4 Magical Days at Miraval Arizona
… easily the best wellness resort in the United States. And it’s an all-inclusive!
Don’t just take my word for it; Miraval has just been recognized with the prestigious “Best of the Best Wellness Community Member Award” for the third time in just five years, providing its status as a leading destination for those seeking transformation, rejuvenation, and balance.
Tucked away in the stunning Sonoran Desert, Miraval Resort in Tucson has a rich history, starting as The Brave Bull dude ranch back in the 1940s and 1950s, meant for wealthy people to explore this type of lifestyle.
Over the years, it’s transformed from a substance abuse center into the incredible wellness retreat it is today, offering serene views of the valley on Native American land. Miraval translates to “view of the valley,” which you will quickly experience as soon as you take one look at the mountains reaching 9000ft.
Since opening in 1994, Miraval expanded to Austin in 2019, the Berkshires in 2020, and soon, the Red Sea in 2025.
I recently spent four magical days at the gorgeous property just an hour outside Tucson. Here’s what I did:
Day 1: I am open
I got off my flight from Tucson and was greeted by a wonderful man named Edward. He handed me a tote bag that I will keep forever and a bottle of water, and we were on our way to Miraval. In cars, I often like to take time to witness the beauty around me, and the drive to the all-inclusive resort did not disappoint. The Santa Catalina mountains were stunning, and I couldn't get enough.
It was an easy ride, and after reflecting on my time in Tucson, Miraval might be the most mindful property I’ve ever been to. Everyone working at Miraval wears a name tag with their name and an “I Am” statement. Tony, the lovely gentleman who checked me in, had a name tag that displayed “I am motivated.” YES, TONY!
I often write about traveling with intention and even created an intentional traveling workbook, which I plan to expand in the future. I was so pleasantly surprised by Miraval’s attention to detail.
First of all, there are massive crystals everywhere throughout their lobby, dining, and seating areas. My kind of place. I was also given the cutest little cell phone sleeping bag, an invitation to unplug from the little device I’m so desperately attached to.
A beautiful woman named Becky gave me a quick tour on a golf cart, stating that the property can be described by a clock, the main entry is 12pm, the prayer tree & labyrinth is 3pm, and the spa is 6pm. I spent my first few hours walking around and exploring.
Right away, I noticed pretty much everyone was walking around in bathrobes… you know what my first thought was, right?
"Should I live here?”
Not only were people walking around in bathrobes, but butterflies were everywhere. Like SO MANY butterflies. It’s a sacred place.
After my tour with Becky, I headed to my room where my suitcase was waiting for me.
A room is worth a thousand words:
Walking into my room at Miraval was like stepping into my dream house that I didn’t know it existed. The bed was massive, topped with the cutest pillows—and let me tell you, this might be the most comfortable bed ever.
I learned that Miraval is also known for its bedding and is available for purchase.
Not only was the bed spectacular, but on the bed was the sweetest welcome gift: an itinerary, a gorgeous journal, and a set of mala beads. Each bead had a mantra tied to it—Prehnite for meditation, Tiger's Eye for mindfulness, and Moss Agate for gratitude. My suitcase had already been delivered, waiting for me, which made settling in so nice and easy. The little things go a long way while you’re traveling.
The room was filled with cute little touches, like stacked rocks with a mini sound bowl, water, teas, and cozy bathrobes. It even had a Halfmoon meditation cushion, which I will be investing in asap.
And the best part? It had an amazing back patio, perfect for unwinding and enjoying peaceful vibes.
Spa Me.
I AM A SPA GIRL. I am not afraid to say it. I may even be a sauna snob. There’s something so special about a dedicated space for you to pamper yourself. I took full advantage of as many services as possible.
When checking into Miraval, you are given a beautiful itinerary based on the activities that you decided upon beforehand. Even though my first spa treatment wasn’t until the next day, I was dying for a massage after days of traveling. All it took me 2 minutes to talk with Lynn, the experience expert at the front desk, and she booked me for 20-minute massage with the lovely Autumn.
I headed to the spa, in my bathrobe, which is now my favorite outfit. And as soon as Autumn touched my shoulders, she said "you fall asleep on your right side, you wake up on your left, and sometimes you clench your jaw at night.”
