No matter your current skill level, you can join all our Retreats! We’ll offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced options for all props and techniques. All workshops are designed to welcome absolute beginners. However, to maximize your learning during the retreat, familiarity with the basics of various props will be highly beneficial.
POI BEGINNERS: To get the most out of the retreat, please familiarize yourself with basic poi moves such as 3-beat weaves (forward & backwards), windmill, watermill, hip-reels & turns, butterfly (same-time, split-time), and buzzsaw. Don’t worry if you can’t do all of these yet – we will teach them! If you’d like to prepare, we highly recommend checking out Poi Tutorials.com
HOOP BEGINNERS: To benefit most from the hoop workshops, please learn basic moves like waist-hooping in both directions, moving your hula hoop up your body, and shoulder-hooping in both directions. You can find many free tutorials from HOOPLOVERS.
CONTACT STAFF BEGINNERS: To make the most of the contact staff workshops, please learn basic moves such as the neck wrap, halo, conveyor belt, and parts of an arm roll or Steve. You can find many free tutorials from PHILOCRICUS.
STAFF SPINNING BEGINNERS: To benefit most from the staff spinning workshops, please learn basic moves like the forward and backward figure 8, turning with the figure 8, the Rotor (front spinning), and the windmill. You can find many free tutorials from Michelle Christa Smith.
You don’t need to know other attendees to share a room! If you’re interested in sharing a room, we can help find you a roommate.
Just let us know your preferences, and we’ll do our best to match you with other attendees looking for the same room type. Please note that room-sharing options depend on availability and the number of other attendees who want to share.
Most of the time, flying with your fire and LED equipment will be hassle-free. We’ve travelled the world many times with our gear and have rarely encountered significant issues. The key is to be prepared and follow a few simple guidelines to minimise any potential problems.
General Tips for Flying with FIRE PROPSS
When preparing your props for travel, especially items with wicks, here are some essential tips:
- Cleanliness is key: Ensure your wicks are thoroughly burned off and contain no fuel residue. A good way to get rid of most smells is to leave them outside in the sun, where the sun will evaporate the remaining fumes and fuel faster.
You can even wash your wicks with warm water and soap to remove most of the black soot and smell. Let them dry completely before packing! - Contain and conceal:
- Place your poi and small props in ziplock bags to contain any residual smell. Or for staffs and other big props, use plastic wrap.
- Consider a second layer of “pink fluffy protection” that definitely doesn’t look dangerous! Wrapping your equipment in socks or adding staff covers to make it less visible and potentially less scrutinised by security personnel is a good idea. If there is still some smell at this point, a deodorant spray can come to the rescue.
- If you have detachable poi heads with chains, you can even disconnect the chains and store them in separate bags for extra discretion.
- Check-in is best: We recommend putting your fire equipment in your checked luggage. Don’t lock your bag; if security needs to inspect it, they might break the lock. It’s a good idea to include a note inside explaining that it’s juggling/circus equipment and to provide your phone number.
Flying with Long Staffs and Oversized Luggage
Longer performance staffs can sometimes incur extra fees due to oversized luggage restrictions.
- Mind the measurements: After years of flying with my long staff, I’ve adjusted their length to avoid oversized luggage fees. While airline limits vary, a height of 152 cm to 158 cm is typical of the maximum before additional charges apply. However, there’s no universal rule, so always research your airline’s fare rules before booking.
- Budget airline considerations: Many budget airlines, especially in Europe, may charge a fee for any bag that doesn’t resemble a standard suitcase, regardless of length. Generally, the “nicer” the airline, the less likely they are to charge you extra for your baggage.
- Protect your staff: A thick staff bag provides excellent protection during transit. You might look for a fishing rod bag or a ski bag.
- Check baggage fee charts: You can often find helpful worldwide baggage fee charts online (a good resource is farecompare.com/about/worldwide-baggage-fee-chart/).
Navigating Security at the Check-in Counter
Expect questions, especially if you have larger bags.
- Choose your words carefully: The most important rule is never to use the word “fire” or anything that could be associated with weapons.
