Group Journeys & Ceremonies
Hosting Collectives and Spiritual Groups
We welcome established groups, yoga communities, psychotherapists, and spiritual organizers who wish to bring their collectives for immersive retreats. We offer a space of total safety, isolation from the modern world, and deep communal immersion.
What the Experience Includes
Feature Description: Traditional Maloka Ceremonies are held in our new Maloka (sacred longhouse), built to harmonize spiritual energy. Traditional Nutrition: Meals prepared by the community using locally sourced, organic Amazonian ingredients aligned with the Yagé diet. Cultural Exchange Opportunities to learn about Inga crafts, language, traditional agriculture (chagra), and music.
The Protocol of Respect (The Diet)
Sitting with Yagé requires preparation. We ask all visiting groups to adhere strictly to the traditional Inga diet guidelines at least 7 days prior to arrival:
No sex or sexual activity.
No red meat, pork, or heavy fats.
No alcohol, cannabis, or pharmaceutical drugs (a full medical screening is mandatory).
A spirit of humility and openness.
Ethical Reciprocity & Sustainability
Where Your Contribution Goes
When you organize a group visit to San Miguel Castellana, your financial exchange is transparent and deeply impactful. It is divided directly among:
Territorial Defense: Funding the legal and physical protection of our ancestral forests.
Elder Support: Ensuring our Taitas and Mamitas have healthcare and resources to pass their knowledge to the next generation.
Community Infrastructure: Improving clean water access and education for the children of San Miguel Castellana.
The Architecture of the Journey:
A journey to San Miguel Castellana is not a passive retreat; it is an active participation in the living culture of the Inga people. We host group journeys designed to balance profound spiritual work with cultural education, somatic integration, and territorial connection.
Below is the expanded framework and a sample itinerary for group organizers to understand the flow of an immersion at the confluence of our rivers.
A 5-Day Sample Itinerary
This itinerary is designed for groups of 8 to 20 participants. It respects the physical toll of the medicine while maximizing the healing properties of our unique territory.
Phase 1: Arrival & Harmonization
Day 1: Crossing the Waters
Morning: Arrival in Villagarzon or Puerto Asís, followed by private ground transport to the maloka.
Afternoon: Welcome by the community leaders and settlement into the maloka.
Evening: Circulo de Palabra (Opening Circle) in the Maloka. Introduction to the community guidelines, safety protocols, and setting of collective intentions with the host Taita.
Day 2: The Spiritual Wash (Limpieza)
Morning: Traditional cleansing bath at the exact mouth of the Río Alguacil. The cool, pristine mountain waters are used to sweep away heavy energies (buen aire) before meeting the medicine.
Afternoon: Rest and light fasting. Individual diagnostic consultations with the Taita.
Night (Ceremony 1): The Introduction. The first encounter with El Remedio (Yagé). Focus is on physical cleansing, aligning the energetic body, and introducing oneself to the spirit of the jungle.
Phase 2: Integration & Deepening
Day 3: Grounding in the Chagra
Late Morning: A late, gentle breakfast aligned with the post-ceremony diet.
Afternoon: Walk through the communal Chagra (ancestral food forest). Group members help harvest yuca, plantains, and medicinal herbs, learning how the Inga cultivate life.
Evening: Integration circle led by the group leader, supported by an elder who helps interpret the symbols and visions of the first night.
Night (Ceremony 2): The Deep Descent. The second ceremony. With the body cleansed, this night moves deeper into personal healing, ancestral lineages, and spiritual vision.
Phase 3: Radiance & Returning
Day 4: Connecting to All
Morning/Afternoon: Traditional music sharing. The youth of San Miguel Castellana share ancestral songs and dances, fostering a joyful cultural exchange.
Night into Dawn (Ceremony 3): The Crowning. A traditional Inga sunrise ceremony. This final night focuses on clarity, protection, and receiving the blessings of the Taita to carry back to the modern world.
Day 5: Closing the Circle
Morning: Final closing circle and gift exchange with the community artisans.
Afternoon: Departure to begin the journey home.
Roles & Responsibilities: Co-Hosting with Us
To ensure absolute safety and respect for the territory, we operate on a model of shared responsibility:
What the Inga Community Provides
Spiritual Sovereignty: Authentic Taitas, pure medicine, and sacred spaces (Maloka).
Logistics & Care: All internal transport, local organic food.
Emergency Support: Traditional plant remedies for physical distress and local emergency transport links.
What the Group Leader Provides
Participant Selection: Thorough vetting of participants' mental and emotional stability.
Translation & Facilitation: Bridging the language/cultural gap (if Western integration models are used).
Medical History: Collecting and sharing mandatory medical/pharmaceutical intake forms 15 days prior.
Safety, Integrity, and Respect: Medical Intake & Safety Policy
Protecting the Medicine, the Lineage, and You
At San Miguel Castellana, we treat Yagé as a profound, sacred medicine—a living consciousness capable of deep physical and spiritual healing. Because it is highly potent, it interacts directly with the human nervous, cardiovascular, and biochemical systems.
Spiritual safety cannot exist without physical safety. To protect our visitors, our community, and the ancestral lineage of our Taitas, we enforce a strict medical screening process. Group leaders are required to ensure every participant reviews, understands, and fully discloses their medical history according to these guidelines.
Absolute Contraindications (Exclusions)
The following conditions are strictly incompatible with Yagé. Individuals presenting with any of these conditions cannot participate in ceremonies at our territory for their own physical safety.
1. Cardiovascular Conditions
Yagé temporarily elevates blood pressure and heart rate. It is strictly forbidden for anyone with a history of:
Severe or uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure).