What in the spiritual massage heck?!
Autumn just diagnosed me after touching my shoulders for 30 seconds. It goes to show how powerful the specialists are at Miraval.
After the epic and psychic massage, I headed outside to enjoy the gorgeous view. There were the most comfortable chairs facing the mountains, and it was one of the beautiful moments for which I felt super grateful.
Mocktails & Dinner:
Soon, it was time for a quick meeting with the Miraval team & other travel professionals before dinner. Let me tell you, one of the best things about the travel industry is that pretty much everyone you meet is just a genuinely amazing person, radiating positive energy and good vibes.
I kicked off the evening with an “Afterglow” mocktail, which I kindly to remove the orgeat and NA rum. It was pure perfection - this divine blend of watermelon sweetness with just the right kick of jalapeño spice, not to mention the salt-rimmed glass. I love salt.
Next, it was time for dinner at Cactus Flower, a beautiful restaurant that was nothing short of spectacular. I went for the red curry tofu, and every bite made me do a happy dance. For dessert, I chose a bowl of fresh berries paired with goat cheese. Try it - and thank me later. And oh, I discovered what an affogato is. Have I been living under a rock?
What’s really special about Cactus Flower is that their menu changes daily to spotlight the freshest local ingredients. This is a testament to their commitment to offering the best of what’s in season. Here’s a sample menu for you to get excited about.
All in all, it was the perfect first night. I settled in, learned more about the property, and got to know some of the wonderful team members.
Day 2: I am present
“So much room to do activities!!”
The famous Stepbrothers quote was in my head most of Day 2 after I explored most of the Miraval property. What I love about their all-inclusive resort is that in most spaces there is a schedule of the different (free & paid) activities for the day:
This morning specifically, I woke up early to hike on their self-guided trails. I took the time to slow down, listen to my breathing, take selfies, and enjoy the gorgeous view. I honestly think I’m a mountain girl at heart.
All-Inclusives Are My Favorite
Post-hike, it was time for a snack. One of the many highlights of Miraval is that it’s COMPLETELY all-inclusive. When people hear the word “all-inclusive,” they immediately picture chicken tenders and pina coladas, but that was not the case here. For me, all-inclusive means I don’t have to carry a purse or a wallet, which seems small, but when you’re trying to relax and be in the moment, the convenience goes a long way.
Every few hours or so, I would stop at lovely Palm Court cafe for a gardens green smoothie, and instead of pineapple juice, I swapped for water. That day, I also discovered their CHORIZO QUESADILLAS, and my life will never be the same. I kid you not, I ate probably 12… maybe more. I asked the people how/why it was so good, and they said it was because they got their chorizo DOWN THE STREET.
Never underestimate the healing power of locally sourced food.
Everyone working at the cafe was super sweet and made me a custom protein smoothie.
The Beauty of Imperfection with Lyndi Rivers LMSW, C-IAYT:
After feasting on the beautiful snacks of Miraval, it was time for our first activity.
This group activity was one of the highlights during my time at Miraval. It was led by an amazing specialist, Lyndi, who walked us through an intentional experience of Kintsugi.
Kintsugi is an ancient Japanese technique of repairing broken pottery using lacquer, a natural resin made from tree sap. The lacquer is dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. As the pottery is repaired, it leaves a beautiful seam where the previous cracks were.
If you’re picturing a typical arts & crafts session, hold your horses, this was NOT that. This was powerful.
I cried.
I cried because it was so clear that my response to this exercise show up in my every day life. Lyndi had clearly stated instructions to sit with the bowl after we intentionally break it. Instead of doing this, I was so quick to put all of the pieces together and I recognize immediately how I used to (and sometimes still do) in my life. Instead of sitting with an uncomfortable feeling, I’m quick to find a snack, call a friend, scroll on Instagram, when instead, I could just sit. And be. And feel it all until I’ve moved on from it. My friend Diana Swillinger says that it takes approximately 90 seconds for an emotion to pass through you. Try it next time.
The text below is from a handout from Lyndi provided; she so eloquently explains how Kintsugi can be seen has having multiple purposes:
It is practical as it allows us a way to reuse something. It may not be used the same as before but it allows us to keep something meaningful to us. It allows us to find new value in an item.
