Listen to yourself. This is part of the practice of listening to the feelings that come up, your body, and intuition. Research, read, listen, and speak to people who have had this experience (understanding that every person and experience is different). Ultimately, what led you here?
Wherever you choose, we advise you to go where the plant is native and where a community that has been working with this sacred plant for generations leads the ceremonies. For native cultures, this path begins at 6 years old and is pursued with great respect and humility.

Questions to ask yourself and any place you choose to move forward with:

Via Meraki Path: Our philosophy is rooted in respect for genuine reciprocal partnerships rather than charity; the Kichwa Kuyaloma community are partners and family. We do not operate with entitlement or position ourselves as representatives of groups outside our lineage, as doing so disempowers them, fosters dependency, and undermines their inherent ability to represent themselves. Instead, we serve as a bridge for the Kichwa Napusamai community to access opportunities, acknowledging and respecting that they are the true experts of their own culture. The lands they steward and their culture are not commodities for us or others to benefit from; we engage with them as respected wisdom keepers, building on a foundation of mutual respect, understanding, and trust.

Via Meraki Path: Yachaks and Maestros, Don Luis and Don Juan. Learn more about them here.

Via Meraki Path: Yes, the ceremony is conducted by Kichwa Napusamai yachaks.

Via Meraki Path: Both Don Luis and Don Juan are Kichwa Napusamai yachaks who have been working with plant medicines since childhood, with wisdom passed down from their grandparents and for generations.

If over 20 people, consider if your safety and well-being are truly the priority. Via Meraki Path: To ensure personalized attention and safety, our retreats are limited to 14 participants.

Via Meraki Path: Yes, you will have direct engagement. There is a difference between gatekeeping access (comes from ego and a need to be centered/seen) vs. bridging people and cultures to connect. We are experienced and trusted bridges, not gatekeepers.

There is a general practice of giving a small percentage (if anything), i.e., 2% back to communities. This is wrong and extractive. Via Meraki Path: As partners, at least 50% of retreat proceeds go to the Kichwa Napusamai Community.

Meraki Path and Napusamai are deeply committed to ethical collaboration, emphasizing mutual respect and growth. We engage as co-creators and 'partners in purpose', ensuring retreats support the Kichwa Napusamai Community's sovereignty and traditions. We are both BIPOC-owned and managed, bringing a shared cultural perspective and a commitment to non-exploitative practices.

The length of the ceremony can vary ~3-6 hours as Don Luis and Juan provide a personalized healing song (icaros), play traditional instruments, and support each person's individual energy. Typically, with a group of 14 (max), 7 will work with Maestro Juan and 7 with Maestro Don Luis per their discretion. After the individual ceremonies are complete, they will continue to work until the collective energy is harmonized. Every person, group, and ceremony is unique. We ask that you come with intention not expectation.

We ensure that at least 50% of all proceeds go directly to the Kichwa Napusamai Community, supporting sustainable practices that respect both land and all beings.

We are able to fuse modern business practices with traditional wisdom to create meaningful, impactful experiences. We are a bridge for these worlds with a lived, embodied experience and understanding of both.

Meraki Path brings an authentic, culturally-rooted perspective with our founders' mixed indigenous and Latino heritage and deep connections to the land and people. Our approach is characterized by:

Fluency in Spanish, shared cultural dynamics, and ongoing learning of Kichwa Napusamai Community allow for deeper collaboration and communication with the community.

Our founder, although not of Kichwa Napusamai Community lineage, was bestowed with the great honor of being named Godmother to a yachak's daughter. Over the past seven years, she has been learning from and supporting the Kichwa Napusamai Community and maestros, earning their trust.

Our commitment extends beyond retreat and travel curation; we engage with the Kichwa Napusamai Community as true partners and family, working with them without exploiting their wisdom (i.e., IP/intellectual property) or resources. We will not participate in a system that commodifies native cultural practices and work. We ensure our experiences are enriching for all involved, fostering a system of sustainability, mutual reciprocity, and respect.

Napusamai is entirely owned and managed by the Kichwa Napusamai Community, making it one of the few sovereign spaces left in the Amazon that is genuinely governed by its native communities. The community wishes to keep it this way. The land and their culture is not for individual, organizational, or corporate capital gain and extraction. Your participation supports the community’s autonomy and preserves their cultural and economic well-being.

