Ancestral Journeys at Casa del Sol
A 9-Day Initiation into Sacred Medicine, Guided by Wisdom Keepers of the Andes
Come Home to What Was Never Lost
In a world that glorifies performance, consumption, and distraction… something deep within you is still listening.
It remembers the earth. It remembers your breath. It remembers truth.
The Ancestral Journeys at Casa Del Sol are not an escape from life.
They are a ceremonial return to it.
Held in the heart of Vilcabamba, Ecuador, these sacred 9-day immersions are guided by revered elders who have spent their lives in devotion to plant medicine, indigenous tradition, and integration as a way of being.
This is a portal.
Guided by Elders
Ximena & Santiago: Guardians of the Sacred Casa Del Sol
For decades, Ximena Morales and Santiago Ayala have been walking the path of medicine, service, and reverence. They are wisdom keepers. Their work is devotional.
Through authentic relationships with the plants and the teachings passed down by their own elders, they hold each ceremony as a living prayer, a sacred encounter with your own soul.
Their ability to see, hold, guide, and honor your unique path is what makes this journey unlike any other.
“When you sit with them, you don’t feel like you’re being healed.
You feel like you’re finally safe enough to heal yourself.” ~ Eric Balance
What You Will Experience
Ayahuasca & San Pedro Ceremonies
These are doorways for the committed.
Held beneath the stars or the sun, in sacred open-air malokas surrounded by the breathing presence of nature, you will enter into communion with two of the Earth’s greatest teachers: Ayahuasca, the Vine of the Soul and Huachuma (San Pedro), the Heart of the Mountain.
Ayahuasca is the mirror. The great grandmother. The truth-teller.
She will show you what is hidden. She will show you what you’ve forgotten. She does not punish, she purifies.
Huachuma is the bridge. The wise grandfather. The heart-opener.
He teaches through the body, through beauty, through laughter and light. He walks you into yourself, not with force, with deep love.
Together, these medicines speak the language of your soul and you will understand, not with your mind, with your whole being.
Guided by elders who have devoted their lives to the sacred reciprocity of this work, and held by live music, prayer, silence, and ritual, you are not “taking medicine.” You are being met by Spirit.
“The forest doesn’t tell you what to do. It mirrors who you are.” ~ Eric Balance
You will leave with a deeper capacity to live your questions, in truth, in presence, and in love.
Sweatlodges, Herbal Baths & Rituals
Beyond the master plants, you will be held by the ancient rituals of the 4 elements, song, and touch. These are the most precious and grounding parts of your journey.
To enter the Temazcal is to return to the womb of Pachamama.
It is a ceremony of surrender, a prayer carried on the breath, sung into stone, and born through fire.
Inside this ancient sacred geometric dome, stones are brought to life through flame, becoming Abuelitas, also known as the great mothers ovum glowing red with memory of the origin. Herbs like copal, sage, and cedar awaken and activate the spirit of purification, vitality, and regeneration. Inviting a release not just of sweat, one of story, burden, and ego to reconnect to our most ancient primordial force.
The Temazcal is a place where the mind dissolves.
Where the body is humbled.
Where the soul listens.
With every round, songs echo in the darkness. Prayers rise with the steam. Our heartbeat finds rhythm with the Earth, as the heat burns away what is no longer true.
This is purification through presence.
A death of what was. A birth of what may now begin, in your centre.
Held by trained elders who walk in deep reverence for the traditions of their ancestors, this is not a ritual for show, it is a ceremony of return.
Integration is the Medicine
At Casa Del Sol, integration is the container.
Every moment outside of ceremony is designed to ground your experience into your body and your life. Through guided sharing circles, nature immersion, bodywork, and time in silence, you’ll receive the tools to anchor your insights for lasting change.
This is a Commitment to Yourself
It’s for those who are ready to sit in their own fire and come out transformed. This is for those that understand it will require courage, and honesty, the process can be humbling, and the connection will last forever, its raw, real, and deep.
Those who decide to join will be held in integrity, by people who live and breathe these universal principles every day of their lives, and move forward with discipline.
A Glimpse into the Journey
Day 1: Arrival & Intentions
Welcome to Sacred Ground.
We open the space with presence, respect, and shared intention.
- 8:00 am – Arrival & Welcome Ceremony
- Group Sharing Circle – Set your intentions with Ximena
- Journaling & Fire Release – Let go of the past to welcome what’s coming
- 1:00 pm – Nourishing Lunch
- 2:00 pm – Orientation & Agreements Workshop
- 4:00 pm – Purifying Sweatlodge with Santiago & Ximena
- 7:00 pm – Community Dinner
- 9:00 pm – Ceremony Preparation Meeting
Day 2: San Pedro Mountain Ceremony
Open your heart to the mountains.
