Medicine Maker Retreat
in the Highlands of the Amazon
On select MahaDevi retreat dates, participants have the option to join Taita Miguel in preparing the Crudo Ayahuasca (Yagé) that will be served in ceremony. Two mornings. Twelve generations of living process. Completely by hand.
Contact us if you have questions before booking.
AS SEEN ON
An Invitation for a Unique Experience with Ayahuasca
This is not an apprenticeship. It is not training. It is not a path to becoming a healer or an ayahuascero. It is something simpler and, for many people, more profound.
On standard MahaDevi retreat dates, participants arrive, prepare, and work with Ayahuasca (Yagé) in ceremony. The medicine does its work. That is complete in itself, and it always will be.
During Medicine Maker retreats, something additional is offered before the ceremonies begin. Taita Miguel guides a small group through the full preparation of Crudo Ayahuasca (Yagé), using the same Camsá process his lineage has followed for twelve generations. You work with your hands. You sit with the plants before they sit with you. The medicine you help prepare is the medicine you will drink in ceremony.
The Medicine Maker experience is an optional add-on. Every participant on a Medicine Maker retreat, whether they join the preparation or not, receives the full MahaDevi retreat experience.
Two Days. One Living Process.
The medicine-making takes place over two mornings before the ceremonies begin. Day one is the heart of the work. Day two is the final step. Together they form a complete preparation in the Camsá tradition.
Preparation
The morning opens with a purification and protection ritual led by MahaDevi facilitators. Sacred smoke is used to open the space and set the intention for what is being made.
Taita then introduces the full process, what you will do, why each step exists, and what separates the Camsá approach from other traditions. From there, the work begins.
- 01Purification and protection ritual with sacred smoke
- 02Introduction by Taita Miguel, the tradition, the plants, the intention
- 03Cleaning and cutting the Chagra leaves by hand
- 04Smashing Chagra down with a wooden mallet until fully shredded
- 05Cleaning and smashing the ayahuasca vine with a wooden mallet
- 06Mixing the plants and setting them to rest overnight
Extraction
Day two is focused and shorter. The hard work is done. What remains is drawing the medicine from everything that was prepared the day before.
The Crudo takes its final form. The continuity between making and receiving is intentional, and it matters.
- 01Return to what was set to rest overnight
- 02Extraction of the medicine from the prepared plants
- 03Final preparation of the Crudo, the medicine you will drink
- 04Closing of the preparation space with Taita Miguel
"The medicine you prepared, you then get to experience in ceremony."
Measuring the vine before preparation begins
Smashing the vine by hand, no machines at any stage
Mixing the plants after preparation
Fresh Crudo ayahuasca, hours from ceremony
Taita Miguel Mavisoy
The person who guides the Medicine Maker process is the same person who leads every ceremony. Taita Miguel Mavisoy of the Camsá tribe carries twelve unbroken generations of ayahuasca lineage. He received the medicine for the first time at six months old, guided by his parents, who are both respected healers in the Camsá tradition. He became a Taita and started serving ayahuasca by age 14.
Taita Miguel grows the plants on his own land. He prepares the medicine himself. He is the preparation, the ceremony, and the lineage, present throughout every Medicine Maker retreat from the first morning of preparation through the final ceremony night.
His medicine is known across Colombia and abroad for its notably sweet taste and the warmth of his presence in ceremony.
Taita Miguel
Ceremonial Leader · Camsá Tradition12-generation lineage. Known for his warmth, his presence in ceremony, and the notably sweet taste of his brew. Guides both the medicine preparation and every ceremony night.
Yasha
Founder · DirectorHolds the safety framework, logistics, and the container for every retreat. Has completed the ICEERS Academy Integration course. Your experience is looked after from first contact through integration.
Ania
Head of Integration · Lead FacilitatorCreates the space in ceremony and holds you through integration. The bridge between the Amazon and daily life, providing the practical support that makes the medicine land.
The Medicine You'll Work With
Most retreats outside the Amazon cannot offer fresh medicine. What arrives at most retreat centers is a paste, cooked down, dried, shipped, and reconstituted with water. At MahaDevi, Taita Miguel grows the plants on his own land and prepares every batch fresh in the days before your retreat. No paste. No importing.
