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Esalen Institute

3.8 (303 reviews)
Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

By appointment only

Updated 2 months ago

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Angel wings? Phoenix?
Haiyang H.

Still one of my favorite retreats. I took a year and a half off from Esalen to focus another program. Now that is done. I was so happy to be back and tried a new workshop. I stayed at passage this time. It is at Murphy house right under the sea. View is still great. I was finally able to release what was stuck and got a lot of much needed rest. People here are always great. They have a new crew of folks here (didn't see many familiar faces). Food was awesome. View and the hot spring continues to be amazing. This is the place I came to be recentered. Thank you. Somehow I lost the older photos to the review after the update is posted. They are kept at the photo section at esalen here on Yelp. I enjoyed all their premium Queen suites so far with just best views. My fav is Fritz guest house, the sea unit at Murphy house. Cypress is also good. The passage at Murphy house was good too. I tried the standard king room before at Maslow it was okay but the view was a bit far from the ocean.

Sunset from lodge deck
Diana P.

I don't understand some of the negative reviews--although they seem to be from late 2024 so perhaps last year was not a good one. And reviews shouldn't compare the 1990's to today!! My daughter and I were staying there as a mother-daughter retreat focusing on "Nourish", a yoga workshop for the entire weekend. Esalen was quite welcoming, especially with the winning sense of humor from Weston at the Front Desk. The grounds at night are extremely dark after leaving the central Lodge, with a 15-minute walk in almost total darkness. A small keychain light is provided but was inadequate for my "senior citizen" eyes. Winston graciously drove us to our room in a golf cart. We never felt we had imposed upon him. The photos really do not do justice to this beautiful, serene, and elegant space with an understated Zen atmosphere ! Excellent service, stunningly beautiful location, gardens (including a Buddha garden), gourmet meals and well-designed rooms. Definitely will be back to Esalen and its Zen serenity!

Lots of work done during my 23 hours painting over 4 days!

5 stars! I had the best time here over 4 days! I was doing the self guided weekend and I spent most of my time at the art barn! What a magical place, I was painting morning to afternoon and into the night, such a stress relief to just paint and not worry about anything or get texts or phone calls or worry about doing dishes after eating , you can really just paint and enjoy the process with the waves in the background. a lot of people came into to paint, work with clay, or party with the staff who like to hang out on the second floor at night and enjoy music and they liked my ukulele set too! lol ...I stayed in the sleeping bag room overlooking the ocean, and must have had good karma this trip because I had the room to myself one night! Most economical room turned out to be the most luxurious for one person! So epic, I was smiling during my lucid dreams that night it was so nice have that room to myself! What about the buffet? Well they had all sorts of things and variety that was impressive, you could always find something you liked, and I'm just talking about the coffee, tea and beverage buffet! I easily drank $100 of coffee over my stay. The main buffet was spectacular, I often overheard other guest commenting on what the really enjoyed like the local fish chowder, Indian food theme dinner, perfectly not over cooked eggs and so many vegan delights from salad bar buffet, sautéed veggies from the garden and always a healthy dessert or fruits! what's not to like? Besides the restaurant at city of 10,000 buddhas this is my favorite place to eat In Californi...The cooks and staff were always smiling and you could tell they were happy, what an enjoyable place to work and serve others. After the buffet you can roll down to the cliff side hotsprings, after changing and shower I found a big giant tub and filled it with hot water and once you slip into the warm water time stands still and maybe a shooting star will make all those who are quiet let out a oooh or ahh and you know your all connected.... I dont understand all the negative reviews, I didn't see anyone complaining. They were having a Board meeting that day and one lady who as board member struck up a conversation with me when I was walking to the art barn. maybe we only talked for a minute but she was so nice and interesting like meeting someone from a Rumi poem, these leaders are doing great job. walking to the art barn is meditation in its own way, they say the obstacle is the path, and on this path twice I was offered a ride on a golf cart! Couldn't pass that up, I think this guy was also a board member too , he was also dressed too nice for driving around like that all day haha, he mentioned they were having special Esalen tribe ceremony, renewal and celebration getting their ancestral land back, something important enough they had a film crew documenting the ceremony happening in the afternoon next to the art barn! so in honor of this sacred day I decided to paint a Esalen cost home land painting in black and white with little pops of color on the waves and flowers symbolic of the renewal and restoration of the local tribes land coming back to life, back to the origins, where it always has been... esalen is what you make of it, if you stop complaining about things like cold coffee because your late to breakfast you can hear the staff playing flutes, chanting with drums and playing music all over the property. Very inspiring on many levels and I didn't even have take any workshop or yoga class! Lots of reviews talking about the past but right now is the best time to visit, didn't hurt it was 70 degrees and perfect weather for November! I will be back to paint sooner than later, thank you everyone for the great memories.

