SACRED EARTH RETREAT COLOMBIA
Journey to the living roots of sacred plant medicine
“Regard Heaven as your father, Earth as your mother, and all things as your brothers and sisters".
— Native American Proverb —
The Lands That Hold the Tradition
Colombia : Where the Medicine Still Lives
Immersive Retreats within Living Ancestral Traditions
Into the Heart of Sacred Medicine : A Journey to Its Ancestral Roots
Colombia is one of the rare places where sacred plant medicine traditions remain deeply present into daily life. In the jungles, mountains, and rivers of this land, Indigenous communities have preserved ceremonial knowledge passed down through generations — not as a trend or therapeutic method, but as a living spiritual tradition.
To journey here is not simply to attend a retreat. It is to step beyond the familiar context of everyday life and into the cultural and ecological context where these medicines were born — to sit with the plants in the land that nourishes them, and to learn from the elders and traditional guides who have dedicated their lives to their care. Distance from the routines and structures of modern life creates space for a deeper kind of listening — to oneself, to nature, and to the wisdom carried by the plants.
Our retreats in Colombia are designed as immersive experiences, offering participants the opportunity to engage respectfully with these traditions while surrounded by some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. It is an invitation to encounter different ways of relating to life — ways rooted in reciprocity with nature, respect for the unseen world, and a slower rhythm of living.
Through ceremony, time in nature, and shared presence with traditional healers, participants are invited into a deeper relationship with the medicine, the land, and themselves. It is a journey of listening, humility, and reconnection.
Upcoming Journeys
PUTUMAYO | November 21 - December 2, 2026
CARIBEEAN COAST | May 12 - 23, 2027
Where the Mountains meet the Sea and the Medicine meets the Heart.
Where ceremony unfolds in the vibrant landscapes of the northern coast.
Caribbean Coast Retreat
CARIBEEAN COAST | May 12 - 23, 2027
Our 11-night Sacred Earth Retreat into the living wisdom of the Sierra Nevada — a journey designed to gently return you to the rhythm of the Earth and the truth of your own spirit. To walk the land is to encounter a presence that humbles and reorders perspective — a land of quiet power, where the mountains themselves hold memory, intelligence, and prayer.
This is an invitation to step away from the noise of modern life and into a deeper communion with nature’s intelligence. Rooted in the teachings of the Arhuaco people, whose cosmology honors the inseparable unity of life and spirit, the retreat offers insight into a way of being where thought, action, and land are woven together. For the Arhuaco, balance is not symbolic — it is practice. The Law of Origin reminds humanity of its sacred responsibility within the web of existence, affirming the equal right of all beings to thrive. Reciprocity is not ritual alone, but an ethic: every step taken, every resource used, asks for conscious exchange.
Through guided sacred medicine ceremony, contemplative practice, and shared presence, you will enter into direct relationship with the elements — stone, water, fire, wind — and the intelligence they carry. The Sierra Nevada stands not only as setting, but as mentor, refining awareness and restoring coherence. Our Sacred Earth retreat is not an escape; it is an alignment — a return to clarity, reverence, and the steady knowing of where you belong.
Where the Elements guide the Inner Journey.
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While Yagé is not traditionally a medicine of the North, Taita Richard Benito Chasoy, our spiritual guide, has a rich and mixed heritage. On his father’s side, he hails from the Inga tribe of Putumayo. On his mother’s side, his roots trace back to the North, where he shares deep generational ties with the indigenous community of the Tayrona region.
We are incredibly fortunate to experience the wisdom and traditional guidance of Taita Richard Benito Chasoy, an expert in the preparation of sacred medicines, with a profound love for the lands of the North. From birth, he was destined to be a medicine man, carrying the profound responsibility in the land of his paternal lineage, while also being intimately connected to the customs and wisdom of the North.
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Our retreats are rooted in the understanding that sacred plant medicines belong to living traditions. The ceremonies are guided by traditional healers who carry the responsibility of preparing and serving the medicine according to the customs of their lineage.
