El Morocco Inn & Spa

What to expect

El Morocco Inn & Spa is one of the small boutique spa hotels that line the residential streets of Desert Hot Springs, the town on the north side of the Coachella Valley that sits over a large hot mineral aquifer. This one leans hard into a Moroccan theme. Owners Bruce Abney and John Aguilar bought the property in 2001 and rebuilt it around architectural pieces and artwork collected on trips to Morocco, with patterned fabric canopies hanging from the rafters. According to Palm Springs Life, the place started life in the late 1950s as a roadside motel called the Caravan Spa-tel and now has about a dozen rooms.

The soaking setup is compact. There is a hot mineral swimming pool and, right beside it, a large covered Jacuzzi-style spa. Both are fed by the inn’s own well, which Palm Springs Life says can pump 104°F40°C mineral water. The roof over the spa matters in this climate: you can sit in hot water at noon without baking your head. Around the pools you will find two far-infrared dry saunas, fire hearths, an outdoor shower and a garden with hammocks, a giant chess board, bocce and croquet.

Because the inn is small and adults only, it tends to feel quiet. Do not expect lap lanes, waterslides or a big resort pool deck. Expect a courtyard pool, a hot tub under a roof and a handful of other guests.

The pools

• Mineral swimming pool: Open-air and filled with the same well water as the spa. It runs cooler than the spa and is the place to float between hot soaks.
• Covered mineral spa: The hot one. A large Jacuzzi-style tub under a roof, next to the swimming pool.
• Saunas: Two far-infrared dry saunas are included with a day pass.

The inn does not post daily temperatures. If you are sensitive to heat, ask at check-in how warm the spa is running that day.

Getting there

Desert Hot Springs is on the north side of Interstate 10, across the freeway from Palm Springs. From I-10, take the Palm Drive exit and head north into town. The inn is at 66810 Fourth Street, a short distance east of Palm Drive in the grid of numbered streets north of Pierson Boulevard. The streets are paved and residential, and rooms come with free parking on site.

The nearest airport is Palm Springs International. Plan on a car or a rideshare from the airport.

When to go

The Coachella Valley is a winter and spring destination. From October to April, days are usually warm and nights are cool, which is ideal for alternating between the hot spa and the cooler pool. Weekends in that season are the busiest time for Desert Hot Springs spa hotels, so book day passes and treatments in advance.

Summer is very hot in the desert. The covered spa helps, but many people find that a short morning session is all they want in July and August. The upside is that summer is quieter.

Prices and booking

Day pass. The day spa page lists day passes at $50 per person, with access from 9am to 4pm. The inn’s FAQ page still quotes $60 for the day pass, so confirm the current price when you book. A day pass is waived if you book a treatment of 1 hour or more, such as a massage, facial or body treatment. Day passes need a reservation, made by phone or online.

What is included: use of the mineral pool and covered spa, two far-infrared saunas, a locker, a pool towel and a robe, plus the town’s well-known local drinking water. Bring a swimsuit and sandals.

Spa packages. The inn lists packages that combine several treatments, priced from $140 for a 1-hour head and foot treatment up to $390 for the 2.5-hour Desert Mirage package. Many treatments use traditional Moroccan clay. Request treatment bookings ahead, as the online form is only a request and staff phone you to confirm.

Overnight stays. Rooms are all California King, and overnight guests get 24-hour pool and spa access, a continental breakfast, Wi-Fi and free parking. The room list includes an ADA room. Check-in is 3pm, and the inn does not allow early arrival to use the pools before your room is ready.

House rules worth knowing:

• Every guest must be 21 or older, including day guests.
• Rooms take a maximum of two adults, and there are no adjoining rooms.
• Clothing is required in all public areas. It is not a clothing-optional inn.
• No pets.

Where to stay nearby

Staying at El Morocco itself gets you round-the-clock access to the pools, which is the main advantage over a day pass. If it is full, Desert Hot Springs has many other small spa hotels with their own mineral pools within a few minutes’ drive, and several of them sell day passes too. Palm Springs, across I-10, has the widest range of hotels and restaurants in the valley. For camping, Joshua Tree National Park’s campgrounds are the nearest public options, reached via Highway 62 north of Desert Hot Springs.

Safety notes

• Heat: Hot water plus desert air is a fast route to dehydration. Drink water between soaks, keep spa sessions short and get out if you feel dizzy.
• Saunas: Do not go straight from a long hot soak into the sauna. Cool off in the pool first.
• Health conditions: If you are pregnant or have heart or blood pressure concerns, check with a doctor before using hot pools and saunas.
• Footing: Pool decks get slippery. The inn asks guests to bring sandals for a reason.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, a hand-built adobe home on the north side of town, is a short drive away. Joshua Tree National Park’s west entrance is reachable via Highway 62 and makes an easy day trip from Desert Hot Springs, with a soak to finish the day.