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Ayahuasca & San Pedro Shamans in Ecuador Retreats
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We are NOT affected by Earthquake or Zika Virus which is only at coast in small area. Airports not affected. Travel is safe. We are in different part of Ecuador. NO mosquitos!
Our Shamans Speak Spanish AND English! Very Rare!
It is very rare that all the shamans at a retreat center speak both Spanish and English, educated enough to know two languages, and have studied the traditions with elders and offer ceremonies in the ancient traditional ways. This is a very unique and rare opportunity to connect directly with the shamans yourself, with no translator needed!
Santiago
(San Pedro Shaman) Born in Quito, 1966, Santiago has been in contact with the indigenous world since his early life in the rainforest of Ecuador. He has lived with the Kichwa, Secoya, Cofan and Huaorani tribes. His shamanistic journey began at the age of 26, following a serious illness.
Santiago has become quite famous and well respected all over Ecuador for his work in shamanism. He has worked in indigenous communities all over Ecuador and Europe with different power plants. He works with the Andean American tradition, and with magical plants from our earth, focusing upon the different subtle planes of matter and consciousness. He is a maestro of the San Pedro cactus, as well as Guardian of the sacred instruments in the old American ancient tradition. Goldsmith by profession, Santiago works with fire, metals, stones, shells and seeds, as he artistically rescues the magical dimension of our pre-Columbian past.
Something we love about Santiago is that is is so sweet, runs his ceremonies with the utmost of wisdom and love, and knows intuitively just what each individual participant needs and must hear. His life purpose part of the ceremony for each individual is indeed life changing!
Sofia
(Sweat Lodge and San Pedro Shamana) Born on July 30, 1973, Sofia’s work with health and healing began when she decided to study clinical psychology and has been working as a psychologist since 1997. She continued training as a humanist therapist, as well as in other types of individual and group modalities.
Within the work of traditional medicine she learned the medicine of the Red Road, the fire of Itzhachilatlan, and also trained in “biodanza” and ancestral medicines. Since 2005 she carried Chanupa, the Sacred Pipe of the Northern Traditions. She finished her 4-year cycle of vision quest, did 8 sun dances and 7 dances of the Spirits.
Since 2006, Sofia has been running sweat lodges and continues to this day to bless people with her special medicine magic. She brings a beautiful feminine touch to the world of shamanism.
Salvador
(Ayahuasca Shaman, Ayahuascero) Salvador is 40 years old and has been practicing shamanism for 17 years. He learned to carry Ayahuasca ceremonies through study with the Shuar tribe of Ecuador’s Amazon forest. He received the blessing of the Shuar elders to share the Ayahuasca (Natem) medicine with others.
In the 16 years that Salavador has been practicing shamanism he has completed many sundances and vision quests. He also helps others in their shamanic vision quest training and still attends sundances in Ecuador and Mexico.
He continues to study the medicine ways with respected elders in Ecuador, Venezuela and Mexico. Salvador is also certified in the ways of the Red Road (Native American Medicine) and works with not only Ayahuasca, but also San Pedro (Aguacoya / Huachuma) in Ecuador. He is also blessed by the elders to carry sweatlodge ceremonies. When Roki isn’t here to work with Sofia in the sweatlodge ceremonies, Salvador supports her in the sweatlodge work.
Salvador facilitates Ayahuasca, San Pedro and sweatlodge ceremonies in Ecuador, Venezuela and Mexico. We are very fortunate to have such an experienced, well traveled shaman on our healing team to work with you. His songs will move you gently through the medicine ceremonies and his compassion will melt your heart!
Paulina
(Ayahuasca Shamana, Ayahuascera) Paulina was born in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador, learning the ancient traditions and working with native people. They gave her a sacred name, Quilla Pakari. In traditional Quechua language it means Moon Dawn Tshunki Nua, and in traditional Shuar language, Keeper of Freshwater.
She feels in her heart a great responsibility to these traditions and serving them. Her life mission is to serve our life-giving water, earth , fire, and wind. In this exchange of knowledge, finding a state of true inner peace is a goal in her work with the people.
