The pool
A turquoise saltwater pool in the high Sonoran desert north of Tucson, framed by saguaro and the Tortolita Mountains.
The Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain sits at the foot of the Tortolitas, on a ridge of high Sonoran desert thick with saguaro and palo verde. The main pool is shaped like an irregular turquoise pebble, surrounded by sandstone-coloured stone and looking straight out at the rocky peaks.
The water is mineral-rich and gently salted, a kindness against the dry desert air. Come in the cooler months — November through March — when the days are warm, the nights are crisp, and the desert is in full bloom.
