The Jungle's Heartbeat

With Taita Carlos and Eli Rechtschaffen at Putumayo, Colombia

November 2 – 12, 2025

RETREATS + FACILITATORS FEATURED IN

10 days of deep study and healing in the jungle!

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.

Nature Immersion, Profound Study

How does Ayahuasca Work?

What You Will Receive

Two yage night ceremonies

Two yage day ceremonies with raw medicine

Ancestral wisdom talks with Taita Carlos

Plant purgative with bobinsana

Multiple private consultations with Taita

River bathing

Jungle walks

Daily steam showers with medicinal plants

Closing fire ceremony celebration

Meet our team

Medicine-Man and Founder

Eli Rechtschaffen

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. 

Medicine-Man and Botanist

Taita Carlos Chindoy

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.

Why retreat with us

 

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.

Where will the retreat take place?

Putumayo, Colombia

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

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.

what people say

Testimonials

Retreat Amenities include

Detox Cleanse Program

Boost your health and vitality during the week.

Gourmet Cuisine

Savor three gourmet healthy meals daily.

Saltwater Infinty Pool

Enjoy mountain and jungle views from the pool.

Guiones Beach

Visit the turtle refuge along the beach.

Cafe

Relax with a variety of beverages in the café.

Store

Bring home a gift from Costa Rica.

Wireless Internet

Free wireless available throughout the main building and rooms.

Your safety is our priority.

It is mandatory to read our Safety Guidelines prior to booking.

For our sisters joining

Please take note that, in this tradition, women who are pregnant or on their menstrual cycle do not participate in the ceremonies. If you have your cycle during the retreat and can’t partake in the plant medicine ceremonies. In our retreats, we always have a moon ceremony for you.

Program Pricing

Total Investment

Room Rate + Program Fee

Program Fee
$1,800

+

Room Rate
($1,000 - $1,500)

Total Investment

$2,900 - $3,300

depending on the room you choose

Initial Deposit
$800
to secure your space

FAQS

Read through some of the commonly asked questions below. If you still have a question, feel free to email the team for support at [email protected]

Read through some of the commonly asked questions below. If you still have a question, feel free to email the team for support at connect@
thenaturewithinus.com

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.

Key Practical Information

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

  • 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 night time

Toiletries

  • Due to all waste going to the land, please do not bring non-plant-based toiletries and cosmetics.
  • Bring your biodegradable products such as soap, toothpaste, shampoo, moisturizer, deodorant, and sunscreen. Many products marketed as “natural” contain chemicals, so please read the ingredient list.

Books

  • If reading is important, 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.

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:

  • Take a short flight from Bogota to Villagarzon with Satena Airlines.
  • Satena is unreliable and may change flight times by many hours, so be prepared for potential changes in your travel plans.
  • The Satena website can be challenging 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 booking your ticket well in advance is essential.
  • Once booked, please send us your flight information to Bogota and Villagarzón as soon as possible, including the airline name, flight number, and landing time.

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:

  • Past participants have stayed at the Aloft Hotel, the Courtyard Marriott, and the Holiday Inn.
  • Airbnb is also a great option in Bogota, but hotels can be more convenient for a one-night stay.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

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:

  • Cancellations made 45 days or more before the retreat start date will be refunded minus a $200 processing fee. The $200 processing fee covers administrative costs associated with booking and cancellation. Additionally, the 5% credit card processing fee is non-refundable.
  • Cancellations made within 45 days of the retreat start date are not eligible for a refund.
  • Refunds or credits will not be issued if you are a ‘no-show’ or have an early departure.
  • In certain situations, we may offer a credit toward a future retreat.
  • Credits are valid 12 months from the issue date and can only be applied once.
  • If a credit is applied to a deposit and the participant does not attend, the credit will be forfeited.
  • An additional deposit will be required if a credit is applied to a future retreat.
  • If The Nature Within cancels a retreat for any reason, participants will receive a full refund of all payments made.

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.

Design Your Own Healing Experience

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.