Embark on a sacred journey where the wisdom of the Americas converges.
This unique retreat brings together the powerful medicines of Yopo, Peyote, and San Pedro, guided by skilled facilitators from diverse traditions, to honor an ancient prophecy of unity and balance.
Dive into the richness of these sacred plants and the stories they carry—an invitation to reconnect with the harmony of Mother Earth.
An ancestral legend foreshadows the joint flight of the eagle of the North and the condor of the South. This illustrates the alliance between the traditions and gifts of the North and South of the Americas. It is said that in order to reestablish balance in the world, the integration and cooperation of the rich and diverse traditions that make up the continent of the Americas is necessary.
This retreat that Casa del Sol is honored to offer is a reaction to that ancestral vision; it is the convergence of very powerful and special plant medicines from different latitudes and traditions of the continent, and also, the convergence of very skilled and committed facilitators representing diverse American traditions.
This retreat offers the richness and beauty found in the diversity of Mother Earth: From the fertile and lush jungle of Venezuela, the medicine of Yopo; from the deep and vast Mexican desserts, Peyote; and from the majestic mountains of the Andes, close to the sun, in Ecuador, the medicine of San Pedro.
The Medicines
Yopo
Yopo is a powerful medicine that helps us journey inward, connecting with the brightest and deepest parts of ourselves. It acts as a mirror, revealing our ‘blind spots’ and guiding us to heal and grow in life and relationships. Yopo combines three medicines: Wilka, Ayahuasca, and Tobacco. First, raw Ayahuasca is chewed and ingested. Once its effects begin, Amazonian Tobacco is smoked with prayers, followed by the inhalation of Wilka (Yopo) through the nose. These medicines, combined with a sacred seated ceremony of prayers, chants, and healing rituals, create a profound experience of love, connection, and transformation.
Peyote
This medicine is a cactus native to Mexico that has been used for many centuries by various ancestral peoples. Peyote brings immense strength and clarity to our heart, brings us ancient memories that remind us of our roots, and thus gives us vision to walk skillfully through life. The Peyote ceremony is held in the manner of the traditional Teepee ceremony of the Grandfathers of the North, using the ritual instruments, traditional songs and sacred offerings. This ceremony has been kept well guarded – since its original prayer – through countless generations to date.
San Pedro
San Pedro medicine comes from the San Pedro cactus, native to the Andes. This medince has the qualities of infusing a powerful healing journey into ourselves and our relationships, it reaffirms our bond with nature and restores the strength of our hearts. San Pedro helps us process and heal our emotions. San Pedro, also known as ‘Huachuma’, is a traditional Andean medicine that has been used for centuries. The name “San Pedro” comes from Bibical cosmology, where Saint Peter holds the keys to the gates of heaven. In Andean tradition, the San Pedro cactus is believed to hold the key to these heavenly gates.
What's Included in your 10-Day Retreat?
Our 10-day Yopo, Peyote & San Pedro Retreat includes:
- Pre-arrival Preparation Online Guidance
- Accommodation for 10 days and 9 nights
- 2 Yopo Ceremonies (daytime and nighttime)
- 1 San Pedro Ceremony during a hike to the waterfall
- 1 Traditional Peyote Ceremony (nighttime)
- 2 Sweat Lodge Ceremonies (opening and closing the retreat)
- 1 Kambo application
- Yoga, breathwork and meditation workshops
- Kirtan (devotional singing) session
- Sound Healing Ceremony
- Guidance for Integration Workshop and Sharing Cirles
- Healthy and Nutritious meals, plus snacks and drinks
What’s not included: Airfair tickets, Kambo Sessions, Massage Sessions, Optional Healing Activities, Airport Pick-up or Drop-off, Laundry Service
Daily Program
Day 1: February 3rd
- Arrival
- Personal Interview
- Welcome Orientation
- Sweat Lodge
Day 2: February 4th
- Hike to the Waterfall with Grandfather San Pedro Medicine
Day 3: February 5th
- Yoga and Meditation
- Kirtan ( Devotional Singing)
Day 4: February 6th
- Daytime Yopo Ceremony
Day 5: February 7th
- Rest
- Integration
- Optional activities
Day 6: February 8th
- Yoga and Meditation
- Nighttime traditional Peyote ceremony
Day 7: February 9th
- Integration
- Rest Day
- Optional Activities
Day 8: February 10th
- Yoga
- Sound healing ceremony
- Yopo nighttime ceremony
Day 9: February 11th
- Guidance for Integration Workshop
- Sharing circle
- Sweat Lodge to close the journey
Day 10: February 12th
- Departure
Limited Spots Available
Our retreats are capped at 12 participants so we recommend you book ahead of time to guarantee your spot.
Facilitators
Santiago and Ximena (founders of Casa del Sol) have a deep relationship with Norma and Luis forged over the years. On this special occasion, Norma and Luis visit Casa del Sol to offer their gifts and medicines. Making this an opportunity to experience and participate in the collaboration of a medicine family committed to the service of healing.
