Testimonials from retreat participants

After years of holding ceremonies and guiding retreats, our family keeps growing! Here you can read some reviews from our past retreat participants. 

Testimonials

 “I left with a renewed sense of purpose and inner peace.  If you’re seeking profound healing and spiritual growth, I highly recommend an Ayllu Medicina retreat.”

Attending a retreat with Ayllu Medicina was an extraordinary journey of self-discovery and healing. From the serene surroundings to the expert guidance of the Ayllu team, every aspect was impeccably curated. The ceremonies were profound and transformative, accompanied by breathtaking music that resonated deep within. Yoga sessions in the beautiful shala added to the holistic experience, connecting mind, body, and spirit in perfect harmony. Throughout the entire retreat, I felt safe, supported, and embraced thanks to the nurturing environment and genuine love put forward from the Ayllu team. The integration support and sense of community following the ceremonies were also invaluable. I left with a renewed sense of purpose and inner peace. If you’re seeking profound healing and spiritual growth, I highly recommend an Ayllu Medicina retreat. It is a life-changing experience that will leave a lasting impact. I am grateful to be part of this Family. Aho!

Jordan Kaufman

“You will feel so seen, supported, loved and cared for throughout this whole process.”

To start off the location was superb. The view of the ocean from the resort was so beautiful. The rooms were clean, air conditioned and comfortable. The pool and hammocks were nice places to rest and restore. The yoga shala was a beautiful place to practice, and the Malolaka a magical place for ceremonies!

The Ayllu team (Emma, Hwaneetah, Nacho, Miguel, Mika, Aime and Vanessa) were incredible! Emma, Vanessa, and Mika welcomed us in right away, making us feel seen, safe, and cared for. They nourished us with yummy food, water and fresh juices, and really supported us throughout this journey. Whether it was answering questions or being a shoulder to lean on. Nacho supplied beautiful music!! Aime and Hwaneetah were such wise, inspiring and supportive leaders. They made this experience even at the hard times feel light, comical and okay. I felt safe to trust them, and be open to learn what they wanted to share. Through the medicine, they nourished my soul and gave me a chance to remember what I had forgotten.

And lastly, Bre and Flo were the final touch to a holistic experience . Providing our bodies with daily movement, breath work, and meditation. Everything came together seamlessly. Truly nourishing Body, Mind and Spirit!

I left this retreat with a new sense of hope and gained family. This is a once in a life time experience that I highly recommend! If you are feeling at all hesitant, then this is the right the place for you. You will feel so seen, supported, loved and cared for throughout this whole process. ❤️ Thank you Ayllu

Olivia Phillip

“I feel in every cell of my being that this was the most healing and transformational experience of my life… I was able to reconnect with my heart, and find the will power to be the best version of myself.” 

As I reflect on my experience attending the plant medicine retreat with Ayllu Medicina, I feel in every cell of my being that this was the most healing and transformational experience of my life. The Ayllu Medicina team work together so seamlessly to hold space and guide you on your journey, doing so with love, compassion and understanding. The overwhelming amount of nourishment on offer made me feel safe and secure, that I was exactly where I need to be! Through this journey, I was able to reconnect with my heart, and find the will power to be the best version of myself. This experience would not have been possible without the guidance of this wonderful community that they have cultivated, a communiry so genuine and so authentic in their purpose. I feel so blessed, and proud to call you whānau. I know in my heart we will meet again around the fire, and I look forward to our next journey on Taita Imbabura.

Jesse Howes

“I touched magic during this retreat, it was truly perfect in every aspect!”

