Travel advisory
Maintenance work on Highway 1 north of Esalen at the Bixby Bridge (PM 59.5) will result in full overnight road closures from 10 pm – 6:30 am for three weeks beginning Monday July 12.
In addition to unparalleled access to the leading minds of the day and pioneering virtual gatherings, we also welcome visitors to our California campus and retreat center, which features natural hot springs, an organic farm and garden, rustic guest accommodations, and more, all set on over 100 acres of the beautiful Big Sur coast.
Our all-inclusive workshop tuition includes accommodations, three meals, open classes, and use of the hot springs baths. Guests also have access to other campus facilities like the heated pool, Meditation Hut and Art Barn. Workshop pricing may vary and may have additional fees. Please see the workshop description for more information.
During registration, you'll see accommodation options, photos, and specific pricing.
Standard Single Room
Standard Couple Room
Standard Room Two Beds
Premium Single Room
Premium Couple Room
Premium Plus Room
Point House Suite
Point House Plus Suite
South Point House Plus Suite
The hot springs hang between sea and sky, an awe-inspiring respite for mind and body and a great equalizer. Simultaneously comforting and challenging, the baths nourish conversation, contemplation, and community.
While clothing is optional at the baths, nudity is by no means mandatory. You are invited to soak either with a swimsuit or without, knowing that the environment we strive for at Esalen is one of personal sanctuary and respect for the human body.
After you register for your stay at Esalen, we will contact you to reserve time in a private tub at the hot springs. Due to COVID, communal bathing is not currently allowed and we are not accepting reservations for public night bathing.
Once you arrive on campus, a path down the hill from the Esalen Lodge brings you to the baths’ upper level, with an outdoor massage deck, living roof featuring a crystal and succulent garden, and hot tub with a lift for ADA access. Head to the lower level to find the changing area and the springs themselves, and be sure to check in with a bathing attendant to find your tub.
In 1869, arthritis sufferer Thomas Slate visited the hot springs in search of relief. It became the first tourist destination in Big Sur, frequented by people seeking relief from similar afflictions.
The Esalen Farm & Garden is a holistic model of local food security and sustainability, producing organic food that sustains, heals, and educates the people who live at and visit Esalen. More than just a food source, the farm is a constant education in moving through transition and transformation.
We cultivate four acres of rough, dramatic marine terrace. We’re committed to the health and vitality of this land and proudly compost nearly 500 pounds of food and green waste every day to build the fertility of our soil for future generations.
Our produce grows a mere 400 steps from where it is served, and we take advantage of a year-round growing season to produce as much as we can for our kitchen. We specialize in culinary and tea herbs, heirloom root crops, and every variety of kale and lettuce we can find.
From Esalen guests taking part in a mindful harvest to day volunteers, there is a range of ways for visitors to engage with the earth. We aim to facilitate meaningful, relational experiences that connect people and land.
Our kitchen staff uses a mix of Esalen-grown produce and products from local purveyors to create delicious, nutritious, and inventive menus. While you’re with us, you’ll enjoy three hearty, healthy meals per day. Choose from vegan and omnivorous options, both gluten-free. (If your diet is stricter — paleo, keto, macrobiotic, etc. — we will unfortunately not be able to provide a meal under those restrictions.)
To keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re not currently offering communal dining or self-serve options like our famous bread bar. Instead, you’ll stay nourished and safe with fully plated meals in disposable containers made from recycled plastics that can be enjoyed while social distancing. Try a picnic on the lawn or on the patio facing the Pacific!
Coffee and Tea: 7:30 – 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast: 8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Lunch: 12:30 – 1:45 p.m.
Dinner: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Since we can't provide self-serve options right now, feel free to keep food or drinks that don't require refrigeration in your room.
Note: Per county and state COVID-19 guidelines, the Art Barn is not open at this time.
Wander to the north side of campus, and you’ll find a turquoise barn adorned with an inspiring riot of sculpture, mosaic, and stained glass. On any given day, curious seekers inspired by the wild beauty of Esalen gather in the Art Barn to experiment, play, take risks, and travel one of the most ancient human paths of transformation: the creative process.
The Art Barn is home to year-round weekend and five-day art workshops on oil and watercolor painting, drawing, mosaic, collage, sculpture, and more.
Our weekly opens classes often include drawing and painting sessions led by in-house creatives — check the schedule when you arrive.
When art workshops aren’t in session, the Art Barn becomes an open studio. Paper, paint, brushes, and clay are just the beginning. See what your imagination can dream up.
Adjoining the Lodge at the heart of campus, the Conley Bookstore offers sweatshirts, hats, chocolate, drinks, and more.
Note: While COVID-19 is ongoing, we have new safety protocols in place:
Grounded in the wildly alive Big Sur landscape, Esalen exists in deep relationship with the forces of nature. From the transfiguring force of a wildfire to a glimpse of infinity in the night sky, Esalen honors the myriad ways that nature is our source and greatest teacher. Water flows at our heart, where three sources converge in a trinity of creation, renewal, and destruction.
Heated by the molten core of the earth and laden with minerals, the hot springs flow at a rate of 80 gallons per minute and emerge at a temperature of 119 degrees Fahrenheit.
Esalen hovers at the edge of the Pacific. There is nothing like a clear view of the ocean to center ourselves in the unity of all things.
Note: due to dangerous ocean conditions and currents, direct access to the ocean from Esalen is prohibited.