Rather than approaching these practices as a modern wellness experience, we honour the cultural and spiritual frameworks from which they originate. Ceremony is held with respect for the rhythms of the land, the presence of the plants, and the wisdom of those who have dedicated their lives to this path.
The role of the facilitators is to support a safe and respectful container, allowing each person to engage with the experience in their own way while being held within the structure of the tradition.
Working with the medicine in its place of origin offers a rare opportunity to encounter these practices in their authentic context — where the relationship between the people, the plants, and the land remains alive.
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Attending a retreat in Colombia is not simply about participating in ceremonies; it is an immersion into a different relationship with nature, community, and healing. Removed from the pace and familiarity of daily life, participants enter an environment that naturally invites reflection, presence, and inner exploration.
The days unfold in rhythm with the land and the group. Time is given for preparation, integration, and rest between ceremonies, allowing participants to process their experiences and deepen their understanding of the work.
Being in the landscapes where these plants originate — from the Caribbean coast to the rainforest regions — creates a powerful sense of connection with the natural world. The biodiversity, the cultural richness, and the slower rhythms of life offer a perspective that often reshapes how we see ourselves and our place within the wider web of life.
Through ceremony, shared moments, and time in nature, participants are invited to step outside their familiar frameworks and encounter the medicine, the tradition, and themselves with renewed clarity.
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What are the recommended dates for traveling?
May Retreat: A Journey in an Idyllic Setting
Recommended arrival in Bogotá / Cartagena: May 11 or 12, 2026
Retreat begins: May 12, 2026
Retreat ends: May 23, 2026
Recommended departure: May 23 or 24, 2026 (from Cartagena or Bogotá)
Location: Atlántico Department, ColombiaWho are these retreats for?
These retreats are for individuals who feel called to explore sacred plant medicine within its traditional context. Participants often come seeking personal transformation, deeper self-understanding, or a reconnection with nature and ancestral wisdom. No prior experience with plant medicine is required, only openness, respect for the tradition, and a sincere intention for inner work.Why attend a retreat in Colombia rather than elsewhere?
Colombia is one of the places where these traditions have been preserved and transmitted across generations. Working with the medicine in its land of origin allows participants to encounter it within the cultural, ecological, and spiritual context that has shaped its use for centuries. It is an opportunity to step outside familiar frameworks and learn from different ways of living, relating to nature, and understanding healing.Who guides the ceremonies?
Ceremonies are guided by respected traditional healers who have dedicated their lives to the practice and transmission of sacred medicine within their communities. Their role is to hold the ceremonial space, prepare the medicine according to tradition, and guide participants through the experience with care and integrity.Is previous experience with plant medicine required?
No prior experience is required. What matters most is your readiness to engage in a sincere process of reflection and inner exploration. Preparation guidance is provided before the retreat to help participants arrive in the best possible physical and mental state.How many participants attend each retreat?
Our retreats are intentionally kept small to ensure a safe, respectful, and personalised experience. The limited group size allows participants to receive attentive guidance and to deepen the collective experience of the ceremony.What preparation is required before the retreat?
Participants receive preparation guidelines before the retreat. These may include recommendations regarding diet, lifestyle, and emotional preparation. This preparation supports both the individual journey and the collective ceremonial space.Is the retreat physically demanding?
While the retreat does not require specific physical training, it takes place in natural environments that may involve heat, humidity, and simple living conditions. Participants should arrive with an open mind and a willingness to adapt to the rhythms of the land.How do you ensure safety during the retreat?
Participant wellbeing is central to our approach. Each retreat is carefully prepared, with attention given to group size, preparation, and the presence of experienced facilitators and traditional guides. A screening process is also part of the registration to ensure that the retreat is appropriate for each participant.How do I know if this retreat is right for me?