As I am writing this, my heart is full of joy. I touched magic during this retreat, it was truly perfect in every aspect. BIG RESPECT for Aime and Hwaneetah for providing such deep understanding about living life in harmony with nature and truth.They are passionately building a community that focuses on more joy, love, peace and integrity, how cool is that? aren’t we all searching for that..? By the 2nd day I already felt part of this community which i will never ever let go of. The scared plant medicine ceremonies were so beautifully done, lots of wise speeches, prayers, chanting, all that while you’re in your own world getting healed by your grandma Ayahuasca. As I said I belonged to this family right away and so I felt so safe during the ceremonies. The team (Mika, Jilian and Emma) are just wonderful people, supported us with everything we needed. The location was incredible, right on top of a hill looking over the ocean. The food was so good and healthy, I am now cooking the same at home. Hwaneetah you are my role model, Aime you are a beautiful soul, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. I love you Ayllu Medicina family, I will see you again soon, AHO! 

Nadine Eido

“It was the most loving, healing, beautiful experience of my life.

Ayllu Medicina, wow what an amazing, beautiful, loving group this is. I participated in the 8 day mediation and plant medicine retreat in Nov 2022 and it was the most loving, healing, beautiful experience of my life. The team, starting with Aime and Hwaneetah and continuing through to Mika, Jill, Emma, and Drew, make you feel supported and safe from the very beginning through the closing of the ceremony. This was my first time with plant medicine and I was prepared to not participate if I didn’t feel safe; needless to say, that concern was eased immediately. The agenda keeps you moving through enriching activities throughout the week and leaves plenty of time for you to rest, recover and integrate. The yoga was amazing, Juli is the best! The food was beyond delicious and leaves you feeling so good in your body. Throughout all the ceremonies, plant medicine or not, Aime and Hwaneetah have so much wisdom and love to share, it is truly a unique experience. Most importantly, the community they have cultivated creates such a beautiful, vulnerable, safe space for you to truly work on yourself, all you have to do is show up with an open mind and open heart. Thank you so much Ayllu family! Aho

Brendan M

“I will be back to do it all over again!”

What a great experience with Ayllu Medicina, You can feel so much love that they put in everything they do and give! Go with an open mind and an open heart and you’ll see why they do all they do and understand that it helps people from all over there world.

Aime, Hwaneetah, Emma and Mika thank you so much for a great week in your care! I will be back to do it all over again!

Daniela Eixarch

“I loved everything about my week!”

For me, receiving this plant medicine was about letting go of the things that were not serving me in my life. And I could not have picked a better team to support me in that journey! They were all fantastic! I’m so grateful I happened upon this retreat because everything was arranged so well – the ceremonies, the shaman and guide (Aime and Hwaneetah), logistics, and support during the actual experience itself from Jillian and Mika. All of my meals were prepared fresh, and they were delicious!!! All of my questions were answered, even my bed was turned down every night during my retreat. I realize now that I might have been overwhelmed if they had not been there to help me every step of the way… and just having someone to talk during my process who could understand and relate was incredibly helpful for me. I loved everything about my week with them, I even extended my visit. I would highly recommend the this team, and definitely know who to contact for my next ceremony.

Kassy Beeler

“This plant medicine retreat was one of the most beautiful and spiritually significant experiences of my life.“

I have so much gratitude towards Hwaneetah, Aime, Jillian, Mika, and the rest of the retreat crew for providing such a well facilitated and magical space for my journey.

The Plant Medicine Ceremonies

Hwaneetah and Aime have such a strong and palpable love radiating between them that it shined through during the ceremonies. I felt very safe and comfortable with them, especially since they gave off a sacred parental-like energy that really eased my transition into the world of Grandmother and Grandfather spirit. They each played instruments and sang soothing trance-like songs so gracefully throughout much of the ceremony, which helped me dive even further into my healing Ayahuasca journey. They never left us unattended and were very helpful to those of us who may have been in need of assistance to go the bathroom or whatever we needed. They also took extra precautions before and during the retreat to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

I truly admire how they held the ceremony in such a sacred and traditional way, with great attention to detail of the altar and offerings, but also had their own unique and individual insights to add as well. I could not have dreamed up a better first experience for my Ayahuasca and San Pedro immersions.

