offers a thorough array of wellness and fitness classes, some complimentary and some at an added cost. Every morning brings a guided meditation in the onsite Rose Garden, which also hosts an evening gratitude circle. or you might choose to start the day with a desert hike, a ride on the complimentary bicycles or a nature walk. The choices are vast (more than 100 in all), from guided strolls through the resort’s stone labyrinth and creative workshops to spiritual-themed sessions and mindful horseback riding. I signed up for the Sleep Sound Journey, which combines meditation with an immersive sound bath to usher in a deep sense of serenity, and indeed, slept wonderfully afterward.

TIP: Civana limits pre-arrival registration to two classes and activities per day. Once onsite, guests can sign up for additional activities as space allows. A few of the offerings are exempt from this limit; peruse the calendar for more details.

There are two swimming pools at the resort: a large freeform main pool that forms the hub of the property and a lap-style pool available only to spa guests. The main pool is lively, surrounded by comfortable loungers and beautiful landscaping, with food and beverage service available from late morning through late afternoon. At the spa pool, the atmosphere is more subdued and secluded; there’s a small menu of bites, smoothies and libations should you need sustenance.

Dining

Civana offers two on-property dining venues, very different in feel. The casual Seed Cafe & Market, open from early morning to late afternoon, serves breakfast, lunch and snacks. The menu is built around nutrition and leans plant-based, with an array of fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and bowls. Nosh on hummus or caponata, or fill up with heartier fare like the Antioxidant Bowl, a concoction of farro, kale, butternut squash and other vegetables sprinkled with pumpkin seeds and cranberries. If you like, you can add a farm egg, grilled chicken or grilled salmon to enhance any of the dishes. Seed also offers tempting sweets and pastries that are perfect to pair with coffee or tea.

Terras, the more upscale of the two restaurants, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a “happiness hour” menu of cocktails and nibbles. While the dining room feels inviting and elegant, the place to be in nice weather is the outdoor patio overlooking the pool. Healthy cuisine abounds here too, but you can also go the more indulgent route: jammy tomato and Brie flatbread; ahi tuna tartare dusted with chile; salmon with a miso-tinged blood orange glaze on a bed of fingerling potatoes; grass-fed filet mignon with red wine gravy. Be sure to treat yourself to a slab of carrot cake or a slice of rich, crumbly apple tart — a sweet finale to a lovely day of self-care.

Things to Know

• Civana welcomes guests 14 and up.
• The resort is about a 30-minute drive from PHX airport. If you prefer not to rent a car, private and shared shuttle service is available for a fee.
• For those local to the area, Civana offers a limited number of day passes, which include one 60-minute spa treatment and full access to the spa facilities, two complimentary wellness classes and poolside food and beverage service.

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Ciao Bambino received a media package to facilitate our review of Civana. As always, our opinions are our own. Photos by Lisa Frederick except where noted.

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.