Releasing Into Freedom
A Sacred Journey with the Yawanawa People in the Heart of the Amazon
May 3rd - May 13th, 2025 | Mutum, Acre, Brazil
Journey to the Heart of the Jungle. Reconnect with Your Soul. Awaken Your Freedom.
Step into the heart of the Amazon with us for an unforgettable 10-day retreat, Releasing Into Freedom, hosted with the Yawanawa people in the lush, sacred lands of Mutum, Brazil. This retreat is an invitation to reconnect with your true essence through ancestral healing practices, plant medicine, and the profound wisdom of the Yawanawa people, guardians of the Amazon rainforest.
In the tranquil embrace of the jungle, you'll embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and healing, guided by indigenous wisdom keepers who have held these sacred teachings for centuries. This is not just a retreat—it’s a powerful immersion into the mysteries of the Earth, an awakening to your true power, and a deepening connection to your soul’s purpose.
Guided by Yawanawa Leaders and Elders
The Yawanawa people are known for their profound connection to the healing plants and spirit of the Amazon. Overcoming historical struggles, they’ve preserved their rituals, songs, and medicinal practices to share with those called to honor and receive this wisdom. Under the guidance of their elders, you’ll have the chance to experience ceremonies, healing baths, storytelling, and music that echoes through the heart of the forest.
What To Expect:
This 10 day journey will take place over 8 nights and 7 days in Mutum Village.
Sacred Ceremonies
During the retreat there will be ceremonies with traditional medicines Uni (Ayahuasca) and Rapé, guided by Yawanawá chants & music. It is an opportunity for us to connect, open our voices within the strength of the medicine and delve deeper into our spirituality.
We will share in ceremonies with traditional medicines, connecting with the rainforest and learning about the spirituality of the Yawanawá people. These ceremonies are designed to release
limiting beliefs, heal emotional trauma, and awaken your soul’s calling.
Rapé (Hapè)
Throughout the retreat, participants will have the opportunity to engage with the medicine of rapè, both in ceremony and in guided sessions. This sacred practice offers a deep connection to the healing power of the forest and invites participants to experience its grounding and transformative effects.
As rapè connects us to the Earth’s wisdom, it clears the mind, sharpens intuition, and opens the heart, allowing each participant to deepen their journey of healing and transformation with clarity and presence.
Body Painting
The traditional designs (kenes) reflect the Yawanawa ancestral wisdom and their connection with the spirits of the forest. Through the sacred art of body and face painting, we tap into the realms of spirituality,
drawing in strength, beauty, and protection as we connect with the energy of the forest.
Immerse yourself in medicinal plant treatments from the rainforest, which have been used by the Yawanawa for centuries to cleanse, detoxify, and heal the body and soul.
Healing Plant Baths & Medicinal Treatments
In the sacred tradition of the Yawanawa, medicinal plant baths are more than healing—they are a communion with the spirit of the forest. Each plant holds a unique presence, a spirit that speaks in whispers, offering its gifts of restoration, cleansing, and transformation. As these plants meet the body, they invite an alchemical shift, dissolving old energies and awakening a deeper harmony within.
Through this immersion, experience profound purification, a rekindling of inner balance, and a renewed sense of joy as you connect deeply with the spirit of nature itself.
Mapu (Clay) Baths
Among the Yawanawa, Mapu clay holds a sacred place in their healing traditions. Considered a powerful medicine, Mapu is believed to carry a spirit that assists in deep spiritual cleansing. As it touches the skin, this sacred clay draws out stagnant energies and burdens, offering release and renewal. Through this ancient ritual, we honor the wisdom of the Earth, allowing Mapu’s healing essence to restore balance and purify the soul.
Songs of the Yawanawa
Within the sacred embrace of the forest, we will be immersed in the Yawanawa saitis (chants). These songs, woven seamlessly into daily life, they are not just heard; they are felt and carry the essence of their spiritual teachings and serve as guides on our journey.
By learning and singing these sacred melodies, we deepen our connection to the ceremonies, allowing the wisdom of each chant to resonate within us and support our path of transformation.
Purify & Cleanse with Frog Medicine (Kambo)
Kapum (Kambo), also known as frog medicine, is a powerful healing ritual used by the Yawanawa to purify the body and cleanse the spirit. Sourced from the secretion of the moneky frog, Kambo is revered for its ability to clear toxins, release blocked energy, and awaken the body’s natural defenses.
As you journey with Kambo, this sacred medicine works deeply to cleanse the physical and energetic layers, renewing both body and mind. This experience invites you to let go of what no longer serves you, paving the way for clarity, resilience, and a profound reconnection with your inner strength.
Who This Experience is For?
You understand that the world is undergoing a profound shift, yet your focus is on pathways toward healing, unity, and transformation.
You’re ready to deepen your leadership and sense of purpose, valuing the humility and grace offered by Earth’s wisdom keepers.
At a core level, you feel a calling to heal and to embody your purpose in the world, stepping into the role you know is yours to fulfill.
You’re moved by the profound connection indigenous cultures have with the Earth and feel ready to receive their teachings, allowing these messages to inspire and flow through your own unique perspective.
This retreat welcomes all people, regardless of gender.
The Sacred Land of the Yawanawa
Along the banks of the Gregorio River in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, the Yawanawa people serve as the guardians of over 200,000 hectares of untouched rainforest, a sanctuary for biodiversity and spiritual wisdom. Their ancestors cultivated an intimate knowledge of the forest’s healing plants and shaped a worldview woven deeply with the essence of the land. Despite hardships brought on by early contact with outsiders, which nearly led to the loss of their culture, the Yawanawa persevered. In the 1980s, they courageously reclaimed their territory and began a profound journey of cultural revival, led by revered elders Pajé Tata and Yawarani, the last of their traditional medicine men.
