Taking a pause and revaluing the present time are here to stay, and activities such as meditation and yoga have also gained ground and importance. And what better way of practicing those disciplines than among incredible landscapes? Clean air, sounds of nature, mountains and more Argentine spots present themselves as the perfect setting for anti-stress activities. Find the ideal destinations below.

They have won undeniable popularity over the last year, as they were needed more than ever, but their origins date back to BC.They are no longer seen just in mindfulness apps but being prescribed by doctors and psychologists for postural and anxiety or stress treatments. Also, more and more followers, even if it is for ten minutes a day, make room for them in their busy schedules.

These activities are meditation and yoga, which have their practical differences, but coexist with the same objective and bring a healthy, conscious and well-being handbrake closer to our rash daily routine. They are famous for the simplicity they share as it isn’t necessary to study too much or have years of training in order to achieve, even for a few minutes, the calm that becomes a habit once practiced constantly. 

But what are those differences? While both use mind and body, yoga works more with the body through breathing, concentration, and postures (some more basic than others), while meditation is mind training techniques aiming to relax thoughts and focus on the present moment.

“To carry out those practices, the most important thing is to find quiet places where you can feel comfortable to connect with your essence. It is better if they are natural spots as the power of nature eases introspection to focus on the here and now”. This is how Agustina Etchegoyen, ontological coach, yoga teacher and expert in wellness and spirituality puts it. After the publication of her book “Conscious Women”, she organizes retreats in different destinations that meet these conditions. Argentina, she claims, is one of these venues.

If what is needed are environments where vegetation and purity reign, the country at the End of the World has plenty. Open landscapes, mountains, reflecting lakes, endless sea horizon, clean air, miles of sandy beaches, starry skies, silent mountains and freedom. Plenty of paintings done by nature are there to ease the visitor into that desired state of introspection and balance. Where to go to find that state? The best destinations are as follows:

1 - Córdoba

Mountains and hills, a unique microclimate and balanced energy. Córdoba's postcards combine the essential ingredients to relax the mind. Among soft breezes, shades of green scattered over the hills and birds flying over a blue sky that fills with stars at night, thousands of tourists from all over the world choose Córdoba to disconnect. As long as it is in the mountains, calm will come along: the offer is wide and in many of the mountain destinations the search for peace is present in accommodation, retreats, centers and various spots. Some of the most renowned are:

Cerro Uritorco

At 1979 meters above the sea, the top of Cerro Uritorco -the highest in the Valley of Punilla- was established as one of the main venues for esoteric forces. The energy is so strong that it has gained international fame. Why? Reasons abound, but starting with the fact that many claim to have seen UFOs and lights flying over the surroundings is enough.

With its characteristic vibe, it has become something similar to the headquarters of alternative therapies and wellbeing techniques ranging from yoga to tai chi, which is why the renowned zen Temple Shobogenji, dedicated to Buddhist practices, was installed at its feet.

The best moment to meditate on its top is at sunset, while the sky turns orange and the height allows the visitor to contemplate the tones from its best profile. For an even more mystical experience, it can be visited at night and connect with the legends under a starry sky while waiting for the sun to come out in one of the most memorable sunrises in the region.

Eco-friendly inns in the mountains

Another outstanding coordinate in Córdoba for spirituality is embodied by the ecologic inns and settlements built with the aim of promoting rest and revitalizing experiences. There you will find, in addition to where to stay, a range of meditation and healing courses, wellness retreats, walks, food programs, retreats, therapies and more. Nueva Castalia in San Marcos Sierras, Las Dalias in Traslasierra or La Posada del Qenti in Villa Icho Cruz, a few minutes from Villa Carlos Paz to mention a few.

2 - Patagonia

Following with the idea that immaculate natural landscapes favor introspection and relaxation, it is not surprising to find magic Argentine Patagonia as one of the recommendations. Imposing mountain peaks, deep forests with rich aromas, drawings on the pristine water of its lakes and energy make contemplation more than an objective, a condition.

