THE MINDFUL TOURIST® · MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
Nine Days of Silence,
Nature & Simplicity
An invitation to step away from the noise of everyday life and experience a different rhythm of living.
Two days to prepare, five days of meditation at the foothills of the Andes, and two days to gently integrate the experience before returning home.
The Mindful Tourist®
Nature-Based Intervention,
Mindfulness & Wellbeing.
THE RHYTHM OF OUR RETREAT
A journey does not always begin the moment we arrive. We need time to prepare, time to experience and time to understand what we may wish to carry home.
DAYS 1–2
JUNBI
Before entering the desert, we allow ourselves time to arrive.
Two days at our nearby cabaña offer space to settle into the surroundings, meet one another and become familiar with the journey ahead.
We prepare our essential belongings, review the practical arrangements and gradually step away from our usual routines.
Preparation is already part of the practice.
DAYS 3–7
MEISŌ
For five days, we live simply within the arid landscape at the foothills of the Andes.
Our days are shaped by meditation, silent walking, personal reflection, communal meals and time to rest.
We share a modest campsite, contribute to everyday tasks and observe what arises when familiar distractions are set aside.
The invitation is simply to remain attentive.
DAYS 8–9
TŌGŌ
Returning is also part of the journey.
After our final meditation at the campsite, we return to the cabaña, where there is time to rest and reconnect with familiar comforts.
Through reflection and sharing circles, we explore what we experienced during the five days.
We consider what we may wish to carry into everyday life.
We arrive with the lives we have. We spend time observing them from a different perspective. And then we return.
WHAT GUIDES OUR EXPERIENCE
Our meditation retreat is shaped by five interconnected elements. None exists entirely on its own. Together, they create an environment in which we can explore a simpler way of living and experiencing the world around us.
NINE DAYS
The
Retreat
Meditation
in the Andes
Our relationship
with the living world
Attention
and awareness
Living and learning
together
Space for
quiet observation
Nourishment
and mindful simplicity
Explore each element to learn more about its place in our retreat.
The landscape is more than a beautiful backdrop. Its light, textures, wind, silence and changing conditions become part of our everyday experience.
We practise noticing the world around us without needing to possess, change or constantly interpret it.
Through observation, we have an opportunity to explore our relationship with nature and the place we temporarily inhabit.
Meditation forms the heart of our days.
Through repeated practice, we observe attention, thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations.
We do not seek a perfect state of mind or attempt to eliminate difficult experiences.
Instead, we learn to become more familiar with the experience that is already here.
During the immersion, we live together, prepare our meals, care for shared spaces and contribute to the simple tasks of daily life.
These ordinary responsibilities become opportunities to practise consideration, patience, cooperation and respect.
Community does not mean losing our individuality. It means learning to recognise our own needs while remaining attentive to the needs of others.
Without constant conversation, we may begin to notice how often we feel the need to explain, react, communicate or fill empty moments.
Silence creates room for observation.
It does not mean suppressing emotions or ignoring personal needs.
Essential communication, emotional support and safety needs are always welcomed and respected.
We share two nourishing meals each day, prepared with the participation of the community.
This simpler rhythm invites reflection on our relationship with food, appetite, routine and everyday habits.
The intention is not deprivation or achieving a particular physical result.
Food, drinking water and appropriate adjustments remain available according to health and nutritional needs.
Nature offers the setting.
Meditation invites observation.
Community teaches consideration.
Silence creates space.
Simple eating reminds us of enough.
THE DAILY JOURNEY
Each day has its own place in our nine-day experience. We begin by preparing for a different rhythm of life, spend five days practising meditation in the Andean foothills, and gradually return through reflection and integration.
Days 1–2 · Arrival and settling in
Before we enter the desert, we give ourselves time to arrive.
We welcome you to the cabaña accommodation, where you will have time to settle into your room, unpack and rest after travelling.
Our welcome meal brings everyone together for the first time, creating an opportunity to become familiar with the people who will share the journey.
Later, we gather for an introduction to the retreat programme.
We will explore the structure of the nine days, the meditation practices, the shared living arrangements and our practical guidelines.
