With Taita Carlos and Eli Rechtschaffen at Putumayo, Colombia
November 2 – 12, 2025
If one genuinely wants to delve into the mystery of medicine, it must happen in the birthplace of the medicine itself, where we are protected by spirits and the energy has remained pure. For this reason, we are offering this upcoming deep study with Taita Carlos.
Anyone who wishes to join must have a certain degree of spiritual work behind them, be stable within themselves, and have worked with Ayahuasca several times before. Studying with Taita Carlos in the jungle is a unique experience.
During the day, we will drink raw medicine. The location for our ceremonies is not a traditional ceremonial space but a handcrafted area we have created to keep our connection with the medicine intimate. During this retreat, we will have jungle walks to learn about the plants of Putumayo, sit in ancestral medicine talks with Taita Carlos, and much more.
The ayahuasca vine contains beta-carboline alkaloids, and Chacruna or Chagropanga are sources of DMT. This combination of alkaloids prevents DMT degradation by MAO, enabling its psychoactive effects.
DMT, which is structurally similar to serotonin, binds to serotonin receptors, particularly 5-HT2A, responsible for its hallucinogenic effects.
Some studies suggest that DMT may promote neuroplasticity, contributing to Ayahuasca’s long-lasting psychological benefits like improved mood and relief from depression and anxiety.
Functional MRI studies show Ayahuasca enhances connectivity between brain regions involved in introspection, emotional processing, and memory, aiding the processing of repressed emotions or trauma.
Eli was born in upstate New York and since a young age he has felt a strong connection with the spirits of nature. In his journey he found that the paths of meditation and shamanism have provided him the most supportive awakening tools. Eli is a long-time practitioner of meditation where he has studied in many lineages and spent intensive time in retreats and in silence. He also has frequented the Amazon jungle and there he studied the medical plant medicines through the tutelage of the Ingano tribe. Eli is the founder of The Nature Within and leads medicine retreats in Costa Rica with the Taita Chindoy family. His life intention is to bring these sacred healing tools to all beings in order to support the collective awakening.
Taita Carlos is a medicine man, botanist, and healer from the Ingano Indigenous tribe of Putumayo, Colombia. From a young age, Carlos has been devoted to the art of healing, studying Yage plant medicine. He has learned from many grandparents and elders of the Yage tradition, with the jungle itself being his main teacher. Taita Carlos has spent extensive time traversing the jungles of Putumayo, absorbing its deep inner wisdom.
Taita Carlos offers genuine wisdom teachings. Despite his profound knowledge, he can easily transform into a friend or even a playful child, laughing at life. He is one of the most remarkable healers I have ever worked with, helping many to heal from what once seemed impossible. Taita Carlos is a true gift to the world.
Our retreats are grounded in safety, care, and experience. We are supported by a highly skilled team, with our teachers bringing over 30 years of wisdom, our retreat leader offering 15 years of dedicated service, and the entire team trained to hold space for deep healing work.
At the heart of our retreats is Ambiwaska medicine, making its proper preparation a sacred priority. With deep intention, we carefully oversee every step—from selecting where the medicine is harvested to how it is prepared and the prayers infused into its cooking. We also ensure that the plants are harvested sustainably, honoring a right relationship with Mother Nature.
Finally, you will arrive at the serene retreat setting of Blue Spirit, where nourishing meals, a longevity center, ocean views, and wellness treatments await you. This peaceful sanctuary allows you to fully rest, renew, and immerse yourself in the journey of transformation.
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 Kamsa. These communities have rich traditions and maintain a deep connection to the land and its natural resources.
Ambiwasi Putumayo is a healing center dedicated to facilitating an in-depth study of the Yagé tradition. It is located in the Amazon basin, surrounded by lush jungles and rivers.
This center was established as a pillar of conservation and support for the ancestral wisdom and traditions of the tribes in Putumayo. As you walk along the property, you will find an abundance of medicinal plants, which are used in healing rituals and for study.
The center offers a variety of accommodations to suit your needs, including private or shared cabins with bathrooms as well as shared rooms. We look forward to welcoming you soon.
Boost your health and vitality during the week.
Savor three gourmet healthy meals daily.
Enjoy mountain and jungle views from the pool.
Visit the turtle refuge along the beach.
Relax with a variety of beverages in the café.
Bring home a gift from Costa Rica.
Free wireless available throughout the main building and rooms.
It is mandatory to read our Safety Guidelines prior to booking.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ambiwasi Putumayo is about 15 minutes from the local city of Villagarzon or about 25 minutes from the Villagarzon airport. This center is located in the 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 critical 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 Kamsa. These communities have rich traditions and connect deeply to the land and its natural resources.
The retreat is from October 20th to 30th. The first retreat activity is on October 21st, and the last activity is on the night of October 29th.
Due to the nature of this retreat, we ask all the participants to stay for 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 return to life. Everything is important.
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
Toiletries
Books
Sacred Items
Creative Materials
Arrival in Bogota: It is important to fly to Bogota 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:
Airport Terminal: Flights to Villagarzon depart from the domestic terminal at El Dorado International Airport (BOG), just a three-minute drive from the main airport.
Shuttle Service: The retreat price includes a shuttle from Villagarzon Airport to Ambiwasi Putumayo. We will meet you on arrival day and shuttle you back on departure day.
Hotel Suggestions in Bogota:
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.
Whether you’re looking for a private ceremony, a tailored retreat, or ongoing mentorship, we’re here to create a personalized path that resonates with your soul. Get in touch today to start designing your unique journey.