WE CARE SPA

We Care Spa is the ultimate detox in the desert to cleanse your mind, body, and soul.

And quite possibly one of the only places where it is socially acceptable to converse with complete strangers about your daily “movements”.  The program focuses on liquid fasting combined with daily colonics, spa treatments and spiritual healing.  Devotees have been coming to We Care for more than 35 years, and it’s no wonder they keep coming back.  Guests leave feeling svelte, sun-kissed, and spiritually cleansed. 

We Care is the place to get your Zen on if you need a true reset for the mind, body, and soul.

• Getting There

  We Care is located in California’s Coachella Valley in a town called Desert Hot Springs, which I like to think of as the less glamorous sibling to Palm Springs and Palm Desert. From Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) it takes about 30 minutes or approximately a 2-hour drive from Los Angeles (traffic dependent, of course). Leading up to the spa is very unassuming, some might say borderline sketchy, but once you enter the grounds, it feels like you’ve entered a spiritual safe haven.

• Accommodations

  There are a variety of rooms to choose from at We Care ranging from some of the original rooms (The Villas, Resorts & Colonies) which have undergone a modern refresh to the newer Executive Suites which were added in the most recent addition to the property, and options for either a single king or two queens within each category. The Villas, Resorts and Colonies rooms are small and quaint and closest to the main lobby, while the Executive Suites are a little further out in the property but offer more privacy. All rooms have TVs with Netflix and most other streaming apps and a small fridge to house your fresh juices which housekeeping refreshes daily. Laundry service is not available for standard length stays, although they will make an exception if you are there for more than 10 days.

• Activity

  Since you’re fasting, activity and fitness at We Care are pretty minimal and certainly not the forefront of the program. A 90-minute gentle yoga/meditation is offered most mornings typically combined with a late afternoon restorative stretch, sound bath or similar. I have seen aqua-aerobics type classes offered in the hotter months as well. There is a small room (which they call a gym) that has one Peloton bike along with a couple Vibra Trim (jiggle) machines. Aside from that, there is a short and not very well marked walking trail you can take around the perimeter of the property, which is fine for a little movement and fresh air but doesn’t necessarily offer the best scenery.

• Amenities

  All stays include a handful of amenities including all of your liquid drinks throughout your stay, daily colonics, and access to various classes including a handful that the owner, Susana, teaches in person. You typically get a digestive release massage or two thrown in there as well, but aside from that, pretty much all the spa treatments come at an additional cost, and they will definitely add up if you’re like me and like to stay busy by filling your schedule with treatments. The saunas could use a refresh, and I would love if they had a cold plunge pool. There are also a variety of healing installations which are tucked in the endless nooks and crannies of the property. My favorites include the walking labyrinth and the floating bed.

• Cuisine

  Not much to say here, folks, seeing as there is none. That said, it’s far more manageable than it seems. Many first timers often go into We Care thinking you’re simply living off of vegetable juice for the week, but that’s only a small piece of the liquid nutrition provided. The main beverage that keeps you feeling full is the Detox Drink which is a not-so-palatable mix of psyllium husk and fiber. These drinks are consumed twice daily and best enjoyed very quickly, otherwise it turns into thick sludge. There is also a green superfood powder, various purifying teas and Kangen water on your daily consumption schedule. While you used to have to make all you beverages on your own, guests can now belly-up to the main pool bar where baristas will make all your concoctions for you…they even have a few “off-menu” items like electrolyte slushies and yerba-mate-lattes for when you need a little extra zhoosh.

• Clientele

  The guests at We Care are across the board. With its humble beginnings, the bohemian hippies that used to frequent the spa seem to have become more of the exception than the norm these days with the steep rate increases. Ages are wide-ranging (like, 18-80+), typically more women than men, and primarily solo travelers with a handful of groups of friends, couples, and mother-daughter duos in there as well. It’s a popular attraction for Hollywood’s elite, and a known favorite of celebrities like Molly Simms, Joaquin Phoenix, and Matt Damon. I have met multiple celebs here and have even become good friends with a few. Some people really keep to themselves and their rooms, but overall, We Care is great for meeting likeminded individuals.

• Duration + Cost

  There are three different durations of stays offered at We Care including 2-nights, 5-nights and 7-nights. 2-night stays range from $1,800-$3,000, 5-night stays from $4,500-$7,000 and 7-night stays from $5,700-$8,700 depending on the room and not including additional spa treatments which run about $175 a pop (give or take). Unless you’re local to California and in need of a quick weekend reset, I wouldn’t recommend the 2-night stay as you only get a taste of the cleanse and then you leave. Even the 5-night stay doesn’t always quite feel like enough as it takes your body a few days to get over the hump, and just when you’re starting to feel really good, you have to leave. If you have the time and resources, 7-night stays are ideal. Even better, combine the 7-night and 2-night options for 9-nights…I have found this to be the sweet spot for me.

• PROS

  • Detox – this place is a true detox of the body, mind and soul. No doubt you leave feeling slimmer, but my biggest takeaways have always come the mental and spiritual aspects of We Care. It’s a very special place to recenter, recharge and reconnect with yourself.

  • Education – the owner, Susana, is an absolute wealth of knowledge and still teaches many of the classes. Other practitioners and spiritual healers, like Mari and Renee, are incredible as well.

  • Grounds – the landscaping and spiritual art installations throughout the property are truly magical. The Instagram opportunities are endless and so many different spots to find solace as you detoxify your body and mind.

• CONS

  • No Laundry Service – can be problematic for longer stays, so be sure to pack plenty of options.

  • Price – rates have spiked over the past few years (I’m guessing mainly to pay for the recent renovations) which unfortunately has started to weed out some of cool, Boho individuals We Care initially attracted.

  • Sketchy Town – while you’re not far from Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs is a far cry from the mid-century mod oasis that comes to mind. That said, there is really no need to go off property.

  • Limited Options for Activity – outside of yoga and the lame walking loop, the one Peloton just doesn’t cut it for me. Would be nice to have more options including treadmills, ellipticals, etc.

  • Dated Treatment Rooms – some of the original treatment rooms are pretty dingy and dated and could use a refresh.

INSIDER TIPS

• I prefer to schedule colonics early in the day, and after yoga, around 10:00am.  This gives you time to hop on the jiggle machine or get a digestive release massage, and gives you the afternoon free.

• Request Kortney, Ashley or Koren for your colonics.  They are the best, in my opinion, and really help guide you through.  Anissa is good too and the only one who does the owner’s weekly colonics, but she is very quiet and dry.  Jenny is very outspoken and my least favorite.

• Take a shot of chlorophyll and a shot of castor oil mixed with a little carrot juice 1 hour before colonics.  The chlorophyll helps reduce gas and castor oil helps elimination.

• There is a small snack of brown rice, quinoa, lentils and yams provided after the Wednesday Kitchen demonstration which is a welcome, mid-week treat

• Drink the detox drink fast to avoid sludge.  I ask them to add a little cacao and stevia to mine to make it a little more palatable.

• Ask for a Yerba matte latte or a hot chocolate at the juice bar if you need a treat. Or an electrolyte icy for a hot day.

• If you want the most essential and effective treatment without the fluff, go for the System Recovery, preferably one at both the start and end of your stay.  Magnesium Detox is good too but can be uncomfortable and tingly for sensitive skin. Endermologie is also one of my favs. 

• Book spa treatments as far in advance as possible.  I have seen guests wait last minute and they are unable to get in for anything.

• Embrace oily spa hair and walking around all day in your robe.

• Never veer too far from a toilet :)