- Speak the language of art: Instead, explain that you are a circus artist and that you do object manipulation or juggling. Talk about “batons” and “dance,” avoiding terms like “swords” or “martial arts.”
- Charm can help: Many airlines charge extra for sports bags (such as golf or kite-surf bags). With a bit of luck and charm, a positive conversation about circus and art might help you dodge those looming fees – though it’s not guaranteed every time!
Carry-On Luggage
- We don’t recommend travelling with fire equipment in your carry-on luggage. Contact Poi or LED Poi shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you encounter the wrong person, there is a higher risk of being questioned and a slim chance of a conversation.
Flying with Light Equipment (Lithium Batteries)
If you carry LED props with lithium batteries, there are specific rules to be aware of.
- Checked luggage limitations: As of late 2014, new rules apply to lithium batteries in checked luggage, limiting their voltage allowance. While most LED props (typically 3-12 volts) are well below these limits, the voltage isn’t often specified on the tools themselves, creating a risk of confiscation.
- Carry-on is preferred for light props: The same strict rules don’t apply to carry-on luggage. Therefore, we recommend travelling with all your light dance props in your carry-on luggage. We’ve tested this multiple times without any issues. For example, many light dance props have an average capacity of 3.7 volts/700mAh.
- Stay informed: For more detailed information on travelling with lithium batteries, consult your airline’s guidelines (e.g., airfrance.fr/common/image/pdf/en/Bagages_batterie_lithium_en.pdf)
RETREAT PAYMENT
The retreat fee is split into two parts:
- Deposit: A non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot. This must be paid by credit card.
- Remaining Fee: The rest of the fee is due at the start of the retreat and can be paid in cash or by card. If for any unforseen reasons you can’t come after you have paid, we will refund you the rest fee.
Travel Insurance
We strongly advise all attendees to secure personal travel insurance. This is crucial to ensure you’re covered if unforeseen circumstances prevent you from attending the retreat, allowing you to claim a refund for your payments from your insurer.
When choosing a policy, please make sure it includes:
- Reimbursement for any pre-booked events or excursions (The non-refundable deposit)
- Cancellation cover specifically for Coronavirus-related issues.
You can see an example of a policy at https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/quote.
- Sunday 21st of September: arrival starting at 15:00. Start of the retreat at 19:00 with dinner and an introduction meeting
- Monday 22nd to Friday the 26th : 5 full Workshop days
- Saturday 27th of September: end of the retreat, packing and brunch, departure at 13:00
The retreat will be happening outside the small town of Montesquiou. That’s 1 hour 20 minutes from Toulouse by Car, and 30 minutes from the Auch train Station.
We can arrange a pick up from the train station in Auch for 10 euros per person.
WHERE
The retreat will be happening outside the small town of Montesquiou. That’s 1 hour 20 minutes from Toulouse by Car, and 30 minutes from the Auch Train Station.
TRAINS FROM TOULOUSE
Here, you can find trains going from Toulouse to Auch. The train will take around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
TOULOUSE AIRPORT
It’s easiest to fly to the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport! You can get to the train station by shuttle bus, metro or taxi
Getting from the Bordeaux Mérignac Airport to the Auch train station with public transport will take 3 to 4 hours.
PICK-UP FROM AUCH
We can arrange a pick up from the train station in Auch for 10 euros per person.
There are also buses, going from the Auch train station to the town of the Château, Montesquiou, but you have to make one transit, and the bus goes only twice per day…
We are very lucky to have a ***star Château Hotel with restaurant and 12-hectare park privately, for us!
There are many Hotel Rooms, Chalets, Mobile Homes and Camping Places availalbe.
We’ll have 2 swimming pools!
The buffets will be prepared by the Château staff. We’ll all have dinner together, and you can choose to take the Breakfast & Lunch Package, or prepare or arrange that yourself.
All levels, for any prop or activity are welcome to join! We’ll offer beginning, intermediate, and advanced options for most techniques. For the Poi workshops, we split the group into different levels.
