Ayahuasca Retreat in Putumayo, Colombia
Indigenous Yagé Ceremonies in the Place the Medicine Has Never Left
Putumayo is not a region that discovered plant medicine. It is a region that never lost it. While the rest of the world began searching for Ayahuasca, the indigenous peoples of Putumayo continued doing what they have always done — growing the vine, singing the songs, passing the knowledge from generation to generation.
AS SEEN ON
Understanding Putumayo: Not All of the Amazon Is the Same
This matters before you book anything. Putumayo is a large and geographically diverse department of Colombia. It has a northern highland zone and a southern lowland zone, and they are entirely different environments. Knowing the difference will directly affect your experience.
Northern Putumayo: The Highlands
The northern part of Putumayo sits in the Andes foothills at elevations between roughly 1,000 and 2,200 metres. This includes the Sibundoy Valley, historically one of the most important centres of indigenous plant medicine culture in all of South America. The Kamsa and Inga peoples have lived here for centuries. Cooler climate, moderate humidity, significantly fewer mosquitoes. Our sanctuary is located in this zone, near Mocoa, where the Andes descend toward the Amazon basin. The richness of the lowland rainforest with the climate benefits of the highlands.
Southern Putumayo: The Lowland Amazon
The southern part drops into the flat lowland Amazon basin. Towns like Puerto Asís and Puerto Leguizamo sit in this zone. Hot, very humid, dense, and rich with insects. Strikingly beautiful but physically demanding. Most people traveling to the Amazon for retreats without knowing the regional geography end up here and spend significant energy just adapting to the climate. We are not in southern Putumayo.
Why Putumayo Is the Home of Yagé
The word Yagé itself comes from the indigenous languages of Putumayo. This is not Amazonian plant medicine adopted by a region. This is plant medicine that grew in this soil, with these people, and was named by them.
Putumayo is where four distinct indigenous traditions, the Inga, Kamsa, Kofán, and Siona, have lived alongside each other and alongside the vine for generations. Each tradition carries its own songs, its own protocols, its own relationship with the medicine. What passes through Putumayo in terms of indigenous plant knowledge is found nowhere else in this concentration.
There is no retreat industry here the way there is in Peru's Sacred Valley or in Costa Rica. What exists in Putumayo is mostly what has always existed: families, communities, Taitas, and a living practice that does not need to advertise itself because it has never positioned itself as a product.
Unique Experiences at MahaDevi
At MahaDevi, we blend experiences that most people have never had access to with modern guidance, safety, and support that makes it possible to go deep without going alone. Everything we offer is rooted in authentic Putumayo indigenous tradition and held within a structure designed to keep you safe, supported, and genuinely transformed.
Two Types of Medicine. One Rare Choice.
At MahaDevi, you choose which medicine you work with. This alone sets us apart from almost every other retreat in the world.
Cooked Yagé: The Traditional Brew
This is the Ayahuasca most people know. The vine and leaves are cooked together over fire for many hours in the ancestral manner. It produces a strong, robust medicine known for its deep physical cleansing, its intensity, and its transformative power. This is the classic experience.
Crudo Yagé: The Uncooked Medicine
Crudo is a raw, uncooked preparation of the same plants, unique to the highlands of Putumayo. An experience that 99% of people who have ever drunk Ayahuasca anywhere in the world have never had. Gentler on the body, easier for first-timers, yet fully, profoundly spiritually active. Taita Miguel's Crudo is known throughout Putumayo for its "sweet medicine" quality.
| Factor | Cooked Yagé | Crudo Yagé |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Brewed over fire, many hours | Raw, uncooked |
| Taste | Strong, bitter, earthy | Smooth, water-like, closer to a vegetable juice |
| Physical intensity | High, robust purging and cleansing | Low to moderate, gentler on the body |
| Ease on digestion | More demanding | Significantly easier |
| Spiritual depth | Full | Full |
| Best for | Experienced participants, deep physical cleansing | Beginners, sensitive bodies, a gentler first entry |
| Strength at higher doses | Very strong | Equivalent to cooked |
Not sure which is right for you? During your medical screening and preparation call, we help you choose based on your history, your body, and your intention. Learn more about both medicines.
