Wellness tourism is everywhere these days, inviting us to disconnect from the daily rhythm and reconnect with what matters most: a healthy body and mind, longevity, and simply feeling better. More than ever, we’re searching for experiences that restore us instead of exhaust us.

 

Wellness looks different for everyone. For some, it’s about increasing the chances of living a long, healthy life. For others, it’s finally getting a full night’s sleep, reducing stress, easing aching joints, or simply carving out time to slow down. We live in a world where our schedules are packed, our phones are always buzzing, and rest often feels like a luxury.

If there was ever a place designed to help you hit the reset button, it’s The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

The Springs Resort Levels Up

The Springs Resort has long been known as one of Colorado’s premier wellness destinations, but after experiencing its recent expansion firsthand, I can honestly say the trip was worth making all over again.

The resort has essentially doubled the soaking experience, adding 25 new pools and bringing the total to 50 mineral-rich soaking pools spread across the property. Whether you prefer a gentle soak or a hotter therapeutic pool, there’s a temperature ready for you, 24 hours a day.

At the heart of it all is the Mother Spring, the world’s deepest geothermal mineral hot spring, reaching more than 1,000 feet underground—taller than stacking three Statues of Liberty on top of one another. Sitting at approximately 130 degrees, this incredible spring provides the mineral-rich water that fills every soaking pool on property.

What makes the water especially unique is what’s inside it. The Mother Spring naturally contains 12 beneficial minerals that guests soak in, including lithium (used as an antidepressant), magnesium, manganese, sulfur, zinc, and even a tiny trace of arsenic. While you may come for relaxation, you’re also immersing yourself in water that’s been treasured for centuries for its restorative qualities.

Each afternoon at 4 p.m., guests can gather around the Mother Spring for a gratitude ceremony. Standing beside the steaming spring while reflecting on the day somehow makes slowing down feel wonderfully intentional.

Water for Wellness

The therapeutic use of mineral water is known as balneology—the practice of promoting health through mineral-rich bathing. Europeans have embraced this practice for generations, using thermal waters as both preventative care and treatment for chronic conditions.

“Contrast bathing combines hot and cold water soaking to stimulate the body’s systems and functions,” says Dr. Marcus Coplin, Medical Director at The Springs Resort. “This hydrotherapy enhances the body’s natural detoxification process, increases mental resilience, stimulates circulation, and vitalizes your skin.”

I find rotating between hot mineral pools and cooler plunges invigorating, refreshing, and surprisingly addictive.

Wellness Beyond the Water

Throughout the day, guests can participate in complimentary experiences including aqua sound bathing, guided thermal breathwork, aroma sauna sessions, aqua yoga, restful recharge classes, and more.

One activity I especially appreciated was the Mother’s Mud experience. Guests cover themselves in mineral-rich clay—particularly around areas where lymph nodes are concentrated—and allow it to dry before rinsing it away beneath the resort’s Contrast Falls. One side of the waterfall is wonderfully hot while the other offers a refreshing cool rinse, creating another opportunity to experience the benefits of hot-and-cold therapy. 

For guests looking to immerse themselves even deeper, The Springs also offers three types of wellness retreats (I chose Restore). These thoughtfully designed programs include three meals each day, making it easy to focus completely on restoration without worrying about planning meals or schedules.

Of course, no wellness getaway would be complete without a visit to the new Thermal Spa. I opted for one of their signature treatments designed to calm the nervous system and encourage restorative sleep—a fitting complement to days spent soaking in mineral-rich water.

Back in my room, I discovered a complimentary sleep tray complete with a deep sleep guide, earplugs, lavender lotion, and even a little sleeping bag for my cell phone—a gentle reminder that perhaps the best thing I could do was simply unplug.

Bigger, Better—and Still Incredibly Welcoming

The expansion also introduced 13 new room styles, including spacious suites like the San Juan Suite with a separate bedroom, kitchen, living room, and two full bathrooms.

Outside, guests can explore the enchanting Grotto, complete with fiber optic “stars” overhead, a reflexology walk, additional adults-only soaking areas, and plenty of quiet spaces to simply read a great novel.

Customer Service Highlight

At one of the resort’s cafés, I asked my server a question she wasn’t immediately sure how to answer. She excused herself to ask her manager, and I couldn’t help but overhear the response: “Make sure the guest is happy.”

That simple sentence perfectly captured the culture of The Springs Resort. Every interaction throughout my stay reflected hospitality and a desire to make guests feel cared for.

Pagosa’s Palette

The notes on the coffee cups were such a cute touch. Video Marika Flatt.

The café opens each morning at 7 a.m. serving everything from nutritious breakfast burritos to sweet crêpes.

For lunch, the Barefoot Grill serves poolside favorites like Mediterranean gyros paired with sweet potato fries.

The newer 1881 Provisions makes it easy to grab paninis, fresh salads, hummus trays, or even a canned wine or margarita to enjoy between soaks.

Dinner at Wild Finch featured fresh, flavorful dishes, including salmon with pearl fregola
pasta and a 16-ounce house-cut ribeye. Video Marika Flatt.