Prior heart attacks, strokes, or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
Aneurysms, heart valve diseases, or arrhythmias (e.g., atrial fibrillation).
Pacemakers or artificial heart valves.
2. Psychiatric & Psychological Conditions
While Yagé can offer profound emotional clarity, its intense visionary landscape can destabilize certain psychological structures. We cannot accept individuals with a history or diagnosis of:
Schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders.
Bipolar Disorder (Type I or II) involving manic or psychotic episodes.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or severe dissociative disorders.
Active suicidal ideation or recent severe self-harm.
3. Advanced Physical Illnesses
The physical purging process (la purga) places significant stress on the internal organs. Disqualifying conditions include:
Advanced liver disease (cirrhosis, severe hepatitis).
Severe kidney insufficiency or renal failure.
Active stomach ulcers or severe gastrointestinal bleeding.
Pregnancy (Yagé acts as a powerful uterine stimulant and can induce labor or miscarriage).
Medication & Substance Interventions
Yagé contains Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs). Combining MAOIs with certain pharmaceutical drugs or recreational substances can cause a fatal medical emergency known as Serotonin Syndrome or severe hypertensive crises.
The Screening and Intake Process
To ensure seamless coordination between group leaders and our community, we utilize a three-step validation process:
Step 1: The Group Leader Vetting
The group organizer must distribute our comprehensive, confidential Medical History Questionnaire to all prospective participants at least 45 days prior to travel.
Step 2: Community & Taita Review
Completed medical forms are securely shared with our community coordination team. If any red flags or ambiguous medical histories arise, they are brought directly to our lead Taita. The Taita reserves the absolute right to refuse access to the medicine to anyone deemed spiritually or physically unready.
Step 3: On-Site Diagnostic
Upon arrival at San Miguel Castellana, before any medicine is poured, the Taita conducts a brief, traditional pulse-reading and energetic consultation with each individual to confirm their readiness.
Direct Transparency Agreement
By organizing or joining a group journey to San Miguel Castellana, you enter into a sacred agreement of honesty (Verdad). Withholding medical information, hiding substance use, or failing to strictly follow the pre-ceremony diet does not just endanger the individual—it disrupts the collective energy of the Maloka and places an undue spiritual burden on our elders.
We walk this path together, rooted in transparency, so that the medicine may do its work safely and beautifully.
Preparing for the Territory: Logistics, Packing, and Travel
The Journey is Part of the Medicine
Traveling to San Miguel Castellana is not a standard vacation; it is a pilgrimage into the heart of the Putumayo. The physical transition from the modern world to our ancestral lands is the beginning of your purification.
Because our community sits at the remote confluence of the Putumayo River and the Río Alguacil, reaching us requires preparation, mindfulness, and a willingness to adapt to the rhythm of the jungle.
1. Getting Here: The Transit Route
Your group organizer will coordinate the exact arrival details, but the typical journey to our territory follows this structure:
Step 1: The Flight: Fly into Bogotá, followed by a domestic connection to either Puerto Asís or Villagarzón (Mocoa).
Step 2: Overland Transport: Private vehicles will transport your group from the airport to the maloka.
2. Packing for the Putumayo Climate
The environment at the confluence is unique. While the Putumayo lowland is hot and humid, the Río Alguacil brings cold mountain run-off from the Andes, creating a microclimate that can become surprisingly chilly at night—especially during long, still hours in the Maloka.
Essential Gear Checklist
Mandatory Items
Hammock and straps (mosquito net optional)
Recommended Items
* 3–4 pairs of lightweight, long trekking pants
* 4–5 breathable long-sleeve shirts (linen or quick-dry)
* Warm layers (fleece or sweater) for ceremony nights
* Lightweight rain jacket or high-quality poncho
Long sleeves and pants protect against insects and sun. Warm clothes are vital as Yagé can drop your body temperature during the night.
Footwear
* 1 pair of sturdy trail runners or hiking boots
* 1 pair of sandals/flip-flops for around the camp
* Tall socks
The jungle paths can be muddy. Note: We highly recommend purchasing a cheap pair of tall rubber boots ("pantaneras") upon arrival in town.Ceremony Gear
* Flashlight or Headlamp (with a red-light mode)
* Comfort items (a small, packable travel pillow or favorite shawl)
* Water bottle (insulated is best)
White light is highly disruptive during ceremonies. A red-light headlamp allows you to navigate the Maloka safely without disturbing others.Personal Care
* Strictly biodegradable soap, shampoo, and toothpaste
* Eco-friendly insect repellent (citronella or eucalyptus-based)
* Mineral sun protection
All greywater returns to our sacred rivers. Chemical toxins, synthetic fragrances, and heavy DEET repellents are strictly forbidden to protect the aquatic ecosystem.
3. Physical & Mental Preparation
To make your transition into the jungle as smooth as possible, we ask your group to implement these practices in the weeks leading up to departure:
Digital Detox
Cellular service and internet are virtually nonexistent in San Miguel Castellana. We view this as a profound blessing. Inform your family and business contacts that you will be completely offline. Prepare your mind to transition away from constant notifications and into the natural auditory landscape of the Amazon.
Somatic Grounding
The jungle operates on natural time. Walks may be slippery, schedule adjustments may happen due to river levels or weather, and physical comfort will be simpler than what you are used to. Begin practicing patience and flexibility before you leave home.
Respecting Community Spaces
We welcome you into a living, working indigenous village. We ask that all participants dress modestly out of respect for our families and elders. Please refrain from wandering into private family sectors of the village unless accompanied by your group leader or a local guide.