Sonia N.

My week at Esalen was blissful. I was looking for a retreat for some healing and restoration, and that's what I got here at Esalen. Firstly, the grounds are absolutely magical. The drive down from the Bay Area is stunning, and the view from the main center is gorgeous, with rocky cliffs going down to the beach (ohh the sunsets!). I signed up for a workshop, which I quickly realized wasn't the right fit for me. It didn't matter, there were many self-guided classes I could take throughout the week. I spent my time with yoga, mediation, qi gong, dance, and arts. Of course, I also partook in the hot tubs and got a legendary massage (their own proprietary method). It was nothing less than transformative. I would be remiss to not mention the food. Every single meal was delicious. There were plentiful vegetarian/vegan and gluten free options. Much of the food comes from their own garden, and the freshness is obvious. If you're looking to have a spiritual experience or simply spend some time in nature, this is the place for you.

Mackenzi L.

Where to even begin. I had some doubts about coming here, but now all I can think about is when I can come back. The drive in was beautiful. We stopped at Nepenthe for lunch, highly recommend. The guard at the gate was helpful, the gals at the front desk were friendly, the map and info to get to our room was very straight forward. The grounds are breath taking. We enjoyed every meal and were delighted at the options, and the variability of the food. All the staff we interacted with were lovely, but JJ is really a stand out. I wish I could thank him again. We enjoyed the hot springs, our room was comfortable and clean, the guided activities were enriching, and the openness of the facilities was very appreciated. What a wonderful retreat, thank you all so much.

Kwiri Y.

Absolutely stunning and historical organization. Highly recommended to anyone who's open to exploring spiritual growth and self-healing. Amazing place to kickoff the new year. Happy 2023!

Entrance sign
John L.

This is not an ashram, so don't expect a vigorous program schedule. It's a institute that takes from many different disciplines. They do offer workshops but also offer self guided experiences. I did a self guided experience. I enjoyed it immensely. The food is delicious (farm to table), the housing is great. They are known for their natural hot springs, This is absolutely an amazing experience! (Warning that it's clothing optional in the baths/pool but most will be nude). They also offer massages which was simply amazing. I definitely will be coming back here yearly.

Garden area

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Ask the Community - Esalen Institute

Can we dine there if we are not using the facilities?

No. Only workshop/retreat guests dine there.

Does a massage include usage of baths?

Yes, it does!

Are towels provided for the midnight public night bathing?

Greetings Eddie H, thank you for the question! We ask that night bathers bring their own towels.

Has the food improved since Dec of 2016? A friend of mine said it was abysmal. Not looking for fancy- just healthy vegan options

Hi, I was just there in December of 2016 & the food has definitely gone down hill, since their renovation. They now have 3 areas to get food: an unimpressive salad bar, a main area that usually has a line & an area near their new bar where they… Read more

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Review Highlights - Esalen Institute

I chose a private, basic room but had a wonderful view of the ocean, it was definitely worth the splurge.

Mentioned in 71 reviews

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Monterey Peninsula College - Library

Monterey Peninsula College

3.6(36 reviews)
35.0 mi

Outstanding junior community college, I highly recommend for getting basic required courses…read morecompleted in relatively small class sizes, for cheap to no cost. They even have high school programs to earn college credits. I took extra night summer classes to complete my bachelors degree, decades ago. I took real estate classes on line and on campus to get my real estate license. Trade school classes are excellent for police, fire, nursing, medical/dental assistance, mechanics, etcetera. Many seniors take cooking, gardening, photography, exercise, art, dance, theater and other programs. Fabulous to stay active and exercise/move! Public schools are so affordable, compared to say, Williams at $70,000 plus per year! Really, if you have a child interested in higher education: perhaps they should aim for a 4.0 grade point average at a junior college, then get a scholarship at a state university for the last two years. I moved to California, after graduating one year early (at 17) with honors, from a public high school. Went to UCLA, at 17 with the hill side strangler roaming the neighborhood. Classes were 500 plus students in auditorium halls, for the basic mandatory courses. Ridiculous!!! Interesting adventure for a country girl from Massachusetts, but I do not recommend. I finally graduated UCSC, correct a banana slug: after Wheaton College, a year in Osaka Japan and other experiences. However, I always treasured the value of the community colleges, I attended. Cabrillo and MPC primarily, but the state law school I graduated from, was also excellent and cost effective (MCL). Enjoy your life and aim for less debt.