Crudo
Prepared cold, without fire. Consumed within a day or two of harvesting. Mild taste, gentler on digestion, and what many people describe as a cleaner quality of experience. It ferments quickly and cannot leave Colombia.
Cooked Ayahuasca (Yagé)
Fire-brewed for many hours. Dense, bitter, and physically demanding. Prepared fresh from plants on Taita Miguel's land, not from imported paste. Available alongside Crudo at MahaDevi.
More Steps.
More Time.
More Connection.
Most ayahuasca preparation, including what you find across much of South America, including Peru, does not go to this level of detail. In the Camsá tradition, everything is broken down much more thoroughly than is standard, specifically to maximize absorption of the plants.
No machine touches this process at any stage. Taita Miguel holds this as a principle that cannot be separated from the quality of what is made. The connection between the person preparing the medicine and the medicine itself is part of what makes our ayahuasca special.
Twelve generations of this lineage have followed the same process. You are not learning a technique. You are being shown a relationship.
- Everything reduced to fine pieces by hand for maximum absorption
- No machines at any stage, connection is preserved throughout
- Sacred opening ritual before preparation begins
- Plants grown and harvested on Taita Miguel's own land in Putumayo
- Consumed within days of preparation, Crudo cannot be stored or transported
- 12 generations of unbroken Camsá lineage behind every preparation
Is the Medicine Maker Experience Right for You?
The medicine-making is optional. If it is not for you, the retreat is complete without it. Nothing is lost. But for the right person, preparing the medicine before drinking it cultivates a deeper relationship.
This is for you if…
- You want to deepen your connection to plant medicine beyond ceremony
- You feel drawn to understanding where the medicine comes from
- You appreciate indigenous knowledge and want to learn from it directly
- You are open to hands-on physical work, including something demanding
- You are comfortable working alongside a small group
- You are a first-timer who wants to connect with the medicine before it meets you
- You want the richest, most authentic experience MahaDevi offers
This is probably not for you if…
- Physical activity is exhausting or contraindicated for you right now
- You are in an active stage of trauma or acute psychological difficulty
- Group activities feel draining rather than grounding for you
- You are not drawn toward indigenous knowledge or ceremonial process
If you are unsure, reach out before booking and we can help you decide.
Where You'll Be
MahaDevi is located near Mocoa in Putumayo, a cooler, low-mosquito zone, not a remote jungle camp. The setting is designed for deep healing work, with enough comfort that you can fully surrender without distraction.
- Private and shared cabins with modern design, hot shower, and electricity
- Pool, cold plunge next to the Mocoa river, and a private waterfall
- All meals included, nourishing and locally sourced
- Wi-Fi and 24/7 on-site security
- Hospital José María Hernández 30 minutes from the retreat
- Two-way airport transportation included
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
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* (+350 USD)
August 16th – 23rd (2026) *Medicine Maker Retreat*(+350 USD)
September 6th – 13th (2026)
November 1st – 8th (2026)
December 6th – 13th (2026)
Accommodation & Pricing
Pricing
The Medicine Maker experience is an optional add-on. Both options include the full 7-night retreat with all ceremonies, meals, transport, and integration support.
- 7 nights, 8 days
- 3 Ayahuasca (Yagé) ceremonies with Taita Miguel
- Optional 4th Crudo ceremony
- All meals and accommodation
- Two-way airport transport
- Fin del Mundo waterfall hike
- Hapeh, Sananga, Breathwork & Cacao
- 14–30 days preparation support
- 30 days integration support
- Everything in the standard retreat
- Day 1: Purification ritual with Taita Miguel
- Day 1: Full hands-on Crudo preparation (4–5 hours), cleaning, cutting, smashing, mixing
- Day 2: Extraction and final Crudo preparation
- Drink the medicine you prepared in ceremony
- Direct teaching from a 12-generation Camsá lineage holder
Medicine Maker participation is not mandatory. If you are on a Medicine Maker retreat and choose not to participate in the preparation, there is no additional charge. Full pricing including private accommodation options is on the retreats page.
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.
Safety and Medical Screening
MahaDevi requires comprehensive medical and psychiatric screening before any participant is accepted, on every retreat including Medicine Maker retreats. The framework below applies without exception.