A powerful day immersed in nature, guided by San Pedro.
- 7:00 am – Breathwork & Yoga
- 8:15 am – Juices for San Pedro Preparation
- 8:30 am – 6:00 pm – Sacred Mountain Hike & San Pedro Ceremony in the Native Forest Maloka
- 7:00 pm – Dinner
- 9:00 pm – Rest, Reflection, Connection
Day 3: Cleansing the Body, Preparing the Spirit
Let the river wash you clean.
Physical purification and energetic alignment.
- 7:00 am – Hike & Cold Plunge in the River
- 8:30 am – Kambo Ceremony (Physical Detox)
- 1:00 pm – Lunch
- 4:00 pm – Herbal Cleansing Bath
- 6:00 pm – Meditation & Breathwork
- 10:00 pm – Ayahuasca Ceremony in the River Maloka
Day 4: Integration & Creativity
Let what you’ve learned settle into your bones.
A restful, artistic, and communal day.
- 6:00 am – Sunrise Sharing Circle
- 8:00 am – Celebration Breakfast
- 1:00 pm – Lunch
- 3:00 pm – Artistic Expression Workshop
- 7:00 pm – Dinner
- 8:30 pm – Connection Circle
Day 5: Sacred Offerings to the Andes
Honor the Earth that holds you.
Walk with San Pedro and make offerings to the mountains.
- 7:00 am – River Hike & Cold Plunge
- 8:00 am – Juices for the Journey
- 8:30 am – 6:00 pm – Mountain Hike with San Pedro & Traditional Andean Despacho Ceremony
- 7:00 pm – Dinner
- 8:30 pm – Sharing Circle
Optional departure for 5-day participants.
Day 6: Rest & Preparation
Listen inward.
A day for restoration, reflection, and energetic alignment.
- 7:00 am – Restorative Yoga & Meditation
- 9:00 am – Breakfast
- 1:00 pm – Lunch
- Optional: Private Therapies & Integration Sessions
- 10:00 pm – Ayahuasca Ceremony in the River Maloka
Day 7: Dreams & Insights
Let spirit speak.
Receive guidance through dreams, symbols, and integration.
- 6:00 am – Sunrise Sharing Circle
- 7:00 am – Optional Kambo (Additional Fee)
- 8:00 am – Breakfast Celebration
- 1:00 pm – Lunch
- 3:00 pm – Dream Integration Workshop
- 7:00 pm – Dinner
Day 8: Embodiment & Closure
Dance your essence.
Celebrate your transformation through movement and sacred fire.
- 7:00 am – Closing Morning Ritual
- 8:30 am – Breakfast
- 10:00 am – Primal Dance: Embodiment of Freedom
- 1:00 pm – Lunch
- 4:00 pm – Final Sweatlodge
- 7:00 pm – Dinner
- 8:30 pm – Closing Sharing Circle & Fire Ceremony
Day 9: Departure
Carry the medicine home.
Grounded, grateful, and forever transformed.
- 8:30 am – Breakfast
- Farewells & Departures
Why Casa del Sol?
- Deep lineage-based work with medicine keepers who live what they teach
- Intimate groups of 15 or fewer for personalized care
- Sacred spaces crafted in alignment with nature's wisdom
- Full integration support before, during, and available after your journey
You Already Know This is For You
The mind may ask, “Should I?”
And the soul always knows.
If you’ve been searching for real depth, real honesty, and real transformation…
Then this is your time.
Let this be your return.
Join Our Upcoming Ancestral Journey
| Dates | Retreat | Register |
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Jul 02 – 10, 2025 |
9-Day Ancestral Journey Retreat |
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Aug 17 – 25, 2025 |
9-Day Ancestral Journey Retreat |
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Sep 24 – Oct 02, 2025 |
9-Day Ancestral Journey Retreat |
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Oct 21 – 29, 2025 |
9-Day Ancestral Journey Retreat |
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Dec 14 – 22, 2025 |
9-Day Ancestral Journey Retreat |
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 - $1,950
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 - $2,150
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 - $2,350
A comfortable room for one person in the main house with a shared bathroom outside. 1 spot available.
Private Cabin by the River - $2,350
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 - $2,800
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.
Discover New Depths of Consciousness
Visit our family sanctuary and continue the healing journey by applying today.
The sacred mountains and rushing river await!