Retreat Info
About the Retreat:We offer structured, small-group plant medicine retreats on coastal Ecuador, designed for individuals seeking meaningful inner work with the guidance of the master plants Ayahuasca and San Pedro.
We offer 8-day retreats between the months of November-June each year. Over the course of a retreat, guests participate in a carefully scheduled program that includes Ayahuasca and San Pedro (Huachuma) ceremonies, alongside daily integration practices. Each element of the schedule is designed to help participants not only access deep personal insight, but also process and integrate those experiences in a grounded, practical way.
The retreat typically includes:
* 3 Plant Medicine Ceremonies (Usually 2 Ayahuasca Ceremonies & a daytime San Pedro ceremony)
* Preparation and integration support, including group sharing circles
* Daily yoga, with breathwork and meditation
* Sweat lodge purifications (temazcales)
* Cold plunges
* Purification practices such as plant baths and sound healing
* Time for rest, reflection, and connection with nature (we are situated in a quiet valley, just ten minutes walking from a quiet beach)
* 3 plant-based nourishing meals a day, plus snacks and drinks
* AC accommodation with hot water and internet access (if needed)Each retreat has a different activity focus, such as Meditation in November and Detox in January. For example, in November our workshops are focused on meditation practices, whereas in January we share different detox workshops to start the year.
Groups are kept small with a minimum of 6 and maximum of 12 people to ensure personalized attention and a high facilitator-to-participant ratio. All participants go through a screening process prior to acceptance to support safety and readiness.
This retreat is a focused container for deep personal exploration and an intentional pause to retreat inwards.
Our retreat week is designed to not only prepare for the plant medicine ceremonies, but also integrate them and prepare for post-retreat. The retreat offers space to step away from daily life and engage fully in the process, with a supportive team and group by you. It offers a week to reconnect with the elements, reset and restore, for long-lasting transformation.
Description of Services:The whole retreat week is medicine. We share a carefully facilitated sequence of ceremonies and complementary practices, which honour the ancient traditions from which they derive, and are led by our experienced medicine guides:
- Ayahuasca ceremonies (during the night in our maloka, with cushions, blankets, music and facilitator support)
- San Pedro (Huachuma) ceremonies (usually during the daytime, typically outdoors and nature-based if weather allows. Alternatively we do a night ceremony around the fire)
- Sharing circles to help process experiences, share in community, and learn about power animals
- Breathwork, meditation, and yoga designed for the flow of the week to prepare and integrate experiences. All levels, led by our experienced yoga teacher.
- Sweat Lodges: a ceremony in the womb of Mother Earth to purify and release. We share 3-4 sweat lodges in total, pre-ceremony and post-ceremony.
- Preparation guidance prior to arrival and post-retreat integration support
- Workshops: focused on the retreat week, such as meditation workshops, heart technology, and detox practices.
- Other Purification Methods: Such as plant baths, detox drinks, and cleansings.
- Sun & Moon Dynamics: Hwaneetah shares workshops around womb technology, the 13-Moon calendar and sun and moon dynamics. Learn more by watching this interview with Bre from Breathe and Flow.
All ceremonies are conducted in small groups with continuous facilitator presence to support participants throughout the process.
We advise participants to come without expectations or expect outcomes, because experiences are deeply personal and depend on the person, the medicine and intention. There is always a sense of community developed, with many of our participants returning for a second, third, or fourth retreat.
Here are some testimonials, from our WeTravel:
Courtney B:
This is truly the best retreat experience you could ever have. This was my third retreat at Ayllu and I can't wait to go back for a fourth time. Everything is so thoughtfully planned and executed that it feels seamless the whole time you are there. The staff are super kind and make you feel safe and cared for. The food is delicious and made with so much love. The space is beautiful. I can't say enough good things about Ayllu and all they have to offer. Highly highly recommend.