Today, the Yawanawa are flourishing, with their sacred prayers, rituals, and art celebrated year-round. The younger generation, blending traditional chants with the sounds of guitars, flutes, and drums, has created a powerful musical culture that resonates far beyond the forest. As Yawanawa leaders travel the world, sharing their ancestral prayers and sacred medicines, they invite others to connect with the spirit of the Amazon and the wisdom it holds.
In this rare opportunity to join them in their homeland, you are invited to walk alongside the Yawanawa, experiencing their teachings and timeless connection to the forest. This journey offers a profound encounter with a culture that honors all life as sacred and a chance to partake in their living legacy—a true immersion into the heart of the Amazon and its sacred traditions.
Meet The Team
Guiding You Every Step of the Way on Your Journey to Brazil
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Gordana Jakopcevic
Gordana is a feminine leadership coach and guide dedicated to helping women reconnect with their true essence through ancestral wisdom and transformative practices. Her journey with the Yawanawá people has deepened her commitment to being a bridge for healing, guiding others toward unity, freedom, and authentic expression in their lives. Rooted in a mission of collective well-being, Gordana empowers others to step into a life of purpose and sovereignty.
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Christopher Chairs
Chris is a transformative coach specializing in men’s work, intimacy, and rites of passage. With over a decade of experience in meditation, masculine embodiment, and plant medicine, he empowers men to heal, find purpose, and live with authenticity and confidence.
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Luiza Jardim
Luiza is dedicated to studying the medicines of the forest and journeying alongside indigenous communities. She is committed to safeguarding indigenous wisdom and promoting cultural events that bridge the worlds of indigenous and Western cultures. Her mission is to protect the Amazon rainforest while honoring and preserving the rich traditions of the Yawanawá people.
Investment
$1500
RESERVE YOUR SPOT WITH A DEPOSIT
Save $300
$3500
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
Pay by February 28th
$3800
FULL RETREAT PRICE
Schedule of Events
May 3-4 (Saturday/Sunday):
Arrival in Rio Branco – Welcome to Brazil!
Accommodation: This is a day to rest, settle in, and prepare for the journey ahead.
May 5 (Monday):
Transfer: Travel from Rio Branco to Tarauacá by ground.
Hotel Stay: Overnight in Tarauacá, readying for the river journey.
May 6 (Tuesday):
Journey: Early morning departure to São Vicente, followed by a
7-hour motor boat ride deep into the jungle, arriving in the sacred Mutum Village.
May 7 (Wednesday):
Our first full day in the village:
Traditional Body Painting
Song Circles
Arts & Crafts
Evening Ceremony
May 8 (Thursday):
A day of immersion into Yawanawa traditions:
Shenipahu (Yawanawa storytelling)
Sacred Clay Baths
May 9 (Friday):
Ceremony night – Gather for a sacred evening of healing and connection.
May 10 (Saturday):
Medicinal Bath with Sacred Herbs – Rejuvenate and cleanse in a healing bath of locally sourced sacred herbs.
May 11 (Sunday):
A day of traditional Yawanawa preparation and celebration:
Caiçuma preparation and storytelling
Evening Ceremony
May 12 (Monday):
A day of healing and reflection:
Kapum (Kambo ceremony)
Sharing Circle to integrate and honor our experiences
May 13 (Tuesday):
Farewell from Mutum Village and return travel day to Rio Branco.
Return Journey: Travel back by boat to Sao Vicente.
Transfer: Head back to Rio Branco.
Accommodation: One last night in Rio Branco to reflect and rejuvenate.
May 14 (Wednesday):
Departure: Fly out from Rio Branco, carrying the insights and transformations of your journey.
*Please note this is a loose itinerary to share an overview of what our days may look like. The schedule is subject to change as we will be immersed in a different rhythm…the natural flow of the forest. 🪶
FAQs
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We ask that all participants arrive in Rio Branco by May 3-4. Our journey into the forest begins on May 5, with arrival in Mutum Village on May 6. The retreat concludes on May 13, when we return to Rio Branco. You are welcome to book your departing flights from Rio Branco starting May 14.
If you have any questions about travel logistics, please feel free to reach out!
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We’ll be staying in wooden huts built specifically to welcome visitors to the village, offering an immersive and comfortable experience.
Inside the hut, individual hammocks are set up for privacy. There are two shared bathrooms available, each equipped with showers. More details and packing lists will be provided upon registration.
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Activities & Ceremonies: All healing ceremonies, plant baths, and medicines
Contribution: Support for Mutum village
Transportation: Van transfers to and from Rio Branco, boat to and from São Vicente to Mutum Village, and all land and river travel.
Accommodation: 2 hotel nights (Rio Branco and Tarauacá) and 8 nights in the village.
Meals: All meals during the stay in the village (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), featuring traditional organic dishes.
Comprehensive Support: From reception in Rio Branco to your departure, our dedicated team will be with you every step of the way.
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Flights to and from Rio Branco
Meals (lunch and dinner) in Rio Branco, Tarauacá, and on travel days
Personal Items: Camping chair, hammock, and other personal items
Please ensure you bring any personal essentials needed for your comfort during the retreat. A list of suggestions will be provided upon registration.
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Please book your flights to Rio Branco International Airport (RBR). For international travelers, you’ll first need to fly into a major Brazilian hub, with São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) being the best option for connecting flights to Rio Branco.
Let us know if you need assistance with travel arrangements!
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If you need to cancel your reservation due to an emergency, a refund is available up to 30 days before the retreat start date. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds within 30 days of the retreat. For any questions, please email team@yawanawajourney.com
