By Anne Dimon
During a recent visit to Palm Springs, and at the kind invitation of Joyce, Keihl, Director of Communications at Visit Greater Palm Springs, I had the distinct pleasure of visiting the highly-acknowledged The Spa at Séc-He built on the site of the ancient Séc-he hot mineral spring. They booked me for one of their signature and more popular experiences called Taking of the Waters.
Dellsy Vargus, Assistant Spa Manager, offers me a tour and tells me that this downtown Palm Springs location has been home to a water feature for over 12,000 years, and the site feature various bathhouses over the years. House. I learn that it was as early as the late 1880s, when the mineral springs and its bathhouse became the first tourist attraction for this still-to-be developed vibrant city located in the Coachella Valley about a two-hour drive southeast of Los Angeles.
The Spa at Séc-He – the term Séc-He in the indigenous language means “the sound of boiling water” – opened in 2023.Dellsy says that water collects in a reservoir located about 8,000 feet below ground level, then travels up a natural pipeline, absorbing minerals such as calcium, magnesium and sodium along the way, and cooling to about 105 to 107 degrees F by the time it reaches ground level. Featuring 15 treatment rooms, the 73,000 square foot, the full-service The Spa at Séc-He is owned by the local Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The Agua Caliente Band also owns the Sun Stone Spa at Rancho Mirage.
Over the many years that I have traveled the world writing about spas, the women’s lounge area at Séc-He is one of the most spacious I’ve experienced. Beyond the change room, the space includes a Serenity Zone with a Mind Sync Lounge and a Grounding Room where guests can lie on gently vibrating beds, while wearing ear plugs to listen to soothing sounds designed to reach specific goals. There’s also a steam room, sauna, cold plunge, 10 showers, a vanity area well stocked with combs, tooth brushes and other supplied amenities, plus snacks, and 12 private bath areas. The private bath area is where I experienced the solo and very relaxing, 15-minute Taking of the Waters.
I was told that the minerals in the bath waters are good for helping release tight muscles, reduce inflammation and soften the skin. The gentle bubbling of the jets help create a feeling of relaxation that is an added bonus.
Signage advices that the minerals can also tarnish jewelry so they advise that all jewelry be removed. There are also private baths for the Taking of the Waters in the men’s lounge. Since the baths are private, bathing suits are optional, but are required in all areas that are not deemed private. Such as the coed-area with its two Salt Caves, said to be especially good for respiratory issues.
On site amenities also include two cafes offering healthy-focused options utilizing locally sources ingredients, plus a spacious pool area encompassing one mineral springs pool and a regular resort pool with a waterfall. The spa’s day pass is called Taking of the Waters and is available Monday to Thursday at $135 per person and Friday to Sunday plus holidays at $165 per person.
It should come as no surprise to anyone who visits as to why the spa was selected as #2 in the Best Day Spa category of USA Today’s 2025 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. In my books, it could just as easily have been voted the #1.
If you are planning a trip to Palm Springs, a visit to The Spa Séc-He is most certainly worth your time. And to learn more about the Agua Caliente Band who own and operate the spa, the Agua Caliente Culture Plaza is right next door.
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