Silke S:
This was my first time experiencing a retreat with Ayllu Medicina and I already know that I will be back for more. First of all - the team is unbelievable! They put so much thought and care into the flow of the schedule and it made for a full and nourishing week that felt balanced and supportive to the work we were doing together. Everyone really lives the values they are teaching - of humbleness, willpower, sincerity and integrity. The team cooked delicious, healthy food that inspired me to take care of my body in new ways. Spiritually, the experience was profound and safe, and there has been a lot of support with integration and opportunities to stay connected post-retreat. This experience changed my life for the better and I’m so grateful to Aime, Hwaneetah, and the whole team!
Anita M:
This was my THIRD time coming to Ayllu Medicina, and I still can’t get enough. The team makes you feel so so so loved and cared for. Sitting with plant medicine can feel vulnerable, but knowing that the Medicine man, woman, and the guardians would be taking care of me every step of the way always puts my mind and heart at so much ease. At this point, the medicine has become secondary to my experiences - the medicine family is the absolute highlight of the experience. These retreats have truly changed the trajectory of my life in the BEST possible way. Ever since my first retreat three years ago, my life has become so much more rich. I made a huge career shift that feels INCREDIBLY aligned, my relationship with my family has grown deeper, and my trust in myself has continued to grow. My life would not be the same without this family, truly. I love you all so much more than I can say.
Mike S:
Definitely the most deeply transformational and healing experience of my life so far. The love and support from everyone was resounding. I left with indispensable lessons that have changed the way I live my life, including a deep respect and reconnection with Nature and Spirit. Aime, Hwaneetah and the team pour buckets of love and care into sharing and teaching with these sacred medicines. Vanessa's introduction to Ayurveda lives on beyond the dieta and has found a place in my day to day life. Integration has been a profound journey, slowly unfolding in ways I never expected. Aime and Hwaneetah, thank you for sharing your wisdom and the beautiful power of plant medicine. From Emma's steady presence in ceremony, to Mika's joy, to Miguel's dedication, you've all inspired me and have a special place in my heart. I look forward to seeing you all again. Much love, Aho Mitakuye Oyasin!
Practitioners:Aime : Born in France, Aime’s upbringing was truly cross-cultural as he lived between France, Guyana and Martinique. In the year 1999, he traveled to South America in search of Ancestral traditions and power plants. In 2000, he joined the sacred fire of Itzachilatlan and began his initiatory path of Vision Quest, learning directly about this medicine path from the elders of Ecuador. He is now Medicine Man of the Sacred Fire of Itzachilatlan, a medicine family based in the Ecuadorian Andes. He is also a Vision Seeker, Sun Dancer, and Canupa Loader.rosity, and courage can hold ceremonies with it. He has also been given blessings to run Temazcales (sweat lodges), Circles and traditional Ceremonies of Medicine. Aime’s commitment to this path is his life’s purpose – sharing the sacred medicines of the Earth with anyone who feel’s this call for their healing and their spiritual development. He also offers shamanic cleansings and integration sessions. With Hwaneetah, Aime shares his medicine music 'Pájaros de Luz'.
Hwaneetah Calderon is a Colombian-born feminine wisdom teacher, author, and ceremonial guide whose work bridges modern science with ancient feminine knowledge. For more than two decades, she has devoted her life to reviving the cyclical wisdom of the feminine body and guiding women to live in harmony with their natural rhythm.
Born in Colombia, Hwaneetah spent 15 years in the United States studying and working closely with North American Indigenous elders and families, deepening her understanding of ancestral healing, sacred ceremony, and the cyclical nature of the feminine. Her path into shamanic practice began there—through years of immersion in ritual, prayer, and direct connection with the Earth.
She was later initiated and certified in Sacred Geometry by Drunvalo Melchizedek, internationally recognized for his teachings on the Merkaba and the Flower of Life. She continued her studies in Hermetic and Quantum Healing Sciences at the Yotolon Mystery School, where she directed the women’s division for six years and developed a branch of study known as The Technology of the Womb—a synthesis of ancient cyclical teachings, modern hormonal science, and energetic anatomy.
Today, Hwaneetah is known internationally as a Quantum Holonomic Healer, a practice based on the principle that each individual reflects the entire universe. She leads temazcales (sweat lodges), women’s purification rituals, and Ayllu Medicina retreats, where she integrates yoga, energy medicine, and womb-centered healing. Her ceremonies are woven with traditional songs and medicine music from her two albums, Pájaros de Luz and Luz de Selva, available on Spotify.