Paulina works in the Ayahausaca ceremonies with Salvador, singing Icaros the way an angel would. She is beautiful inside and out, caring for the people in a truly heartfelt way, and brings the feminine energy to the Ayahuasca ceremonies, a skillful shamana indeed.
Roki (Roberto)
Roki has been facilitating sweatlodges and shamanic ceremonies for 20 years and is a wonderful presence with a great sense of humor! We have found him to be a wonderful addition to our shamanic team. He works with Ayahuasca, San Pedro, and several other medicines as well, is well known in Ecuador for his spirited ceremonies, and sings beautiful icaros with Sofia in the sweat lodges. Together they make a wonderful team.
He has also facilitated many important ceremonies for indigenous groups, the government, and is known throughout Ecuador for his professionalism and integrity. He has many newspaper coverages of the ceremonies he has facilitated at important events. He also works for the university as a consultant on indigenous matters, as well as ancestral and tribal ceremonial processes, spiritual structures of their beliefs, and acts as a bridge between ancestral medicines and the public. Roki is always smiling and happy, which shows he has the secret to happiness, and he shares it gladly with everyone!
Christine
Christine Breese is the founder of Gaia Sagrada in Ecuador and University of Metaphysical Sciences in California, USA. She has long been working on both University of Metaphysical Sciences (first), and Gaia Sagrada (second) in Ecuador.
It is one thing to learn about spiritual concepts, but quite another to experience the spiritual worlds directly. Christine feels it is important to offer people an opportunity to meet the master within which plant medicines make possible and in a way that no other method can offer. It takes many, many years of meditation practice to experience the inner worlds this way. Christine Breese calls this the shortcut, the preview to the movie of what your mind and heart can really “see” once you have been practicing meditation and soul travel for a lifetime. Shamanic plant medicine ceremonies offer soul travel through the universe within even if a person has never meditated before. Christine feels it is good for a person to experience that which he or she is aiming for.
If you would like to meet Christine, https://www.youtube.com/metaphysicalsciences
Christine chose Ecuador because shamanic ceremonies cannot be offered this way in the USA. It was no small matter to make it possible in Ecuador either, as Ecuador is more highly regulated than Peru. Shamans in Ecuador must be approved by certain organizations and be highly qualified to practice their trade. That is why Ecuador is a much safer place to do ceremonies than any other. Christine Breese chose this beautiful country so people would truly be in safe hands while journeying toward deep healing.
Bruce
Bruce is from California and has been a supporting force for Gaia Sagrada since the beginning. He believes each person has an individual path, and the way for that person to find the path to Source is deep within. Only the individual can find Source, as no one can tell you how to find God. You yourself must go within and God is then revealed to you through your own consciousness.
When errands of all sorts need to be done, Bruce is there. We call him Senor Seguro because he is always making sure everything is safe and secure. He is always standing by as the straight man during ceremonies to make sure anything that comes up can be handled, anything people need can be gotten, and if someone needs help he’s the go-to guy!
If you want to meet a guy with a big heart, he’s the one. He keeps things light and has a terrific sense of humor. If you ever need anything, Bruce is here to help!
Staff & Volunteers: The Angel Dream Team!
We have at all times 15 staff and volunteers to help you with all your needs during your stay at Gaia Sagrada. They take care of you during ceremonies, between ceremonies, and support you with lots of love, laughter, and give you a shoulder to cry on if you should need one! Our staff and volunteers are always available. We call them the Angel Dream Team, here to help you with your journey through our ayahuasca retreat.
We have all kinds of beautiful and creative people who come through on our volunteer team, and they are all interesting and sweet in their own ways. Take some time to enjoy their company while they keep everything at Gaia Sagrada running smoothly. Feel free to get to know these wonderful souls and make some new life long friends.
More Staff Members…
We have several more staff members who are a little bit shy on the internet, but you will meet them when you get here!