There will be time for questions and personal preparation.
The first day is not about achieving anything. It is simply about arriving.
Our second day is dedicated to preparing for five days at the meditation campsite.
Together, we review what is genuinely necessary and prepare a small bag containing only essential items.
Your main luggage will remain securely stored until we return from the meditation site.
2:00–4:00 PM · Lunch and restWe take time for our meal and a period of rest.
After 4:00 PM · Final preparationWe go through our preparations once more, checking clothing, medication, equipment, personal hygiene items and practical arrangements.
This is also an opportunity to ask any remaining questions.
We begin to experience simplicity not as deprivation, but as a deliberate choice about what we truly need.
Days 3–7 · Living the practice
Five days in the foothills of the Andes, where our daily rhythm becomes intentionally simple.
Following breakfast, we travel together to our meditation campsite in the Andean foothills.
Upon arrival, we become familiar with the sleeping, meditation, food preparation and hygiene areas.
We organise our shared belongings, review the campsite boundaries and discuss practical safety arrangements.
We enter the period of intentional silence and begin our first meditation practices at the site.
Essential communication, personal needs and requests for support remain welcome.
Our attention gradually moves towards the simple experiences of being in this landscape.
We begin our day with gentle stretching, followed by our one-hour group meditation.
Afterwards, we stretch again and continue with silent walking in the surrounding landscape.
There is time for individual journaling before we prepare our first meal together.
Following our meal, we gather for the morning integration circle.
The rest of the day allows generous time for rest, observation and personal reflection.
6:00–7:00 PM · Evening mealWe conclude our shared activities with the evening meal and a quiet evening.
Our daily rhythm continues: morning meditation, gentle movement, silent walking, personal journaling, communal meals and rest.
Although the activities may remain familiar, our experience of them is not necessarily the same.
Meditation may feel peaceful at one moment and difficult at another.
We practise observing these changes without expecting every day to bring calm or a particular insight.
There is nothing we need to force into happening.
The invitation is to continue, with care and curiosity.
We continue with the same daily meditation programme, silent walking, reflective writing and rest.
Living together also invites us to notice how we participate in a community.
Preparing meals, maintaining shared spaces and respecting one another's needs become part of our practice.
We may begin to notice our habits around cooperation, patience, personal preferences and responsibility.
These everyday activities are not separate from meditation.
They offer another place in which attention and awareness can be practised.
This is our final full day at the meditation campsite.
We continue the familiar rhythm of meditation, gentle stretching, silent walking, journaling, shared meals and rest.
Rather than approaching the day as something we must complete successfully, we remain attentive to the experience itself.
There may be reflections about returning home, or about the simple routines we have temporarily left behind.
We make room for whatever arises, without rushing to understand or explain it.
Tomorrow we will begin our gradual return.
Days 8–9 · Returning and reflecting
Returning to our ordinary surroundings is also part of the meditation journey.
We begin with our final morning meditation.
Afterwards, we pack our belongings, clean the campsite and return the equipment provided for the immersion.
We take care to leave the site in good condition before departing.
2:00–3:00 PM · Expected arrivalWe return to the cabaña, where a shared meal and a period of rest await us.
There is time to shower, settle into the accommodation and reconnect gradually with familiar comforts.
In the evening, we gather for our first reflection after the immersion.
What did we notice? What was challenging? What became easier, or perhaps more apparent?
Everyone is welcome to reflect, while personal sharing remains a choice.
We begin our final day with a shared morning meal.
Afterwards, we gather for a closing circle of reflection and gratitude.
We acknowledge the experience, the people who shared it, the landscape and all the practical contributions that made our time together possible.
We consider how meditation might continue beyond the retreat.
There is no expectation that everyone leaves with the same conclusions.
Each participant will return to a different life, with different responsibilities and experiences.
Our retreat concludes after the closing gathering.
Nine days together.
Five days of meditation in the desert.
And a practice that may continue
long after we return home.
DURING THE FIVE-DAY IMMERSION
We follow a simple rhythm, allowing meditation, movement, shared responsibilities and rest to find their natural place. Rather than filling every moment, we leave space to experience the ordinary act of living.
