Nestled amongst amazing natural scenery and pleasures, Alila Ventana Big Sur offers guests plenty to enjoy and benefit from. Carole Jacobs, Real Food Traveler’s Health, Fitness and Spa Editor has selected it as her July Spa Spotlight.

Save this article to Pinterest to help you plan your visit to Alila Ventana Big Sur. Photos courtesy of Alila Ventana. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

July Spa Spotlight: Alila Ventana Big Sur, Big Sur, California

Whether you want to settle in a swank cabin where the sky, sea, and misty redwoods converge or in a luxury safari tent that puts the glam in glamping, Alila Ventana Big Sur, located on The Big Sur Coast Highway 30 miles south of Carmel, is the ultimate summer seaside splurge.

Named one of the Top 10 Resorts in Northern California by Conde Nast Traveler, and one of the best hotels in California by Travel & Leisure, this all-inclusive 5-star retreat nestles in the kaleidoscopic scenery captured by Ansel Adams, whose photography immortalized Big Sur’s brooding forests, plunging cliffs, and thundering surf.

Founded in the 1970s, the resort, which still has a secluded clothing optional pool, plus tent camping in tents, maintains a trace of the bohemian counterculture initiated in the ‘40s by resident author Henry Miller. His 1958 novel, Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch, inspired generations of Beat writers, beatniks, and hippies to move there. By the late ’60s, Big Sur had become the gravitational center of LSD and free love.

It’s an image Big Sur still retains, although the resident starving artists, writers, and hippies are long gone. And while you can still camp out for a prayer in the state parks, more lately, Big Sur has become synonymous with Big Money (Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman and Taylor Swift are regulars). Even Esalen, the funky ‘70s New Age time capsule where sleeping bags, bunk beds, and “high vibration” fare (rice, lentils) still reign, will set you back a couple thousand a week (not including Chakra balancing, although you’re free to use the bubbling hot springs where local author John Steinbeck once soaked and Henry Miller did his laundry.)

Fortunately for the unmoneyed masses (the swank cabins at Alila Ventana go for a couple thousand a night), you can still enjoy the resort’s 5-star scenery for a fraction of the cost by nabbing one of its 15 luxury safari glamping tents. Purchase a ResortPass to access some of Alila Ventana’s 5-star amenities. See “The Glam-est Glamping in Big Sur” below for details.

Lay of the land: The newly updated Ventana is set on 160 acres of meadows and wooded hillsides 1,200 feet above the Pacific and surrounded by epic scenery. The resort has rustic-chic lodging in 54 secluded suites in woodsy settings, two swimming pools, an infinity hot tub, sauna, a spa with indoor and outdoor treatments in poolside cabanas, and fine dining in restaurants on expansive terraces overlooking million-dollar views of the mountains and Pacific.

One of the swimming pools and the view at Alila Ventana Big Sur.

Settle in: “Natural” is the operative word when it comes to the resort’s rustic-chic mid-century rooms, suites, and villas. Tucked inside weathered cedar structures that blend into the landscape, they have private patios, working fireplaces, lots of stone and wood, leather furniture, sea grass baskets, gigantic TVs, and soaking tubs that encourage you to cocoon with nature. Or you can claim a hammock with a view of the forests and ocean. In-room amenities include artisan potato chips, sunscreen, and even (hail the 70s!) condoms. Wi-Fi is free, but Big Sur is remote so cell reception may be sketchy. The resort’s all-inclusive price includes meals and signature activities (see below). Ventana is a World of Hyatt property, so rewards members can use points instead of cash. Alila Ventana is a “category 8” Hyatt property, so plan on spending your points accordingly.

Hungry for more? Read Carole’s itinerary for a 4-day Summer Road Trip in Big Sur, California.

Get moving with Ventana’s Signature Activities: A resort stay includes a slew of complimentary guided hikes; adventures like falconry and foraging; and mind-body wellness activities ranging from cosmic, vinyasa and vinyl yoga to meditation, astrology, and creative classes where talented pros can show you how to craft herbal oils, paint beautiful watercolors, and more.

Just a few signature activities at Alila Ventana Big Sur include:

• Coldstream Bliss: This adventure begins with a half-mile hike through a redwood canopy and ends with a refreshing cold-water plunge.
• Elemental Reset is a guided experience set amid a beach or river. Designed to help you reconnect you with nature and yourself, it includes mindful breathwork, bodyweight movement, and an optional cold plunge.
• Reiki in the Redwoods: In the resort’s “Circle of Life” open-air sanctuary in towering redwoods, a certified Reiki practitioner will guide you through a deeply restorative session designed to dissolve blockages, ease tension, and restore balance.
  

  At Alila Ventana Spa, guests can try Reiki in the Redwoods.

• Guided hikes: The 1.3- mile low-intensity Redwood Hike winds through the Ventana property past towering Redwoods where you may spy condors, eagles, and red-tailed hawks. On The Foragers Hike, you’ll scout for edible plants. On the Bees and Big Sur hike, you’ll learn about the intimate connection between the local flowers and bees and taste honey sourced from on-site and around the world. On the Coast Ridge Hike, you’ll ascend 1,000 feet through the Redwoods to the Coast Ridge for astonishing views of the mountains, ocean, and Ventana Wilderness.
• Cosmic Yoga: Enjoy yoga under the stars on this celestial-infused journey that combines cosmic and personal exploration and draws on the bohemian roots of Big Sur.
• Champagne in colors: Sip on bubbly champagne as local artists guide you in creating your own watercolor painting.
• Dive into the hive: Suit up for a deep dive into beekeeping and sustainably sourcing of the bees’ honey.
• Falconry: Join Master Falconer Antonio Balestreri for an intro to hawks, falcons and owls and the role of raptors in the Big Sur’s environment. See a flight demo and take a “hawk walk.”
• Wild Apothecary: Enjoy a short nature walk where you’ll learn about native herbs and foraging and collect herbs to make your own botanically infused oils and salves.
  