Before the Retreat
14–30 days of structured preparation including group calls, breathwork, and full medical and psychiatric screening before acceptance.
During Ceremony
Trained facilitators present throughout all ceremonies. 1:2 staff-to-participant ratio. Hospital José María Hernández 30 minutes from the retreat.
After the Retreat
30 days of post-retreat integration, one-on-one sessions, and lifelong community access.
Hear From Our Guests
Emily
Retreat ParticipantEnrico
Retreat ParticipantJon
Retreat ParticipantTrusted by Seekers:
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 New to Ayahuasca? Start Here.
A free video course covering what ayahuasca is, the neuroscience, how to assess readiness, and what separates a safe retreat from an unsafe one.
How We Hold This Work
MahaDevi operates from a clear ethical framework. Taita Miguel's lineage is the foundation of everything we offer, and we hold a responsibility to the tradition, the participants, and the land. The medicine is not a product. The ceremonies are not entertainment.
We are transparent about what we offer, honest about what we cannot offer, and committed to the long-term wellbeing of every person who comes through.
Lineage Integrity
The ceremony, the medicine, and the songs come from a living tradition. Taita Miguel holds that lineage and leads every retreat personally.
Participant Safety First
Full medical and psychiatric screening required. No exceptions. A clinical team is available when needed.
Honest About What This Is
We do not over-promise outcomes. We say no when someone is not ready.
Questions About the Medicine Maker Retreat
- Do I need prior ayahuasca experience?
- No. The Medicine Maker experience is open to first-time participants. You do not need prior experience with plant medicine to participate in the preparation. For many people, learning about the medicine before drinking it makes the first ceremony more grounded and more meaningful.
- Will I drink the medicine I helped prepare?
- Yes. The Crudo prepared during the Medicine Maker mornings is the medicine served in ceremony. What you make, you receive. That connection is intentional and it is part of what makes this experience different.
- Is this physically demanding?
- Day one involves real physical effort, smashing plants with a wooden mallet over four to five hours. Others are present throughout and people take turns, so this is not a solo endurance task. But you will use your body, and you will feel it. If you have physical limitations that make active work difficult, let us know before booking.
- What makes the Camsá preparation different from other traditions?
- The Camsá process shreds everything down to a much finer level than is standard in most ayahuasca traditions, including Peruvian preparation. The intention is maximum absorption of the plants. Everything is done by hand at every stage, because Taita Miguel holds that the connection between the person preparing the medicine and the medicine itself is part of what makes our ayahuasca special. Twelve generations of this lineage have followed the same process.
- Is this training to become a healer or curandero?
- No. This is not apprenticeship, not a path to facilitation, and not curanderismo training. Taita Miguel's lineage is twelve generations deep. What he shares across these two mornings is not a credential or a transfer of practice. It is an opening, a chance to understand what goes into the medicine you are about to work with, and to deepen your appreciation for the tradition that holds it.
- Is the $350 on top of the full retreat price?
- Yes. The Medicine Maker add-on is $350 USD added to your retreat fee. Retreat prices start from $2,200 USD for shared accommodation. The add-on is entirely optional. If you choose not to participate in the preparation, there is no additional charge.
- How do I find out which dates are Medicine Maker retreats?
- Medicine Maker retreats are marked on the retreat calendar above. Not every date includes this experience. If you are unsure about a specific date, contact us and we will confirm.
- What is Crudo and why is it only available in Colombia?
- Crudo is a cold-brew preparation of Ayahuasca (Yagé) made without fire. The plants are prepared by hand and must be consumed within a day or two, as Crudo ferments quickly and cannot be stored or transported. It does not exist outside Colombia. At MahaDevi you work with both Crudo and traditionally cooked Ayahuasca, both prepared fresh for every retreat.
- Is ayahuasca legal in Colombia?
- Yes. Colombia has never prohibited Ayahuasca (Yagé). There is no legislation restricting its ceremonial use, and the Colombian government has provided institutional recognition of its cultural significance in indigenous practice. MahaDevi operates in a fully legal framework, no exemptions, no gray areas, no legal risk for participants.
Ready to Go Deeper?
Medicine Maker retreats are limited and not offered on every date. If this speaks to you, check the calendar or reach out to speak with us directly.
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.