01 / 08
6:00 AM · MORNING BELL
Our morning begins with the gentle sound of a bell.
We rise quietly, prepare for the day and meet for a short session of gentle stretching.
02 / 08
MORNING · SHARED MEDITATION
We sit together for our principal daily practice.
We observe thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations and the movement of attention, without needing to achieve a particular state of mind.
03 / 08
AFTER MEDITATION
We gently stretch before walking together in silence.
Attention moves from the seated practice into the experience of walking and observing the surrounding landscape.
04 / 08
INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION
You may find a quiet place within the designated safe area to reflect and write.
There are no perfect answers, no expectations about what you should feel, and no need to share what you have written.
05 / 08
FIRST SHARED MEAL
We take turns preparing a simple, nourishing meal.
Cooking is generally carried out in silence, with communication whenever it is practically necessary.
06 / 08
AFTER OUR MEAL
We gather to share observations and receive practical guidance for the day.
Speaking about personal experiences is always an invitation, never an obligation.
07 / 08
AFTERNOON · REST
The afternoon remains intentionally unstructured.
You may rest, observe nature, write or simply sit quietly. There is no need to fill every moment with activity.
08 / 08
6:00–7:00 PM · EVENING MEAL
We prepare and share our second meal of the day.
Afterwards, the evening becomes quiet, allowing time to rest and prepare for the following morning.
Participation and personal wellbeing.
Daily meditation is an expected part
of the retreat. Practices can be adapted
or paused for health, accessibility
or safety reasons.
Essential communication and requests
for support are always permitted.
A rhythm guided by nature.
Our schedule may change in response
to weather, daylight, the needs
of the group and safety considerations.
Food, drinking water and rest
remain essential throughout the retreat.
We wake. We meditate. We walk.
We eat. We observe. We rest.
And in these ordinary moments,
we practise being present.
OUR TEMPORARY HOME
For five days, the mountains, the open land and the changing sky become the surroundings of our daily practice.
Our campsite is intentionally simple. Rather than recreating the comforts of a hotel, we share a few essential spaces that support meditation, rest, communal meals and personal care. In this remote landscape, simplicity becomes part of the experience.
LIFE AT THE CAMPSITE
Everything at the campsite has a simple purpose. We share these spaces with consideration and care.
One large communal tent accommodates the group. Participants sleep on raised sleeping spaces with mattresses. Sleeping bags and pillows are provided for the immersion and returned afterwards.
A sheltered and dedicated space for our morning meditation practice. Here, we gather for quiet observation, guided sessions and shared periods of silence.
A communal area for preparing our daily nourishing meals. Participants take turns contributing to cooking, organising supplies and maintaining cleanliness.
A smaller tent dedicated to food supplies and essential kitchen provisions. Food will be protected and stored under suitable hygienic and temperature conditions.
A designated area for basic personal washing and daily hygiene. Conventional showers are not available during the five-day immersion. Water and basic washing arrangements will be provided.
Beyond the shared tents, the surrounding landscape offers opportunities for silent walking, journaling, observation and rest. Individual exploration remains within designated safe boundaries.
A temporary home, with only what we genuinely need.
This is not a conventional camping holiday or a luxury retreat. It is a shared experience in which simple living, personal responsibility and respect for the environment become part of our practice.
Our intention is to remain attentive to both the place and the people around us, while maintaining appropriate safety, hygiene and wellbeing.
BEFORE WE ENTER THE DESERT
You may be surprised by how little we need for five days of simple living.
During our first two days together, we will prepare your small bag for the meditation immersion. Your main luggage remains securely stored at the base accommodation until our return. Explore the preparation guide below to discover what to bring, what we provide and what you can leave behind.
PREPARATION GUIDE · 01
Light, loose-fitting clothing will help protect you from the sunlight, wind and dust of the Andean foothills. We ask you to choose practical, comfortable items rather than bringing several changes of clothing for every day.
A note about the climate: The Andean foothills experience strong sunlight, wind and changing temperatures. Long, loose clothing protects the skin, while warmer layers are important during cooler periods.