To benefit the most from this retreat, know the basic poi moves, such as 3-beat weaves (forward and backward), windmills, watermills, hip-reels, and turns butterflies (same-time, split-time), and buzzsaws.
If you can’t do some of the moves listed above, don’t worry! We will teach you that. However, if you want to be prepared, look up some tutorials; we recommend Poi Tutorials.com, start as a beginner for only 4,95 per month.
You don’t need to know other attendees to share a room! (Only for the Royal Suite, if you want a twin, you’ll need to reserve with another person. For the Mobile Home, Triple and Twin Chalet, you don’t need to know other attendees to share)
If you want to share a room with other attendees, we’ll try to make a match. You can give us your preferences; if you want to stay with people with the same gender, we’ll try to find matching room-mates!
If you want to share a room with friend(s) or a partner, you don’t have to buy all the tickets at the same time.
You can reserve separately, and all buy only your own deposit ticket. When buying the ticket, please leave a note that you want to share the room with friend(s) or a partner! Or send me a message at +336 3456 0233 to confirm you want to share.
Coffee, tea and mint-water are included for everybody! It doesn’t matter if you take the Breakfast & Lunch Package or not.
You can also buy drinks in the restaurant if you want a cappucino or soft drinks.
And, we’ll also bring beer and wine (which will be cheaper as in the restaurant) and our self-service bar will be open all night, hahahaa.
There’s a little supermarket on 2,7 km from the Château.
Bigger supermakets are at 12 km.
You can borrow a Spinning Staff, Double Staffs, Dragon Staff, Poi, Fans, Contact Staff.
These are all practice, day props. We don’t have any fire props to borrow. But of course you can ask other attendees if you want to borrow a fire prop.
You can see this event on Facebook here
Thursday, January 29th Arrive when you want! Check-ins from 3 PM — settle in, and chill.
At 7 PM: We kick things off with a dinner + intro circle at Eagle’s Nest. Meet your fellow flow fam!Friday, January 30th to Saturday, February 7th Get ready for a full-on schedule of 70+ hours of workshops, sunset jams, spontaneous moments, chill time, and that kind of magic you can’t plan for — only feel.
Sunday, February 8th We’ll share one last breakfast, soak up the good vibes, give big hugs, and say our see-you-laters (not goodbyes). Check-out is by 10 am — but the memories stay way longer.
OPTIONAL February 9-10 Acantanango volcano hike. It starts in the early morning of the 9th and lasts until the afternoon of the 10th. The cost will be around 175 euros, depending on the number of people in our group.
Thursday, January 29th
Arrive when you want! Check-ins from 3 PM — settle in, and chill. At 7 PM: We kick things off with a dinner + intro circle at Eagle’s Nest. Meet your fellow flow fam!
Friday, January 30th to Saturday, February 7th
Get ready for a full-on schedule of 70+ hours of workshops, sunset jams, spontaneous moments, chill time, and that kind of magic you can’t plan for — only feel.
Sunday, February 8th
We’ll share one last breakfast, soak up the good vibes, give big hugs, and say our see-you-laters (not goodbyes). Check-out is by 10am — but the memories stay way longer.
OPTIONAL February 9-10
Acantanango volcano hike. It starts in the early morning of the 9th and lasts until the afternoon of the 10th. The cost will be around 175 euros, depending on the number of people in our group.
The location of Starry Mountain is; Barrio 2 San Marcos la Laguna, 07010, Guatemala
Most of the attendees will stay here, or at the neighbours’. It’s about a 5-minute walk to Eagles Nest, where part of the workshops will be given.
HERE you can find in detail how to get to San Marcos la Laguna
HERE you can find in detail how to get to San Marcos la Laguna
US, British, and most EU citizens do not need a visa to visit Guatemala for up to 90 days.
Please ensure you have a valid passport (valid for at least six months) and at least one blank page.
You can check if you need a Visa here: https://www.visahq.hk/guatemala/
Get a visa online: https://www.evisas.online/guatemala-visa/
All levels, for any prop or activity, are welcome to join! We’ll offer beginning, intermediate, and advanced options for most techniques. For the Poi workshops, we split the group into different levels.
