CIVANA Wellness Resort and Spa — Restaurant in Carefree

I booked in to the resort for a Sunday - Wednesday stay and my only regret is not booking an additional night. I did a lot of research into other wellness spas and was able to get a deal on a Sun - Wed stay, so this resort had the best value relative to other comparable experiences. I’d highly recommend the resort with the key caveat that service is slow. Set your expectations accordingly and you’ll have a lovely time. I’ll definitely be back. ||Context for this review: I played a lot of sports and was very active in the past, but am presently very out of shape. I appreciate good food and beverages. My goals for this trip were to relax while staying active and to leave feeling restored. I’m a beginner at yoga. The classes felt very accessible to me, though took only beginner level classes, with the exception of one intermediate level hike. ||Room|I booked a spa room, which had a view of the mountains (rather than pool) as well as a view of the spa. It had a covered balcony with two chairs and a table so I could sit out and enjoy the breeze. The tub is deep and delightful especially to rest sore muscles after a day full of exercise classes and general exertion. Bath salts were included on night 1. For subsequent nights I had to call housekeeping to request a packet (reminder: all things take longer than expected. I was about to call and check again after 35 / 40 minutes when a lovely person from housekeeping arrived with the bath salts in hand). The coffee is pour over with a nice kettle to brew tea or coffee, and oat milk. There is a mini fridge (though it’s hidden and I didn’t find it until the third night!) to store the milk in if you want to keep it since there is plenty. ||Classes|In general, the paid classes were smaller sizes (

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to visit CIVANA as a wellness guide and teacher for their yoga and Pilates programs over the past two years. This beautiful resort in the serene Sonoran Desert has become my sanctuary for healing, reflection, and inner peace.

The resort offers incredible amenities, and Terra, the main restaurant, is one of my favorite highlights. Terra’s culinary experience is focused on wholesome, nutritious, and delicious meals that cater to a variety of dietary preferences. Every dish I’ve had there has been crafted with such care and precision. The flavors are fresh, vibrant, and, most importantly, nourishing. The servers at Terra are not only highly trained, but they are genuinely kind, attentive, and passionate about providing an exceptional dining experience.

CIVANA’s spa is nothing short of extraordinary. One of the most unique and transformative treatments I’ve experienced here is Watzu, a form of aquatic bodywork performed in warm water. It’s a deeply relaxing, almost meditative therapy where you’re gently supported, stretched, and massaged in the water. The experience feels like a blend of floating, yoga, and massage all at once. Watzu helped me release tension and stress that I didn’t even know I was holding. In addition to Watzu, I highly recommend The Spirit of the Desert, which uses local ingredients and techniques to balance and revitalize your body, and the Sonoran Facial, which is as rejuvenating for the skin as it is soothing for the soul.

CIVANA’s outdoor activities are another major draw. Their hiking program is led by knowledgeable and passionate guides who create incredible hiking experiences through the breathtaking desert landscape. The trails offer sweeping views of the mountains, unique cacti, and endless blue skies. In the winter months, I also love taking part in their horseback riding excursions, which give you a whole new perspective of the vast and beautiful desert.

CIVANA offers a wide variety of movement classes, all designed with a holistic approach to wellness. Their philosophy is rooted in the belief that movement should be both nourishing and accessible for every body, no matter where you are on your wellness journey. From invigorating Vinyasa yoga and Pilates sessions to restorative practices like yin yoga and sound healing, each class is thoughtfully curated to promote balance, flexibility, and strength. The focus here isn’t just on physical fitness but also on the mind-body connection, encouraging guests to explore movement as a path to self-awareness, healing, and overall well-being.

One of my favorite classes at CIVANA is the Floating Sound Bath. It’s a deeply meditative experience where you float, wrapped in silk hammocks, while being immersed in the soothing sounds of singing bowls, gongs, and other healing instruments. The gentle support of the hammocks allows you to completely relax, while the vibrations of the sound wash over you, creating a profound sense of peace and balance. This unique and calming practice leaves you feeling deeply connected to both yourself and your surroundings, offering a truly transformative experience.

