CIVANA Wellness Resort and Spa Review

Learn about our stay at CIVANA wellness resort and spa near Scottsdale, Arizona. CIVANA's philosophy of wellness focuses on four pillars: movement, spa, nourishment, and discovery. CIVANA is the perfect destination for your next couple's getaway or solo vacation.

(Note: This was a sponsored stay through partnership with Matador Network and Experience Scottsdale. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. That means that we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Those funds help to keep this site running.)

Overview of Civana Wellness Resort and Spa:

We traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona for four days during July 2022 as a part of a press trip affiliated with Experience Scottsdale and Matador Network. Summer is actually an ideal time to visit Scottsdale and its surrounding areas. Though temperatures may reach the triple digits, we also discovered that resorts offer pretty amazing discounts during the summer. Along with its reputation for being an elite and high-end destination, Scottsdale is also well known for its spas, luxury resort stays, and wellness culture. As such, we stayed for two nights at CIVANA Wellness Resort and Spa, an affordable resort retreat focused on helping guests achieve their own individual ideas of wellness.

Location

CIVANA is located about 40 minutes outside of Phoenix in a small town called Carefree, Arizona. It is perfectly situated on 20 acres within the Sonoran Desert and is miles away from the bustling city life of Phoenix. Nearby is the Historic Spanish Village, which is an open square where you can find small restaurants and shops. The CIVANA property itself features 184 guest rooms and has a stunning, clean design with picturesque views of the desert landscape. With a number of amenities, including wellness classes, on-site restaurants, meeting spaces, and an extraordinary spa, CIVANA has everything you need for a perfect wellness retreat. CIVANA is also within driving distance to Hot Air Balloon Scottsdale experiences and many amazing activities near Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Accommodations at CIVANA Wellness Resort and Spa:

CIVANA has a number of spacious room options, with each including either Queen or King Beds. One-bedroom suites are also available. Upon arrival, we checked in to the Spa King Room, which included a luxurious King-sized bed, private patio, large TV, and modern bathroom featuring a large soaking tub and separate shower area. The crisp white, linen finish to all of the rooms creates an incredibly spacious feeling, ideal for comfort and relaxation.

The Spa King comes with bathrobes and even comes with custom CIVANA water bottles as a gift to all guests. Our Spa King room was centrally located, close to the lobby, spa, pool area, and restaurant. Most of the amenities around the resort were steps away from our resort room! Although I traveled with my significant other, I would also recommend this resort to solo travelers. The room and area around the property felt extremely secure and safe.

Amenities

Wellness Classes

Perhaps our favorite feature of the resort was the array of wellness classes included in every guest's resort stay. There are always a variety of classes offered throughout the entire day, from yoga, cardio, and hiking to journaling, meditation, and mindfulness classes. Classes typically take place in the resort's studios, ballroom, or yoga center, and you are able to take as many classes as you can fit into your schedule!

On our first day, we took a class called Feng Shui: Love and Relationships, which offered practical advice on home organization and manifestation techniques to maximize love and relationship energy. We also had the opportunity to take a Sunset Sound Healing Class. Lying across the floor on yoga mats, we were bathed in sounds varying from soft drums to a multitude of singing bowls. Each class instructor was well versed in the class subject matter, and most have spent years studying their craft outside of CIVANA.

Dining

There are two on-site restaurants at CIVANA: Terras and Seed. Terras is the main dining restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Like other aspects of CIVANA's wellness resort experience, dining at CIVANA means achieving culinary balance. There are a number of vegetarian and vegan options with a focus on incorporating fresh ingredients into all dishes. We dined at Terras primarily for dinner and particularly enjoyed the restaurant's beet hummus appetizer. The desserts were are delicious, our favorite being the chocolate almond flourless cake.

Seed is a small cafe and market open for breakfast and lunch. Here, you will find an assortment of smoothies, coffee beverages, and other small bites like salads and veggie wraps. Seed is ideal for snacks and quick bites on-the-go.

The Spa

CIVANA's 22,000 square foot spa is truly one of a kind. CIVANA offers a number of spa services, including facial and body services. Spa amenities, like access to the Aqua Therapy pools, sauna, and outdoor pool areas, are also included with each facial or body service. I was treated to a luxurious Swedish massage while Arias was treated to a deep tissue massage, both 60 minutes in length.

Prior to our massages, we had the opportunity to lounge in the relaxation rooms, open lounge areas for meditation and silence. Following our treatments, we opted to try the Aqua Therapy Circuit. During this circuit, we alternated between hot (107F) and cold (54F) baths, a practice done historically to boost the immune system and stimulate rejuvenation. The spa also includes a jacuzzi and cabana areas.

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