A New Sanctuary for Wellness Opens in SoCal

It’s Miraval, but by the sea. The all-inclusive concept tries a first-of-its-kind hybrid model.

by Robin Rizzuto

A large, curvy-shaped swimming pool surrounded by tall palm trees and a paved deck next to a red tile roof building.

There’s no other Miraval like this. Set among the golden, chaparral-covered hills of Southern California and overlooking the Pacific, the Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara (parkhyattaviara.com) stands out from sister properties in Austin, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; and Lenox, Massachusetts. The 2023 opening marked the brand’s first coastal presence and its only spa location outside of an all-inclusive Miraval Resort—within Carlsbad’s newly renovated, 200-acre Park Hyatt Aviara Resort.

A walled-in tranquil area with curtained open massage rooms near a walkway leading to them with circular vine trellises and water fountains.

As far as spa ethos goes, Miraval takes the spiritual, from-the-inside-out approach to healing. Spa services, designed to inspire deep reflection, mindfulness, and intention-setting, can be planned à la carte or over a multiday itinerary to combine body treatments, movement classes, and meals for transformative results. Options include iconic, signature Miraval facials, energy work, Body Renewal Rituals, and Pacific Ocean–inspired services created just for Aviara. The indulgent Ocean Song ritual begins with a sea salt scrub and a warm bath, followed by a massage and singing bowl–led journey inward. Vasudhara has guests floating weightless in warm water in the dark as their body is guided through a series of slow and deep Thai stretches. Book the Nâga treatment for a Thai massage that incorporates hanging silks or the Warrior’s Recovery massage to melt away tight muscles with warm, herb-infused poultices.

A yoga instructor assisting a yoga student leaning back into a bungee stretch.

Movement and mindfulness opportunities are extensive, including outdoor yoga classes overlooking the California coastline and bungee fitness and Pilates in a state-of-the-art studio. During a Singing Bowls Floating Meditation session, wrap yourself inside a hanging silk hammock and float while listening to wind chimes and rain sticks that draw you into a deeply restorative state. Or take a grounding, guided Gratitude Hike at the botanical wetlands of the nearby Batiquitos Lagoon.

Exercise practices go hand in hand with culinary workshops and dining options. Guests learn to make the sweet, addictive, nutrient-dense date truffles sampled in the spa lounge, as well as smoothies and elevated salsas. Restaurant Ponto Lago proffers a tequila and mezcal menu for pairing with arepas and fresh-caught seafood (wood-fired octopus or the grilled catch of the day). Each day holds time for periods of quiet repose, whether beneath the glass ceiling and hanging plants of the spa lounge, poolside in a private cabana, or fireside on the grand terrace of the Park Hyatt’s ocean-view Pacific Point restaurant.