To benefit the most from this retreat, familiarise yourself with the basic poi moves, such as 3-beat weaves (forward and backwards), windmills, watermills, hip-reels, turns (butterflies, same-time, and split-time), and buzzsaws.
If you can’t do some of the moves listed above, don’t worry! We will teach you that. However, if you want to be prepared, look up some tutorials; we recommend Poi Tutorials.com, which starts as a beginner for only $4.95 per month.
You don’t need to know other attendees to share a room!
If you want to share a room with other attendees, we’ll try to make a match. You can share your preferences with us; if you prefer to stay with people of the same gender, we’ll try to find matching roommates.
If you want to share a room with friend(s) or a partner, you don’t have to buy all the tickets at the same time.
You can reserve separately, and everyone buys only their own deposit ticket. When purchasing the ticket, please leave a note that you want to share the room with friend(s) or a partner! Or send me a message at +336 3456 0233 to confirm you want to share.
– All the Workshops and Activities
– All Shows and entrance to the Aguilla Festival
– Access to all the training spaces and common areas at Eagle’s Nest and Starry Mountain
– Fuel for fire spinning
– Filtered drinking water
– The workshop ticket is 500 euros
– Accommodation with lunch included
– Private and shared accommodations are available between 695 and 1275 euros
– All-inclusive Accommodation with three meals per day and drinks
– Private and shared accommodations are available between 925 and 2150 euros
Dreaming of joining GuateFlow, but the cost feels out of reach? We get it — not everyone has the same financial situation. 💛
Send a WhatsApp message to Nana at +33 6 34 56 02 33 with your country, age, and a brief note explaining why you think you would deserve financial support. We’ll review your message and see if we can offer you a discount!
– Eagle’s Nest: 3 meals per day are included – there’s a shared kitchen with fridge
– Stary Mountain: lunch is included – the kitchen is not available to prepare food. But you can use tableware for your breakfast, and there’s a shared fridge
– Starry Mountain Neighbours: lunch is included – there are shared kitchens with a fridge
– Workshop Ticket: no food is included
BREAKFAST:
-You can order breakfast in the Starry Mountain restaurant (also if you stay at the neighbours)
– You can buy breakfast in the local shops, and prepare it yourself. A shared fridge is available at Starry Mountain. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to use the kitchen to prepare food. But you can get a bowl for your musli, etc.
LUNCH:
We’ll have lunch all together at Eagle’s Nest. It’s a delicious buffet featuring a variety of fresh and tasty vegetables, salads, different carbohydrates, and your choice of protein.
There are vegetarian and meat options available. As well as vegan, but please note that in the form. Additionally, if you have food intolerances, please indicate them in the form.
DINNER:
Every day, there will be a different evening program. Sometimes we’ll stay at Starry Mountain or Eagle’s Nest, but other times we’ll go down to the village for fire jams or parties. When there’s a program at Starry Mountain, a communal meal will be prepared by the kitchen staff for a reasonable price.
This means that, depending on the program, you will have one or multiple restaurants or options to choose from every evening.
If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen, you can also choose to cook for yourself.
There are many supermarkets, shops and restaurants in the village. It’s about a 650-meter walk to the beginning of the “Hippie Highway,” which features many shops.
It will take you around 10 minutes to walk the 600 meters down. Up, though, is another story! It’s very steep, and unless you live in high mountains or are training for a marathon, it probably will take around double the time to go up again…
Please bring all the necessary props to attend the workshops you are interested in. If you don’t have some props, you can rent many from us. However, we also have to fly them in, so there will be a rental fee because of this. Please note on the form if you would like to rent any props. There, you will also see the exact rental fee.
PROPS/ DISCIPLINES
– Poi: rental available
– Hoop: rental available
– Buugeng: rental available
– Silk Fans: rental available
– Long Staff: rental available
– Double Staff: rental available
– Yoga Mats: freely available for use
– Dragon Kite: freely available during the workshop
– Contact Staff: no rentals available
– Dragon Staff: no rentals available – Any other prop: no rentals available
These are all practice props/ daytime props. We don’t have any fire props to borrow. However, you can also ask other attendees if you’d like to borrow a fire prop.
