Huautla de Jiménez, Oaxaca, Mexico
Up to 12 in group
Oct 19 - 25, 2026
About this Retreat
Hugo Esteban Perez is a Mazatec mushroom ceremony facilitator with over 50 years of experience in the Mazatec healing tradition. He began working with the healer María Sabina at the age of eight, serving as her translator in Huautla de Jiménez, Mexico. He continued his studies with many other respected healers from the region, deepening his understanding of the Mazatec ceremonial and healing path.
Hugo has received legal permission from the local government of Huautla de Jiménez to work with psilocybin mushrooms. In addition to his ceremonial work, he practiced for many years as a medical professional. He is the Principal Teacher and Mazatec lineage holder of the Mazatec Apprenticeship Program, where he is dedicated to transmitting this sacred tradition with integrity, responsibility, and deep respect for its cultural roots.
Agder Iztacmitl (White Arrow) is a sacred pipe (Canupa) carrier and Sun Dancer from Mexico. He has over 30 years of experience working with the Mazatec mushroom tradition and was initiated more than 25 years ago. His father was a medicine man before him, and Agder was introduced to the medicine path at the age of eight. He later participated in Red Road ceremonies, including the vision quest and Sun Dance. He was adopted by Yuwipi man Christopher Long, who granted him permission to carry and share the peyote sweat lodge ceremony. His work has taken him to Europe, India, and across North and South America.
Eva is a retreat, excursion, and ceremony facilitator, as well as one of the teachers and the program manager of the Mazatec Apprenticeship Program. She is a certified transformational and integration coach specializing in psychedelic therapies and spiritual development.
Eva has worked with clients around the world for over 25 years. Her experience includes personal, leadership and organisational development and she has a background in applied psychology, breathwork, Reiki, and sound healing. She is a dedicated student of Central and North American Indigenous spiritual traditions for the last 10 years. In 2019, she founded what has grown into the Institute of Ancestral Ceremonies, working alongside spiritual advisors from Indigenous traditions and a dedicated team to shape the institute into what it is today.
Kesem is an initiated facilitator in the Mazatec tradition, an apprenticeship program teacher, and a close collaborator of Hugo Esteban Perez, supporting ceremonies including translation. As an emotional healing therapist, she works with clients from around the world. With nine years of dedicated study and practice in the Mazatec mushroom tradition, she is deeply committed to this spiritual path. Kesem was initiated by Hugo Esteban Perez and has received permission to share the spirit of the Mazatec ceremony. Her approach is holistic, therapy-informed, and rooted in Indigenous knowledge, embodied presence, and traditional healing methods.
Sunny is a certified physician assistant, combining her expertise in psychiatry and addiction medicine with over a decade of spiritual practices, including meditation, breathwork, Native American sweat lodges, and indigenous earth medicine ceremonies. Her work bridges ancient wisdom and modern healing, fostering personal growth and connection.
Details of this retreat
Overview
Join us on a unique journey into the heart of the Mazatec mushroom tradition, where centuries of sacred healing wisdom come alive in Huautla de Jiménez, Oaxaca, Mexico, the birthplace of this powerful lineage. This immersive experience offers direct connection with indigenous healers, sacred sites, and authentic ceremonial practices.
Known globally since the 1950s through María Sabina, the revered medicine woman who first opened the sacred mushroom ceremonies to the world, this tradition goes far beyond that. The Mazatec path also incorporates candle readings, egg healings, traditional temazcal (sweatlodge), and a deep reverence for the forces of nature and spirit.
This excursion is designed for those who seek genuine cultural immersion, spiritual healing, and connection to a living ancestral tradition.
What to Expect
Authentic mushroom ceremonies with Mazatec elder healers
Traditional modalities: candle readings, egg healings, and sweatlodges
Visits to sacred sites and the house of María Sabina
Guided nature excursions in the surrounding mountains
Intimate group size (maximum 15 participants)
Thoughtful preparation and integration support before, during, and after the retreat
Location & Accommodations
You will stay just outside the town of Huautla de Jiménez, in a peaceful mountain setting with sweeping views. While quiet and surrounded by nature, it remains conveniently close to the cultural life of the town.
Participant Screening
To ensure the safety and integrity of this retreat, all participants must complete a mandatory application and screening process. Due to the powerful nature of the work and the importance of group harmony, participation is limited to 15 selected individuals.
Preliminary Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival
Pick-up from Mexico City Airport (morning)
Drive to Huautla de Jiménez (approx. 8 hours)
Settle in, orientation, and group welcome
Day 2 – Ceremony with Elder Healer
Visit nearby waterfall
Group sharing circle
Evening: Mushroom ceremony
Day 3 – Rest & Recovery
Morning rest
Afternoon sharing circle
Day 4 – Market Visit & Ceremony
Morning exploration of Huautla town and market
Evening: Mushroom ceremony with Hugo
Day 5 – Rest & Recovery
Morning rest
Afternoon sharing circle with Hugo
Day 6 – Sacred Sites & traditional sweatlodge
Morning visit to the sacred mountain
Afternoon visit to María Sabina’s former home, now a museum
Afternoon/Evening: Traditional sweatlodge ceremony
Day 7 – Departure
Return drive to Mexico City
Drop-off at the airport by late afternoon/evening
Integration & Support
We offer extensive preparation and integration resources to support your journey—emotionally, spiritually, and practically—ensuring the experience serves your long-term healing and growth.
Interested in Going Deeper?
We are also co-creating an Mazatec apprenticeship program with our Mazatec teacher. If you feel called to study this path more deeply, let us know on support@ancestralceremonies.org and we can count this experience towards your program credits.