Make Your Own Medicine: Under Indigenous Supervision
In some of our retreats, we offer participants something very rare: the opportunity to participate in the actual making of the medicine you will later drink, under the direct supervision of Taita Miguel and our team. Very few retreats anywhere in Putumayo or Colombia offer this.
You will learn the unique preparation process of the Kamsa tribe, one of Putumayo's oldest living traditions. You will understand the cleaning, the pounding, the layering, and the hours of careful preparation. You will witness how the intention of the person making the medicine enters the brew itself.
This is not a demonstration. It is participation. When you later sit in a Yagé ceremony holding a cup of medicine that your own hands helped prepare, under the guidance of a 12-generation lineage in the region where this medicine was born, everything changes.
Night Ceremonies and Day Ceremonies
At MahaDevi, the medicine does not only work after dark.
Night Ceremony: The Ancestral Setting
The songs, the music, the fire, the darkness that allows the medicine to move fully. This is the traditional ceremonial form that has been carried for generations in Putumayo. The experience most people come to Yagé seeking.
Day Ceremony: The Open Amazon Highland
Ayahuasca held in the open light of the Amazon highland forest, surrounded by the sounds of the living jungle. Very few retreat centers offering Yagé ceremonies in Putumayo offer both. The light changes what you see. The forest around you becomes part of the ceremony itself.
Fin del Mundo and Everything the Amazon Offers
Between ceremony nights, the Amazon continues to work on you, if you let it.
Fin del Mundo: The End of the World Waterfall
One of the most striking natural landmarks in Putumayo. A powerful waterfall deep in the Amazonian rainforest near Mocoa. This is not a tourist stop. It is a living encounter with the same jungle that holds the medicine. After a ceremony night, standing at the base of that waterfall with the forest alive around you, many of our participants describe it as its own kind of ceremony.
Local Market Visit
We take you into Mocoa to experience the culture of Putumayo directly: the people, the food, the everyday life of the communities that have lived with this medicine for centuries. Every purchase you make here supports local indigenous families.
Rapé, Sananga, Mambé and Cacao
Alongside the Ayahuasca work, you will experience Rapé (Hapé), Sananga, a Mambé and Ambil circle for truth-speaking, and a heart-opening Cacao ceremony to close the retreat and integrate everything before you return home.
Jungle Luxury in the Putumayo Highlands: Just Enough. Nothing Excessive.
We are not a resort. We are not a jungle survival camp either. MahaDevi sits at the point where comfort serves the healing without competing with it. Our highland location in northern Putumayo gives you the full depth of the Amazon forest with a climate that does not exhaust you.
Cooler temperatures than the southern lowlands. Dramatically fewer mosquitoes. Lower humidity. Hot showers, private jungle cabins with river views and hammocks, a swimming pool, a private jacuzzi option, massages available between ceremonies, nourishing meals prepared fresh every day, a private waterfall on the property, and 24/7 on-site security. Everything here exists to help your body rest so your spirit can do its work.
Safety at MahaDevi
Choosing an ayahuasca retreat in Putumayo is one of the most important decisions you will make. Safety is not a box we tick. It is the foundation everything else is built on.
Medical Screening
Rigorous three-step process. Psychologist and psychiatrist on advisory board. Hospital José María Hernández 30 to 40 minutes away in Mocoa.
During Ceremony
Up to 1:2 or 1:3 facilitator ratio throughout all ceremonies. Groups capped at 12. 24-hour hospital care close by.
30-Day Integration
Personalized integration manual, one-on-one sessions, group calls, and lifetime community access. Never dropped back alone.