The fuel we use to spin in Guatemala is Kerosene. It’s not the most fantastic option, but it’s the only affordable spinning fuel available over there…
Kerosene burns hotter than Lamp Oil (for EU people), but the burning temperature is comparable to white gas (US usage). It also smells stronger than Lamp Oil, so it’s recommended to wear a mask.
There is lamp oil available, but it costs around 10 euros per litre, so it’s really expensive! If you’d like, you can purchase it for yourself for a better experience.
– Never walk alone after dark from the village up. This is mainly due to the presence of street dogs and possibly intoxicated individuals. But walking together is more fun anyway! Or take a tuk-tuk up, it’s very cheap, less than 1,5 euros.
– Only use trusted tuk-tuk drivers; other tuk-tuk drivers are not allowed to get into the resort gates. If you want help with carrying your luggage, only the trusted tuk-tuk drivers are allowed to do so (the list will be provided)
We recommend having comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical treatment and personal possessions.
We can’t guarantee anything, but there haven’t been any problems in the last editions, and we think that if you use common sense, you won’t have trouble. It’s a beautiful country to visit, and you’ll meet many friendly and wonderful people.
Why the US Embassy Says “Reconsider Travel”
- Limited Local Resources: Concerns about the ability of local law enforcement to respond effectively to incidents or the efficiency of the justice system in resolving crimes. This is the case in less touristic areas and the countryside. This is not the case at San Marcos la Laguna. There is law enforcement, as it’s a tourist area.
- Health Infrastructure: The availability of high-quality emergency medical care can be limited outside of the capital and major tourist hubs. This is primarily a concern for elderly people and those with severe health conditions.
- Civil Unrest: Guatemala, like many countries, can experience political protests or road blockades, which can unexpectedly strand travellers and disrupt plans. Luckily, we never saw any of those at the last GuateFlow editions.
Beyond the Advisories: A Real-World Guide to Traveling in Guatemala Safely
The “Antigua Bubble” vs. The Big City
Situational Awareness: The “Home City” Rule
- Blend In: Avoid “target indicators” like flashy jewellery or walking around with an expensive DSLR camera hanging from your neck.
- Phone Etiquette: Don’t stand on a street corner staring at Google Maps; step into a shop or café to check your directions.
Unpacking the “Danger”: Homicide Rates in Perspective
Baltimore, MD~50+
St. Louis, MO~60+
New Orleans, LA~70+
Philadelphia, PA~30+
Washington D.C.~25+
The “Driving Danger”: It’s Not Always What You Think
- The Infrastructure Gap: Guatemala indeed has high road fatality rates. However, these statistics are heavily skewed by “Chicken Buses” (repurposed, ageing US school buses) and colectivos. These vehicles are often poorly maintained, lack seatbelts, and are driven aggressively by drivers competing for fares.
- The Tourist Advantage: As a traveller, you aren’t hopping on a “killer minibus.” Most tourists utilise private shuttles, radio-dispatched taxis (Yellow Cabs), or Ubers. Vetted Vehicles: Registered tourist shuttles must be insured and maintained to higher standards.
- Professional Drivers: These drivers are accustomed to tourist routes and prioritise safety over speed.
- The Control Factor: In a private car or shuttle, you have the power to tell your driver to slow down or choose a safer route—a luxury you don’t have on public transport.
- The Metropole Paradox: In a bustling US city like Atlanta or Houston, you are statistically more likely to be involved in a high-speed vehicle collision on a crowded freeway than you are to be in an accident while riding in a professional tourist shuttle in Guatemala.
- The Difference: Risks in Guatemala are largely controllable. By choosing reputable transport companies and avoiding driving between cities at night, you effectively bypass the conditions that cause most of the country’s traffic accidents.
The Verdict
You can see this event on F