Liquid Cleanse and Detox Retreat at We Care Spa, Desert Hot Springs

We Care Spa sits on 20 acres in Desert Hot Springs, California, about a 20-minute drive from Palm Springs. The property is a dedicated wellness centre with guest accommodation, so you sleep on site for the length of your programme. Rooms are not described in detail on the page, but the packages are priced as stays — 7 nights for The Restoration Package, 5 nights for The Renewal Package and 2 nights for The Revival Package — and all of them include the liquid nutrition programme, colonics, digestive release massages, daily classes, healing installations, infrared saunas and organic amenities.

The core of the week is the liquid cleanse: 14 different juices, soups, teas and shakes, served instead of meals. Alongside that you get a set number of colon hydrotherapy sessions — six on the seven-night package, four on the five-night, two on the two-night — each lasting 40 minutes. Digestive release massages are included too: two on the longer packages, two on the five-night. Check-in days are Sunday and Friday, and the programme ends with a salad on check-out day.

Classes are à la carte rather than compulsory. The schedule includes yoga, water aerobics, breathwork and meditation workshops, and you can add them around your treatments. The property facilities are open to guests throughout: resort pools, jacuzzis, a fitness centre, steam room, sauna, yoga shala and a labyrinth. Infrared saunas and what the spa calls healing installations are part of the programme.

The spa was founded by Susana Belen, a former yoga teacher, together with her daughter Susan. Susana has been running the place for over four decades. The page lists a string of well-known guests — Matt Bomer, Lisa Rinna, Josh Radnor, Molly Sims, Liv Tyler — who describe coming back year after year for weight loss, mental clarity and energy. Dr Michael Sinel, an MD, says he has been sending patients there for years.

The setting is desert: hot, dry and quiet, with mountain views and warm evenings. It is not a hiking or fitness retreat — the movement on offer is gentle and the focus is on rest, colonics and liquid nutrition. If you want hard training, this is the wrong place. If you want a week off food in a warm climate with medical-style detox treatments and a pool to lie beside, it is one of the longest-running options in California.

What's included

- Accommodation for the length of your package (7, 5 or 2 nights) - Liquid nutrition programme: 14 juices, soups, teas and shakes - Colon hydrotherapy sessions (6 on 7-night, 4 on 5-night, 2 on 2-night) - Digestive release massages (2 on 7-night and 5-night packages) - Daily classes (yoga, water aerobics, breathwork, meditation) - Healing installations - Infrared saunas - Organic amenities - Check-out salad - Unlimited access to pools, jacuzzis, fitness centre, steam room, sauna, yoga shala and labyrinth

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Additional à la carte classes beyond those included - Additional spa treatments - Transport to and from the spa (not stated as included)