Don Carlos Marbella reopened with 284 rooms and suites, 24 private Residences and more than 20,000 square metres of tropical gardens falling away towards one of the finest beaches on the Costa del Sol. The original tower, raised in 1969 by Conrad Hilton as the Marbella Hilton, still marks the skyline. What sits beneath the canopy of pines and palms has changed considerably.

Don Carlos Spa occupies 1,600 square metres of the property, open daily it functions as the anchor for a wider wellness offering that now reaches across the gardens. Treatment rooms, a thermal circuit, two gyms, a movement studio and a kitchen dedicated to lighter cooking all pull in the same direction.

The weekend addition is Oasis Brunch, served at Oasis Kitchen beside the spa every Saturday and Sunday. Together the two make a strong case for a stay built around rest rather than one that merely allows for it.

The water circuit

The water circuit sits at the heart of the spa, with, several pools, sauna, a tepidarium and a series of relaxation areas run through the 1,600-square-metre space, finished in natural stone and timber and lit throughout by daylight drawn from the outside gardens. Ten treatment cabins branch from the main area, where guests can experience the most luxurious range of massages, facials and regenerative treatments.

The circuit itself opens in the vitality pool, where hydrotherapy jets work the shoulders and heated water beds hold the body at 32 to 34 degrees. Hot and cold plunge pools follow, one at 38 to 40 degrees and the other at 12 to 14, then an aroma cabin, a steam bath and a dry sauna.

Guests receive one complimentary spa entry per person per stay, with additional entries available and access included with the purchase of any treatment. The circuit also opens to visitors staying elsewhere, booked as a 90-minute session.

Signature rituals

One of the signature treatments to book has to be the Alma de Marbella, described as a true glow experience. It begins with a luxurious full body massage using essential oils, with citrus and marine aromas drifting through the cabin. The treatment finishes with an Instant Glow facial, the spa’s own finishing touch, leaving skin hydrated and noticeably brighter with the help of Natura Bissé products. It is designed as a tribute to the slower rhythm of the Costa del Sol, and it delivers.

The Don Carlos Charm Ritual is the more elaborate of the two. A full body exfoliation using fine crystals and fresh petals opens it, followed by an enveloping massage combining the calming properties of orange blossom with gently heated stones. The other two signatures include the Sublime Essence Ritual, drawing on Natura Bissé’s Diamond Extreme and Diamond Life Infusion across face and body, and the Body Detox Experience Ritual from Biologique Recherche, which works marine minerals and draining algae into the skin after exfoliation.

Technique and technology

Four product houses form the foundations of the treatment list: Natura Bissé, Biologique Recherche, Oribe and Esthederm. Each is a specialist in its own right, chosen for the work it does best.

Biologique Recherche builds its formulations around the finest actives at the highest concentrations the skin can take, with no fragrance, artificial colourants or added preservatives. Its MC 110 facial combines collagen, hyaluronic acid and essential lipids to smooth lines, firm the tissue and sharpen the contours in a single sitting.

Natura Bissé covers the luxury skincare, pairing advanced technology with a sensorial finish and measuring itself on visible results. Its 3D Collagen Shock works three types of collagen through every layer of the skin, while Inhibit Zero Gravity uses neuro-relaxing actives to firm and redraw the contours without being invasive.

There also is an impressive lineup of equiptment, including Indiba radiofrequency, LPG vacuum therapy and pressotherapy allow therapists to build sessions around a specific outcome such as circulation, muscle recovery or skin condition, and the Endermolift facial reactivates collagen and elastin production at depth in 25 minutes. On the massage side, Golden South Essence is the house relaxing treatment, alongside Thai, sports, hot stones, wood therapy and an aquamassage adjustable for intensity, with a personalised option covering decontracting and prenatal work.

Stretch and strength

Inside the hotel, the gym holds a Pilates Reformer studio and current-generation Technogym equipment. Over at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center, an indoor and outdoor gym opens directly onto the seven clay courts, the two padel courts and the sea beyond, with Break Point on hand afterwards for juices, smoothies and light plates.

As part of the Don Carlos Wellness programme, Yoga, Pilates, barre, sound healing and meditation are scheduled through the week, and a Flow Movement session blends yoga, Pilates flow, stretching and meditation into a single practice held beside the Mediterranean. Longer wellness retreats extend the same programme across several days.

Brunch at Oasis

Oasis Kitchen sits next to the spa, making it the perfect spot to refuel and re-energise. Seasonal fruit, vegetables, grains, seeds and superfoods are the main ingredients throughout the regular a-la cate menu, alongside cold-pressed juices and dishes including the Açaí Bowl, the Blue Bowl with blue spirulina and coconut milk, avocado toast with poached egg, and a red quinoa salad with yuzu-marinated jackfruit and pomegranate.

Oasis Brunch runs every Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 1pm on the terrace. Dishes are chosen from the menu and cooked to order, served with a fresh juice and a hot drink.

Access and membership

A membership programme covers guests and residents of the wider Marbella area, offering preferential access to the spa, tailored treatment planning and a set of additional benefits. For a property owned by Selenta Group, part of Brookfield Asset Management since October 2021, the move opens the spa to a local clientele year-round rather than only in season.

The day experiences work similarly. Spa and Breakfast, Spa Day and Water Circuit, Spa and Massage, a gym day pass and single yoga, Reformer Pilates or Flow Movement sessions can all be booked without a room key, which is a useful thing to know for anyone passing through Marbella with a free morning.