If you feel a genuine curiosity or inner call toward working with sacred medicine in its traditional setting, this retreat may be an opportunity to explore that path. We encourage you to reach out if you would like to speak with us before making your decision. -
Included in the Price:
11 nights of accommodation
2 traditional Colombian meals per day
5 ceremonies with the sacred medicine
Two excursions into the Arhuaco’s territories
Integration sessions and ongoing support throughout the journey
Support before and after the retreat
Travel advice, including flight booking assistance
Not Included:
Flights from Europe to Bogotá/Cartagena/Santa Marta
Personal purchases along the way (water, ice, souvenirs, etc.)
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Browse the Gallery of our previous events.
“The resurgence of ancient sacred wisdom kept by indigenous nations is a call for spiritual awakening and collaborative efforts to restore harmony and respect for Mother Earth and all its inhabitants.”
— Prophecy of the Eagle & the Condor —
Where the Jungle Holds the Medicine
Putumayo : Into the Amazonian Forest
The jungle is the teacher, the plants are the guides.
“When the Elders speak, the universe leans in to listen.”
PUTUMAYO | November 21 - December 2, 2026
This retreat is an itineary invitation to a powerful and immersive journey into the sacred traditions of Yagé — a path of healing, learning, and reconnection. Each retreat is unique, designed as an exploration: meeting new guides, sensing different energies, and discovering the many ways sacred medicines are prepared, served, and honored by the tribes of southern Colombia.
The Putumayo region, the cradle of Yagé (Ayahuasca), is home to numerous Indigenous tribes. On this sacred land, participants are welcomed into a living tradition, preserved and honored for generations. This retreat does not seek comfort, but deep connection. It provides access to the spiritual and physical preparation of Yagé, and to a reality far removed from modern life. Participants engage fully in the six-day process of preparation and brewing, a demanding and meticulous work carried out with love, dedication, and respect for the principles that have allowed this sacred medicine to endure through centuries.
Ceremonies offer the opportunity to drink Yagé and connect with its spirit, guided by the traditions of the Inga people. This work, challenging yet deeply transformative, is rooted in the respect for a lineage that has transmitted this sacred knowledge for generations.
“We must learn to listen to the whispers of the wind, the songs of the birds, and the stories of the trees.”
— Native American Proverb —
Step Into the Heart of the Jungle Walking the Path with the Elders
The Territory of the Tradition
Our retreats are not fixed formats. They unfold in dialogue with the territories, the elders, and the living traditions that hold the medicine.
Each journey is therefore different. Rather than repeating the same structure year after year, we allow the retreat to take shape according to the places we visit and the people who welcome us.
Our retreats in Putumayo are always itinerant. We meet in Puerto Asís, then travel together through Mocoa and into the valley of Sibundoy — lands where sacred medicine continues to be prepared and served within ancestral lineages.
Along the way we meet different guides, experience distinct ceremonial traditions, and witness the many ways in which sacred medicines are prepared, served, and honoured by the peoples of southern Colombia.
Each retreat is an exploration. Each journey reveals something new.
The Retreat Experience
This retreat is not designed to recreate European comfort in the Amazon.
It is an invitation to enter, with humility and respect, the homes, malokas, and territories of those who carry this knowledge.
Travel may involve boats along the river, local transport through remote regions, and simple accommodation close to the communities that host us. The experience follows the rhythm of life in this part of Colombia.
Participants are not only witnesses to the medicine but also to its preparation. Under the guidance of experienced elders, we take part in the traditional process of preparing the brew — washing the vines, cutting the leaves, tending the fire, and observing the long hours required to cook the medicine.
To be welcomed into this process is considered a profound honour within these traditions.
Our Ceremonial Approach
During the retreat we will participate in approximately six ceremonies, guided by the taitas who host us.
The timing and rhythm of these ceremonies are determined by our guides according to the needs of the group, the process of preparation, and the natural flow of the retreat. Ceremonies may take place during the day or at night and may involve different forms of the medicine. Our integration team is present during the ceremonies to support the needs of the group.
Our Integration
Integration is an essential part of the journey. Throughout the retreat we hold sharing circles and integration spaces where experiences can be reflected upon and grounded. Individual support is also available for those who need additional guidance during the process.
