Taking of the Waters
The wait is over! Visitors to Palm Springs can once again “take the waters” at the legendary spring that started it all. The beautiful new Spa at Séc-he is located in the center of downtown on top of the sacred hot mineral spring that the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has protected and shared with curious outsiders for generations. If you’re looking for a relaxing desert experience and enjoy a top-notch day spa, this is a decadent place to laze away the day.
The hot mineral spring called Séc-he (“sound of boiling water” in the Cahuilla language) has a long healing tradition. The new spa honors that tradition and anchors the Tribe’s 5.8-acre Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza which includes gardens, walking paths, and the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum (scheduled to open fall of 2023). According to believers, soaking in the warm waters has proven benefits for both physical and emotional wellness. The minerals have been shown to increase circulation, soothe skin conditions, reduce inflammation, and release tight muscles. And who doesn’t feel better mentally after a hot bath?
The Spa Menu includes a full roster of high-end massage therapy, facials, body scrubs & wraps using local botanicals, and more, but our favorite way to experience Séc-he is the “Taking of the Waters” day pass. You’ll enjoy a freshly-drawn private soak in one of 22 mineral bathrooms, plus full-day access to all of the spa’s deluxe amenities.
Let’s talk about those seemingly endless amenities. There’s a luxe men’s locker room, plus separate men’s indoor and outdoor lounge areas. You could easily spend a few hours hopping between the aromatherapy showers, the eucalyptus steam room, an outdoor mineral bath, and the menthol inhalation sauna with cold experience showers. Or hang out in the detoxifying halotherapy salt cave and meditate in the grounded tranquility room with zero-gravity conductive chairs. If you need to flex, you can even get in a few reps at the state-of-the-art fitness center.
Outside, the spa’s nearly 17,000-square-foot pool deck area features a main pool with a relaxing waterfall feature, lots of space to lounge and tan, and a separate zero-edge mineral pool reminiscent of a calm beach. Leave the outside world behind and let the healing waters work their magic.
For centuries, Séc-he has been the center of Tribal life for the Agua Caliente people, imbued with cultural and spiritual significance. Today, with The Spa at Séc-he, the Tribe continues the tradition of sharing these sacred waters and the healing power they provide. Enjoy!