This is a unique opportunity for memorable transformational experiences. The magic and power of the experience is in the medicines, also in the quality of the facilitators (a beautiful family), as well as in the herats and intentions of the participants.
Norma Alvarez (México)
A genuine seeker and practitioner of the spiritual path, she has an extensive background in plant medicine and the ancient traditions of the Americas, as well as a special connection to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Norma dedicates much of her time to serve and work for the welfare of others. She was blessed through receiving the knowledge, blessing and permission to share the Yopo medicine from the hands of the legendary Taita Bolivar, from the Piaroa tribe in Venezuela (since ancient times, they have been considered the most devoted guardians of this tradition).
Luis Ochoa (México)
Luis is a talented medicine man, a gifted musician and a graceful man. Originally from Jalisco, Mexico. He has been walking the Northern Red Road tradition for more than 30 years. He shares the medicine of grandfather Peyote, from the desert of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, as well as other medicines.
Santiago Ayala (Ecuador)
Santiago is a gifted healer. He has learned sacred teachings from many ancestral traditions. Santiago devoted his life to the shamanic path at age 26 after overcoming a serious illness. He is the guardian of one of the last San Pedro and Willka trees forests in southern Ecuador, preparing it in the traditional way to be used for healing purposes. His medicine songs, prayers and blessings carry a powerful intention to heal the heart with the sacred spirit of San Pedro.
Ximena Morales (Perú)
Co-founder of Casa del Sol, initiated in the Andean tradition of the Q'ero lineage and the guardians of Ausangate in the Peruvian Mountains. She walks her service connecting with the living altars of nature through walks and traditional offerings (Haywaricuy), as well as offering other rituals of this tradition. Temazcal facilitator and server of the medicine of Casa del Sol, the grandfather San Pedro of the Vilcabamba valley.
Pricing
We have a wide choice of rooms that suit every need. At maximum retreat capacity, we have 4 private rooms and 6 shared rooms. We have both shared and private accommodations located in our main house and cabins by the river. All rooms are in close proximity to clean bathrooms and include electricity.
Our main home has a spacious living room for relaxing, a large kitchen for a handful of cooks, a dining room that seats sixteen, a grassy courtyard and a terrace surrounded by climbing flowers that overlook the valley. There are nearby walking trails for short day treks and flourishing gardens for lounging at home.
Shared Cabins with River View - $1,900
Simple cabins for double accommodation with bunk beds. 6 spots available. The building where these rooms are located is separate from the main house. It is located fifteen meters from the pristine “Uchima” river.
Shared Room in the Main House - $2,100
Spacious and comfortable rooms in the main house with a shared bathroom. 6 spots available. The advantage of these rooms is that they are inside the main house where we eat, where some activities take place, and where the living area is located.
Private Room in the Main House - $2,300
A comfortable room for one person in the main house with a shared bathroom outside. 1 spot available.
Private Cabin by the River - $2,300
A wooden cabin by the river for one person, a short distance from the bathroom complex. 2 spots available. These exotic bungalows are ideal for those who want more privacy and a more intimate experience with nature.
Private Suite with Balcony - $2,700
A beautiful room located on the second floor of the main house. Queen bed, bathtub, walk-in closet and balcony with view to the forest and river. Private bathroom. Ideal for those seeking a comfortable and private experience.
Preparation
These plant medicines work in various dimensions to purify the mind, body and spirit. They cleanse physical, emotional, and energetic impurities that have accumulated over one’s lifetime and even in the ancestral lineage. They also hold space as spiritual teachers who tend to our inner fire of deep transformation, creating a closer connection with the Divine.
The preparation Dieta (or regime) combines a food diet, as well as a lifestyle diet (emotional habits, attitudes, information we receive, and actions we engage in). Contemplative practice and physical conditioning are needed to prepare oneself to be a pure container to receive the medicine.
- Review our Preparation Guide: and our Directions Guide
- Bring spending money in $20 bills or less – there are ATM’s that you can use but bills larger than $20 notes are difficult to change in this economy.
- Check your passport expiration date – Passport expiration dates are strictly enforced in Ecuador. You must have more than 6 months remaining before the expiration of your passport or you will not be denied boarding your flight to Ecuador.
Testimonials
How To Get Here
Casa del Sol Retreat Center is located in the beautiful Sacred Valley of San Pedro in Vilcabamba, Ecuador. The closest airport is Catamayo Loja Airport (LOH).
International flights arrive in Quito or Guayaquil and then there are domestic flights to Loja everyday, which you can book directly through Aeroregional.
Review detailed Directions here.
We do offer pick up from Loja Airport to Casa del Sol in Vilcabamba for $30. There is also an additional charge for staying extra nights. Please inquire further if you have interest in either of these options.
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