Hwaneetah has guided women’s circles, taught womb healing and menstrual awareness workshops, and supported thousands of women worldwide through one-on-one “Moon Sessions.” Her teachings have reached a global audience through her public talks, YouTube collaborations, and retreats. Her most viewed talk, Lost Truths About The Divine Feminine Womb Wisdom, featured on Breathe and Flow, has surpassed 500,000 views, making her one of the most recognizable voices in the feminine wisdom space.
With more than 20 years of research, ceremony, and mentorship, Hwaneetah has become a respected voice in the revival of cyclical living—a bridge between ancient feminine intelligence and the modern woman’s search for balance, creativity, and power.
She currently leads international retreats, online programs, and mentoring circles, all centered on one mission:
To awaken women to the sacred rhythm encoded in their bodies—because when women return to rhythm, the world heals with them.Our experienced guides speak Spanish, English, and French.
Team/Medical Staff:The Ayllu Medicina team includes two retreat facilitators trained in first aid, who also sit and support in ceremonies, along with other team members- including a 3rd support team member, our experienced yoga teacher Vanessa (or our selected guest teachers), our local kitchen team, and an additional volunteer if required.
All team members are experienced, with the facilitators also completing their vision quest initiations.
Learn more about our team here: https://www.ayllumedicina.com/ayllu-medicina-team/
We are five minutes from a hospital.Details
Founder(s) / CEO: Hwaneetah & Aime BertotGroup Size: 6-12 peoplePrice Range: $2333 - $2555Our Process
Overview of Experience:At Ayllu Medicina, preparation, ceremony, and integration are understood as interconnected parts. The work is approached with intentionality, respect for ancestral traditions, and a strong emphasis on community support and integration. This begins from initial inquiry into our retreats.
Preparation begins well before the retreat itself. Participants receive guidance through discovery calls, orientation video calls, emails, and a dedicated retreat WhatsApp group designed to help create connection, answer questions, and support preparation. The intention is to help participants arrive feeling informed, grounded, and supported.
During the retreat, the focus is on creating a supportive and intentional container where participants can engage deeply with their experience. Beyond the ceremonies themselves, emphasis is placed on providing practical tools that help participants process and integrate what arises. This includes guided meditations, purification techniques, sharing circles, reflection exercises, and opportunities for meaningful connection within the group. There is also plenty of space for individual reflection and restoration. The approach encourages participants not only to receive insights, but to begin understanding how those insights can be carried into daily life.
Integration is considered one of the most important aspects of the work. Ongoing support is offered after the retreat to help participants continue processing their experiences with care and intention. Participants are also welcomed into the broader Ayllu community through virtual meetups, newsletters, and continued opportunities for connection and reflection. The aim is to share the opportunity for ongoing connection, recognizing that healing and transformation unfold over time and are strengthened through community, and continued practice.
Intake Process:We have an initial booking intake form, then an orientation form, and video call consultation. These steps cover medical history, waivers, and health assessment to check the participant is ready to come to retreat. We always advise participants to also speak with their doctor.
Our orientation call is a chance to get to know you more, answer any questions you have, and ask for any more information we may need from the information you provided on your initial forms. This gives us the chance to check you are able to come to the retreat and meet with the medicines, along with preparing well so we can support you in the best way. We also have time to discuss intentions, logistics, and pre/post-retreat planning if required.
Supplemental Modalities: Daily yoga, sweat lodges, cold plunges, workshops (e.g. heart technology, Ayurveda, meditation, moon and sun dynamics), sharing circles, art time, music... some retreats include a shamanic drum journey.Psychedelic Substances Offered: Ayahuasca, San PedroHow does this Center source medicine?:Ayahuasca: We have a relation with a family in the Amazon who ethically plants and harvests the Ayahuasca. The medicine is prepared on-site by the team.
San Pedro is harvested by us or from our community in the Andes, we prepare the medicine here on the coast.
Practice reciprocity with local communities?: YesPhotos
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