My Experience Glamping at Ventana Big Sur, California
/If the scene pictured here is the Big Sur experience you are looking for, then you are in the right place. This article describes the amenities provided specifically for the redwood glamping experience at Ventana Big Sur, and details how to book your stay.
I clarify because “Ventana” can refer to a few things in Big Sur: the resort, the campground, the glamping tents, and the general area known as “the Ventana Wilderness”, to name a few. If you are not yet familiar with the area, it can be confusing to get a sense of what is what. Here are a few clarifications to hopefully help you plan your visit:
Ventana Big Sur Resort A luxury hotel with a variety of accommodations including villas, suites, and a few detached houses, spaced across the 160-acre property. The grounds include a spa, infinity-edge pool, and dining options, and some of the accommodations offer coastal views of the sea. Though the resort is surrounded by trees and nature, the property is near some open meadow space which is not quite as densely forested as the campground in the valley below.
Ventana Campground Located just down the hill from the resort, the campground is a separate, designated area in a redwood valley with dozens of traditional campsites (that require you to bring your own tent, bedding, and supplies, but have access to a bathhouse, picnic tables, and fire rings). You must drive past the traditional campsites before you arrive to the tented cabin “glampsites”, which are technically also located within Ventana Campground.
Ventana Glamping Located on the Ventana Campground, the “glampsites” are managed by the resort, and offer more privacy and luxury than the traditional campsites. Guests of the glamping tents can also access a nicer bathhouse. The glampsites can be reserved exclusively through the resort’s online booking system or reservation hotline.
Ventana Wilderness The Ventana Wilderness is a federally designated area of nearly 400 square miles within the Los Padres National Forest. Knowing how large this area really is will give you a sense of how you should plan your activities and hiking ahead of time, and plot your trailhead points on your map while you have reception or wifi, which is not always readily available as you drive through the Big Sur area. (Note, there is actually great wifi at the Ventana Glampsites). In other words, avoid making the same mistake we did in thinking that a “Ventana Wilderness trail” would be close to our location in the campground, because that’s not always the case.
About the Ventana Glampsites
The Glamping Tent Cabins at Ventana Big Sur really fit the definition and are exactly that: glamorous camping. The plush bed is ultra-comfortable and the quality of the bedding and towels is exact to what you would find in the neighboring resort. There are some drawers for storage, lamps for adequate lighting, and electrical outlets on both sides of the bed. The inside of the tent also features a mesh lining, so you could roll open the outside windows and let the breeze in while keeping bugs out.
Just outside on the tent cabin’s deck is a sink with hot and cold potable water, a mirror, an easy-to-turn-on propane fire pit, a wood-burning fire ring, lounge chairs, and a picnic table.
Many of the tents are built alongside and within earshot of the stream, with the sound of running water adding to the peaceful ambiance of the redwood forest.
Ventana Glamping Amenities
Our tent was outfitted with a fire extinguisher, a space heater, an extra warm blanket, and two LED hand-held lanterns that were perfect for nighttime walks to the bath house. I happened to have great cell service (Verizon) while on the campground, and Ventana provides free wifi to glampsite guests. I didn’t see that there was a way to lock the tent when you are away, so any valuables would be best kept with you or in the car. On the “glampground” is the Sur Stream, an Airstream trailer where you can purchase snacks, drinks, firewood, or s’mores supplies from an attendant. Because of social distancing guidelines, we were advised that Ventana Glamping guests do not currently have access to the resort amenities that include the pool, gym, or dining options. Because these guidelines may change at any time, it is best to check directly with the hotel if resort access is or isn’t available during your stay.
The Bath House
Guests of Ventana Glamping can access the luxe and tastefully designed bath house, with chic lighting, wood paneling, and white subway tiles throughout. More importantly, the bathhouse is frequently cleaned and sanitized in accordance with enhanced CDC guidelines. During my stay, I was especially impressed by a well-placed tissue dispenser and wastebasket at the key-card entrance of the bathhouse, so guests can conveniently use a tissue to open the door without touching it directly.
Parking & Roads
Though they aren’t paved, the dirt roads within the campground are well maintained and we were able to drive through to our tent in a sports car. All-wheel drive is not necessary, but if the weather had been worse or if rain is expected, it would definitely be safer and I would recommend driving an SUV or an AWD car. Each glampsite has a nearby designated parking spot within 25-feet or less, proving to be very convenient and accessible.
How to book your Glamping Tent
Reservations for glamping at Ventana must be made through the resort using either their online booking platform, or calling them directly at 844-207-8399. From the Ventana Big Sur website, click “Book”, and be sure to toggle to “Glamping” before choosing your desired dates. Because the glampsites tend to sell out, it’s best to plan a few weeks or months in advance. Because I was itching to get away after several months of not traveling during the lockdown, I checked the availability calendar daily and happened to luck out after another guest must have made a cancelation. However, if you would like to save yourself time, the easiest way to check for availability is to call directly and ask for the next opening for the glamping tents.
Because the campground is located in a densely-forested valley, it tends to stay darker late into the morning, and get darker earlier in the evening. But when the light does shine through, it is pure magic.
How long should you stay at Ventana Glamping?
Our stay was only two nights, which was a nice amount of time to get a sense of the area with our glampsite as home base. I personally don’t have much experience camping or backpacking, but the glampsite was so comfortable that I could have easily spent up to a full week there.
How to get to Ventana Big Sur
The best and safest way to explore Big Sur is in your own car. It’s about three hours south of San Francisco, or 5 ½ hours north of Los Angeles. We visited Big Sur from San Diego, and on our way there and back we booked a hotel along the highway in Carpinteria to break up the long drive. If you are visiting from the south, I would definitely recommend blocking off a morning of your trip to continue the drive up north to Monterey and Pebble Beach. In my opinion, this section of coast might be the most beautiful in all of California.
Is Ventana Glamping worth it?
Short answer: YES! Glamping at Ventana was an unforgettable experience, and when researching other options, it really is the best choice for affordable luxury in Big Sur. The glamping tents are currently (July 2020) offered at $240/night, which compared to most resorts in the area at $1100/night, I would say $240 is a steal. Other nearby cabins average around $500/night, whereas the few local hotels and lodges average about $250/night. The traditional campsites at Ventana average $80/night, but require that you bring your own tent, bedding, and supplies. If you are looking to experience the best that Ventana Big Sur has to offer, I suggest booking two nights in a glampsite and splurging on one night in the resort.
We had a wonderful, safe, socially-distant stay at Ventana Glamping, and look forward to returning again soon.
