Ayahuasca Retreat in Mocoa, Colombia
Indigenous Yagé Ceremonies in the Place the Medicine Has Always Called Home
Mocoa does not ask you to choose between access and authenticity. A direct one-hour flight from Bogotá. A hospital 30 minutes away. Primary rainforest the moment you step outside the city. And at the center of it all, a 12-generation unbroken lineage that has never left.
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Why Mocoa Changes Everything About an Ayahuasca Retreat
There is a reason the indigenous peoples of Putumayo have gathered in and around Mocoa for generations. This city is a meeting point. The Inga, Kamsa, Kofán, and Siona peoples have all passed through here, traded here, and shared their knowledge here. It is not a remote outpost. It is the living center of Colombian plant medicine culture.
For you as a participant, what Mocoa offers is something most ayahuasca retreats in the Amazon cannot: you arrive without being broken by the journey. You land at Mojarras Airport, we pick you up, and within a short drive you are at our sanctuary surrounded by jungle. Your body is rested. Your nervous system is settled. You are ready to work.
That readiness matters more than people realize. The ceremony asks a great deal of you. Arriving in good condition is not a luxury. It is part of how the healing works.
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 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 to navigate for first-time participants, yet fully, profoundly spiritually active. Taita Miguel's Crudo is known throughout Mocoa 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 Colombia or South America offer this.
You will learn the unique preparation process of the Kamsa tribe. 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, everything changes.
Night Ceremonies and Day Ceremonies
At MahaDevi, the medicine does not only work after dark.
Night Ceremony: The Ancestral Setting
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. The experience most people come to Ayahuasca seeking.
Day Ceremony: The Open Amazon
Ayahuasca held in the open light of the Amazon, surrounded by the sounds of the living forest. The light changes what you see. The jungle around you becomes part of the ceremony itself. Very few retreat centers near Mocoa offer both. Most people who have worked with plant medicine many times have never experienced a ceremony in daylight.
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 powerful natural sites in all of Putumayo and one of the most striking natural landmarks accessible from Mocoa. A thundering cascade deep in the Amazonian rainforest. 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, many of our participants describe it as its own kind of ceremony.
Local Market Visit
We take you into Mocoa itself 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.
Mocoa: Accessible Without Being Commercial
Mocoa surprises people. They expect a remote, difficult-to-reach outpost. What they find is a small city with a functioning airport, reliable infrastructure, good local food, a hospital, and a community that is genuinely warm to visitors who come with respect.
What Mocoa does not have is an ayahuasca tourism industry. There are no retreat centers lining the main road. There are no package tours. What exists here is what has always existed: indigenous families, living traditions, and a relationship with the land and the medicine that has never needed to market itself.
The Highland Amazon Advantage
Our sanctuary sits just outside the city in the highland Amazon. Cooler temperatures. Dramatically lower humidity. Significantly fewer mosquitoes than the river basin camps further south. Most people who have traveled to Amazon retreats elsewhere come back with stories about the heat, the insects, and the physical exhaustion of just being there. At MahaDevi in Mocoa, that is not your experience. The forest is fully present around you. It just does not wear you down before the work begins.
Jungle Luxury: 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.
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 Mocoa 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. A psychologist and psychiatrist sit on our advisory board. Our sanctuary is located approximately 30 to 40 minutes from Hospital José María Hernández, a 24-hour medical facility in Mocoa. This proximity is intentional and is part of our safety planning for every retreat. 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 group breathwork session, personalized dietary guidance and Dieta protocol, PDF guides, guided meditations, and access to the MahaDevi Ayahuasca Framework video course. Complete travel support specific to reaching Mocoa is also 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 with your facilitator, 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, how to tell authentic lineages from dangerous imitations, and what the five stages of the process look like.
If you are considering any Ayahuasca retreat in Mocoa or anywhere in Colombia, 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. Taita Miguel has spent his life in and around Mocoa, connected to four indigenous lineages: Inga, Kamsa, Kofán, and Siona. Known throughout this region 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. He oversees every safety protocol, every logistical detail, and every participant relationship.
How to Join a MahaDevi Ayahuasca Retreat in Mocoa
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 Mocoa
- Is Mocoa safe to travel to?
- Yes. Mocoa is the capital of Putumayo and a functioning small city with an airport, hospital, markets, and a warm local community. It is accessible by direct one-hour flight from Bogotá. MahaDevi provides full travel support including airport pickup, pre-retreat hotel recommendations in Mocoa, and step-by-step logistics guidance. Many of our participants arrive having never been to Colombia before and find the journey far easier than they expected. Our travel guide covers everything in detail.
- How do I get to Mocoa from Bogotá?
- There are direct flights from Bogotá's El Dorado International Airport to Mojarras Airport in Mocoa. Flight time is approximately one hour. MahaDevi arranges airport pickup as part of your retreat package. You will not need to arrange transportation on arrival. We handle it.
- 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. Mocoa is one of the places in the world where this medicine is most alive and most authentically practiced.
- 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 Mocoa that offers both.
- Is it safe to do an Ayahuasca retreat in Mocoa?
- 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 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 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 Mocoa and in Colombia.
- 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 Rapé and why is it part of the retreat?
- Rapé (pronounced ha-PAY) is a sacred tobacco-based powder used by indigenous Amazonian tribes for grounding, energetic cleansing, and preparing the body for ceremony. At MahaDevi, we use Rapé in a dedicated ceremony before the first Ayahuasca night. It is not recreational. It is ceremonial, and it is part of the same indigenous tradition that has lived in and around Mocoa for generations.
- What is Fin del Mundo and is it near Mocoa?
- Yes. Fin del Mundo is one of the most striking natural sites in the Mocoa area. The name means End of the World in Spanish. It is a powerful waterfall deep in the Amazonian rainforest, reachable by a guided hike from our retreat. We take every group there during the retreat, typically between ceremony nights. Standing at the base of the falls after a ceremony night is one of the most grounding and memorable moments of the week for most participants.
- How is MahaDevi different from other Ayahuasca retreats in South America?
- We are the only Ayahuasca retreat in Mocoa 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. And our 60-day journey, from preparation through 30 days of post-retreat integration, is more comprehensive than what most centers offer anywhere in South America. We are not trying to be the biggest. We are trying to be the most complete.
Ready for Your Ayahuasca Retreat in Mocoa?
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.