  Learn how to identify and use plants for food, drink and other purposes during foraging experiences.

• Wake up to morning meditation, enjoy forest bathing, or take a self-guided tour of the organic gardens.

Unwind in Spa Alila: Big Sur has long been known as a sacred curative site. Spa Alila offers treatments rooted in traditional and modern methods that utilize healing herbs and products from the land and sea.

• Unwind with a soothing soak in the 104-degree Japanese bathhouse, relax in the wood sauna, or slip into the infinity hot tub, a panoramic place to watch a blazing sunset or catch a falling star.
• Swim in the resort’s two heated pools, where you can also enjoy poolside dining. The Meadow Pool is located near the spa. Or head up to the remote, 70s-style Mountain Pool for a private plunge.
• Get a massage in an outdoor cabana with views of the mountains.
• Lay your body down for the Big Sur Release, a massage using heated herbal poultices; the jasmine-scented Balinese Spirit foot bath; or Jade stone massages and facials.
• Detox with a marine mud wrap.

Enjoy Mountain Herbal Tea during a spa treatment.

Feast on amazing food: Ventana’s four dining venues serve chef-prepared cuisine sourced from the on-site organic garden; local farms, orchards, dairies; and the Pacific. Small-production Central Coast wines, craft cocktails, beer, and a specialty bar menu, are also available. Guests may also order room service, dine al fresco at picnic spots, or order a picnic kit to enjoy on your day of departure (or anytime!)

• The Sur House, accessed via a 1/3-mile stone path through the Redwoods, serves an elegant brunch and dinner on an expansive terrace overlooking the sea in one direction and the soaring redwood mountains in the other. Brunch includes everything from heirloom wheat waffles and California frittata to Falafel Benedict, Margherita Pizza, plus mimosas, martinis, and more.
• Poolside dining: For lunch, enjoy salads, sandwiches, and boozy craft drinks like Blackberry Mule and Passion Oasis and zero-proof fruit drinks like Orange Justice and Ventana Heatwave from the Mixology Cabana.
• SurStream in Redwood Canyon: This custom mini-Airstream tucked beneath towering Redwoods serves hand-made pizzas, salads, cocktails, beer, wine, and gelato.
• Join the resort’s Happy Hour every day from 4-5pm in front of the Social House.
• For an evening to remember, splurge on gourmet fare at Ventana Glass House, an elegant glass restaurant perched more than a thousand feet above the Pacific. The curated prix-fixe menu comes with drop-dead views of the sea and sunset.
• End the day with s’mores served two ways at Social House. Order the nostalgic gourmet version that’s ready to roast on an open fire or create your own from ingredients at the S’mores Bar.
  

  The Social House at Alila Ventana.

Explore on your own: Located on Big Sur Highway, Alila Ventana is just a few miles north of Esalen and the famous Nepenthe cliff-top restaurant, beyond which the highway is currently closed for repairs. For a stupendous scenic drive and day trip, follow Big Sur Highway 45 miles north towards the artsy seaside town of Carmel. From secluded beaches to majestic mountains and verdant forests, the landscape surrounding Big Sur offers a wide variety of unforgettable hiking experiences in spectacular state parks and beaches. For more info on things to experience along the Big Sur Highway, see June’s 4-Day Summertime Big Sur California Road trip.

Borrow complimentary gear: Whether you’re heading into the forest or down to the beach, simply call the front desk to reserve your gear including Yeti coolers and wine glassed, beach blankets, camp chairs, first-aid kits, tripods, hiking pools, daypacks, compasses, flashlights and more.

Bring your pampered pooch: A one-time fee of $150 ($75 for glamping guests) for a maximum of two dogs includes a dog bed and water bowl in your room, although your four-legged friend certainly won’t be stuck there. Big Sur is one of the best places in the world for your furry friend to enjoy the wilds. Dogs must be kept on leashes and are not allowed in resort pools, hot tubs, the spa, gardens, or indoor restaurants. They may, however, join you outside for meals on The Sur House Terrace, weather permitting. The restaurant even has a doggie menu.

The Glam-est Glamping in Big Sur

Ventana puts the glam in glamping, offering 15 luxury safari tents nestled in a 40-acre Redwood canyon along Post Creek (about $240 a night). Tents are furnished with custom-designed mattress and premium linens, and come with a picnic table; wood-burning fire pit and propane fire pit on the deck; instant hot and cold potable water with a sink; electric lamps and power outlets with USB ports; two Adirondack chairs with pads; hand towels and bath towels; handheld lanterns; and Zingle, a convenient communication system for guests. Firewood bundles and bags of ice are available for purchase. Glamping guests (and their dogs) may also enjoy meals for purchase in the resort’s Sur House restaurant.

While Alila Ventana’s grounds, including swimming pools, fitness studio, and programming experiences, are exclusively for resort guests, glamping guests may purchase a ResortPass for access to the resort pools, Japanese baths, infinity hot tub and the Sur House restaurant.

Getting there: The resort is a 3-hour drive from San Francisco and Oakland International Airports, but much longer during rush hours. To avoid the bumper-to-bumper traffic, hop a shuttle flight from either airport to Monterey Regional Airport, then rent a car for the beautiful hour-long drive along Big Sur Highway to the resort.

-Story by Carole Jacobs, Real Food Traveler’s Health, Fitness and Spa Editor

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