I just returned from my 10 day trip to Awakenings Ayahuasca and I already miss my time there and want to go back and stay longer. The location was amazing, the Tsachila community was very welcoming and caring, the food was delicious, the pets were fun to play with, and the ceremonies were healing.

I have participated in ceremonies in other countries and with other tribes but this was like no other! I have never been included so deeply in learning about the lives, customs, traditions, and the way of life of the Tsachila indigneous community. We were really deeply involved and were even able to participate in preparing one of the ayahuasca brews! This is something I have never encountered anywhere and will forever cherish.

In between ceremonies we did things I couldn’t have imagined at other places. We hiked trails and visited 8 waterfalls and swam in some, we rode bicycles and fed hummingbirds by hand, we went to a family member’s farmland and picked fresh fruit, and we even walked through a protected part of the jungle in the middle of the city and were able to stand inside of a huge hollow tree that was overtaken by the vines that fed from it. We even visited the local school and brought gifts and supplies to the children and brightened their day.

The shaman Manuel is the nicest and happiest person I have ever met. He always had a smile on his face and loved teaching us about the Tsachila way of life. His personal care for the guests went above and beyond both during the ceremonies and outside of them. The music was beautiful and mystical and takes you to a deeper part of your medicine healing. We learned so much about plant medicine from him and his brothers which show the true depth of their knowledge and how much they want to help people.

The shaman Juan is unmatched. He not only guided us through ceremonies, he spent long amounts of time with us day and night teaching us about their culture, rituals, and ceremonies and participated in all of the activities. He personally took interest in all of our personal journies and guided us through the temazcals, limpias, and knew what each of us needed for our personal growth and kindly guided us through them. I have never had such personal interaction with a knowledgeable shaman that felt like a brother watching over me.

Tiwi seemed like a long lost friend that always had a smile on his face and was eager to facilitate the temazcals and renaissance baths and make us feel welcome. He has a peaceful nature that assures you that you are in good hands.

Fernanda and her daughter Nuri are the kindest and sweetest people on the planet and so much fun to talk to and joke with. Fernanda’s cooking is very tasty and all of the meals were made with love for the guests. She even guided us through preparing a traditional fish dinner that was delicious. Anything we needed was handled with care and made our stay feel very welcomed.

Stephani’s English/Spanish translation made communication even that much smoother for those that don’t speak Spanish and she was always very involved in the day to day activities to ensure we were in good hands. Even before the trip began, she was already very helpful in making all the arrangements as smooth as possible. During and even after the trip, her help never ended.

The group I was with felt like family and we bonded and shared many laughs, excursions, and good times together. We couldn’t have had a better group on this trip and the vibes were always positive. I came for the ayahuasca and personal development and ended up getting so much more than I expected and it was the best trip I have ever taken. I feel like I am part of the Tsachila family now and want to return soon. I am proud to not only call them my friends, they have become my family.

I would recommend Awakenings Ayahuasca for anyone seeking plant medicine, wanting learning more about the Tsachila community, learning more about yourself, and to feel a part of something bigger. To my new family, I love all of you, I miss you, and I will be back as soon as I can. Thank you for such a magical experience!