Women's Yoga & Hiking Escape in Wild Patagonia, Argentina

Mornings start with yoga, usually led by Jess, in a mountain yurt or outdoors depending on the day. The styles shift: restorative on arrival night, hip-opening and breathwork mid-week, a "Connect to Your Roots" workshop on the Thursday, and meditation on the last two mornings. Nothing is compulsory and the classes are pitched so that people who don't normally do yoga still enjoy them — one past guest wrote that she wasn't "a big yoga person" but loved the classes anyway.

The hiking is the backbone of the week. Day two is a day trip to Epuyen for a longer walk and a picnic. Day four is the big one: a short drive up to Cerro Piltriquitrón and a hike to El Refugio, where you can see the Andes stretching all the way into Chile. If that sounds like too much, you can skip it and spend the day in town or at Lago Puelo instead — the retreat explicitly allows for that. Guides Jenny and Ale, who live in the area, take you to spots that don't show up on Google Maps.

Food is a genuine part of the trip rather than an afterthought. Most dinners are traditional Argentine, cooked over fire where possible, with local beer and wine and a charcuterie plate before dinner. Saturday includes a visit to an organic farm run by Cycles of the Moon, where they farm by the lunar cycles, ending with a full gaucho asado. You'll also be given your own mate gourd and taught how to drink it properly.

What separates this from a standard Patagonia hiking tour is the ritual side. There's a welcome ceremony on night one, a fascial release and guided journey workshop, an optional cold plunge in the Rio Azul, and a closing ceremony on the final evening. Past guests have called the release ceremony a highlight. There's also a pre-trip group call before you fly and an integration call after you're home.

Practically: you meet in Bariloche at 3pm on day one and get driven back on day seven. All transport once the retreat starts, park entrance fees, all activities, and three meals a day from Tuesday dinner to Monday breakfast are covered. Flights to Buenos Aires and Bariloche, extra nights, shopping and tips are not. Jess strongly recommends arriving a day or two early to adjust, and can book your extra Buenos Aires or Bariloche logistics for an additional fee.

What's included

- 6 nights, 7 days of accommodation at El Santuario Patagonia (shared or private tiny homes) - 3 meals a day and snacks from dinner on Tuesday 18 March to breakfast on Monday 24 March - Beer and wine with most dinners - All activities: yoga, meditation, tours, hikes, adventures, park entrance fees - All transportation once the retreat starts, including transfers to and from Bariloche - A mate gourd (matero) and instruction on drinking mate the traditional Argentine way - Retreat goodie bag with essentials and local extras - Journaling prompts - Pre-trip group gathering (virtual or in person) to prepare - Post-trip integration and reflection call - Suggestions for travel logistics and optional itineraries for extended time

What's not included

- Airfare to and from Buenos Aires - Airfare to and from Bariloche (typically around $300) - Travel insurance (strongly recommended, roughly 10-$250) - International phone plan - Shopping - Extra nights' accommodation, transportation and meals outside retreat dates - Meals and travel outside the retreat dates - Tips - Separate taxi to/from the retreat centre if you arrive late or leave early (~$50 USD)