Soak In 12,000-Year-Old Hot Springs At This Native American-Owned Spa In Palm Springs
By Natasha Kayes|Published September 18, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
It seems obvious, but for a long time I did not realize that the city of Palm Springs got its name from the presence of natural hot springs throughout the area. One such spring in the center of downtown has been cared for and protected by a tribal band of Cahuilla Indians known as Agua Caliente (literally, “hot water”) for thousands of years. As early as the 1800s, long before the town quite literally grew up around it, the Agua Caliente people began sharing access to this sacred mineral spring with visitors, even building several bathhouses and a spa on the location. Now, this hot spring in Palm Springs, CA, is a stunning modern center of healing, tranquility, luxury, and culture.
Séc-he means “the sound of boiling water” in the language of the Agua Caliente Indians, and The Spa at Séc-he is a world-class facility that celebrates not only the natural hot spring but the tribe’s history, culture, traditions, and modern way of life.
The spa is now part of the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza which, in addition to the spa itself, includes a Gathering Plaza, an Oasis Trail, and the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum.
The spa centers around 22 private mineral baths which are fed by the 12,000-year-old water that comes to the surface from a natural chamber 8,000 feet below ground. Guests soak in these traditional healing waters known for easing joint and muscle pain, improving skin tone and condition, and promoting deep relaxation.
“Taking of the Waters” is included with any spa treatment reservation or can be enjoyed separately with a day pass.
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Wellness therapy is taken to a whole new level at Séc-he, with an extensive list of luxurious and cutting-edge treatments which includes massages, facials, manicures and pedicures, healing and detoxifying body wraps, etc.
Men’s and women’s locker areas feature luxury grooming amenities, robes, sandals, mineral baths, steam room, menthol sauna, whirlpools, acoustic wellness lounge, and more.
An indoor cafe offers a menu of nourishing foods and the retail boutique carries a wide range of self-care products to continue your wellness at home.
The sprawling pool deck is a paradise-like oasis with luxury cabanas, plush day beds, and teak lounging chairs surrounding the main pool with its waterfall feature, grotto, and zero-edge beach-style mineral pool, and outdoor dining option.
Perfectly blending the traditional with the modern, and the simple with the luxurious, this amazing spa is a one-of-a-kind experience. Would you like to spend a day at this tranquil hot spring spa in Palm Springs? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Learn more about this unique place on The Spa at Séc-he website or by following The Spa at Séc-he on Facebook. Want to turn your spa day into a relaxing weekend? We highly recommend this lovely historic hotel, just a 4-minute walk from the spa.
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