Victor and Angel maintain Gaia Sagrada and fix anything that comes up. They are also the ones who run the building crew, who built Gaia Sagrada including all the rooms you sleep in, the kitchens where we make your food as well as all the patios, the sauna and the hot tubs where you can relax and enjoy.
Benigno, Jose, and Cesar are the right hand guys of Victor and Angel and when things need to get done, they are the ones to call on. They live here in the Ecuadorian community around us and are our neighbors as well. Benigno rides his horse to work every day so you will see his horse grazing in the fields of Gaia Sagrada when he is here!
Frances comes for 3 months per year to cook, and at other times we have other people who take the cooking baton and run the ship in the kitchen, so if you are interested in taking a 3 month commitment for cooking, you just go ahead and let us know you want to be part of this!
Carlos and his wife Maria run the agricultural crew and keep our quinoa looking good all year! Flor cooks for the workers, and she also works with the 10 ladies who come with Carlos to help maintain our quinoa farm.
We cannot even list all the people who have come for extended amounts of time to do work exchange during retreats for discounted prices, and those who actually live here and have acted just like staff even if they didn’t have to, being tour guides in Cuenca, around the mountains, and even taking people on day trips.
The Gaia Sagrada family is indeed beautiful, and we invite you to come and be with us, even if just for a little bit, in this paradise haven in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador![/fusion_text][separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”6px” bottom_margin=”6px” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””][separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”25px” bottom_margin=”25px” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””][/two_third][one_third last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”sidebar” id=””][imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] 
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Question about retreat / planning / feeling it out
Are all the healers shown here part of each retreat? And how many about do you have or what is the range of participants in each retreat and if we are living in town for a month or so studying and experienced, may we come out for ceremony?
We don’t monitor the comments on the website very much, and just saw your
question here. If you want to ask questions, can you email us at gaiasagrada@umsonline.org
email? The shamans are in each retreat. I think there might be one
that only comes occasionally, Roki. The others are always here for
retreats. We have 12 day retreats.
What’s the best time of the year to come out weather wise? Rain warm etc?
All times of year are good here because the weather is pretty much the same all year t-shirt weather in the day, cold jacket weather at night. The rains only last an hour or so when they come, and then the sky clears up again. It’s like that all year! We don’t have much in the way of changes in the weather here.
Hi!!
I have read about your work and im very interested to know more about it.
I have several problems with alergies, food disorder, muscle pain etc so i wonder if u have some posibility-ideas to work with my case. im alergic to many things and for that reason im super scared to try ayahuasca.
How long are retreats? How much do they cost?
Hope to hear from u soon
Jovanka T.
Hi Christine,
Having looked over your website I must say I’m impressed with what you have going on over there. Last year I attended a retreat which was very beneficial in that it presented me with a full perspective of my psyche and emotional make-up…partly during the retreat, but mostly afterwards over the year gone by. An ocean of past trauma arose in my mind and through experiences with the people in my life. A perfect opportunity to feel out what had been locked up inside. Incredibly intimidating however…
So the question comes up for me…when we are presented with such intense experiences through this medicine…how do we manage alone…once the retreat is over and we are on our own?
I see how San Pedro can play a part in the dynamic based on the research I’ve done. Would you have any words you could share from your experience with regards to this?
I look forward to meeting you and the rest of the crew in the near future.
Very best,
Ian
Meditation and continuing to do your spiritual homework is the way to go after a retreat, staying in the present moment and really being aware of your consciousness and how it works. The retreats only plant a seed, then you have to keep nurturing it and continue on the direction the retreat gives you.
Hello, i am Alaina, i have been travelling in South America and Africa for the last 6months and arrived in Ecuador 2weeks ago. I am from the UK, and speak a little Spanish. I am a nurse by profession, but also teach English, and i have developed a real interest in natural medicine, and spirituality. I am keen to develop this. I have been to the Amazon before, last year and this further developed my curiosity. I am not sure how this works for you, but i am keen to volunteer and offer any help i can in return for an opportunity to learn from you and your organisation, and colleagues. I have time also, i would be keen to stay for a month or more if necessary.
