Essential Information for Your Journey with The Nature Within.
Here’s a dedicated space designed to guide and support you on your transformative journey with us. We are committed to providing a nurturing environment where you can reconnect with your inner self and the natural world, fostering personal growth and healing.
Within this hub, you’ll find comprehensive information to prepare for your retreat experience. From general FAQs addressing common inquiries to retreat-specific details, our aim is to ensure you feel informed and confident as you embark on this path. Should you have any further questions, our team is here to assist you every step of the way.
We understand that plans can change. Please get in touch with us immediately if you need to make adjustments or discuss your options. Your cooperation allows us to maintain the integrity of our retreats and provide the best experience for everyone involved.
To honor this beautiful commitment, we ask that you review and agree to the following terms:
At The Nature Within, our retreats require thoughtful preparation and care to create a safe and nurturing environment.
We strongly encourage participants to purchase travel insurance to protect against unexpected events such as illness, travel disruptions, or unforeseen emergencies that may prevent attendance.
Thank you for understanding and helping us uphold the sacred space of our work together.
Our retreats prioritize safety and care. Unlike some medicine retreats, ours are supported by a highly experienced team.
The Taitas bring 30 years of experience, the retreat leader has 15 years, and the entire team is well-trained in handling deep healing work. We ensure quality at every level.
For instance, we carefully monitor the origin and preparation of the medicine, including where the plants are harvested, who prepares them, and the prayers infused into the sacred brew.
The Blue Spirit retreat center provides an impeccably maintained space, offering amenities such as nourishing food, a longevity center, ocean views, massages, and beautiful surroundings.
All of this creates a safe haven for us to rest and focus on our healing journey. The retreat leader Eli is skilled in various self-practice modalities, including meditation, breathwork, and internal family systems.
These practices are integrated with the ceremonies to create an environment that is safe and joyous. Please feel free to reach out if you have any doubts or concerns.
If you were preparing for heart surgery, you would want to ensure that the procedure is performed by the best specialists available. Going to drink plant medicine is like going for a spiritual surgery where we are healing old karmic wounds, clearing energy stagnation in your subtle body, and coming back to wholeness. Who knows if this will be your only time drinking the medicine or if you will come to drink again.
Either way our spiritual growth is the most important thing we can invest in our whole lives. A well-nurtured spiritual path can bring balance and harmony to all other aspects of your life.
At our retreats, we recognize that each individual comes from different backgrounds and requires a unique set of tools to find peace. We integrate a wide range of modalities from various traditions, ensuring you have the most supportive tools to leave empowered and continue your journey toward true freedom.
With The Nature Within team, you can expect excellence and dedicated support. We look forward to supporting you on this transformative journey.
There are many traditions that serve Ayahuasca, each with its own unique approach to ceremonies.
Our ceremonies blend the Inga and Siona traditions. Our teachers are direct descendants of the Inga people but were raised in a Siona community, bringing together these two influences.
The Inga people are renowned botanists with extensive knowledge of jungle flora and remedies for physical, mental, and spiritual ailments.
The Siona tribe, on the other hand, has a profound understanding of the elements used in Yage ceremonies, such as chondur, wyra, ortiga, cuyangillas, and other allies, which enhance the healing process.
Our ceremonies are structured with great care.
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed into the ceremonial space and given time to settle.
The atmosphere is imbued with the vibration of prayer. One of the team members will then provide a detailed introduction, offering practical and spiritual tips to support your journey.
This includes the importance of breathwork to calm the nervous system, guidance on prayer, ways to connect with the Yage, and an overview of the evening’s flow.
Before the ceremony begins, the Taita leading the ceremony will offer ancestral words and pray over the medicine with the team.
The journey starts around 9 p.m. and continues until sunrise. Throughout the night, each participant will receive healing directly from the Taita and the team.
Live musicians will play, and there will be space to dance. A fire will be present, allowing for moments of connection with nature.
In the morning, there will be time for questions and sharing, followed by a talk from the Taita on ancestral wisdom, and a shared breakfast.
We recommend resting during the day. Our lineage often holds two consecutive nights of ceremonies for deeper healing.
The first night may bring up emotions, pains, or traumas as the medicine cleanses the system.
The second night typically offers a lighter, more open experience, allowing for deeper connection and insights.
We all carry various blocks within ourselves, which can stem from genetic lines, excessive thinking, karmic influences, societal pressures, and daily life experiences. These blocks manifest as stagnation in our subtle body, the energy field that connects our consciousness with our physical being.
Ambiwaska engages with us in a profound way by initiating a dialogue with our heart. As the medicine begins its work, it prompts an inner investigation, uncovering old memories or unresolved situations.
