Credit: ESPA

Our expert design and consultancy team have collaborated closely with Valamar to craft a distinctive wellness destination that captures the spirit of Mediterranean living, seamlessly integrated with ESPA’s globally recognised expertise
– Daniel Golby, MD, ESPA

Valamar Riviera, a Croatian tourism company and hotel operator, will open its Pical Resort with Croatia’s first ESPA spa in March 2026.

Valamar, which operates 36 hotels and resorts, plus 15 camping properties, has invested €200 million (US$221.3 million, £169.7 million) in the 514-key property in Poreč, Istria, representing the company’s largest investment to date.

The accommodation is split into three different options: the Pical Hotel, the luxury all-inclusive Pical Family Hotel, the exclusive Pical Suites and a Pical Beach House.

Valamar is positioning the resort as a multigenerational, five-star, year-round wellness destination.

ESPA Spa

The new ESPA-branded spa, which measures, 1,300sq m, has been created by ESPA’s design consultancy. The concept is inspired by the 123km Parenzana Trail – a historic rail route that once connected Croatia, Slovenia and Italy that is now used for walking and biking.

The wellness centre merge natural healing traditions with modern therapies with themed relaxation zones and sensory rituals that echo the natural environment.

The facility will have five single treatment rooms, one of which will have a head spa treatment bed. There will also be a private spa suite designed for couples or families with its own treatment room, steamroom, hot tub, rasul and relaxation room.

In the main thermal area of the spa there will be a variety of themed saunas, such as salt, Mediterranean, Finnish, herbal and a milder child-friendly family sauna. There will also be two steambaths.

Outdoors, an Aufguss event sauna will host expert-led rituals.

The spa will have extensive indoor and terraced relaxation lounge space, in addition to four main relaxation zones, including:

• A lavender and rosemary-scented Herbal Lounge that will have Istrian music playing in the background

• An Aqua Sensory Room for meditation, featuring mint and fennel aromas as well as sounds made by water.• A Quiet Room with black-out curtains and dimmed lighting for a noise-free experience

• A Community Zone, which is a social space.

There will also be an Alchemy Bar for creating custom scrubs.

Throughout the spa there are sunbeds and loungers for up to 58 people.

Daniel Golby, MD, ESPA, told Spa Business: “We are delighted to announce the upcoming opening of ESPA’s first branded spa in Croatia, located at the prestigious Valamar Pical Resort. Our expert design and consultancy team have collaborated closely with Valamar to craft a distinctive wellness destination that captures the spirit of Mediterranean living, seamlessly integrated with ESPA’s globally recognised expertise.

“This partnership is a natural alignment, founded on shared values and a joint commitment to enhancing the guest experience,” continued Golby. “Together with Valamar, we are introducing an innovative wellness concept that celebrates the Mediterranean way of life – authentic, restorative and effortlessly elegant.

“We look forward to welcoming guests to an immersive spa experience designed to rejuvenate both body and mind – a true sanctuary of relaxation and wellbeing.”

Treatments

ESPA’s signature treatments will be tailored to the needs of individuals, couples, families and teens, with treatment menus tailored for each of these groups. In Q3 of each year there will be options for therapies in the spa garden.

The LYMA by ESPA facial will be on offer at the spa, which a spokesperson for the skincare brand told Spa Business will elevate the property’s facial therapy offering. The LYMA Laser is a cold laser device that uses low-level light to tighten skin and reduce pigmentation.

A new brand partner is yet to be announced for hair and scalp health treatments using the head spa equipment.

A dedicated wellness concierge will be on offer, promoting and curating experiences for guests, including detox, sleep or recovery programmes. Other services include expert nutrition advice, fitness coaching, kinesiology and AI-driven Technogym circuit training.

A wellness therapist will also guide guests through a forest bathing experience, which is a wellness walk that brings awareness to sensory stimuli in order to calm the mind and deepen connection to nature.

“With ESPA at Pical, we are setting a new standard for wellness travel on the Adriatic,” said Adriana Barafa Kruhonja, wellbeing, health and spa director at Pical Resort. “This partnership blends world-class expertise with local authenticity, delivering personalised spa journeys rooted in the spirit of Istria.”

The spa will begin to offer retreats in 2027.

Other offerings

The property has access to three beaches, 11 indoor and outdoor pools and a wide range of sporting activities. These include 15 tennis courts, beach volleyball, water sports, a bike centre and direct access to the green space of the Parenzana Trail.

Guests will have access to five signature restaurants, including Michelin-starred dining experiences led by chefs from Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. Detox and wellness menus will be available, curated with anti-inflammatory ingredients. There will also be 10 bars on the property.

A Dine Around programme will allow guests staying at the resort on half-board and all-inclusive packages to sample meals at up to 11 restaurants in the Parenzana region.

There will also be a 3,000sq m family-friendly entertainment zone.

Sustainability

The resort will reflect Valamar’s commitment to sustainable tourism, with 100 per cent of its electricity sourced from renewables.

The property will incorporate eco-conscious design features, such as solar energy generation, green roofs and facades, LED lighting and food waste bio-composting.