Please let me know your thoughts,
I look forward to hearing from you, Alaina.
Any questions about volunteering, doing retreats, or staying at Gaia Sagrada, please email gaiasagrada@umsonline.org!
I am interested in coming to a retreat, but don’t know much about this spiritual path – I am a practicing Catholic. Can I still come? Is there any studying I could do before and if so, what do you recommend? (I found your site as I was searching for co-housing in the U.S. and also have been interested in looking into retiring someday in Ecuador).
Thank you,
Teresa
Where to start!? It’s a big question. I would suggest to read the articles on our site and also do a lot of research on the internet and youtube to learn more about these medicines and ceremonies. It’s a big subject to cover!
I am a lawyer in Seattle with a very high stress job. I would be interested to hear if you believe a retreat would benefit someone like me?
Warm regards,
Eric
People of all walks of life come here and have a beautiful, transformational experience, especially those with high pressure jobs! People of all ages come too and from all over the world. It’s really interesting how at every retreat there is a really varied mix of people from all kinds of cultures and all kinds of backgrounds. Lots of professional types come too!
Eric,
I recently attended a retreat at Gaia (August) and would recommend anyone able, to attend. It wasn’t until I returned to the US that I fully appreciated how relaxing Gaia had been. The facility is beautiful, people are kind, and the shamans are great (Santiago in particular is excellent). Please feel free to message me if you have any reservations. I am certainly glad I made the trip!
Kind Regards,
Hi. I would really like to speak with you on the experience
Hey christy.
I have wanted to experence ayahuasca for some time. I like what u r doing in equidor and will spend much time in the hot tub sweat lodge and mostly the sauna.
a few questions… what airport to fly into?, then bus to site?
can i detox from nicotine ,alcohol and sugar while i am there? or is that too much to ask of my body? How many ayahuasca cermoneys do we have in the 12 day plan?will this help my wife who is on all sorts of MEDICINE but is very ill mentally and physically? Does she really have to want this for it to be successful?
If i stay longer does equidor have nice beach areas? thanks 4 all your help.
hope to see u soon, love and blessings dennis
I’ll be in Ecuador December 16-January 14. Will there be a retreat during that time? I’m very interested in participating. What would the price be for a single room or perhaps shared?
Thank you!
Jessi
Hello, There won’t be a retreat at that point in December, as the retreat is from the 6th to 17th in Dec, and also January 10-21 in 2015. Between that time we are closed for the holidays. For the prices, here are the prices for retreats, https://gsar.nfshost.com/shamanic-ayahuasca-san-pedro-ceremony-retreat/ayahuasca-san-pedro-ceremony-retreat-prices/ and here are the prices between retreats, although we will be closed for the holidays so it wouldn’t work for the time you are going to be here, https://gsar.nfshost.com/reservations-booking/room-and-apartment-rental-prices-at-gaia-sagrada/ We hope you can come during a time when we are having a retreat!
Are there any 2 or 3 day retreats?
We do allow people to come for the first 7 days of a 12 day retreat, but there isn’t a discount as we are always sold out every month with people who want to come for the full retreat. It is still a great deal and cheaper than any other retreat offered even for 7 day retreats!
The reason why we don’t offer shorter retreats is that we feel just one or two ceremonies does not provide the transformation that a 12 day retreat does, as it is a process that can reach very deep into the soul. Even 7 days with three ceremonies is just barely enough to really start feeling a transformation. Just one or two ceremonies is dipping one’s little toe into the experience rather than going for a true transformational experience! We want to work with people who are really committed to their growth and healing. This is serious work and isn’t just a tourist thing! It’s true spiritual work that requires time and attention to one’s inner worlds.
I’m in the process for making plans to spend January and February in Ecuador.Your schedule ends in December. Any retreats the first of 2015?
Just scroll down the page, all 2015 dates are there!
I am interested in coming down for a retreat and am trying to figure out the best time of the year to make the trip. Can you tell me a little about the climate and highs an lows temperature wise throughout the year? I’m less interested in your coldest season. Thank you!
