Aerial view of Yaogara nature reserve in the Antioquia mountains

Yaogara Nature Reserve

Rooted in land, guided by purpose. A sacred territory in the Antioquia mountains for retreat, ceremony, and conscious community.

When the Land Called

Rooted in land, guided by purpose

Yaogara began as a quiet response to a deep calling: to live in rhythm with nature and remember what it means to belong. What started as a simple refuge in the mountains has become a living territory for retreat, ceremony, learning, and regeneration.

The reserve is about more than beautiful land. It is a place shaped by family, practice, and shared responsibility, where the forest, the cabins, the gathering spaces, and the ceremony house all work together to support meaningful inner work.

Just 45 to 60 minutes from Medellin, Yaogara offers a rare combination of accessibility and depth: close enough to reach easily, far enough to hear yourself think.

"The reserve lives and breathes. It teaches us to slow down, to listen, and to live in rhythm with nature."

That rhythm shapes every stay here, from the way mornings begin to the way ceremony is held at night.

Life at Yaogara

Family, community, and nature are not separate themes here. They are the conditions that make the reserve what it is.

Family gathered together under the bohio at Yaogara

Family

A place to reconnect through shared experience, nature, and simplicity, away from screens, schedules, and the pace of city life.

Guests gathered in a circle around the fire at night in Yaogara

Community

Yaogara is built around shared meals, open hearts, and meaningful connection with the people who come here to listen, heal, and serve.

Mountain view across the Yaogara reserve in Antioquia

Nature

High in the Antioquia mountains, the reserve offers clean air, dark skies, forest paths, and the kind of quiet that helps people return to rhythm.

The bohio illuminated at night at Yaogara

The Bohio

The heart of Yaogara

Center of the Reserve

The Bohio is where the territory gathers

The heart of Yaogara is the Bohio. More than a structure, it is the place where the reserve comes together through conversation, music, silence, preparation, and rest.

People gather here before dawn and after dark. It holds the emotional center of the land and gives shape to the slower, more attentive pace that Yaogara invites from everyone who arrives.

When guests speak about the feeling of the reserve, they are often describing the atmosphere that radiates from the Bohio: warmth, simplicity, and a sense that life here is organized around what truly matters.

Ceremony Space

The Medicine House

The Medicine House is our dedicated ceremony space—a structure built to hold the work with yagé in a way that is protected, intentional, and supported by the silence of the forest.

The design is simple on purpose, removing distraction so attention remains on prayer, safety, and the inner process. Here, architecture and atmosphere work together to allow the land itself to become part of the experience.

Rooted in Purpose

We live by the values we cultivate

Harmony with nature, sacred connection, and collective care shape everything from how we grow food to how we hold a ceremony.

Harmony with Nature

We care for the land through organic growing, composting, and daily stewardship, letting the territory shape how we live and how we welcome others.

Collective Care

Community is part of the practice here. We share meals, work, ceremony, and responsibility with respect for every voice and every generation.

Grounded Presence

Life flows differently when it slows down. Yaogara invites listening, simplicity, and decisions made from a calmer, more rooted place.

Accommodations

The reserve is designed for depth, rest, and simplicity rather than luxury tourism.

Shared Cabins

Simple shared cabins with comfortable beds, electricity, and nearby bathrooms keep the experience communal, grounded, and restorative.

Natural Materials

Bamboo, wood, and thatch shape spaces that feel breathable, quiet, and in conversation with the mountain rather than separate from it.

What to Expect

Yaogara is comfortable, but intentionally simple. There is electricity, running water, proper sanitation, nourishing food, and an environment built to support reflection, community, and deep inner work.

Getting Here

Yaogara is located approximately 45 to 60 minutes from Medellin by car. The final part of the journey winds through peaceful countryside, forests, and farms before the reserve opens up.

We provide detailed directions and can help coordinate transportation after your application is approved. Many participants arrive through Medellín's Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE), which has direct connections from major cities worldwide.

Ready to Begin?

Take the first step on your journey. Apply for an upcoming retreat or reach out with any questions.