Sacred Journeys with Ancestral Medicine
Retreats and experiences guided by wisdom keepers of the Andes and Amazon.
RITES OF RENEWAL
is a return to yourself
Together, we’ll explore
-
Sacred transitions – when the old way no longer fits and the new hasn't revealed itself
-
Ancestral medicines – Tobacco, Huachuma held with reverence in its homeland
-
Ritual and ceremony – guiding life's thresholds with dignity and care
-
The feminine path – reclaiming what's been forgotten, healing what's been fractured
-
Integration and renewal – not resolutions, but deep transformation that lasts
This retreat is for you if...
-
You're navigating a life transition – midlife, body changes, shifting identity, or relationships
-
You feel the quiet knowing that something new is asking to be born
-
You're ready to lay down what's outgrown and root toward a new direction
-
You seek healing in community, held by women who understand the passage
-
You're done waiting for the "right time"—this is your moment to transform
Meet Adela Bustamante
Adela Bustamante is a ceremonialist, Ayurvedic practitioner, and medicine woman dedicated to preserving Indigenous wisdom from her Kichwa lineage of the Andes of Ecuador.
Born and raised in Quito, she was initiated into sacred plant medicines at 15 through Ayahuasca and San Pedro—a calling that shaped her life's work.
As a mestiza woman, she weaves ancestral teachings with Ayurveda, centering her practice on the Andean principles of Sumaq Kawsay (the art of good living) and Ayni (sacred reciprocity).
For the past eight years, Adela has facilitated plant medicine retreats and ceremonies, guiding transformational journeys with Ayahuasca, San Pedro, and psilocybin.
A mother, photographer, and altar keeper, she creates spaces rooted in ritual, animistic practices, and deep remembrance—honoring the ancestors and carrying the medicine of her homeland into community and ceremony.
Meet Scott Blossom
Scott Blossom joins this retreat as a co-facilitator, offering a steady, grounding presence through yoga and supportive teachings.
With nearly three decades of experience in holistic health, Scott has guided thousands of clients toward better well-being by blending the wisdom of Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and yoga with evidence-based medicine.
Now, he’s channeling his expertise into a sharper focus on cognitive health—empowering those who are vulnerable to the impacts of cognitive decline to protect and improve their brain function with a personalized, whole-body approach helping participants stay connected to their bodies and inner orientation as they move through the deeper ritual and ceremonial aspects of the journey.
RITES OF RENEWAL
Andean Wisdom Meets Femenine Renewal
All-inclusive, except for international travel.
This 8 day retreat begins in Vilcabamba, a region known for longevity and coherence between lifestyle, nature, and social structure. Here, participants engage in daily practices, relational rituals, San Pedro ceremonies, temazcal, ancestral practices, daily yoga, song and mantra, and educational sessions that support clarity and cognitive resilience during periods of change.
The pilgrimage concludes in Papallacta, where high-altitude thermal waters are used as an integration and rejuvenation phase. Mineral-rich heat, rest, and guided reflection support neuroplasticity, stress recovery, and the consolidation of insights into sustainable behavioral change.
This final threshold marks the completion of the initiation — moving from insight to embodiment.
Held in community, this pilgrimage supports long term brain health, deep nervous system renewal, and embodied integration for the path ahead.
What is Rites of Renewal?
Rites of Renewal is a sacred passage for women in transition—honoring the feminine journey of shedding, renewal, and becoming, held by ceremony, community, and the living land.
Who is Sacred Seed?
Sacred Seed is a retreat space and healing collective based in Vilcabamba, Ecuador. We create intimate, high-integrity experiences rooted in ancestral medicine and Earth-based wisdom, providing a safe, grounded container for healing and transformation.
Gabriel Cucalón, our holistic director, has spent over a decade exploring plant medicine and healing practices. He bridges cultures, holding space with sensitivity and integrity, connecting guests to the land, local shamans, and ancestral medicine practitioners.