Medical Screening
Before any participant joins a MahaDevi retreat, they go through a rigorous three-step medical screening process. Certain medications, particularly SSRIs, MAOIs, lithium, and others, are contraindicated with Ayahuasca. Our sanctuary is approximately 30 to 40 minutes from Hospital José María Hernández in Mocoa. This proximity is a deliberate part of our safety infrastructure. Read our full medical guidelines.
Preparation: 14 to 30 Days Before Arrival
Your healing begins before you arrive. Starting 14 to 30 days before arrival, you receive a one-on-one preparation call, a group preparation call, a breathwork session, personalized dietary guidance and Dieta protocol, PDF guides, guided meditations, and access to the MahaDevi Ayahuasca Framework video course. Complete travel support for reaching Putumayo is included. Visit our Travel Guide.
Integration: 30 Days After Your Retreat
The real work begins when you go home. MahaDevi's integration program includes a personalized integration manual, one-on-one integration sessions, a group integration call, and a group breathwork session. After 30 days, you retain lifetime access to the MahaDevi community. You are never dropped back into your life alone. Read our full integration protocol.
The MahaDevi Ayahuasca Framework: Free Video Course
Before you commit to anything, we want you to be educated. Most of the information about Ayahuasca online is either sensationalized, irresponsible, or dangerously incomplete. This free video course gives you clear, science-backed education on what Ayahuasca actually is, how to assess whether it is right for you, and what the five stages of the process look like from your first call through post-retreat life.
If you are considering any Ayahuasca retreat in Putumayo, with us or with anyone else, watch this first.
Meet Your Guides
Every person at MahaDevi has a specific role in making your experience safe, supported, and genuine.
Taita Miguel Mavisoy
Indigenous Elder, Camsá TribeA respected Elder with a 12-generation unbroken lineage from the Camsá tribe of Putumayo. Born and raised in this region, Taita Miguel carries the living tradition of the Kamsa people, connected to four indigenous lineages: Inga, Kamsa, Kofán, and Siona. Known throughout Putumayo for his rare mastery of Crudo Yagé and the sacred songs that navigate every ceremony.
Ania Halama
Head of Integration, Lead FacilitatorA dedicated student of the medicine with over 300 lived ceremonies, initiated by native tribes. She specializes in the emotional container that makes it possible to go deep and come back whole. Her background in trauma-informed facilitation means you are held not just during ceremony, but in everything that follows.
Yasha Shah
Founder and DirectorYasha founded MahaDevi around a single conviction: that the West deserves authentic, ethical access to indigenous wisdom, without exploitation in either direction. Currently deepening his training with the Kamsa tribe of Putumayo. He oversees every safety protocol, every logistical detail, and every participant relationship.
How to Join a MahaDevi Ayahuasca Retreat in Putumayo
The process is designed to ensure every participant arrives prepared, screened, and genuinely ready for the work ahead.
Your Retreat
What's Included
• 14–30 days preparation before arrival
• 7 nights, 8 days at the retreat in Putumayo
• 30 days post-retreat integration support
The Three Phases
- PDF preparation guides
- Guided meditations
- One-on-one preparation session
- Group preparation call
- Group breathwork session
- Access to facilitators anytime
- Support with booking hotels and flights
- All meals and accommodation
- Airport pickup and drop-off in Mocoa
- Dragon's Blood purge ceremony
- Three ayahuasca ceremonies (cooked & Crudo options)
- Rapé/Hapé ceremony with music and fire
- Sound healing and breathwork sessions
- Sharing circles
- One-on-one sessions
- Hike to Fin del Mundo waterfall
- Psychosomatic breathwork with Sananga
- Mambé and Ambil circles
- Integration talks
- Cacao ceremony and gratitude circles
- Available for additional fee:
- Day ayahuasca ceremony in nature
- Massages
- Group integration call
- One-on-one integration sessions
- Group breathwork
- Final group call
- Integration manual
- Priority access to facilitators
- Community access
- Ongoing access to Mahadevi community calls
Not Included
Please arrange these separately before your retreat.
