Recently, BOSW visited the Amara Resort and Spa, a Sedona wellness retreat featuring culinary mastery and spectacular scenic surroundings. We invite you to see why we find this Sedona locale a celebration of the senses and an ideal place to refuel, recharge and restore.
Amara Resort and Spa musts:
- Melt away with the onsite spa’s Rain Dance Ayurvedic-inspired massage
- Order the Ribeye Tacos with queso oaxaca, guacamole salsa, onions and cilantro from SaltRock Kitchen
- Sit on the patio by a firepit or soak in the property pool during sunset
10 Reasons Amara Resort and Spa attracts visitors near and far
1. Location
There are numerous reasons an estimated 3 million visitors flock to Sedona each year, with its natural beauty, spiritual properties and recreational activities chief among them. Amara Spa serves as the perfect place to experience all these things and more. With stunning views of the region’s Red Rocks and a stone’s throw from Downtown Sedona, the resort provides easy access to local activities and recreational opportunities.
2. Comfort
A few years ago the property underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation, and it shows. From the warm and welcoming lobby area to the inviting, cozy guest rooms, the indoor spaces of Amara offer ultimate comfort. The outdoor areas — that we’ll get to soon — also provide places to settle in for conversation, dive into a good book or stargaze.
3. Spa
We feel strongly that it would be difficult for anyone exiting the Amara Spa post-treatment not to feel like jelly. Amara is known for offering some of Sedona’s best spa treatments for a reason.
Guests can choose from facials, massages, body treatments and a steam room. Between spa services, the relaxation area boasts a quiet space to refuel with hot teas and loungers. Our favorite Amara Spa treatments include the Rain Dance, an Ayurvedic-inspired massage with lavender, rosemary, and sage essential oils divinely dropped down your spine, followed by a warm oil scalp massage. The 90-minute Desert Sea Detox Wrap complete with dry brushing, an application of turquoise sage clay, infused with lavender and rosewood and a decadent scalp massage and deeply hydrating relaxation massage is another top choice.
4. SaltRock Kitchen
Yum. Yum. And more yum. We could go on and on about how delicious SaltRock’s fare is, but for the sake of time and word count, we’ll highlight some favorites. During our stay we experienced lunch and dinner standouts such as the Elote (a must-try) with buttered corn, roasted Garlic Mayo and Aleppo Pepper; the Ribeye Tacos smothered with queso oaxaca, guacamole salsa, onions and cilantro (the ribeye was as tender as tender can be); and the Scottish Salmon with Three Sisters Stew, bacon, lump crab, smoked corn puree, trout roe and crispy fingerling potato chips.
5. Beverage Program
An extension of No.4, SaltRock’s beverage program simply has to be in a class (or list number) of its own. Visitors and locals rave about the wine and cocktail offerings carefully curated by expert mixologists (they even wear classic bib aprons!). We appreciated the mocktail selection, which includes the Robbers Roos with seedlip, agave, coconut water, lemon and Peychaud Bitters; the Sedona Sunset featuring passion fruit, agave, lemon, prickly pear, soda and mint; and the Guava Cooler infused with guava puree, lime juice, agave and soda water. Plus, they make a mean Shirley Temple.
6. Outdoor Areas
We quickly realized why Amara is a top wedding destination in Sedona. The views! The Red Rocks (including beloved Snoopy Rock) are right outside Amara’s back door. Whether taking a SaltRock meal or beverage on the patio, or cozying by the firepit, the views are absolutely captivating (especially during sunrise and sunset). A few steps down from the property (by the pool), guests can amble around the creek or test the tree chair swing on a sunny day.
7. Pool
Even during winter, Amara guests can be spotted in or by the property pool. This heated, infinity pool boasts the dreamy outdoor scapes we’ve been raving about, ensconced by a lovely treeline.
8. Concierge
Want to find the best shopping stops downtown? Take a Jeep Tour? The Amara concierge services are on point for any and all activities in Sedona. We were able to experience Arizona Safari Jeep Tours during our stay. Our trek through the Red Rocks, enabled us to capture the geological, ecological and lore of some of the most breathtaking Sedona natural wonders. Those enraptured by Sedona’s spiritual side can book a tour specifically centered on Vortex areas, learning about their energetic and mystical properties
9. Fitness and Wellness
There are plenty of places to hike, walk and bike throughout Sedona, but Amara also has the convenience of an onsite fitness center. Ellipticals, treadmills and weight equipment are available and guests of the resort can borrow property bikes too. During our visit, the resort was offering a morning yoga class.
10. Service
For all of Amara’s upscale accommodations and amenities, the resort has the service to match. From guest services (at the ready to loan you a charger if, like me, you forget yours at home) to the SaltRock and Spa team, the service is impeccable.
To learn more about Amara Resort and Spa, or to book a trip, visit amararesort.com.
Need more? Read more: Plan the ultimate self-care weekend in Boulder