Our commitment to this work extends beyond the retreat itself. Continued support is available to help participants integrate the experience into their lives after returning home.
A Rare Opportunity
Through long-standing relationships with elders and communities, we are sometimes welcomed into places that remain largely protected from outside tourism.
These encounters allow participants to meet respected carriers of the medicine — individuals who continue to uphold their traditions with integrity and devotion. Such opportunities are rare and offered with great care and responsibility.
Those Who Hold the Medicine
During the first stage of the journey we will meet Taita Richard, who carries the responsibility of the medicine within the Inga tradition. He has worked with the medicine for decades, beginning his apprenticeship as a child under the guidance of his grandfather.
In Mocoa, we will meet Taita Lucho, an elder who has dedicated his life to the path of sacred medicine and has worked across several indigenous traditions. He is known for his daytime ceremonies, working with preparations sometimes referred to as ayahuasca sky or colibrí, which can offer deeply introspective and visionary experiences.
In Sibundoy, in the high mountains of this sacred valley, we will meet either Taita Pancho or Taita Ángel, respected guardians of the medicine within their community.
Each of these elders carries a distinct lineage and ceremonial approach, offering participants the opportunity to encounter the medicine through different ancestral traditions.
Those Who Have Walked This Path
Gavin : “It was as if the jungle retreat had called me home, guiding me toward a fresh start.
For the first time in years, I felt hope. It was as though the universe had extended a lifeline, a chance for something different. It was as if the jungle retreat had called me home, guiding me toward a fresh start.
I knew I wasn’t just surviving — I was living.”
Read more Testimonials.
Preparing for the Path Ahead
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Prior participation
Our prerequisite for participation in our 11-day sacred journey is that you have previously attended a retreat where the sacred remedy was used. In case of doubt, always get in touch.
Diet Requirement:
We kindly request that you adhere to a vegetarian diet in the days or weeks leading up to the retreat. This dietary choice aligns with the sacred nature of all things. Please click to access our detailed dietary guidelines, which will provide valuable support for your preparation.
It is essential to avoid ingesting liquor, cigarettes, cocaine, marijuana, or any kind of mind-altering substances at least 3 days before the retreat.
Other Requirements:
Ideally, refrain from engaging in sexual relations for at least 2 to 3 days before the retreat. This practice is crucial to preserving your maximum energy. For women who are menstruating (on their sacred moon), we kindly ask that you wait for the next available opportunity.
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The total cost of the retreat is 1610 euros/CHF.
Places are limited to 10 - 12 people for our November retreat and 15 people for our May retreat.
A deposit of 850 euros/CHF is required to secure your place, and the balance is payable three weeks before departure.
What is included?
11 nights accommodation
2 to 3 meals per day of traditional Colombian dishes depending on the days of the ceremonies
6 ayahuasca ceremonies
1 cleaning session with nettles
Sharing of the wisdom and history of plants
Excursions
Integration sessions, as well as 24/7 support during the trip by the team
Integration support before and after the trip
Travel information and advice, including flight reservations
What is not included?
Return flights from Europe to Bogota
Return trip back to Bogota airport
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Accommodation
In November, for the first part of our trip, we will stay collectively, using hammocks for sleeping. For the second part, we will be accommodated in a traditional finca on the outskirts of Mocoa, featuring shared wooden cabins, just a short 10-minute stroll from a picturesque waterfall. For the last past of our travel, we will sleep under the maloka with our hamocs. Washing facilities will be showers and the river with dry toilet.
Please bear in mind that this is an authentic jungle experience, not a luxury retreat; do not expect hot showers, swimming pools, or Jacuzzis—just the vibrant presence of nature, river, waterfall, jungles and its inhabitants, including the local insect population.
Food
Traditional Colombian meals. All snacks and extras can be bought individually.
Daily Life
In addition to our ceremonies, your itinerary includes excursions and activities that encourage self-discovery,
It could be plant baths, craft workshops, creative expression sessions, meditation, and visits to the waterfall, among others.