It is an art form that highlights an imperfection verses hiding it. It teaches that breaking and repairing are a part o the history of a piece. It values the uniqueness of the piece and the patience and intelligence it takes to create it. It sees mended cracks as enhancing the beauty of the piece.
It is a philosophical perspective. It acknowledges that we all get hammered by life. We have to sit with our broken pieces and know that the challenges that life presents us gives us the opportunity to grow more fully into who we are. We experience the paradox of humanness - we can feel broken while being whole simultaneously. Challenging moments do not take anything away from us but are actually an invitation to broad our own unique definition of “wholeness.”
We can choose to make something beautiful out of the life we have and embrace the unpredictable aspects of life. We embrace the journey of transformation within our lives. We witness that our vulnerable sharing about our journey is what allows us to connect more deeply with others and creates spaces for others to embrace and honor their own imperfections.
We all have navigated challenges, and we are all stronger, wiser, and more beautiful.
For me personally, this was my experience with making the conscious decision to eliminate alcohol from my life. For so long, I was chasing a drink, because I thought it led to connection. For me, the reality is that the drinks blocked connection, and ultimately left me feeling absolutely terrible. Emotionally, physcially, spiritually, etc.
It took me a solid 1.5 years to get comfortable with my life as a sober person, and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced. A true transformation that I will always treasure. And while I navigated challenges while drinking, I DEFINITELY navigated challenges after getting rid of booze. Because I was forced to sit with my feelings without anything to numb them with. But before I recognized the importance of sitting with my (even icky) feelings, I tried to numb with food, men, shopping, you name it.
It wasn’t until very recently that I became laser-focused on my nervous system and how I respond to uncomfortable feelings or situations.
I loved this Kintsugi exercise, and Lyndi shared how each item had a meaningful representation in our everyday lives:
The Bowl: The bowl represents ourselves and the attachment we have to our life unfolding in the way we envision or desire.
The Cloth Bag: This bag represents what contains you when you go through challenging times. This can include self-love, inner resilience, strength, courage, faith, and the support of friends and family: the things that are there no matter what life throws our way.
The Hammer: This represents the instrument of change. Hammers can destroy and they are also used to build and create. The hammer for this practice is a tool of transformation. It is what will change the bowl into something else. We can acknowledge the places we have agency and choice and the places in which we have to let go of control.
The Glue: This represents the alchemy of coming together and the importance connection. Who are the people you turn to when you need support? When we go through hard times we need other people. Healing happens in moments of connection. When we are under stress our bodies release a small amount of oxytocin, which is a bonding and relationship hormone. The belief is that oxytocin is released in order to encourage us to reach out for help and support during challenging times.
The Gold: This represents the importance of celebrating our lives. Celebrating the small and big wins alike. We can honor that sometimes we celebrate that we made it through a challenging chapter of life. The gold can also represent the story we tell about our lives. It reminds us how we show up and shine in our lives.
After a little integration from the Beauty of Imperfection, I walked around the property to breathe.
We settled in for another lovely dinner; this time, I was quick to leave - I had scheduled a last-minute session on the Art of Manifesting with Jess Holzworth, one of the beautiful specialists at Miraval.
From Miraval’s list of specialists: Jess has a background as an international award-winning music video director. She is also a certified spiritual life coach and sacred facilitator. From her 10+ years of training, Jess uses an integrated approach, combining ancient wisdom and modern modalities. She is passionate about supporting others on their journey to self-realization and transformation.
Our time together was short yet transformational. Sharing your deepest, darkest secrets with someone you’ve never met is so interesting. But that’s why you go to Miraval. She had great insights, and I walked away feeling more confident than ever.
Day 3: I am creative
Today was full of more spa treatments. Of course, I woke up and went directly for a chorizo quesadilla and a green smoothie before heading to the pool. Miraval has 3 POOLS that are open 24/7 - I only made it to two but they were both perfect in the own way. The first pool, an Olympic sized pool facing the mountains also had a gym next door and a fun class going on. I spent time journaling here.