The plant teachers we'll be sitting with are Tobacco and San Pedro (Wachuma), guided by experienced Shamans from the Andes and La Caracola, a local medicine woman from Loja with over 20 years of experience.
Intimate group size of 8-11 women for deeper connection and personalized support.
The retreat includes:
-
7 Nights of shared accommodations at Finca La Sofia with comfortable bedding and linens and complementary laundry service.
-
Roundtrip domestic flight form Quito to Vilcabamba.
-
Private airport transfers for our group, snacks and water provided.
-
English and Spanish speaking experienced facilitators, local ritualists, shamans and medicine men and women as our team of supporters and healers.
-
Yoga practice throughout the retreat designed to integrate breath-work and movement as another form of medicine to support your early morning hours.
-
Delicious local meals and dieta for ceremony days.
-
medicine songs will be learned and practiced in group on certain days around the fire.
-
Early morning hike to mandango sacred mountain, coca leaves work, guayusa blessings, despacho.
-
pottery workshop.
-
Temazcal (Sweat-Lodge) ceremony.
-
Cacao Ceeremony and sound journey.
-
horseback riding morning through the surrounding mountains
-
San Pedro Medicine Ceremony -power walk-
-
Ayahuasca ceremony.
-
Waterfall bathing and blessing.
-
Integration and sharing circles.
-
Ancestral healing sessions in preparation for retreat.
-
A morning of leisure in Vilcabamba town.
-
-
AIRFARE TO QUITO, ECUADOR (ONCE YOU KNOW YOU ARE COMING, MAKE SURE YOU BOOK YOUR TICKET, EXPECT TO SPEND FROM $550 TO $990 ON A ROUND TRIP AIRFARE FROM THE US.
-
GRATUITIES AND TIPS are not included.
-
optional massage therapies and horseback riding fees are not included.(massage average cost: $70 per hour / horseback riding morning cost: $40 for 2 hours.
-
We require a 50% payment to secure your spot.
The remaining 50% is due 30 days before the retreat begins. This approach ensures your space is reserved while giving you time to plan the final payment.Facilitated by Casa Hacienda LaSofía.
We pour our hearts, time, and resources into preparing each retreat. Sacred Seed is a small, family-run operation—from ceremony planning and facilitation, to coordinating with local shamans and medicine carriers, to meals, logistics, and creating a safe container for transformation.
We deeply respect your time, energy, and commitment to this sacred journey—and in return, we ask for the same. This cancellation policy exists to honor the integrity of the retreat container and the logistical realities involved in creating these transformational experiences.
Because our retreats are intimate gatherings with limited capacity, every registration matters deeply.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO CANCEL:
We understand that life happens. However, when you reserve your space, we immediately incur costs related to accommodations, venue bookings, facilitation, and commitments to our local partners and healers. For this reason, we do not offer refunds, but we do offer credit options:
-
30 to 60+ days before retreat start: 100% of your deposit will be credited toward another Sacred Seed retreat within 12 months.
-
20 to 29 days before retreat start: 50% of your deposit will be credited toward another retreat within 12 months. The other 50% is non-transferable and non-refundable.
-
19 days or fewer before retreat start: No credit or refund will be issued. However, in exceptional circumstances (medical emergencies, family loss, etc.), we may offer a one-time credit on a case-by-case basis.
Alternative Options: If you find yourself unable to attend, you may also:
-
Transfer your spot to a friend, sister, or loved one who feels called
-
Save your credit for a future Sacred Seed retreat or offering
To cancel: Email us at sacredseedsanctuaryec@gmail.com and follow up with a phone call to confirm your cancellation.
IF WE CANCEL THE RETREAT:
In the unlikely event that Sacred Seed must cancel due to natural disaster, political instability, illness, or any unforeseen force majeure, your payment will be fully transferred to a rescheduled retreat date.
Please note: Sacred Seed is not responsible for airfare, travel costs, lodging, or other personal expenses incurred due to cancellation or postponement.