Please be aware that our retreat schedule is flexible, adapting to the group's dynamics and the ever-changing natural environment.
Transport
Local boat, coaches, buses, taxis or moto depending on locations and activities
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Preparation guidance before arrival
Preparation is part of the journey. In the days before the retreat, focus on cultivating presence, stillness, and awareness of your body and breath. Consider the intentions you wish to hold, the patterns you wish to release, and the guidance you hope to receive. These reflections help you arrive ready to walk in harmony with the land, the medicine, and the lineage that sustains it.
To support this process, our team is available for personal guidance through calls or video sessions. We can help you clarify your intentions, answer questions about practical or ceremonial preparation, and offer suggestions for grounding practices — ensuring you arrive aligned, confident, and fully prepared for the retreat experience
Integration circles during retreat
Throughout your stay, our team will stand by your side, offering respectful support and loving guidance as you navigate the emotional and spiritual currents that arise. Sharing spaces will be available throughout the journey, and our support extends beyond your return home, ensuring a seamless transition.
Post-retreat support
Our post-retreat support is designed to ensure a seamless transition as you integrate the insights and practices gained during the retreat into your daily life.
Optional individual sessions
Whether you seek additional guidance, or simply share the continuation of your experiences after the retreat, our support team is here to assist you on your continued journey. We are committed to providing ongoing support beyond the retreat experience through individual and group calls.
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Recommended Arrival Time
Recommended arrival date in Bogotá: November 20, 2026
Retreat start date: November 21, 2026
Retreat end date: December 2, 2026
Recommended departure day: December 2 or 3, 2026 (from Villa Garzón or Puerto Asís)
Location: Putumayo Department
Travel Guidance
Should you require any assistance pertaining to your flights, connections, or general travel inquiries, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
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Important information
The retreat is conducted in English/French/Spanish. The interaction with the local team will be translated from Spanish. If you speak another language, it is essential to have at least a good basic level of English. We will try our very best to accommodate your needs and if we can a local translator familiar to this type of work, this will be charge to you separately.
The deadline for finalizing the retreat is set at 90 days prior to the scheduled date, with a minimum group requirement of 8 participants. At this point, the retreat will either be confirmed for the chosen date or rescheduled. Participants are given the flexibility to opt for an alternative date or retreat option if needed.
It is essential to agree to the Terms and Conditions before registering for this program.
Safety
Your safety and well-being are of paramount importance to us. We are committed to providing you with an enriching and secure experience throughout your stay with us.
Here are some key aspects of our retreat that underscore our dedication to your safety:
1. Limited Group Size: Each retreat group will consist of a maximum of 15 participants. This deliberate choice of small numbers allows us to maintain a high level of safety and offer you personalized attention during your time with us.
2. Experienced Guides: Our ceremonies are expertly guided by Taitas from Colombia, individuals who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in working with sacred plants. Additionally, we always have an English/French speaking assistant present to provide vital support and guidance during the healing process.
3. Medical Expertise: We recognize the importance of addressing the unique medical needs of our participants. For individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, we collaborate with a Consultative Doctor who specializes in the use of entheogen for the improvement of health and well-being. This medical expert will assess your suitability for the retreat from a medical standpoint. To best serve you, please communicate any medical concerns or requirements to our team so that we can offer tailored guidance, keeping your safety as our top priority.
4. Supportive Environment: Throughout the retreat, we foster a nurturing and supportive atmosphere where participants can openly share their experiences and insights. We also provide follow-up calls after the retreat to ensure that your integration process is well-supported and continues smoothly.
5. Pre-Retreat Preparations: To prepare for the retreat, participants are required to adhere to a specific diet and abstain from any mind-altering substances both before and after the retreat. This dietary regimen is an essential part of the process and contributes to the safety and effectiveness of your experience. Additionally, completing our health questionnaire and familiarizing yourself with common side effects of sacred plant ceremonies is crucial for your understanding and well-being.
“The medicine is in the land, in the water, in the air — and in the heart that is ready to receive it.”
— Inspired by Indigenous Wisdom —