The accommodations at CIVANA are stunning. Every room is immaculate, with calming decor that reflects the natural beauty outside. Each room has a view of the property, whether it’s the mountains or the beautifully landscaped gardens, adding to the overall sense of peace and serenity.

As a guest, I’ve experienced profound healing at CIVANA. The combination of wellness classes, world-class spa treatments, nourishing food, and being surrounded by nature has allowed me to reconnect with myself in ways I never thought possible. CIVANA has a unique ability to calm the mind and heal the heart, and every visit leaves me feeling renewed, grounded, and more in tune with myself.

In all my travels, I have never encountered a wellness resort as remarkable as CIVANA. It’s truly a place of transformation, and I cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone seeking healing, relaxation, and a deeper connection...

I've been putting off writing this review because well frankly, it just felt weird and ungrateful of me to do so since I spent so much time hyping myself up to be able to enjoy a nice place like this for my birthday. I wanted to keep my mindset about my stay at CIVANA as positive as possible in order to stay in a place of gratitude since many people would kill to be able to enjoy an experience here. I also could see the other reviewers praising their time at CIVANA so I kept gaslighting myself that maybe I misinterpreted my interactions with the employees. However, after sitting with my own energy and mulling over it - I've realized I just need to be honest about my time here: Overall, I left CIVANA feeling more drained, depleted and unhappy than when I arrived.

I spent my birthday here, meaning I saved and spent a good chunk of my hard earned money and my energy to be at the resort and spa. It was something I couldn't stop telling everyone around me how excited I was to enjoy. The wellness experiences, the food/bev offered, the property, it all seemed to be a perfect fit for who I was and the way I'd love to unwind.

My overall issues were with the front desk reception and spa staff as well as the spa offerings and frequent mischarges. I do not feel like I received spa treatments that matched their pricing.

One thing I noticed was how everyone was smiling at me with their teeth but screaming at me with their eyes. Meaning, anytime I had a question of where to go, extra condiments, bringing my luggage to the room, questions about parking or even the possibility of rescheduling a spa appointment - I would get the most passive aggressive "are you serious?" look from the CIVANA employees eyes but a generic chipper tone in response. The spa reception was by far some of the most disappointing and strange interactions from the example above because it felt like I kept imposing with my questions or whenever I was just genuinely looking for clarity. This same thing happened with checking in, I had the most 'dead eye' stare from the front desk employee when signing paperwork and asking where to go for the spa but her chipper voice that didn't match the energy being sent my way. I bought the all inclusive food/bev which was amazing but still ended up being charged on random amounts for food as well as two late fees when both classes were missed/late because the front desk had issues with restarting their computer checking me out or delays in helping me. These mischarges were taken off but it was still frustrating to have to keep going up to the front desk and miss out on a class or call them the night I left, after I felt relieved to be done with the resort overall, only to have to call once more to fix this. I also paid an incredible amount for their Biodynamic massage and it turned out to be just a roller with some light pressure touching. The basic Uplift massage I received on my final day was more therapeutic than this, to be honest. Had the front desk reception been clearer with me when I called days before when I called to ask what the Biodynamic session was fully like, I wouldn't have spent so much on it. However, the employee on the phone didn't even seem to know, she just recited the description on the website.

As a holistic coach and psychic medium, this place just did more harm than good for me overall. I wish I could have maybe just stopped by for their classes instead and the food. The hotel room was fabulous but the rest was just not worth what I paid.

My highlights: The food!!! The food and drinks were outstanding. I'd come back any day or night to experience this again. The older gentleman who worked the bar was very kind, the restaurant team were also very gracious with me and another woman when an outdoor heater caught on fire next to us at breakfast, and the yoga/pilates/feng shui...