The Stay

The entire week was extremely beneficial to my wellbeing and provided great preparation for the plant medicine rituals. We had 3 delicious plant based and locally sourced meals, to ensure the proper “dieta” for the ceremony, as well as yoga, offered everyday. There were 3 sacred temazcals (sweat lodges) held in a very traditional way, which I absolutely loved and would do every week if I could. I felt so cleansed and reborn after those, which was essential before our plant medicine experiences.

I also had so much fun getting to know everyone, going to the beach, relaxing in the sand, trying local foods like corviches, and watching the surfers and locals dogs running about, too. We had arts and crafts time, made delicious tropical smoothies, as well as played music and danced together in celebration towards the end of the week… Oh yeah, and we had a jaw-dropping vegan farewell brunch, too! It truly was such an amazing experience and I definitely came back to the USA as a new and rejuvenated woman after this. Coastal Ecuador is truly a gorgeous and magical getaway destination, especially if you love nature and those beach chill vibes. I can’t recommend this experience enough and I am definitely coming back for more! I have so much love for these guys and all that they do to provide this wonderful healing space for a transformative plant medicine journey.

Olivia Wilson

As I told Aimee and Hwaneetah, they are incredible guardians of a sacred world that they passionately help you navigate. I couldn’t recommend them enough. They inspire you to be a better person and open up a beautiful world to show you what is really important.

I had the most wonderful experience with Ayllu Medicina. My initial search for a plant medicine ceremony and retreat was consumed by making sure I found experienced, professional, passionate, and safe people to work with. Aimee and Hwaneetah proved exactly that. They are a very dedicated and passionate couple. They make you feel more than comfortable and the whole team at Ayllu Medicina are incredible people working so hard to improve the lives of as many people as they can. As I told Aimee and Hwaneetah, they are incredible guardians of a sacred world that they passionately help you navigate. I couldn’t recommend them enough. They inspire you to be a better person and open up a beautiful world to show you what is really important. I can’t wait to work with them again and can’t imagine not doing so. Thank you Aimee and Hwaneetah!

Rayan Rasamny

“I will forever be changed because of the vision of this group and am so grateful.”

I was a part of the Women’s Power Retreat in April 2022. My time there with the Ayllu family was life changing. Every aspect of this experience was impeccable. We were doing deep, powerful work and in the midst of such deep healing I felt supported, safe and welcomed – truly a part of the family! I trust Aime and Hwaneetah to hold a strong space with love and care, which is incredibly important for me.

Julien Elizabeth

I had a truly TRANSFORMATIONAL experience! The schedule was filled with powerful experiences and just enough fluidity to read the energy of the group participants. The traditions and ceremonies were of the highest caliber and left me wanting to return at a later date for more.

 I’ve never had such a profound experience all take place in a single week! Thank you Ayllu Medicina for constructing such a beautiful retreat and for inviting such wonderfully introspective and dynamic people to participate! Thank you!!!

Jonanthan Carroll

“Mi experiencia; transformación, confirmación, de todo lo que estoy haciendo es el camino. La familia está aquí y en todas partes donde tu corazon vibre bien fuerte. Ve y experimentalo-descubre por ti mismo.”

Luego de 7 días, puedo decir que he vuelto a celebrar mi vida como siempre he soñado (rezado), tanto amor, abundancia, alegría que no puedo explicar. Entre tantas medicinas que mi alma siempre recuerda que ya ha caminado y rezado con ellas. Los seres que me acompañaron y que me regalaron uno de los mejores cumpleaños de mi existencia, siempre los he soñado. Tantos sabores, olores, tantos espíritus, tanta geometría sagrada. Las palabras se quedan cortas para lo vivido.

Jaymilli Borges

Aime and Hwaneetah are an amazing team of shamans! I’ve had ceremonies before but never like the one I had thanks to them. They are incredibly in sink with powerful male and female energies. They are very knowledgeable and great musicians as well. They make you feel welcome from beginning to end and help you have a better understanding of your experience. Their words are always meaningful and wise. I look forward to meeting them again.

Marcos Azevedo