WOMEN'S RETREAT - in the Magical land of Otavalo, Ecuador
This is a very special retreat where you will have the opportunity to connect with Mother Earth and your own spirit in a safe and loving space. You will be able to work with three skilled Ecuadorian healers, explore the beautiful surrounding nature and get to know Ecuadorian culture.
9 DAY RETREAT: September 2-10, 2023
Maximum 7 guests // 2 SPOTS LEFT
Retreat includes:
All accommodation and food for 9 days in a country home with shared and private rooms
2 Ayahuasca ceremonies
1 San Pedro ceremony
1 Wilka ceremony (optional)
Ceremony for Pachamama with offerings
Energetic cleansings
Massages with Mercedes & Clemencia with womb realignment
Herbal Creams & Soap Making Class with Clemencia
Talking circles and time to meet individually with shaman
Fire circle to set intentions with offerings
Hiking to sacred lakes, waterfalls and mountains surrounding Otavalo
Explore the famous artisan market
We host small, intimate ceremonies with Ayahuasca, San Pedro and Huilka. We work with tobacco as well in various forms throughout the retreat, but if you do not wish to partake in this, it is not required.
You will have the chance to connect deeply with yourself, the Earth, and fellow sisters in a safe and loving space. You will have opportunies to discuss your visions and experiences.
German Nantipia is a traditional Shuar healer who has been working with plant medicines for over 30 years and has helped folks heal of many different physical, mental, emotional and spiritual illnesses. During ceremonies, he gives energetic cleansings and works with his friendly spirits to bring positive energy and healing. He comes from a family of shamans.
Miguel is a traditional Ecuadorian shaman who works with Ayahuasca, San Pedro and Huilka. He is one of a handful of people who know how to work with the sacred medicine of Huilka in Ecuador.
Mercedes and Clemencia are indigenous Otavalo healers (yachaks). They are ancestral medicine healers, working with hundreds of herbal plants in additional to energy healing techniques and massages. Mercedes is also a traditional partera (midwife).
Katie has been assisting in plant medicine ceremonies in Ecuador for 4 years and is an apprentice of Mercedes. She is Miguel's partner and has also been learning from him. She will be facilitating this retreat, translating for Mercedes and Clemencia and assisting in the ceremonies. She acts as a bridge between these different cultures.
We are going to be up in the Andes mountains where there is sunshine and occasionally rain. It gets chilly at night, so bring pants, a sweater, and a jacket. Bring sweat pants and something warm to sleep in at night. During the day, a t-shirt is usually good to wear and pants.
Bring hiking boots for our walks and swim suit in case we jump in a waterfall or hot spring.
It can be helpful to have a small flashlight or headlamp for the ceremonies at night.
In Ecuador people mainly just accept cash; rarely you will use a card, however bring a debit or credit card to take out money from ATMs. Small change is good to have on hand.
We ask that guests avoid red meat, alcohol and recreational or chemical drugs at least 1 week before the retreat. Eat clean and healthy for one week or more before arriving, limiting caffeine, sugar, and oily foods. Depending on if you have a specific illness you are looking to cure, the diet might be more restrictive.
The most important thing is what you have in your HEART. Come with an open, loving heart, ready to accept and love yourself, others and forgive. Be open and receptive to meeting the spirits of these powerful medicines.
While here, we serve healthy, fresh, locally-grown food. We serve some chicken and fish, but also often serve vegetarian and vegan food. Let us know if you are vegetarian, vegan, GF, or have any allergies. Meals are simple with minimal spices.
Sit with the medicine of Ayahuasca. Dive deeper into your inner world during these night ceremonies
Discover the magic and healing powers of San Pedro in a beautiful daytime ceremony with this masculine medicine, accompanied by grandfather fire
For those called to sit with this powerful, visionary medicine, we also offer a ceremony with the sacred medicine, mama Wilka. Miguel is one of the very few carriers of this powerful medicine.
Led by Mercedes, an elder indigenous Otavalo healer, we will give offerings and thanks in this ancient Andean ritualto our collective mother Earth.
This is a chance for introductions as well as to discuss your intentions, receive guidance, and answer any questions you may have about how to prepare, the location, agenda, or the ceremonies.
Enjoy the beautiful, rustic life in the Andes of Ecuador in a country home with views of sacred volcanoes. Shared and private rooms
Enjoy simple, local and fresh food farmed in the surrounding area of Otavalo
Massages with Mercedes and/or Clemencia, skilled indigenous elder healers with 30 years of experience
Enjoy an herbal soap and cream making class and herbal medicine discussion with Clemencia, indigenous ancestral medicine healer
These will be done in ceremonies and outside of ceremonies, and help to release harmful energies and align your energetic field
We will visit sacred places such as Lago San Pablo, Lago Cuicocha, Taita Imbabura Volcano, and waterfalls for cleansing
The artisan market of Otavalo is world-famous. We will visit this fun, lively market at the end of our retreat. Get to know local culture and art
We will have a fire circle with tobacco offerings to open the retreat and set our intentions, and have an initial energy cleansing
Optional - One on one consultations with Mercedes and Clemencia to learn what herbal treatments can help with whatever imbalance - mental, physical, spiritual - you are experiencing
Individual consultations with Miguel, plant medicine shaman
Transportation to and from the retreat can be arranged, but is not included in the price
Arrive around 1 pm. Snack, talking circle and fire to set intentions. Energetic cleansings. Dinner. Rest
Eat breakfast. Walk to waterfall to ask for cleansing. Rest. Ayahuasca ceremony at night
Breakfast, talking circle. Lunch. Visit Lake San Pablo. Dinner.
Eat breakfast. Explore sacred Lake Cuicocha. Ayahuasca ceremony #2 at night
Breakfast, talking circle. Lunch. Massages. Dinner.
San Pedro ceremony in daytime. Fruits, relax. Dinner.
Breakfast. Wilka ceremony. Lunch. Herbal soap and cream making class. Dinner
Visit market in the morning. Lunch. Ceremony for Pachamama with offerings in afternoon. Dinner. Fire at night
Breakfast. Final energetic cleansings if necessary. Say goodbye. Everyone will depart by noon.