This process helps bring to light what has been hidden within our hearts. As the journey unfolds, it becomes a sweet experience of rediscovery. We reconnect with parts of ourselves that may have felt abandoned or neglected.
These aspects are like inner child parts seeking love and attention. By engaging with these parts and understanding their needs, we embark on a healing journey. As we integrate these aspects and achieve inner wholeness, we naturally experience a more harmonious relationship with life.
We cannot make any guarantees. In the end it takes a certain desire and openness from each participant to walk through the door and step into a better life. However, we can guarantee that you will feel loved and supported by a community who will walk you towards the door. We do have many participants that have resolved all sorts of traumas, physical illness and other ailments.
The medicine is a very powerful ally who can support us in this healing process. Sometimes we may leave a retreat with a trauma completely resolved or other times we may leave with new found strength to continue our healing journey.
Of course, it’s important to find a profoundly experienced shaman who knows the mysterious map of plant medicines. However, healing happens through the dialogue between your heart and the spirits. This is the beauty of medicine, as it teaches us to be our healers.
The most important thing is to ask your heart. Inside all of us, there is a calling to live with more love and to uncover our innate freedom. It is our journey to find what tools can support us in this inner discovery and to find a community in that exact search so we can remind each other when we inevitably fall off the path.
If you have never tried the medicine before and something is drawing you towards it then it’s worth a try. Ultimately, it may not be a path you continue to follow, but it could also bring a beautiful shift in your life. If there is hesitancy around joining, know you can go at your own pace.
For example, if you prefer to start with a small amount, you can share this with us during your consultation, and we will work with you accordingly. Taita Juan always explains that this is a path of patience so that we can find an appropriate rhythm.
The most important thing is to listen to your heart and see if you feel called to work with plant medicine. This is just one of many paths, all of which lead to the same destination: existential liberation.
Each of us is unique—we carry different lineages, face different blocks, and require different tools to support our awakening. Plant medicines are particularly powerful in their ability to assist in our healing journey.
If you feel this call, it’s likely your spirit is signaling that this may be helpful for your next steps in awakening. You are also free to try the medicine and see if it resonates with you. If it doesn’t, there are many other paths to explore. However, it’s essential to experience plant medicine within an authentic lineage, where you’ll be held safely and receive proper support.
Our retreats are very safe. However, this is not always the case with all medicine retreats. At our retreats we have a highly experienced team who is supporting you during the whole week. The Taita’s have 30 years of experience, the retreat leader has 15 years of experience and the entire team is well trained. We recognize that it is deep healing work that is happening on our retreats and as a result we need to be held appropriately.
We ensure quality at all levels. As an example, we know where the medicine comes from, who cooks it, how they have prepared it, where they harvested the plants from and most importantly what prayers are going into this sacred brew we will be drinking. You will also see that the Blue Spirit retreat centers is an impeccably held space which gives us a sort of cushion to rest on. The food, longevity center, ocean, massages, and just beautiful spaces all around.
The retreat leader Eli is very experienced in many different modalities of self-practice such as meditation, breath work and internal family systems. These practices are woven together around the ceremonies to create an environment that is safe and joyous. Feel free to always reach out if you have any doubts or concerns.
THE CLOSEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO BLUE SPIRIT IS LIBERIA INT’L AIRPORT (LIR)
Approximately a two-hour drive, Blue Spirit has multiple shuttles picking up guests at the Liberia Airport on Saturdays ONLY. Note: shuttle not included. According to the arrival times of all major airlines, there are group shuttle pickup times ranging between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. for all flights arriving from midday to early afternoon, and between 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. for all flights arriving in the evening.
You can book your shuttle to/from LIR airport here.
***IMPORTANT: Please reserve your shuttle on the Thursday prior to your arrival before 12pm CST at the latest. Transportation requests and/or changes after this deadline must be made directly via e-mail to [email protected] or via a phone call. If you are already in Costa Rica dial +506 2656-8300, otherwise please call our US number (845) 684-2007.
Shuttle reservations sent via this form later than Thursday prior your arrival 12pm CST are NOT processed, even though you may receive a confirmation e-mail.
If you are arriving out of schedule contact Blue Spirit for options at [email protected]
If flying through SJO airport (4 hours driving distance), we recommend this transportation company.
Upon request, booking a private taxi is possible but there is limited availability for this service.
