Chaminade Resort & Spa

Chaminade Resort & Spa sits on a wooded hilltop above Santa Cruz, with the spa built into a larger resort that includes guest rooms, a restaurant, and event spaces. The setting is the main draw here: views stretch toward Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains, and the grounds include redwood-lined trails for a walk before or after treatments.

The spa itself is set up for slow afternoons rather than quick drop-ins. There's a relaxation lounge, outdoor baths, and the kind of layout meant for couples or small groups to spend a few hours rather than squeeze in a single service. It pairs with the resort's restaurant, The View, for guests who want to extend the visit into a meal with sunset views.

Access is tied to the hotel — this is a resort spa for people staying on property, not a stand-alone day-pass operation. That makes it a fit for a Santa Cruz getaway built around an overnight stay rather than a one-off spa trip from elsewhere in the Bay Area. The price tier lands in the upscale range, consistent with a full resort experience rather than a budget treatment room.

Beyond the spa, the property leans into its setting for weddings and meetings, with flexible venues and the same mountain views used across its marketing. For most visitors, though, the appeal is straightforward: a quiet hilltop base in Santa Cruz with a spa, a view-driven restaurant, and guest rooms recently updated with a Spanish-inspired redesign.