20yrs ago it was a good college. This month, the Admissions & Records Dept has caused me to become…read morehomeless and jobless. How? On the 6th of Jan 2026, I ordered transcripts to be sent to the board of nursing in Oregon for a job I had gotten. Today is Feb 1st and they have not sent it. 2 weeks ago I ordered a 2nd set of transcripts, they have REFUSED TO RELEASE MY TRANSCRIPTS per National Student Clearing House who they are contracted with. I have called about a dozen times, they never answer and they have never returned my call. Because of them basically stealing my money not once, but twice, I gave up my home in CA and moved to Oregon to start a job but could not because of the sole reason of them stealing my money and holding my transcripts from Natl Student Clearing House. I have been sleeping as a nurse, in truck stops because I have not been able to start any job in Oregon where I moved to because the Oregon Board need them to send what I paid for twice already. They are a bunch of morons there to hear me tell them my dire state over and over again in all the messages and still hold unto my transcripts plus ghost me. I will be looking to file a lawsuit on this dispicable Admissions & Records dept at Monterey Peninsula College. 0/5 stars for you lack of customer service.

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Monterey Peninsula College - Summer reading list

Summer reading list

Monterey Peninsula College
Monterey Peninsula College - Campus

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Campus

The Spa Alila - Couples Massage

The Spa Alila

3.8(10 reviews)
10.1 mi
$$$

I want to share that my experience with the spa supervisor, Katy Hughes, was not at all what one…read morewould expect from a property of this caliber. I booked a day visit through ResortPass and, upon asking about spa services, was told, quite rudely, that guests paying $3,000 a night take priority. I understand policies and limitations, but there is a professional and respectful way to communicate them. The way this was presented felt dismissive and unnecessary. Initially, I gave her poor communication and lack of customer service the benefit of the doubt as a one-off. For context, I have many years of experience in healthcare and customer service, including managing difficult situations and people, so I am very aware of what professional communication looks like. Unfortunately, after interacting with her in person, her behavior continued to feel off-putting and difficult to understand. After enjoying the our spa services that were luckily available, outdoor sauna and pool, I returned to use the shower facilities that were mentioned as available. There were towels clearly accessible to my right as I entered, and I took one to use. Moments later, Katy approached me, after I had already used the towel, and said those were reserved for overnight guests. I explained that I had already used it, yet she still took it from me to check whether it had been used. The entire interaction felt uncomfortable and unnecessary. I'm not sure what her issue was, but the way I was treated made me feel unwelcome. Overall, this experience significantly impacted my perception of Alila Ventana. I was genuinely considering staying at the resort in the future, but this interaction made me want to avoid the property altogether. I hope the resort reevaluates how guest services are handled, especially in roles that are so customer-facing. At this level, the service should reflect the luxury being advertised.

This time came for a facial and it did not disappoint. All the other things I mentioned last time…read morestill hold true (The spa reception is small and has a small seating area with coffee table books of the surrounding area (eg: carmel, big sur, etc). There's tea, water, some light snacks like trail mix and dried fruit. There is a sauna, though it's outside on the deck / veranda area which overlooks the incredible big sur scenery and ventana pool. You are advised to come in the hotel room robe so there's no changing room in the spa area itself.) Jody gave the best 80 minute facial I've ever had (and I've had many!). The room is situated on the second floor and faces the forest, ocean and as I was there at 3:15pm, a gorgeous afternoon view. Jody provided just the right amount of engagement, sharing a little about the product, asked whether I wanted extractions, etc but mostly let the products and hands do the work. It was serene. I fell dozed off a few times, it was utter relaxation. I left with my skin glowing and plump (full of hydration). It's pricey, but so worth it as we all need to treat ourselves once in a while!

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The Spa Alila - The soaking tub and massage tables overlooking the forest.

The soaking tub and massage tables overlooking the forest.

The Spa Alila - The waiting area

The waiting area

The Spa Alila

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Esalen Institute - adultedu - Updated May 2026

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