This policy allows us to keep these gatherings sustainable, honor our partnerships with local healers and the land, and continue to serve with integrity.
Thank you for understanding and honoring the commitment that makes this sacred work possible.-
What You'll Carry Home
-
Deep release of old patterns, beliefs, and stories that no longer serve you
-
Sacred clarity about what's truly calling you forward in this new chapter
-
Embodied renewal—integrating medicine wisdom into your body, not just your mind
-
Feminine reclamation—reconnecting with parts of yourself that have been forgotten or silenced
-
A clearer sense of who you are becoming and where you're headed
-
Tools for integration—ritual and practices that sustain transformation
-
Release from shame, fear, and the weight of what you've been carrying
-
A renewed relationship with your body, your intuition, and your authentic voice
-
Permission to grieve what's ending and welcome what's beginning
-
Confidence to walk your path without apology or seeking permission
-
Sacred sisterhood—a circle of women who witness and hold your journey
-
Lasting support beyond the retreat through community and continued practices
What previous Guests are Saying:
"Every part of this retreat was an answered prayer”
“There are rare moments on this path when you feel entirely held by the earth, the cosmos, the sacred plants, and the hearts of those around you. In Vilcabamba I experienced such a moment. These lands are alive with memory. At Casa Finca La Sofia Pachamama wrapped us in warmth through her gardens, the nourishing food, the way the sun met the morning mist, and how the mountains cradles us in this sacred valley.
Adela Bustamante holds space in a way that can’t be taught, only embodied. She carries the frequency of a woman who has walked through her own fire and emerged as medicine.
Her presence was both fierce and soft, maternal and mystical. Under her guidance I felt safe to be fully held in ceremony and deeply honored that it was in her homeland.
Gracias hermana por tu camino y Corazon.
The men of Sacred Seed Sanctuary showed up with humility, reverence, and deep integrity.
It was healing to be held by the masculine who move in quiet service to the feminine, gracias hermanos.”
Michelle Arias - United States
“Each ceremony was held in the spirit of reciprocity, love, and respect, honoring both the sacred practices and the lineage from which they come.”
This year, I had the privilege and honor of joining Adela and the beautiful souls of Sacred Seed in Vilcabamba. After sitting with Adela in my homeland of Ireland, I knew I wanted to make the journey to be with her on her own sacred land.
Adela holds a deeply safe and powerful ceremonial space. She embodies ancient wisdom and carries a profound depth of feminine power and softness. It's difficult to put such a powerful experience into words, but during my time at Casa Sofia, I felt truly held and supported by Adela, Gabriel, Vincent, and Rachel.
As a Western, white visitor in Ecuador, it was important to me to approach ceremony with deep reverence for the traditions, the land, and the ancestors. Each ceremony was held in the spirit of reciprocity, love, and respect—honoring both the sacred practices and the lineage from which they come.
If your are feeling the call to go to Ecuador I highly recommend listening to your heart and joining Adela and Sacred seed.
I certainly pray to be back again some day.
Louise Waters - Ireland
“Working with Adela has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. She is, without a doubt, the most gifted Ayurvedic practitioner and retreat facilitator. Every session with her, whether it's a deeply nourishing Ayurvedic body treatment, a soul-centered consultation, or a profoundly spiritual-healing retreat, feels like being held in the most sacred, intentional care.
She brings ancient wisdom to life with a rare depth of knowledge, intuition, and compassion. Her hands carry a healing intelligence, her words offer clarity and grounding, and her presence alone is medicine. What sets her apart is not only her variety of services she offers, but the way she genuinely sees you and supports your unique journey with grace, and unconditional love.
The many plant medicine retreats I've attended with her were beyond anything I could have imagined, safe, beautifully curated, and truly life-changing. Her ability to create a container of trust and transformation is unmatched. You feel held, seen, and deeply respected at every turn.
She is one of a kind. A true healer. A guide. A gift.
If you are called to work with her, say yes. Your body, heart, and soul will thank you.”
Steffi Neth - Germany
FAQ