There is no particular time when the temperature is that much different. It fluctuates about 5 degrees, but that’s about it.
Daytime is warm tshirt weather, night time is cool jacket weather. Wear layers!
HI, I am researching potential healing retreats for the Winter. I like your website and I am interested in connecting.
I am just beginning my search for centers now and Ecuador has interested me for awhile.
~Madrona Hawk
Hello,
I believe deeply in ayahuaska and want to attend a retreat but my concerns are these if you can help:
– I know about the walking into the fire doco and the shaman who may have added toe or Brugmansia to the brew. So how can we be assured the purity of the brew, and will there be carers to watch and medical personel on standby if we have a dangerous reaction??
– I have read about ‘first level shamans’. How can we know if we are meeting genuine shamans with any real knowledge?
Thankyou
All our shamans are under contract with us to never add ANYTHING to the brew. NOTHING is allowed except the vine and leaves for the Ayahuasca and only cactus for the San Pedro. We are well aware of the dangers and risks other centers take, and we refuse to take any of those chances with anyone’s safety.
Our shamans are all certified, registered with the government of Ecuador, and they can only achieve all this if they are able to prove that they are properly trained and have achieved their certifications from the proper agencies. That is how you know we don’t work with beginners! All our shamans have decades of experience, are older and not young, and they have had long histories of doing their work. One of our shamans is even called in by the government to run ceremonies for their events and special occasions. Another of our shamans is also a practicing psychologist in huge city. We only work with the best!
I have been to a retreat at Gaia Sagrada and attest to the validity of it’s shamans and medicines, it is all legit and amazing! No worries here, it is a place of blessed transformation!
I want to have a visit to our place with my 3 friends we want to try ayahusaca
I have been to Quito and spent classroom time with Kechewa (sp) children and observed their intensity and willingness to learn. I spent a month in Pimonpiro as my friend is a commuting creative arts teacher presently writing a childrens book with trigram drawings for kids as a learning tool and is in the process of having the book translated in three languages.
I am very interested in your eco-village. My career work as a energy worker, board certified, Pa/NJ state licensed massage therapist for nearly 25 years until several very personal losses affected my ability to continue my work. I recently discovered Iboga and interviewed a man that recently returned from Holland as I am very interested in his experiences. The mentiond herb grows in Africa, Cambodia and Ecquador???? I would very much want to experience and ” clear my neuro’ pathways to “reset” my brains and bodies …wait I am not quite sure what/if I understand the effects of this ancient herb…you are welcome to fill in the rest of the information or direct me to a site thatwill give me insight…for my wellbeing…ps I think I know the thin lady on your site. Is she a bodyworker from Pa/NJ? Very familiar…thanks for your time and all your considerations.
Marjorietta..
I am interested in Healing . Do you do remote healing or distance healing. Let me know.
Thanks
We don’t do distance healing, I’m so sorry. I hope you find what you are looking for.
Hallo I am interested in booking for a retreat later this year, Well to be honest as i will be coming all the way from Europe , i was hoping to do an extended retreat or two 12 day retreats . But I see from your schedule that their is quiet a large gap between your retreats , 16 days or so ! , is it possible to partake of San Pedro ceremonies in between scheduled retreats ? i get a very good feel from your new retreat center, and love the openness and the fact that the prices are affordable and is a not sky high money making venture . You seem to be truly genuinely spiritually inclined souls , Love and Light to you Gino
Sometimes people come for as many as three or four retreats in a row, but often what they do between retreats is go and see some tourist attractions in Ecuador, like a trip to the Galapagos, or Cuenca, or Quito. There are a lot of things to do in Ecuador between retreats. We don’t do ceremonies between retreats at this time, but it might be possible in the future, as we are probably going to add more retreats as time goes on.
Some people really enjoy the quiet time between retreats, working on their writing or some artistic endeavor, and some find the time between retreats to be necessary for integrating their experiences. It is pretty intense during retreats and a lot of growth and change happens.