If you would like to arrive early or stay extra nights, please contact Blue Spirit directly: [email protected]
The Nature Within reserves the right to cancel a program at any time. If The Nature Within cancels a program, you will receive a full refund. A refund, minus 3% stripe fee of your room cost and a $200 processing fee, will be offered for cancellations made on or before the close of business, 45 days before each program. No refund or credit will be offered for cancellations made with less than 45 days notice; if you do not show up; or if you leave a program early.
We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance, which insures you against unforeseen sickness, injury, job loss, inclement weather, and more.
Blue Spirit is located in Nosara, Guanacaste in the Nicoya Peninsula. It is about 2.5 hours from the Liberia airport and is located on the beach. It is approximately a 10 minute drive from the town of Nosara.
For more location details, visit this link.
The retreats at Blue Spirit are from Saturday to Saturday. The first retreat activity takes place on Saturday evening and the last one is Friday evening. Arrivals and departures are best on Saturdays.
Due to the nature of this retreat, we ask all the participants to stay for the whole week. The first days are designed to prepare you for the ceremonies and after the ceremonies, there are integration tools that will be shared. Everything is important. Please, if you need to leave, contact a team member.
CHECK IN & CHECK OUT TIMES
General Check In time for all rooms is 4:00 p.m.
General Check Out time for all rooms is 10:00 a.m.
Guests’ luggage can be stored at the Front Desk at no charge before or after the indicated hours on arrival and departure days.
If you would like to arrive early or stay extra, please see the answer to this question below.
Upon request, Blue Spirit will do its best to provide for special meal needs (such as lactose intolerance, food allergies, …etc.). We require that these requests be communicated at least 2 weeks in advance. Please communicate your request to the organizer of your program. Please keep in mind that a huge variety of non-allergic products are not as easily available in Costa Rica (as for example in the U.S.). Once you have arrived and settled in please ask for the Chef to discuss your needs and how we may assist you.
An additional way of satisfying special meal needs is our PURE FOOD OPTION, which is part of our daily buffet style served lunch and dinner: offering of greens, grain, and legume (beans) without oils or seasoning.
Also, we have a refrigerator where guests can store their medications ONLY.
WHAT-TO-BRING-LIST
Don’t forget to pack: Beach-towel, Camera/batteries/charger, alarm clock, sunscreen, sun hat, bathing suit, water bottle, natural bug repellent, your special medication, and hiking sandals. We also recommend bringing a flashlight if you are staying in an eco-cottage or a tent. Pack a light rain jacket as it does rain often here.
-A water bottle
-Costa Rica is warm but layers are helpful as the temperature can drop in the evenings and the medicine also can cause fluctuations in your body temperature.
-A flashlight
-Socks
-Bring comfortable clothes, we traditionally use white during ceremonies, but any color is fine. the most important thing is to be comfortable.
-You may want to bring some sacred objects: crystals, essentials oils and any other sacred objects. The Taita can bless these objects for you in the ceremonies.
-You can bring a photo of a family member or friend that is suffering severely from a mental or physical illness and the Taita will offer healing to them from distance in the ceremony.
-Bring a swimsuit and a travel towel or shawl for the steam baths we offer that help integrate your experience
This is a base example of what the retreat schedule will look like for the week, but this will vary from retreat to retreat in part depending on what guest teachers we have who will be leading classes.
Due to the nature of this retreat, we ask all the participants to stay for the whole week. The first days are designed to prepare you for the ceremonies and after the ceremonies, there are integration tools that will be shared. Everything is important. Please, if you need to leave, contact a team member.
Saturday –
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Arrival Time & Check In
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner
7.30pm – 8.30pm Welcome gathering
Sunday –
7:00 am – 8:00 am Yoga Class
8:00 am – 9:00 am Breakfast
9:30 am – 10:15 am Blue Spirit Orientation
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Framing Retreat and Group Introduction
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Ancestral Plant Wisdom Talk with Taita
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner
Monday –
7:00 am – 8:30 am Yoga Class
8:00 am – 9:00 am Breakfast
8:00 am – 12:00 am Consultations with Taita
8:30 am – 12:00 Plant Steam Showers
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Light or no Lunch
1:30 pm – 6:30 pm Rest and Relaxation Before 1st Ceremony
6:30 pm – 7:00 am Sacred Ancestral Plant Medicine Ceremony
Tuesday –
7:00 am – 9:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am – 8:30 pm Rest and Relaxation
1230 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch
6:30 pm – 7:00 am Sacred Ancestral Plant Medicine
Ceremony
Wednesday–
7:00 am – 9:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am – 7:30 pm Rest and relaxation
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Sound healing
Thursday–
7:00 am – 8:00 am Yoga
8:00 am – 9:00 am Breakfast
8:30 am – 12:00 Steams
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch
4:00 – 5:30 pm Ancestral Plant Wisdom Talk with Taita
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner
Friday –
7:00 am – 8:00 am Yoga Class
8:00 am – 9:00 am Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:00pm Spiritual Payment
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch
2:30 pm – 6:00 pm Closing circle & celebration dance
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner
Saturday–
8:00 am – 9:00 am Breakfast
09:00 am – Returning Home
This Retreat Schedule is subject to change, depending on the energy of the group. We take each retreat in its uniqueness and will alter the retreat as we feel is best fit for transformation and spiritual growth of the whole group and for each participant!