PREPARATION GUIDE · 02
We keep personal belongings simple. Most cosmetics and non-essential toiletries can remain at the cabaña. Please bring everything necessary for your health and basic personal care.
Important: The 100 ml recommendation applies to your optional face cream, not to sunscreen, essential medication or medically necessary personal care items. We will review individual requirements during our pre-arrival meeting.
PREPARATION GUIDE · 03
During the five-day immersion, we share one large sleeping tent. Basic sleeping equipment will be prepared so that participants do not need to bring their own full camping equipment.
Each participant will receive a sleeping kit containing a sleeping bag and pillow for use during the immersion.
Sleeping areas will be arranged within the communal tent, with raised sleeping platforms or beds and mattresses.
A meditation tent, food preparation area, food storage area and basic personal hygiene facilities will form part of the campsite.
Borrowed equipment: The sleeping bag and pillow are provided for temporary use. All borrowed items must be returned after the five-day meditation immersion.
PREPARATION GUIDE · 04
One of our preparations is choosing what does not need to accompany us. This is not about giving up possessions permanently. It is an opportunity to experience five days with a simpler selection of belongings.
Suitcases and additional bags remain securely stored at the base accommodation until our return.
Additional outfits, non-essential toiletries and cosmetic products can remain with your luggage.
Personal phones and non-essential electronic devices are not used during the five-day meditation immersion.
The organisers will maintain an appropriate emergency communication arrangement.
The intention is not to create discomfort for its own sake. We simply explore what happens when we temporarily reduce the objects and distractions that occupy our attention.
PREPARATION GUIDE · 05
Preparation is not only about what goes into your bag. It also involves taking care of the people, responsibilities and arrangements that will remain at home.
If you are travelling away from children, family members, pets or anyone who depends on your care, please make the necessary arrangements before your arrival.
We encourage you to organise important professional and personal responsibilities in advance. This allows you to participate without avoidable urgent matters requiring your attention.
During the meditation immersion, you will not have access to your personal phone.
Your nominated emergency contact should know the retreat dates and have the designated emergency contact information provided by the organisers.
Before travelling to Argentina, we will meet to review practical arrangements, health and insurance requirements, essential medication, personal needs and the final packing list.
You do not need to arrive with an empty mind or a perfectly organised life. You only need to make the practical arrangements that allow you to participate with care and responsibility.
PREPARING RESPONSIBLY
Care begins long before we arrive in the desert.
Choosing a retreat involves more than deciding where we would like to spend our time. It also means understanding the conditions, responsibilities and personal preparations involved. We have gathered some of the questions worth considering before joining our nine-day experience.
Your physical and emotional wellbeing matters throughout the experience. We want you to understand what participation involves before making a commitment.
Yes. Appropriate medical or travel insurance is required for all participants.
Your coverage must include the full duration of your stay and the retreat activities, including emergency medical assistance and evacuation where applicable.
We will review the relevant insurance requirements during the pre-arrival preparation.
It depends on your individual circumstances and the conditions of the remote campsite.
Please inform us confidentially about relevant health conditions, accessibility requirements, medication and any other needs before confirming participation.
We will consider whether the retreat can accommodate your needs safely.
Some circumstances may require advice from your treating healthcare professional. Where suitable support cannot be provided, this particular immersion may not be appropriate.
Meditation does not always feel peaceful.
Restlessness, discomfort, sadness, uncertainty and other challenging experiences may arise during practice.
You will not be expected to suppress these experiences or remain silent when support is needed.
You may speak with the retreat facilitator, request a break or discuss an appropriate adjustment to your practice.
This retreat is not psychotherapy or a substitute for professional mental healthcare.
Yes. Please bring sufficient prescribed medication and any medically necessary supplies for the entire stay.
Do not discontinue or alter your treatment for the purpose of attending.
If you are travelling internationally, check the applicable Argentine medicine import requirements before departure.
Certain medications may require supporting prescriptions, medical documents or special authorisation.
We will discuss relevant arrangements confidentially during the pre-arrival process.
Health and safety take priority over completing a scheduled activity.
Participants may request appropriate modifications or pause a practice when necessary.
