Argentina Frequently Asked Questions
Airports, Asado, & More
Wondering about where we’re going and what we’re doing? Check out our frequently asked questions to learn everything you need to know before booking our Cowgirl Yoga Argentina retreat.
Check our General FAQs for info on payments, policies and packing.
Still can’t find the answer to your question?
Argentina Frequently Asked Questions
What’s included in the Cowgirl Yoga Argentina retreat?
What's not included?
Where exactly are we going in Argentina?
Estancia Los Potreros is located in the Sierras Chicas, north-west of Córdoba city, less than one hour’s drive from Córdoba International Airport.
What airport should I fly into?
From the US, you will fly to Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE). IMPORTANT: You have to change airports in Buenos Aires to get to Córdoba! We highly recommend coming in a day early to break up the trip, and to spend a little time in Buenos Aires too. You will book a separate, domestic flight from Jorge Newbury domestic airport (AEP) to Córdoba (a little over an hour from BA).
Once you arrive in Córdoba, we’ll meet you at the airport to take you to the estancia, which is a little less than an hour from the airport.
This is an active retreat with 6 full days of activity ahead of you (+1 rest day in between), so if your schedule allows it’s worth coming in a day early to Buenos Aires, flying to Córdoba on the morning the retreat starts. We definitely recommend more time in Buenos Aires before or after the retreat (you came all this way, why not make the most of it?), and are happy to offer our suggestions for food, shopping, hotels, and more! Just ask. We’ll also post these on our private Facebook group (see last question below).
What travel documents do I need, and do I need any shots?
Make sure your passport is valid for six months after the last day of your trip. No visa is required for US citizens, but other nationalities should check with their local consulate. No inoculations are required to enter Argentina, but make sure you are up to date on all boosters (i.e., tetanus). Please be sure to let us know if you have any health conditions, and are taking any medications.
Proof of Covid vaccination is not required to enter the Argentina. As that is always subject to change, we suggest bringing your vaccination record with your passport.
Should I get travel insurance?
SI. A retreat is an investment in your well-being—but it’s also a financial investment. No one books a retreat with the intention of cancelling, but unexpected life events do occur. If we could make it mandatory, we would. It’s a lot of $ to lose if something happens – and something always seems to happen. That’s travel, and that’s life. We cannot offer refunds or credits of any kind, given the small boutique scope of our business. *TRAVEL INSURANCE WORKS* if you have to cancel!
We HIGHLY RECOMMEND purchasing your own travel/trip cancellation insurance so your trip fees will be covered in case you have to cancel your retreat. Trip insurance should also be purchased to cover medical expenses, in the event you have an accident while on the retreat.
True story: one of our international retreaters missed two days of the trip due to bad weather that forced airline cancelations. Through her travel insurance, she was able to get reimbursed for not only the missed days, but her travel expenses as well.
Another true story, from our 2022 France retreat: one retreater tested positive for Covid the day before the retreat started; she was already in Europe. She got everything covered, including a week in a hotel in Switzerland.
You can usually add insurance to your airfare when booking flights. While we don’t have a specific recommendation for the retreat portion, you should start by checking with your credit card company. There are lots of options out there. Check out this continuously updated FORBES article, Best Travel Insurance Companies.
Another option to explore is AIG Travel Guard.
What will the weather be like?
The seasons are opposite in North and South America – March is the end of summer in Argentina. We can expect temperatures in the 70s and 80s during the day. It can still be hot this time of year, and the sun is strong during the day. High SPF is recommended, as are layers. Check out our packing list here.
Who are our guides?
Read about our Estancia Los Potreros hosts and guides here.
Margaret Burns Vap from Big Sky Yoga Retreats will be your trip leader and yoga teacher. She has led retreats in Argentina since 2018; she also leads yoga retreats in France, Montana and Sicily.
Kathy Nolan from Big Sky Yoga Retreats will be your retreat co-leader and yoga teacher.
Where are we staying?
Estancia Los Potreros is a 6,500 acre working cattle and horse farm/ranch which has been in the same family for four generations, set in a secluded location. Estancia buildings are traditional and steeped in family history. Guests stay as ‘part of the family’.
The estancia rooms are traditionally furnished with plenty of antiques, all individual and with private bathrooms. Rooms are heated with wood-burning stoves. Top quality beds, linen, dressing gowns and amenities, with house cleaning service 3 times per day.
The estancia has an outdoor pool.
What's the food like?
