Medicine Maker Ayahuasca Retreat With Taita Miguel

On selected MahaDevi retreat dates, guests have the option to join Taita Miguel in preparing the Crudo Ayahuasca (Yagé) that will later be served in ceremony. Over two mornings, you take part in a fully hand-crafted process rooted in twelve generations of living Camsá tradition.

This is not an apprenticeship, a training program, or a path toward becoming a healer or ayahuascero. It is something more direct: a chance to engage with the medicine in a deeper, more personal way before ceremony begins.

During the Medicine Maker experience, a small group is guided through the complete preparation of Crudo Ayahuasca (Yagé). You work with the plants by hand, sit with them before ceremony, and then drink the same medicine you helped prepare.

The process unfolds over two mornings. Day one is the main workday, while day two completes the extraction and final preparation. Together, they form one continuous preparation in the Camsá lineage.

Day One: Preparation

The morning begins with a purification and protection ritual led by MahaDevi facilitators. Sacred smoke opens the space and sets the intention for the medicine being made. Taita Miguel then explains the full process, the purpose of each step, and what distinguishes the Camsá approach from other traditions.

• Cleaning and cutting the Chagra leaves by hand
• Smashing the Chagra with a wooden mallet until fully shredded
• Cleaning and smashing the ayahuasca vine with a wooden mallet
• Mixing the plants and leaving them to rest overnight

Day Two: Extraction

Day two is shorter and more focused. The hard work has already been done; now the medicine is drawn from what was prepared the day before. The Crudo takes its final form, and the connection between making and receiving is completed with intention.

• Returning to the plants that rested overnight
• Extracting the medicine from the prepared materials
• Final preparation of the Crudo you will drink
• Closing the preparation space with Taita Miguel

The Medicine Maker experience is optional. Every participant on a Medicine Maker retreat receives the full MahaDevi retreat experience, whether or not they join the preparation.

What makes this unique is the freshness of the medicine. At MahaDevi, Taita Miguel grows the plants on his own land and prepares each batch in the days before the retreat. There is no paste, no importing, and no machine processing at any stage. Both Crudo and traditionally cooked Yagé are prepared fresh for each retreat.

In the Camsá tradition, the plants are broken down more thoroughly than is standard in many ayahuasca preparations, with the intention of maximizing absorption. Taita Miguel emphasizes that the relationship between the person preparing the medicine and the medicine itself is part of what gives it its character. You are not learning a technique; you are being introduced to a relationship.

The experience is ideal for those who want to deepen their connection to plant medicine, understand where the medicine comes from, and learn directly from indigenous knowledge. It is also suitable for first-time participants who want to meet the medicine before ceremony.

It may not be the right fit if physical activity is currently difficult for you, if you are in an acute psychological or trauma-related state, or if group work feels draining rather than grounding.

MahaDevi is located near Mocoa in Putumayo, in a cooler area with fewer mosquitoes, not in a remote jungle camp. The setting is designed to support deep healing work with comfort and ease: private and shared cabins with modern design, hot showers, electricity, a pool, cold plunge beside the Mocoa river, and a private waterfall. All meals are included, along with nourishing locally sourced food, Wi-Fi, 24/7 on-site security, two-way airport transportation, and access to Hospital José María Hernández within 30 minutes.

Each retreat includes three ceremonies, both brews, and integration support. Taita Miguel selects the medicine for each night based on what the group needs. The full retreat lasts seven nights.

Medicine Maker participation is not mandatory. If you choose not to join the preparation, there is no additional charge. The add-on costs $850 USD, and retreat prices start from $2,200 USD for shared accommodation. Full pricing, including private accommodation options, is available on the retreats page.

Medicine Maker retreats are limited and are not offered on every date. If this speaks to you, check the calendar or reach out directly for confirmation.

Ayahuasca is legal in Colombia, and MahaDevi operates within a fully legal framework. From acceptance through integration, you are held by the team, the lineage, and the medicine.