A clear procedure for reporting concerns, seeking assistance and arranging emergency evacuation will be established before the retreat.
As the campsite is located in a natural environment, immediate access to conventional medical services cannot be assumed.
We will prepare simple, nourishing meals in a shared outdoor cooking environment.
However, we cannot guarantee a gluten-free or allergen-free kitchen.
If you have coeliac disease, serious allergies or medical dietary requirements, please contact us before booking.
We will discuss whether your needs can be accommodated safely and adequately.
If we cannot provide an appropriate arrangement, we will explain this before participation is confirmed.
The meditation immersion includes shared accommodation, intentional silence, daily practice and communal responsibilities.
Yes. Meditation is the central purpose of the immersion.
Participants are expected to attend the scheduled daily practices, including our principal morning meditation.
However, meditation is not a test of endurance.
Practices may be adapted or paused for health, accessibility or safety reasons.
The planned daily rhythm includes two simple, nourishing shared meals.
This provides an opportunity to observe our habits around food, routine and consumption.
However, we do not require participants to ignore hunger, dehydration or medical nutritional needs.
Safe drinking water will remain available, and additional food or adjustments will be provided when needed.
The retreat is not a detox or weight-loss programme.
No. Silence is an intentional part of the experience, not an absolute prohibition on speaking.
We reduce unnecessary conversation during the meditation immersion.
Essential communication, requests for support, practical coordination and safety concerns are always permitted.
Scheduled reflection and integration circles also provide opportunities to share experiences.
Participants will not use personal phones during the five days at the campsite.
Before the retreat, you will be given a designated emergency communication procedure to share with your family or trusted contact.
We ask participants to arrange childcare, caring responsibilities, work commitments and other important matters in advance.
We want you to enter the immersion without leaving essential responsibilities unattended.
Participants will share one large sleeping tent with raised sleeping spaces and mattresses.
A sleeping bag and pillow will be provided for temporary use during the immersion.
Conventional showers will not be available at the meditation campsite.
A basic personal washing area will be provided. The final toilet, sanitation and handwashing arrangements will be communicated before booking is confirmed.
Shared facilities require cooperation, cleanliness and respect for privacy.
No. Smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs are not permitted during the entire nine-day retreat.
This is part of our shared participation agreement and the conditions established for the group experience.
Participants must also respect the campsite rules, shared responsibilities, environmental guidelines and designated safe areas.
Prescribed medication is not prohibited by this rule. Please discuss any relevant medical needs confidentially before attending.
A little practical preparation helps make international travel more straightforward. And for those wishing to stay longer, Mendoza has more to explore.
No. International and domestic flights, personal travel documents and visa expenses are not included in the retreat fee.
Participants are responsible for confirming their entry requirements for Argentina.
Before travelling, we will provide the retreat arrival information and relevant local transfer instructions.
The final list of included services will be clearly stated in your booking information.
Yes. A pre-arrival preparation meeting will form part of the process.
We will review the packing list, the retreat programme, health and insurance requirements, relevant medication arrangements, travel information and personal responsibilities.
It is also an opportunity to ask questions and discuss individual needs before departure.
Yes. If you would like to remain in Mendoza after the retreat, we can help arrange optional experiences at an additional cost.
You may choose a day exploring the region's renowned bodegas, a horse-riding experience, or both.
All optional activities take place after the nine-day meditation retreat.
They must be requested in advance and are subject to availability, suitability, weather and separate pricing.
CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE
Additional experiences require advance registration and separate payment.
Preparation is an act of care — for ourselves, for those who share the journey, and for the landscape that welcomes us.
Explore the Packing Guide ↓
THE PERSON BEHIND THE RETREAT
MChem · PhD Eng · MSc Psychology
Researcher, author and educator. Founder of The Mindful Tourist® and Shinrin-Yoku Association.
My journey through chemistry, applied physics, psychology, years in Japan and daily meditation continues to shape my exploration of nature and human experience.
I approach meditation without imposed doctrine — as a personal practice of attention, inquiry and learning through experience.
WRITING FROM DAILY PRACTICE
Different experiences. An ongoing practice of observation.