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees (if applicable)
- Hotel accommodations before or after your retreat dates
A Week Designed to Take You Somewhere New
Every day at MahaDevi has a purpose. Rest when the medicine asks you to rest. Go inward when it is time to go inward. Walk into the highland Amazon when the forest calls you out.
Each day is structured so you never have to think about what comes next. Your only job is to show up.
Retreat Pricing & Availability
Choose Your Accommodation
Select the option that suits you and apply to reserve your place.
Retreat Dates
Availability
February 14th – 21st (2026)
March 22nd – 29th (2026)
July 24th – 31st (2026) *Medicine Maker Retreat Optional* (+850 USD)
August 16th – 23rd (2026) *Medicine Maker Retreat Optional*(+850 USD)
September 6th – 13th (2026)
November 1st – 8th (2026)
December 6th – 13th (2026)
Accommodation & Pricing
Hear From Our Guests
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Retreat ParticipantEnrico
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Real Ayahuasca Retreat Reviews
Read the honest experiences of those who found clarity and connection at MahaDevi. From the safety of our container to the depth of our integration support, discover why participants trust us with their journey.
An extraordinary and deeply rewarding journey. I'm so grateful my first experience was with MahaDevi. Ania and Yasha truly feel like family and created a space that felt like coming home.
Brante My very first night of ceremony at MahaDevi was absolutely spectacular. Ania and Yasha created an unforgettable experience with breathtaking surroundings, incredible support, and powerful shamans. If you're on the fence, don't think twice, you won't regret it.
Lester My first retreat with MahaDevi in July 2025 was truly transformative. Yasha and Ania went above and beyond to create a safe, supportive space with exceptional medicine, nourishing meals, and personalized care. From seamless travel to powerful ceremonies and ongoing integration, I felt held every step of the way.
Chad An extraordinary and deeply rewarding journey. I'm so grateful my first experience was with MahaDevi. Ania and Yasha truly feel like family and created a space that felt like coming home.
Brante My very first night of ceremony at MahaDevi was absolutely spectacular. Ania and Yasha created an unforgettable experience with breathtaking surroundings, incredible support, and powerful shamans. If you're on the fence, don't think twice, you won't regret it.
Lester My first retreat with MahaDevi in July 2025 was truly transformative. Yasha and Ania went above and beyond to create a safe, supportive space with exceptional medicine, nourishing meals, and personalized care. From seamless travel to powerful ceremonies and ongoing integration, I felt held every step of the way.
Chad Frequently Asked Questions About Ayahuasca Retreats in Putumayo
- What is Putumayo and why is it significant for Ayahuasca?
- Putumayo is a department in southwestern Colombia bordering Ecuador and Peru. It is widely considered the spiritual and cultural heartland of Colombian Yagé tradition. The Inga, Kamsa, Kofán, and Siona indigenous peoples have lived here for generations alongside the medicine. Unlike regions where plant medicine arrived through tourism or adoption from other traditions, Putumayo is where Yagé originated and where it has remained most intact. Coming to Putumayo for an Ayahuasca retreat means working with the medicine in its place of origin.
- What is the difference between northern and southern Putumayo?
- Northern Putumayo, including the Sibundoy Valley and the area around Mocoa, sits in the Andean foothills at higher elevations. It is cooler, less humid, and has significantly fewer insects than the lowland zones. This is where the oldest Yagé traditions are concentrated and where MahaDevi is located. Southern Putumayo is lowland equatorial Amazon, much hotter and more humid. Many travelers do not know this distinction exists and end up in the wrong part of the region for their retreat. We are in the north, in the highlands, in the cultural center of this tradition.
- What is Yagé and is it the same as Ayahuasca?
- Yes. Yagé and Ayahuasca are the same medicine. Yagé is the name used by the indigenous peoples of Putumayo, specifically the Inga, Kamsa, Kofán, and Siona traditions. Both refer to a brew made primarily from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and Chacruna leaves. The word Yagé comes from the languages of Putumayo itself. When you come here, you are working with the medicine by its original name, in its original home.
