Traditional Plant Medicines in the Andes & Amazon of Ecuador
July 27 - August 5, 2025
Begin in Quito
A Beautiful Journey into the Land, Culture and Traditional Healing Ceremonies of Ecuador
See a video preview of the trip!
Overview of the Trip
There is incredible cultural diversity in Ecuador. In this trip you will learn about and experience the traditional master plant medicines of the Andean Kichwa traditions as well as the Amazonian Sieko'pai renewal ceremonies. This trip is about connecting to the land, the cultures, and traditional ways of life and experiencing the transformative healing ceremonies led by indigenous elders. It's also about getting involved and creating connections, community and friendships that result in long term sustainability. Seeing how the indigenous people live has inspired participants from previous trips to become involved in supporting causes that enrich everyones experience and creates long term sustainability, ultimately supporting these beautiful traditions to be carried forward for future generations.
Begin in Quito
We will begin in Tumbaco on the outskirts of Quito with a Cacao meet and greet and then for 10 days you will be immersed into one of the most biodiverse places in the world as we travel from 14'000 ft elevation in the highlands to 800' elevation in the rainforest. The combination of pristine wilderness and exquisitely prepared plant medicine is a life-changing experience.
Traditional 'Power Hike' in the highlands
After a cacao meet and greet we will journey into the highlands for a 'power walk' with the grandfather medicine of the highlands. This is a great way to come together as a group, open our hearts, and bring our personal intentions and vision of healing into focus for the rest of the trip. After integrating and rejuvenating in the hot springs we will journey down into the Amazon.
Incense, Pottery, Hammocks & the Jungle Way of Life
While preparing for the ceremony there will be plenty of activities to connect with the family and their jungle way of life. We will learn to harvest clay and make traditional pottery. We will also harvest aromatics from the jungle and explore making incense. We will harvest the palm leaves for Basilio to demonstrate the making of the traditional hammocks (they are stunning). There are always spontaneous opportunities for games and activities with the family and children.
The Sieko'pai Renewal Spiritual Healing Ceremony
After a 45 minute canoe ride we will arrive at our destination in the northeastern corner of Ecuador. For a week we will live in the jungle paradise with the family of Basilio, an elder Sieko'pai, who began his training and drinking the sacred medicine at the age of eight. He is now in his eighties. This is a rare opportunity to experience the medicine free of unnecessary theatrics and ego.
Termas de Papallacta Hot Springs
After the ceremonies and some integration we journey back up into the highlands where we will end the journey at the Termas de Papallacta hot springs, a 5 star hot springs where the waters are heated geothermally by the Antisana volcano. There are plenty of amanities and good food to enjoy while we integrate and prepare to return to the modern world and lives.
Sustainability and Cultural Exchange
Life in the jungle is not easy. Palm oil and petroleum have devastated the traditional way of life and continue to pose daily threat to their livelihood and ability to live in the traditional ways. Organized efforts have had positive impacts, but it's a long struggle.
The funds raised from our trip in 2024 provided a substantial contribution to building a new ceremony lodge. This traditional Tuike'wëe (ceremony lodge), is the only one of its kind in Ecuador. It is a huge community effort and statement that the traditions are alive and are being carried forward. We still need help, and you can be an important part of this effort.
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS WITH
Traditional Andean Power Hike in the Highlands
This 'power walk', is a traditional Andean plant medicine ceremony. We will take a beautifully connecting hike in the Cayambe-Coca National Park in the highlands of Ecuador. We will open our hearts to each other and the land, preparing us to enter the sanctuary of the jungle. We end the day at the hot springs where we will integrate and rejuvenate with a soak in the healing waters before embarking on the next part of the journey.
The Journey into the Amazon
As we journey down into the Amazon you will experience several climate zones before entering the rainforest. For the final leg of the journey we will be boarding a canoe for a 45 minute trip to arrive with abuelo Basilio and his family on the banks of the Aguarico. You will be immersed in the jungle and its incredible chorus of sounds from the monkeys, frogs, insects, birds and animals that live there. As we prepare for the ceremonies we will learn about the traditional ways of life, take walks to the ancient mother tree and various locations nearby (hunting and fishing may be possible for those interested). We will be learning about traditional herbs and aromatic medicines of the jungle. We will learn to make incense and traditional clay pottery with materials sourced from the jungle and watch Basilio making his exquisite hammocks with string made from palm leaves. There will be plenty of 'down time' while we conserve our energy and prepare for the ceremonies - the perfect time to connect with the children and family through games, coloring books and other activities.
About Basilio and the Sieko'pai/Secoya
In their traditional language, Sieko'pai means 'The multi-colored people', referring to stories of multi-colored luminous beings who came to live in the jungle paradise. For millennia they have lived in harmony with the natural world. Their traditional lands encompassing what is now Peru and Ecuador was lost during the Ecuador and Peruvian war, forcing them into the lands they live in today along the Aguarico river. Recently, in historic court decision, due to decades of organized efforts, the Seikopai have been given back their traditional land. This infuses hope for good things to come, but there are many challenges.
Basilio is the only elder left who grew up learning the old ways before colonization. With the legendary masters before him having returned to their ancestors in the stars, Basilio carries the traditions forward, teaching the old ways. Basilio is in his 80's, and true to the traditional ways has been drinking since he was 8 years old.
Basilio still makes the traditional hammocks. With one in the Smithsonian, they are stunning works of art made from only from palm leaves - a laborious process of turning the young leaves into string to weave the hammocks. Many of the youth want to learn the traditional ways but are pressured to get jobs, forcing them to leave the jungle. Thanks to those who have become involved, there are good things happening, but we need more help. These trips help empower the community to continue the traditional ways for future generations.
TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE:
Sieko'pai Renewal & Master Plant Medicine Ceremony
The Sieko'pai peoples preparation and ceremony format are unique. The Sieko'pai's traditional healing ceremony is done using unique plants that are grown near the ceremony lodge. The unique brew combined with pristine environment make for a uniquely beautiful and strong experience.
Tuike'wë - the New Ceremony House
Last year's trip played a significand role in making possible the new ceremony house – traditionally called Tuike'wëe. It is a major undertaking, requiring the gathering of 10,000 palm leaves from the forest, carrying them in bundles by hand to the location for the roof. The new house is the only traditionally built lodge in Sieko'pai territory making it a historic landmark of keeping the traditions alive. Your participation in this years trip will support continued efforts. If all goes as planned this trip in 2025 will be in the new lodge.
Termas de Papallacta Hot Springs
Our final stop in the journey is back in the highlands near where we finished our power walk in the beginning of the trip. Soak in the famous hot springs and enjoy a day at the world class resort and spa Termas de Papallacta.
We will spend an evening and morning soaking, rejuvenating and integrating our experiences of the trip. There are beautiful nature walks, many birds and very reasonable but excellent spa services including chocolate rub.
Meet Your Guides
Michael 'Heartsong' Cutter
trip coordinator
Michael has dedicated his life to learning the traditional healing arts. He has spent time with elders and wisdom keepers from around the world, spending time in Africa, South America and North America. He travels frequently to Ecuador for training and ceremonies in the traditions of the Andes and Amazon. During his first Yagé ceremony Michael found a spiritual home with Basilio and family. He is honored to be invited to organize these trips and share with you the beauty of the Yagé, people and their jungle paradise.
In addition to his full time healing and coaching practice, Michael is a passionate artist, drum maker and incense maker. He lives in Denver, CO
Josep Rosas & Marcela Camacho
Guides & translators
Josep is a native of Catalonia. He was invited as a young man to live with Basilio and his family. His relaxed nature and ever present smile conceal his extensive knowledge and intensive training with plant medicine and traditional ways. A true medicine man himself, he and Marcela are our guides meeting us in the highlands and with uis every step of the way. Josep speaks Spanish, Catalan, English and Paikopa the language of the Seiko'pai.
Marcela is a force of nature, gifted musician and passionate medicine woman and herbalist. She is integral to every aspect of the trip in the ceremonies, logistics, behind the scenes and with food prep. MArcela is deeply involved in the indigenous communities and teaches art & shamanism in Tumbaco.
We could not be in better hands, you will fall in love with them both.
Basilio Payaguaje
Seiko'pai elder
Basilio is the last remaining true elder of the Seikopai people. My first encounter with Basilio was waiting to be picked up at the river during a trip with Itzhak Beery. It was Basilio who arrived in the canoe. Soft spoken, unassuming and smiling he took us back to climb the mud stairs leading up the riverbank to the house and land where would be staying.
Though the property is relatively undeveloped, it has been a destination for famous musicians and royalty who come for the powerful healing ceremonies. Basilio has never sought to be in the spotlight, quietly living in the jungle, but is well known and highly respected as one of the last living elders with deep knowledge of the ancient Sieko'pai traditions.
Trip Itinerary*
It is best to arrive a day or so early to acclimate before we begin the trip. The following is an outline of what we all do. Keep in mind that weather or other uncontrollable forces may cause us adjust. Fly Into Quito (Mariscal). Pre and post-trip planning support is available for those who wish extend their time before and after the trip (highly recommended).
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Cacao meet and greet (transport provided)
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Power Walk in the Highlands and soak in the healing waters at Papallacta Hot Springs.
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Travel to the Amazon, arriving by canoe to be greeted by Basilio and the family.
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Waking to the orchestra of birds, tree frogs and insects. Getting to know the family, sharing our gifts (we always take gifts for the family and children) and settling in to the stunning natural world of the jungle.
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Learning medicinal herbs of the forest and gathering aromatics to learn incense making.
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Harvest clay and learn to make pottery in the traditional way.
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Harvest palm leaves and watch Basilio transform them into string to make the traditional hammocks.
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Renewal (cleanse) to prepare for the grandmother medicine.
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Jungle walk to the Mother Tree, visiting the hunting grounds, waking to the orchestra of tree frogs, birds, cicadas, monkeys, and all of the inhabitants that make this place so special. We will enjoy simple wholesome traditional foods, harvesting bananas, 'jungle grapes', cacao and other foods from the jungle.
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In the evening we will walk to the ceremony lodge, find our places in our hammocks and settle in for the night. You will be held by the jungle and the supporters as the medicine works its healing magic.
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Integration meeting, resting, eating nourishing foods, discussions, swimming in the river, etc.
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Back in the highlands, we will relax in the stunning hot springs at Termas de Pappalacta Hot Spring resort in the high Andes before returning home. Spa services available including chocolate massage.
*Due to weather and other variables, the schedule may change. It is important to bring an attitude of flexibility when traveling in Ecuador and the jungle.
Trip cost $3250
Includes trip activities, ground transportation, food and board, does not include airfare, tips, pre/post trip expenses or personal purchases made on the trip. A $1000 deposit is required to reserve your spot. Full payment required by June 28.
Call Michael with questions (406) 360-6111
We limit the trip to 6 participants
apply now to reserve your space.
Testimonials
An Amazing experience - one of the best things I've done in my life, honestly. Ive taken a lot of trips and this was very unique...
—Michael Fitsgerald, trip participant 2024
Incredible experience, life changing and the trip of a lifetime...
Grayson Shore – trip participant 2024
I've had many plant medicine ceremonies and the way this medicine came through was very beautiful. It was very strong but I felt really held and supported by the medicine in a way that was really unique.
Sam Eastman – trip participant 2024
