Cal-a-Vie Health Spa is an 80-hectare estate perched in the hills of Vista, north of San Diego. For over two decades, it has cultivated a singular vision of wellness: demanding, intimate, deeply rooted in the beauty of the place. Here, where the California hills flirt with the accents of Provence, the experience is a matter of course. From the moment you arrive, the pace softens. European architecture, transplanted from Burgundy, blends into a landscape of vines and lavender. Silence carries weight. You look differently. And something inside you begins to rebalance, naturally. Here, well-being is not a promise. It’s a lived, sensory, enveloping experience. A return to yourself at its most subtle and lasting.
A unique French-Californian terroir
The story of Cal-a-Vie begins with love at first sight. In 2000, Terri and John Havens, who had fallen in love with France, discovered the rolling hills of Vista. Seduced by its peaceful potential and Mediterranean climate, they embarked on an extraordinary architectural adventure: literally importing whole swathes of French heritage… to California!
Their vision takes shape stone by stone. A 17th-century chapel, dismantled in a former Carmelite convent in Dijon, finds a second life at the heart of the estate. A Burgundian stone orangery crossed the Atlantic to become the main restaurant. Then, a 1715 presbytery is transformed into a tasting cellar. This architectural transplantation, far from being anecdotal, shapes the soul of the place.
Equidistant from Los Angeles and San Diego, Cal-a-Vie is ideally located. San Diego airport is an hour’s drive away, Los Angeles an hour and a half. This accessibility, combined with the estate’s relative isolation, creates the perfect balance between convenience and disconnection.
The surrounding landscape is irresistibly reminiscent of Provence: golden hills dotted with vineyards, centuries-old olive groves, lavender fields as far as the eye can see. Only the light, brighter and more direct, betrays the Californian latitude. This particular geography has a profound influence on the experience: we feel elsewhere, in a geographical and temporal in-between that obviously encourages introspection.
The art of luxurious classic style
Cal-a-Vie boasts 32 rooms in a variety of accommodations. The villas, scattered throughout the landscape, embody the Mediterranean spirit with their private patios, travertine floors and selected furnishings. Frette linens, memory foam beds and spacious bathrooms testify to the special attention paid to comfort.
The suites offer a different experience, with their high ceilings, antique bathtubs and lavender views. The atmosphere is more hushed, more classic, reminiscent of those French country houses where we like to linger. The decor, never ostentatious, favors noble materials and soft colors.
For groups, three “Houses” can accommodate up to 12 people. These larger spaces make it possible to enjoy the Cal-a-Vie experience with family or friends, without ever sacrificing privacy. Each has its own living space, creating a truly temporary residence on the estate.
Everywhere, the philosophy remains the same: to create spaces where you immediately feel at home, where luxury is expressed through the quality of details rather than ostentation.
Well-being at the heart of the experience
Wellness at Cal-a-Vie is more than just a series of treatments. It‘ s a global philosophy that encompasses body, mind and soul. From the moment you arrive, a personal interview enables us to draw up a tailor-made program, adapted to each individual’s needs and objectives. This individualized approach avoids the pitfalls of standardized programs and guarantees an authentically personal experience.
The programs, lasting 3, 4 or 7 nights, include all meals, a wide range of spa treatments, supervised physical activities and access to all facilities. This all-inclusive formula frees the mind from material contingencies and allows you to concentrate fully on the experience.
Spa rituals and techniques
Cal-a-Vie spa named best wellness center in the U.S. by Forbesin recognition of the excellence of its services. The treatments on offer draw on different therapeutic traditions, creating a rich and varied palette.
TheFleur de Néroli Experience, a 90-minute signature treatment, is a perfect illustration of this approach. It combines foot massage, meditative body massage, facial and cranial acupressure in a protocol designed as a veritable inner journey. Theslimming seaweed wrap, combining dry brushing, exfoliation, sculpting and seaweed cocktail, testifies to our cutting-edge technical expertise.
This selection is complemented by more targeted, equally refined treatments: a CBD-infused Himalayan coffee wrap to stimulate circulation and tone the skin, a massage with detoxifying herbal poultices, and specific treatments for tired legs and the face, designed to deliver an immediate glow. Finally, vinotherapy, using extracts from grapes grown on the estate, creates a direct link with the terroir.
Acupuncture, chiropractic and holistic treatments round out the range, providing a holistic approach to the body.
The mind-body experience
Cal-a-Vie pays particular attention to the spiritual dimension of well-being. The faithfully restored Dijon chapel is the perfect setting for meditation sessions. A place steeped in history, it creates an atmosphere conducive to meditation and introspection.
The seven-circuit labyrinth, inspired by contemplative traditions, is an invitation to meditative walking. Far from being mere curiosities, these circular paths are genuine tools for personal development. Creative workshops – energy bracelets, dream catchers, intuitive art – allow you to explore your creativity while working on yourself.
This integrative approach, subtly spiritual but never dogmatic, respects individual sensibilities. It offers a variety of tools to nurture the inner self, without ever imposing a particular vision of well-being.
Functional medicine and therapeutic innovation
The field does not confine itself to traditional approaches. It also offers consultations in functional medicine, enabling us to carry out complete check-ups and understand the origins of disorders (digestive, metabolic, sleep). This scientific approach naturally complements more traditional treatments.
Natural injections (immunity, weight loss, hydration), carried out under medical supervision, illustrate this openness to integrative medical practices. This discreet but present medical dimension reassures those seeking lasting solutions to their health problems.
Local gastronomy
Cal-a-Vie’s cuisine reflects the general philosophy of the place: quality, freshness and pleasure. Produce comes mainly from the estate’s organic gardens, on-site beehives and carefully selected local producers.
The culinary approach avoids extremes. No drastic diets or bland cuisine, but meticulous attention to nutritional quality. The dishes, colorful and flavorful, prove that healthy eating and gustatory pleasure can perfectly coexist. Matcha lattes rub shoulders with wild salmon, vitamin-packed broths with light but delicious desserts.
Meals are served in a variety of settings depending on the occasion : a sunny terrace for breakfasts, an intimate dining room for dinners, and sometimes in the period Orangerie for special gastronomic experiences. This variety of settings enriches the culinary experience.
The tasting of wines from the estate’s own grape varieties, offered in the former Burgundy presbytery, is a highlight of the stay. These wines, made on site, create a direct link with the terroir and demonstrate the estate’s commitment to an integrated approach to well-being.
Book your stay at Cal-a-Vie Health Spa
Benefit from our expertise in wellness breaks and contact us for a personalized quote for Cal-a-Vie Health Spa.
Rates : Minimum 3 nights. Expect to pay around 1,500 USD per person per day, depending on the package.
Call us for the USA: +1 (646) 980 6652 or for the UK: +44 20 4577 3258 to discuss your holiday plans.