Even though all Patagonia’s coordinates pass the compatibility test of the spiritual and body connection practices, there are some that tread stronger and stand out. Which spots are those?

Los Alerces National Park, Chubut

Here nature found a home where to grow freely to such an extent that gave birth to the “Grandfather Alerce” of more than 2,600 years. The feeling of being under the 57 meters high of a thousand-year-old natural treasure attracts millions from all over the world.

The art of reflecting and carefully observing is almost mandatory when it comes to getting to know it, and that is why it became an ideal sanctuary for yoga and meditation.

Bariloche, Río Negro

Another great must-see. “You feel a general wellbeing throughout the body. It’s magical: you connect with the mountains, you wind down, you can breathe deeply and it helps you enter a much deeper state. Its mountains are incredible to disconnect and get out of the daily routine”, claims Agustina. There are many tourists that, like her, chose its landscapes to find interior harmony. Yoga SUP is an increasingly popular practice, it’s about practicing yoga on stand up paddle surfboards. The room becomes a lake, the floor is crystal clear water and the stability becomes the rocking waters. It is a unique experience.

El Bolsón, Río Negro

With dozens of well-being centers, El Bolsón has established itself as the official headquarters of holistic tourism of the region. The cerro Piltriquitrón is the main attraction in this town nested in a mountain natural paradise that shares the special energy in its cascades, lakes and woods with those who visit it. The calm and stillness give rise to proposals that range from meditation to reflexology, reiki, aura reading, yoga, acupuncture, spiritual massages and other relaxation therapies.

Copahue, Neuquén

Copahue is a destination that undoubtedly found a significant place in the pleasure and relaxation scene in Argentina. Why? To begin with, it owns one of the richest thermal centers in the world: it hosts plenty of quality minerals such as muds, algae, vapors and mineral-medicinal waters at the foot of the volcano. Its more than ten thousand square meters include fumaroles, lagoons and more beneficial spots for the body. Far from keeping all that natural abundance for themselves, they created the event Copahue Meditates, which combines rest with health and well-being, and invites tourists from all over the world to live a week-long agenda of free wellness plans. Classes, yoga and reiki seminars, constellations, meditation and more activities make up the proposal, which is already in its ninth edition.

3 - The Atlantic Coast

Is there anything more hypnotizing and relaxing than the sea, its sound and its horizon? The vastness of the ocean was always healing, but in Argentina that vastness also extends to the beach, where the breadth also extends to the beach and spreads far and wide without apparent limits, becoming the ideal spot for deep meditations together with unforgettable sunsets. To connect with the magic of salt water that nature gives away, the corners of the Atlantic Coast are close to perfection.

Miramar

In addition to long beaches, the main attraction lies in its secret Energy Forest. Dark, fresh, moisty and silent, its two hectares surround phenomena, myths, legends that range from gnomes or UFO sightings to studies on electromagnetic properties and theories of the fall of a meteorite more than three million years ago. Psychics and scientists from all over the world come to contemplate and feel its enigmatic vibe between pine trees and logs, an oasis of peace on the coast. Moreover, the opportunity of finding an ideal space to get the vital energy of its vegetation -it is not uncommon to find people hugging the mythical trees- and practice both meditation and yoga. 

Chapadmalal

Surf and yoga. Nice mix, right? The beaches of Chapadmalal, “Chapa”, for those who are fond of it, are the favourite of surfers and local youth, and their popularity is growing strong. As any other clear trend, it went from being practically uninhabited to having plenty of schools and surf retreats that choose this site as a destination to enjoy its waves. But along with board sport came yoga. Being close to Miramar (only 25 minutes), the belief that there is a special energy in the area spreads, and that is why surf classes are usually followed by another yoga class to breathe that harmony. Landscape? Cliffs, miles of sandy beaches, and incredible sunsets.