- What is the difference between Cooked and Crudo Ayahuasca?
- Cooked Yagé is the traditional brew most people know: the vine and leaves are cooked over fire for many hours, producing a strong, intensely cleansing medicine. Crudo is a raw, uncooked preparation unique to the highlands of Putumayo. It uses the same plants but skips the cooking process, making it significantly gentler on the body while maintaining full spiritual potency. MahaDevi is the only Ayahuasca retreat in Putumayo that offers both. We help each participant choose the right medicine during the preparation process.
- Is it safe to travel to Putumayo for an Ayahuasca retreat?
- The area around Mocoa in northern Putumayo, where MahaDevi is located, is safe for visitors who come with a clear purpose and proper guidance. We provide full travel support including airport pickup, pre-arrival hotel recommendations, and step-by-step arrival logistics. Our team has safely welcomed international participants for years. Our travel guide covers everything in detail.
- Is it safe to do an Ayahuasca retreat in Putumayo?
- Safety depends entirely on who is holding the ceremony and how they operate. At MahaDevi, every participant goes through a three-step medical screening process before being accepted. We maintain a 1 to 2 or 1 to 3 facilitator-to-participant ratio, keep groups at a maximum of 12 people, have a psychologist and psychiatrist on our advisory board, and are located 30 to 40 minutes from 24-hour hospital care in Mocoa. MahaDevi is verified by Safe Ceremonies, AyaAdvisors, BookRetreats, Retreat Guru, and Best Retreats.
- I have never done Ayahuasca before. Is MahaDevi right for me?
- Yes, and specifically because of Crudo. Most Ayahuasca retreats in South America only offer traditional cooked medicine, which can be physically overwhelming for first-time participants. Our Crudo preparation, unique to the highlands of Putumayo, gives beginners a full ceremonial experience without the intense physical demands of the cooked brew. MahaDevi is one of the most beginner-friendly Ayahuasca retreat centers in Putumayo.
- What medications are not compatible with Ayahuasca?
- The most important ones to know are SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, lithium, tramadol, and certain heart medications. Combining Ayahuasca with these substances can be dangerous. This is why medical screening is non-negotiable at MahaDevi. If you are on any prescription medication, please reach out before applying. Read our full medical guidelines.
- What is the Sibundoy Valley and does it relate to the retreat?
- The Sibundoy Valley is a highland valley in northern Putumayo, historically one of the most important centres of indigenous plant medicine knowledge in South America. The Kamsa and Inga peoples have called it home for centuries. MahaDevi draws from this same northern Putumayo lineage. Taita Miguel Mavisoy is part of the Kamsa tradition that has its roots in this region. When you come to MahaDevi, you are connecting to the living continuation of what the Sibundoy Valley has held for generations.
- How is MahaDevi different from other Ayahuasca retreats in Putumayo?
- We are the only Ayahuasca retreat in Putumayo offering both Cooked Yagé and Crudo Yagé with a full choice for each participant. We offer supervised medicine-making experiences that very few retreats anywhere offer. We run both night and day ceremonies. We are rooted in four indigenous lineages. We limit groups to 12 people maximum by choice. Our highland location gives you all the depth of the Putumayo Amazon with none of the climate challenges of the lowland jungle. Our 60-day journey, from preparation through 30 days of post-retreat integration, is more comprehensive than what most centres offer anywhere in South America.
Ready for Your Ayahuasca Retreat in Putumayo?
Spaces at MahaDevi are limited to 12 participants by choice, not by circumstance. It is the number at which every person receives the full depth of care, presence, and safety this work requires. The next step is a conversation, not a commitment.
Medical Disclaimer: Ayahuasca is a powerful entheogenic medicine that requires thorough medical screening and qualified supervision. The information on this page is educational and does not constitute medical or legal advice. MahaDevi requires full medical screening of all participants prior to acceptance.