Dinner at the new Wild Finch was one of the highlights of our visit. We shared a large order of crispy brussels sprouts before enjoying salmon over pearl fregola pasta and a generous 16-ounce house-cut ribeye with mashed potatoes and broccolini. We finished with crème brûlée cheesecake paired with a sweet dessert wine.

Trip Tips

• Don’t forget your pool towel when heading to the soaking pools—you can exchange it anytime for a fresh, dry one.
• Leave the fancy clothes at home. Swimsuits, robes, and comfortable casual wear are all you’ll really need, even for dinner.
• Fully embrace what they call Robe Culture. Before long, you’ll find yourself walking around the resort wrapped in a plush robe wondering why everyday life can’t be this comfortable.
• Check www.PagosaWeather.com for accurate information from local meteorologists, including estimations of when the leaves will be changing in the fall. 
• Ubers/Lyfts aren’t readily available in Pagosa Springs, so plan ahead and reserve a taxi service for a return back to the Durango airport. 

Sometimes the best vacations aren’t about checking touristy spots off a list. They’re about slowing down to restore. After a few days (I recommend a 3-night stay) soaking in mineral-rich waters, participating in thoughtful wellness experiences, eating memorable meals, and simply slowing down, I left Pagosa Springs feeling lighter, rested, and more focused on the work that awaited me at home. 

Hear more about The Springs Resort in our recent San Antonio Living travel segment.

Soak & Cast: The Perfect Pagosa Pairing

For fly-fishing enthusiasts, there’s another reason to linger a little longer in Pagosa Springs. The Springs Resort has partnered with PJ’s Fine Bamboo Rods to offer a pretty irresistible his-and-hers getaway: Book one of PJ’s weeklong bamboo fly rod building classes, and your spouse can spend the week enjoying the restorative soaking pools at The Springs at a discounted price. With classes limited to just four participants, the experience is wonderfully intimate, offering nearly one-on-one instruction from PJ and his talented team of bamboo rod builders.

And these aren’t simply fly rods—they’re works of art. Over the course of the week, participants customize virtually every detail of their rod, from its taper and action to the shape of the grip and even the wood used for the reel seat. Watching PJ and his team work, you quickly realize they are craftsmen in every sense of the word. Their precision is remarkable: The margin of error when shaping the individual pieces can be as little as the width of a human hair. If a piece doesn’t meet PJ’s exacting standards, there are no shortcuts—it’s back to the beginning. The result is a handcrafted bamboo fly rod that’s as much a family heirloom as it is something you’ll treasure fishing for years to come.

PJ is not only an artist and a craftsman; at his core, he’s a fly fisherman. I was amazed by how different casting a bamboo rod feels compared with the graphite rods I’ve fished for years. In PJ’s hands, a 30-foot cross-handed roll cast seemed almost effortless, and when I gave it a try, I began to understand why anglers become so passionate about bamboo. There’s a connection you feel from the grip all the way to the fly that’s difficult to replicate with graphite. There’s definitely a learning curve—the slower action of bamboo forces you to adjust your timing and resist the urge to rush the cast. But that’s also part of its appeal. It makes you slow down, return to the fundamentals and reconnect with the rhythm, feel and almost poetry of a beautifully executed fly cast.

Make Time for Durango

If you’re flying, chances are you’ll arrive through Durango. Build in at least a day or two to explore this charming mountain town.

We stayed at The Rochester Hotel, a recently renovated boutique property where each of the 15 rooms has its own unique personality and design. The atmosphere is welcoming, and one of my favorite touches was the complimentary drink each guest receives daily at the lobby bar, called Peeples Bar. The luxurious bed linens made it difficult to leave each morning, and the location couldn’t have been better. We walked everywhere, especially along Main Avenue (filled with shops, restaurants and bars).

For breakfast, don’t miss Jean Pierre Bakery & Wine Bar, where fresh pastries and authentic French fare are accompanied by live piano music during weekend brunch. It felt like a little slice of Paris tucked into the mountains of Colorado.

If your visit happens to fall on the second Saturday of the month, stroll down Main Avenue for the local farmers market. It’s a wonderful way to experience the community while browsing local produce, artisan goods, and handcrafted products.

The Bookcase and Barber hides a cozy speakeasy behind an unassuming bookshelf. Video Marika Flatt.

One evening, we slipped into a barbershop and behind an unassuming bookshelf was a speakeasy called The Bookcase and Barber. This cozy speakeasy blends craft cocktails in an intimate setting that feels like you’ve stumbled upon a well-kept local secret (you must know the password phrase to enter). Dim lighting, vintage décor, and expertly crafted drinks create a secretly wonderful setting. 

For an evening of entertainment, head to The Diamond Belle Saloon inside the historic Strater Hotel. On Sunday evenings, a lively bluegrass band fills the room beginning at 5:30 p.m., creating the perfect soundtrack for hearty comfort food. The meatloaf and the chicken pot pie have become local favorites for good reason.

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Cover Photo courtesy The Springs Resort.

Marika Flatt, Outstanding Austin Communicator 2021, is the Travel Editor of Texas Lifestyle Magazine. She began her travel writing career in 2002, and can be seen as a contributor on TV shows across Texas, such as San Antonio Living, Spectrum News, Good Morning Texas, Daytime (FOX), and Studio 512! Follow Marika’s travels here.