Decision is the catalyst for change. Most of us want to improve and shift our circumstances, yet get stuck in overthinking. What if there is no wrong decision? What if your choice is the key that unlocks the path to where you want to be? Once you decide to move forward, we will provide full information including nutritional and health guidelines, packing suggestions, safety guidelines, and logistical details to ensure you're fully prepared.

Napusamai was intentionally built to remove distractions so you focus inward to find the answers you seek. It's you, guided by the ancient wisdom of the maestros and the plants. The accommodations are simple, made with the permission of the trees of the forest. There are private bathrooms but no wifi, electricity, or hot water. Why? Whether it's professional or personal, we don't grow in our comfort zone. If your intention includes deep self-discovery and connection, Napusamai provides a space to do just that.

We adhere to eco-friendly practices and advise guests to bring biodegradable items, water bottles, and reduce waste. Guests also learn how to honor and give back to the land during the retreats.

Our retreats are specifically tailored to foster deep connections, personal, and collective growth. We are able to seamlessly blend extensive corporate expertise with transformative wellness practices. This combination uniquely equips us to effectively address specific professional challenges and enhance team dynamics. With a deep understanding of the lexicon and culture of various industries and challenges, we excel at creating experiences that precisely meet your organizational needs. Reach out to us here to learn more.

Partnering with us involves no upfront costs and offers significant benefits including direct engagement with the community and equitable financial arrangements. We work with facilitators to create unique and impactful retreat experiences. Reach out to us here to learn more.

We welcome individuals with open hearts who are willing to donate their valuable time and resources. If you are a language translator, builder, contractor, architect, engineer, marketer, or other professional looking to volunteer your skills, our 'Collaborate, Learn, and Receive' model offers a rewarding and enriching experience. As a volunteer, you'll collaborate closely with the Kichwa Napusamai Community and learn traditional practices such as planting, harvesting, and/or building. In recognition of your efforts, you will be acknowledged in our communications, including on LinkedIn (we are co-creating a future of work that highly values acts of service). Additionally, you will receive discounts and other gifts from the community.

Please contact us to learn more about how you can get involved and the next steps.

You can customize your experience by choosing from various additional activities listed on our website. We also offer extended stay options to engage on a deeper level with the Kichwa Napusamai Community.

Safety and well-being is our top priority. We limit our retreats to a maximum of 14 participants to ensure personalized attention. Our experienced guides and the local community are trained to handle various situations, and we provide all necessary support to ensure a safe and enriching experience.

Children under 18 will receive a discount as there are some activities they will not be able to participate in. If you are traveling with an infant or small child, women from the community are available to care for your child while you participate in the ceremony/treatments. 

If we determine that someone cannot safely participate based on health information, we will refund their deposit unless they choose to attend and receive only the icaros (medicinal songs). Participants who cancel at least 30 days before the ceremony are eligible for a 50% refund. Cancellations within 30 days of the event do not qualify for a refund (unless an emergency), as the spot could have been offered to another participant. Deposits may be credited toward a future retreat at the discretion of the Kichwa Napusamai Community.

Note:
In Western contexts, such as between the UK and the US for example, there is a standard practice of recognizing and maintaining value consistency across borders. We believe this practice should be extended globally, particularly when engaging with indigenous communities, whose contributions are often exploited and undervalued in traditional economic models. By adopting this fair value approach, we aim to contribute to reframing the typical Western operational model and uphold the dignity and worth of native people, knowledge, and practices.
This said, if you haggle with native communities, you contribute to a system that disrespects and undervalues their work and fosters codependency. While we offer payment plans and can explore other reciprocal engagements for attendees, the integrity and value of indigenous wisdom are non-negotiable.

Meraki Path facilitates meaningful connections and communication with the Kichwa Napusamai Community but does not make decisions regarding investments on their behalf. We welcome those interested in supporting the community through investments in specific projects that align with the community's goals and respect their autonomy. Please note that the community does not accept investments for joint ownership or shares in their land. If you are looking to contribute to sustainable, community-led initiatives that uphold the Kichwa Napusamai Community's independence and cultural integrity, please reach out to discuss how you can help responsibly and respectfully. Contact us here for more information.

Reach out to us directly through our website or contact information provided here. We're dedicated to assisting you in creating a deeply meaningful retreat experience.

Glossary of Terms