Health & Spas · Our pick in California

Esalen Institute

Retreat centre·Big Sur

Hot springs above the Pacific

The Big Sur retreat of 1962, with cliff-top hot springs.

About Esalen Institute

Esalen Institute, founded in 1962 on the Big Sur coast, is a retreat and workshop centre known worldwide for its hot-spring baths on the cliffs above the Pacific. Stays are booked as part of its workshops and retreats.

Our take

  • Founded 1962
  • Cliffside hot-spring baths
  • Workshops and retreats
Address
Big Sur, California

Get directions

Treatments, day passes and opening hours change, so please check with Esalen Institute directly. In an emergency, call 911.

Last checked: October 2026 How we choose

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