Plant Medicine Retreat Adventures: Sonora's Bufo Desert and the Peruvian Amazon
A plant medicine retreat can be more than a weekend in a ceremony room. Some of the deepest learning happens where the medicines come from: on the desert coast where the Bufo alvarius toad lives, and on the rivers of the Amazon where kambo has been stewarded for generations. Our shamanic adventure trips bring small groups to those places, guided by Indigenous elders and their protocols. Our motto for these journeys is simple: people, plants, places.
Right now there are two journeys under our Adventures page: the Sonora Desert Bufo sanctuary trip with the Comcaac (Seri) people in Mexico, and the Peruvian Amazon medicine adventure through Peru, Colombia and Brazil. Both are capped at 10 participants. Both are, in the words we use on each trip page, "not a retreat for spectators."
Why choose a plant medicine retreat at the source
When you travel to the source, the medicine stops being a product and becomes part of a living culture. You meet the families who hold the knowledge, walk the land the medicine depends on, and see why respect, consent and reciprocity matter so much. That is the heart of every trip we offer: respect the land, support the people, protect the medicine.
The Sonora Desert Bufo trip with the Comcaac
Our Bufo retreat in Sonora is an immersive journey to the ancestral lands of the Comcaac, also known as the Seri people, on the coast of Sonora, Mexico. The Comcaac are the original guardians of Bufo alvarius, and this trip is a rare chance to learn directly from that culture, between the Sonoran Desert and the Sea of Cortez.
You'll spend time with Comcaac elders, including Tata Chapo Barnett, Tata Pancho and/or Tata Toro Canelo, receiving teachings on traditional Bufo extraction (milking) techniques, ceremonial context and ancestral wisdom passed down through lived experience rather than books. The itinerary follows the trip page:
Arrival and grounding: arrive in Hermosillo, group pickup and a scenic drive to the Comcaac coastal village, a welcome into the community and orientation to the land, climate and cultural protocols.
Bufo and ancestral teachings: early morning on the land during monsoon season, meeting the toad, hands-on learning taught by Comcaac grandfathers with an emphasis on respect, consent and sustainability, and a Sonoran Desert Bufo ceremony where offered and appropriate.
Tiburón Island: a boat journey to Isla del Tiburón, the ancestral homeland of the Comcaac, visits to more villages, fishing, shared meals and camping under the desert sky. A second Bufo experience is optional, and kambo is available for an extra charge paid to the tribe.
Return: boat back to the mainland and a drive toward Hermosillo, with an optional extension and drive back to San Diego.
The trip is $2,500 USD per participant. Listed dates are July 16–19, August 21–24, September 10–13 and October 1–4. It includes guided travel, cultural experiences, education and support; flights, travel insurance and personal expenses are not included. You can drive from San Diego to Hermosillo (about 12–14 hours) or fly into Hermosillo International Airport (HMO) for the group pickup.
The Peruvian Amazon medicine adventure
Our Amazon kambo retreat in Peru is a 14-day journey through Peru, Colombia and Brazil. It's a chance to experience one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, learn from Indigenous communities and their living traditions, and understand the plants and people of the forest.
The itinerary on the trip page begins in Iquitos with a tuk-tuk airport pickup, a rooftop welcome dinner and intention setting, then a river boat tour. From there the group travels by fast boat to Santa Rosa, Peru, continues to Leticia, Colombia for markets, music and Colombian Amazon life, and on to Tabatinga, Brazil. The optional closing days return to Iquitos and an Ayahuasca center, where you'll learn to call and locate the kambo frog in the wild, observe traditional extraction techniques, sit in one Ayahuasca ceremony and receive a kambo session the following night. The itinerary may shift with river levels, weather and local conditions.
The trip is $2,000 USD per participant and includes guided travel, ceremonial experiences, accommodations, meals and support. Flights, travel insurance and personal expenses are not included. Dates are still to be announced, so join the waitlist on the Peruvian Amazon trip page to hear first.
Quick facts: Sonora vs. the Peruvian Amazon
Sonora Desert (Mexico) | Peruvian Amazon | |
|---|---|---|
Hosts | Comcaac (Seri) elders | Indigenous communities |
Focus | Bufo alvarius: habitat, lineage, traditional extraction | Kambo, Ayahuasca, rivers and rainforest |
Route | Hermosillo, Comcaac coastal village, Tiburón Island | Iquitos, Santa Rosa (Peru), Leticia (Colombia), Tabatinga (Brazil) |
Length | 4-day date windows | 14 days |
Group size | Max 10 | Max 10 |
Price | $2,500 USD per participant | $2,000 USD per participant |
Dates | Jul 16–19, Aug 21–24, Sep 10–13, Oct 1–4 | To be announced (waitlist) |
Getting there | Fly into HMO or drive from San Diego | Fly into Iquitos |
How to choose your shamanic adventure trip
Both journeys share the same spirit, but they suit different callings.
Choose Sonora if your path is Bufo. The trip page says it's meant for practitioners, facilitators and serious students of Bufo medicine who want direct learning from the Comcaac rather than a commercialized experience. It's shorter, and it centers on the toad, its habitat and its lineage.
Choose the Amazon if you're drawn to kambo, Ayahuasca and the river. It's longer and wider in scope, moving through three countries, and it suits travelers open to new cultures who want a deeper connection with nature.
Either way, participation is by alignment, not entitlement. If you're unsure which is right, reach out and we'll talk it through.
How to prepare for the journey
These are rustic, adventurous trips. Prepare for the conditions as much as for ceremony:
Sonora: monsoon season brings heat, rain and powerful desert energy. You must be able to handle heat, rough weather and boat travel, and you'll need proper identification or a visa to enter Mexico.
Amazon: the jungle is hot, humid and unpredictable, with rustic accommodations and limited amenities.
Both: arrange your own flights and travel insurance, and come ready to follow the protocols of the communities who host us.
If you're new to kambo, our kambo ceremonies in Oceanside are a gentle place to begin before traveling, and our kambo preparation guide explains how we ask guests to get ready. You can always return to the Adventures page to compare both trips.
Frequently asked questions
How many people go on each trip?
Both the Sonora Desert trip and the Peruvian Amazon trip are limited to 10 participants.
How much do the trips cost?
The Sonora Bufo sanctuary trip is $2,500 USD per participant. The Peruvian Amazon adventure is $2,000 USD per participant. Flights, travel insurance and personal expenses are not included in either.
Where do the trips start?
For Sonora, you can fly into Hermosillo International Airport (HMO) for a group pickup or drive from San Diego. For the Amazon, fly into Iquitos, Peru, where we arrange a group pickup.
Who guides the experiences?
Both trips are guided by Indigenous elders and communities and follow their protocols. In Sonora that means Comcaac elders on their ancestral land and on Tiburón Island.
When are the next dates?
The Sonora page lists July 16–19, August 21–24, September 10–13 and October 1–4. Amazon dates are to be announced; join the waitlist on the trip page to be notified.
Disclaimer: This article describes cultural travel experiences. It is not medical advice, and these medicines are not medical treatments. Please consult a qualified health professional before taking part in any ceremony, and check the trip pages for the latest details.
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