Blue Spirit is a retreat center that receives groups who check in on Saturdays and check out the following Saturday. The possibility of extending your stay would depend on Blue Spirit‘s availability for the week before/after our retreat. If you would like to extend your stay, we recommend you contact Blue Spirit directly to check availability for your room type: [email protected]
Customs Information:
When arriving at Immigration in Bogotá, provide the following address and telephone number at customs:
– Address: Finca Villasantana, Villagarzón, Putumayo, Colombia
– Tel: (+57) 3224238251
Travel Recommendations:
– Arrival in Bogotá: It is important to fly to Bogotá the day before the retreat and stay in a hotel for one night. Additionally, plan to spend one night in a hotel after the retreat.
– Flight to Putumayo:
– Take a short flight from Bogotá to Villagarzón with Satena Airlines.
– Satena is not a reliable airline and may change flight times by many hours, so be prepared for potential changes in your travel plans.
– The Satena website can be challenging to use and only accepts certain bank cards. If a card doesn’t work, try another bank card or ask a friend to help with the purchase. Satena offers only one flight per day, so it’s important to book your ticket well in advance.
– Once booked, please send us your flight information to Bogotá and Villagarzón ASAP, including the airline name, flight number, and landing time.
– Airport Terminal: Flights to Villagarzón depart from the domestic terminal at El Dorado International Airport (BOG), which is just a three-minute drive from the main airport.
Shuttle Service:
– The price of the retreat includes a shuttle from Villagarzón Airport to Ambiwasi Putumayo. We will be there to meet you on arrival day and shuttle you back on departure day.
Hotel Suggestions in Bogotá:
– Past participants have stayed at the Aloft Hotel, the Courtyard Marriott, and the Holiday Inn.
– Airbnb is also a great option in Bogotá, but hotels can be more convenient for a one-night stay.
The Nature Within reserves the right to cancel a program at any time. If The Nature Within cancels a program, you will receive a full refund. A refund, minus 3% stripe fee of your room cost and a $200 processing fee, will be offered for cancellations made on or before the close of business, 45 days before each program. No refund or credit will be offered for cancellations made with less than 45 days notice; if you do not show up; or if you leave a program early.
We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance, which insures you against unforeseen sickness, injury, job loss, inclement weather, and more.
Retreat Schedule Example:
This schedule is a base example and will vary from depending on what is needed for the most healing experience for us all.
Due to the nature of this retreat, we ask all participants to stay for the entire duration. The initial days are designed to prepare you for the ceremonies, and after the ceremonies, integration tools will be shared. Every part of the retreat is important.
Sunday, Oct 20:
– 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Arrival Time & Check-In
– 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Dinner
Monday, Oct 21:
– 7:00 am – 8:00 am: Breathwork / Meditation with Eli
– 8:00 am – 9:00 am: Breakfast
– 10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Ancestral Plant Wisdom Talk with Taita
– 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch
– 1:00 pm – 3:40 pm: Consultations with Taita Carlos
– 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Plant Steam Showers
– 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Dinner
Tuesday, Oct 22:
– 6:30 am: Purgative Bobinsana
– 8:00 am – 9:00 am: Breakfast
– 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Steam Showers
– 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch
– 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Jungle Hike and River Swim
– 5:30 pm – 7:00 am: Sacred Ancestral Plant Medicine Ceremony
Wednesday, Oct 23:
– 8:00 am – 9:00 am: Breakfast
– 9:00 am – 10:30 am: Steam Showers
– 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch
– 6:30 pm – 7:00 am: Sacred Ancestral Plant Medicine Ceremony
Thursday, Oct 24:
– 7:00 am – 9:00 am: Breakfast
– 9:00 am – 10:30 am: Steam Showers
– 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch
– 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: River Swim
– 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Dinner
Friday, Oct 25:
– 7:00 am – 8:00 am: Qigong and Breathwork
– 8:00 am – 9:00 am: Breakfast
– 10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Spiritual Payment
– 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch
– 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Steam Showers
– 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Dinner
Saturday, Oct 26:
– 6:30 am – 1:30 pm: Ancestral Plant Medicine Ceremony Day
– 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Lunch
– 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Steam Showers
– 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Dinner
Sunday, Oct 27:
– 6:30 am – 1:30 pm: Ancestral Plant Medicine Ceremony Day
– 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Lunch
– 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Steam Showers
– 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Dinner
Monday, Oct 28:
– 8:00 am – 9:00 am: Breakfast
– 9:30 am – 11:30 am: Consultations with Taita
– 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch
– 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Steam Showers
– 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Meditation and Qigong
– 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Dinner
Tuesday, Oct 29:
– 8:00 am – 9:00 am: Breakfast
– 10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Ancestral Plant Wisdom Talk with Taita
– 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch
– 3:00pm – 4:30 pm: Plant Steam Showers
– 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Dinner
– 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm: Celebration Fire
Wednesday, Oct 30:
– 8:00 am – 9:00 am: Breakfast
– 9:30 am: Departure Day
This retreat schedule is subject to change, depending on the energy of the group. Each retreat is unique, and adjustments will be made to best fit the transformation and spiritual growth of the group and each participant.
