The Spa at Séc-he in Palm Springs offers guests a day of healing and relaxation, and an unforgettable 15-minute mineral bath.
Credit: The Spa at Séc-he and Agua Caliente Resort
As I sank deep into the 105-degree water of my private mineral bath, I began to understand why I was encouraged to start my experience at The Spa at Séc-he with this 15-minute ritual. Almost instantly, I felt my stresses, of body and mind, melt away. Muscles relaxed, and a sense of calm set in. This session of bliss is called Taking of the Waters. For centuries, it’s been a practice among the Coachella Valley’s Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the stewards of the land for generations. They’ve long understood the power of the water that bubbles up from the ancient natural spring, a combination of rainwater and snowmelt that collect in a chamber 8,000 feet underground, reaching a temperature of around 180 degrees.
Water makes its way back to the surface through a natural 1.5-mile channel that cools and enriches it with calcium, magnesium, and sodium along the way. It’s like a special tincture mixed by Mother Nature to help improve circulation, ease inflammation, and relieve tight or aching muscles for those who take a dip.
The 22 private baths stand as a central element of the offerings at The Spa at Séc-he, a beautiful 72,000-square-foot retreat located in downtown Palm Springs. But that’s really just the beginning. You’ll find all of the amenities you’d expect from a high-end spa, men’s and women’s lockers and dressing areas, showers and luxury products, lounge areas and treatment rooms. But guests can also spend an entire day floating from one unique experience to another.
I spent hours exploring the amenities, including a soothing Earthing Zone. That’s where you’ll find two darkened, quiet rooms offering touchless therapies. One room is outfitted with vibroacoustic loungers, which pair sound frequencies and mild vibrations to quiet the mind, relax the body, and improve circulation. The other room features zero-gravity conductive chairs and weighted healing blankets. The chairs recline to an angle that elevates the legs above the heart, distributing weight more evenly to ease strain on pressure points throughout the body and promoting deep relaxation.
And there are eucalyptus steam rooms; menthol inhalation saunas; and an inviting outdoor deck with lounges and cabanas, a sizeable waterfall pool, a smaller zero-edge mineral pool, and a whirlpool. (Smoothies and snacks can be ordered from a cafe on site for those who want to linger in the sun and soak up some vitamin D.)
Back inside, an expansive common area beckons with two halotherapy salt caves. Some health experts believe microscopic salt particles in the air, when inhaled, can kill micro-organisms, fight inflammation, and help break up mucus.
Even the treatment beds have healing properties, with crushed quartz and water cells that fill contours of the body and a second layer of padding that incorporates crushed gemstones, light therapy, and infrared heat. And the menu of services is extensive, quartz cupping, therapeutic arnica, and phytomedicine CBD massages; cryo, lightstim, and micro-current facials; desert sage and date sugar scrubs; and a number of enticing body wraps are just a few of the options.
It’s no wonder Spas of America named The Spa at Séc-he the best in California two years in a row. It’s operated by Agua Caliente Casinos, which owns casinos in Palm Springs and Cathedral City, as well as the Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage casino and resort, a 16-story, Forbes Four-Star Award winner and AAA Four Diamond property. In addition to gaming tables, poker, and slots, the resort is also home to Sunstone Spa, gourmet dining at The Steakhouse and other casual dining options, The Show concert venue, and a Swarovski boutique.
It’s a short drive from Séc-he, and it stands just outside of the hustle and bustle of Palm Springs.
One more note about the spring water that feeds The Spa at Séc-he: According to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, it emerges at a rate of some 26 gallons per minute, reaching the surface of the Earth for the first time in 12,000 years. And the spa’s name? In the Cahuillan language, “séc-he” means “the sound of boiling water.” Indeed, it’s a healing, sacred place steeped in history.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Access to Taking of the Waters mineral baths is included with the purchase of a treatment of $200 or more, or you can buy a day pass that allows you to use all of the spa’s touchless therapies.