I also fell in love with the second pool, where I spent several hours lounging and soaking up the sun. (One of my all-time favorite things to do) The housemade watermelon and lime popsicles were a refreshing treat, and I couldn’t get enough of them. Probably had about 4. However, I was a bit thrown off to see that alcohol was being served. It didn’t fit in with the serene, zen atmosphere I had come to love. I took a moment to sit with my disappointment, noticing how it felt in my body. It was a reminder that even in places dedicated to tranquility, elements can disrupt the peace we’re seeking. Such is life, right?
Shortly after the pool, I headed to my Naga massage, a must-do for everyone.
A few people had given me a heads-up on what to expect, and I had received a Thai massage in the past, so walking into the room and seeing the silks hanging from the ceiling wasn’t too surprising. My therapist, Alice, balanced herself on the silks above me, using her weight to apply pressure to specific parts of my body. People have claimed that they felt like they had a new body after a Naga session. While that wasn’t necessarily my experience, it’s definitely something I would try again.
Post Naga, it was time for the holy grail of all treatments: the Ultimate Ayurvedic Treatment, which included warm herbal oil massage for circulation, marma point therapy for energy-balancing, and Shirodhara, warm oil gently poured on the forehead. I felt like I was in another world for a minute there.
After some more time relaxing at the spa, it was time to tour some of the stunning retreats at Miraval. There are stunning villas perfect for retreats. If you want to host a retreat, I’d love to help put something beautiful together at Miraval.
After the property tour, we were encouraged to hit the gong in front of the property. I had a little fun with this and hit it more than once. It was a beautiful sound, and the vibration was so nice after feeling so relaxed.
Shortly after hitting and listening to the gong, we headed for the final activity of the night - spiritual drumming with Richard Noel. Richard is extremely talented. We all had a little fun, and I took notes ferociously the entire time. He said so many things that stuck with me. Someone mentioned the need to “slow down,” he said if you like to go fast, you don't need to slow down, harmonize. I felt that, and I’ve noticed that I work quickly. I rarely have a slow moment, all though I try at times. That’s just how I like it now. Something else that stood out to me was how time stands for “tapping into my energy.” I LOVED THAT. It reminded me of how important it is to sing, to play, to have fun. To just be. Thank you, Richard for an epic session.
Then, it was time for the final dinner with the crew. It was such a cool experience to have long, meaningful conversations with people I had just met. I value deep connections and love the opportunity to meet new people, and it was amazing to see how quickly we could dive into conversations beyond the surface. There’s something special about those initial interactions when you feel an immediate connection and can just talk for hours. It reminded me of how much I appreciate genuine interactions and the beauty of getting to know someone on a deeper level right from the start. Life is so beautiful when we can share it with special humans.
Day 4: I am complete
My time at Miraval Arizona was truly unforgettable. The wellness resort offered a perfect blend of tranquility and with a touch of playfulness, offering everything from relaxing spa treatments to spiritual drumming sessions. The sacred environment allowed for deep relaxation and personal reflection, proving how powerful it can be to be intentional about travel.
Miraval’s commitment to holistic wellness shines through in every detail, making it easy to disconnect from the daily grind and reconnect with yourself. The moments of peace, inspiration, and self-discovery were transformative.
And if you find yourself dreaming of a Miraval Moment, you’re in luck—they also have two other breathtaking properties in Austin, Texas, and the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Each location offers a unique charm and wellness experience, continuing the beautiful tradition of mindful, transformative travel.
It’s truly remarkable what happens when you take time to be intentional with your travel. The clarity and joy from immersing yourself in such a thoughtfully curated environment are well worth the journey.
Book your stay with me and receive:
An additional $100 Resort Credit per person per stay
Upgrade based on availability at the time of check-in
Early check-in and late check-out priority
A super thoughtful welcome gift
If you’re looking for a meanigful vacation, Miraval is the place for you.
And trust me, I get it. It can be hard to take time for yourself. The reality is that it’s essential for keeping your life balanced and fulfilling. With all the demands and distractions of daily life, it’s easy to put your own needs on the back burner.
Carving out moments for self-care and reflection can work wonders for your well-being. Whether it’s a peaceful walk in nature, a refreshing retreat, or just a few quiet minutes each day to center yourself, prioritizing your needs helps you recharge and see things more clearly. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so give yourself the gift of time. It’s one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself. Trust me.