Ambiwasi Putumayo is located about 15 minutes from local city Villagarzon or about 25 minutes from the Villagarzon airport.. This center is located in department of Putumayo in Colombia which borders Ecuador.
Putumayo is part of the Amazon Basin and is known for its incredible biodiversity. The department is characterized by its lush jungles, rivers, and diverse ecosystems. The Putumayo River, a major tributary of the Amazon River, runs through the region.
Putumayo is also the key center of the Yage tradition in Colombia and is home to many medicinal plants. In Putumayo, you find Indigenous tribes, including the Ingano, Siona, Kofan, and Kamentsá. These communities have rich traditions and maintain a deep connection to the land and its natural resources.
The retreat is from Oct 20th to 30th. The first retreat activity takes place on Oct 21st and last activity is on the night of Oct 29th.
Due to the nature of this retreat, we ask all the participants to stay for the whole ten days. The first days are designed to prepare you for the ceremonies. After the ceremonies we have particular activities and tools that will be shared as we go back into life. Everything is important.
Upon request, Ambiwasi Putumayo will do its best to provide for special meal needs (such as lactose intolerance, food allergies, …etc.). We require that these requests be communicated upon registration. Please keep in mind that a huge variety of non-allergic products are not as easily available in Colombia (as for example in the U.S.). Once you have arrived and settled in you can please check in with the organizers of the retreat.
Packing and Preparation:
Upon Arrival:
– We will take you to a local store to buy affordable rain boots and a hammock. The rain boots are essential for walking through the jungle, and the hammock will also be used during the ceremonies.
Clothing:
– A couple of good pairs of socks for rain boots
– Raincoat and layers (it is warm but can cool down at night)
– Shorts, t-shirts, a sunhat, and sunscreen
– A bathing suit and a water bottle for hot days
– A thin piece of cloth to wrap around your bathing suit, such as a lungi or shawl (please avoid speedo-type or overly exposing bathing suits)
– Natural insect repellent
– Comfortable shoes for walking outside and flip-flops
– A small flashlight or head torch for nighttime
Toiletries:
– Due to all waste going to the land, please do not bring non-plant-based toiletries and cosmetics.
– Bring your own biodegradable products such as soap, toothpaste, shampoo, moisturizer, deodorant, and sunscreen. Many products marketed as “natural” contain chemicals, so please read the ingredient list.
Additional Items:
– A small mirror if you like
– Vitamins and minerals
– Extra batteries for any of your devices
Books:
– If reading is important for you, we recommend books on spirituality, nature, healing, philosophy, or personal development to keep you focused on your purpose and intention.
Sacred Items:
– Bring something personally significant and sacred for which you can ask for a blessing from the Taita during one of the ceremonies (e.g., crystals, amulets, etc.).
Creative Materials:
– You can channel your healing process using creative materials such as pens, paper, paints, crafts, and musical instruments.
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Feel free to let me know if there are any other details you’d like to include or adjust.
We’re here to support you on your journey towards spiritual growth and personal transformation.
If you have any questions that aren’t covered here, we’re here to help. Our team is dedicated to ensuring you feel fully prepared and supported as you embark on your retreat experience. Whether you need clarification on logistics, guidance on preparation, or any other assistance, we’re just an email away.
For any inquiries, reach out to us at [email protected], and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. We look forward to supporting you on your journey with The Nature Within.