Foodie Argentina: think meat. Superlative meat! And dulce de leche, yerba mate, empanadas. Meal times are one of the highlights of a stay at the estancia as they are highly sociable and the hosts are always keen to share their insights into Argentine life.
To begin the day we will fuel up for rides with a full breakfast…but first, there will be coffee before yoga!
Held together in the main dining room or on the verandah, lunch and dinner is hosted by the Begg family.
There will also be afternoon tea – tea and homemade cake or biscuits ~ and regular picnics and asados (barbeques).
*Check out Top 10 Foods to Try in Argentina.
What does a typical day look like?
Coffee. Meditation and Yoga. Breakfast. Ride, then enjoy a leisurely lunch made by our estancia hosts. More yoga, more riding. Relax. Dinner. Sleep well under the Southern Cross, rinse and repeat. This is a very active vacation! We will start each day with a yoga practice before breakfast. Some days we’ll unwind with more restorative yoga, a glass of Malbec, time to relax and a leisurely dinner, when we recap the day’s adventures and plan for the next day’s.
Be ready for some fun surprises too!
What’s the yoga like?
We often get asked what kind of yoga, how many times a day, what if I haven’t practiced in awhile – all valid questions. You will be fine. We offer straight up vinyasa flow, with a twist of restorative. We accommodate all levels of yoginis, but highly recommend some pre-retreat yoga experience, even if you start a practice with the retreat in mind. Some days will have one yoga practice, some will have two. We promise to get in as much yoga as we can, and balance it with our riding. Most mornings will begin with yoga (after coffee, but before breakfast) to start the day off right, on the yoga mat.
What horseback riding experience should I have?
This retreat is not for beginner riders; intermediate to advanced riders, por favor. We recommend maintaining riding experience and/or riding lessons to prepare. You will be amazed at how much your seat improves after a week of riding like a gaucho!
We will spend on average 4+ hours a day in the saddle, usually with a relaxed lunch in between and/or following the rides. We ask that you be comfortable with all gaits, including walk, trot and canter (and more than likely a gallop or two). We also ask that you pack appropriate riding gear, detailed in the packing list. POR FAVOR, NO TENNIS SHOES! Use this as an opportunity to buy some good riding boots! Please contact us if you would like to further discuss if your riding abilities are a good fit for this retreat. (And trust us – yoga gives you a better seat!)
The trail riding takes place on a variety of terrain, that can be very rugged at times. Please ask us if you have any concerns.
Do I have to participate in everything on the schedule?
You do not need to participate in everything; you can pace yourself to find the perfect amount of activity for you. We support you in doing as much or as little as is right for you, depending on how you are feeling. However: remember this is an active vacation, and we are giving you as much as we can of what you signed up for! (Personally, we wouldn’t want to miss a thing.) The schedule discussed the evening prior gives you a sense of the flow of each day. It’s always subject to change, depending upon the needs of the group, weather, etc.
What if I’ve never been to Argentina?
Embrace the opportunity to experience a new place! And remember: there are many things that are not like the US. Some of it will push your comfort zone, most of it will expand your horizons. We don’t travel to have things be just like at home. We encourage you to do your “homework” – that’s part of the fun. Read about the history, the culture, the most recommended places to see and things to do. Learn a few Spanish phrases. We will share lots of resources with you as well.
Recommended reads:
Away & Aware: A Field Guide to Mindful Travel
Lessons from the road: what travel taught me about love
Destination Earth: A New Philosophy of Travel by a World-Traveler
Women Are Becoming More Adventurous Travelers – and Doing It Alone
Bon Appétit’s Highly Subjective but Very Smart Guide to Traveling
How can I connect with other women on my retreat?
We set up a private Facebook group for everyone on this retreat. Yes, that means you have to be on Facebook. Trust us, it’s worth it just for this. It’s a great way to discuss travel plans, share links to articles, and for us to keep you updated on all trip info. And it’s much easier and faster than email, which can get stuck in spam, deleted, and forgotten. Bonus: it’s really fun to post retreat pics!
And no, it’s not a requirement and we can’t make you get on Facebook. We know some people are strongly anti-FB (we’ve gotten more than one earful). The FB group is intended to help, not challenge your social media values. While we promise we’ll get you all the info you need for your retreat via email…we can’t promise you won’t miss out on the fun of the group. #yourcall
Check out our calendar to see when your desired retreats are running—and reserve your spot. Retreats typically sell out, often several months in advance. So, stake your claim now!