Provincia de Puntarenas, Dos Brazos, Costa Rica
Up to 5 in group
Aug 7 - 21, 2026
About this Retreat
Gwendal is a traditional healer, initiated as a Curandero and Tabaquero, with over 13 years of experience working with the sacred plant medicines of the Amazon. His journey began with a transformative encounter with a tobacco shaman in Vanuatu, which led him to apprentice under Maestra Olivia Arevalo (Shipibo lineage) and later deepen his training with Maestro Ernesto Garcia Torres (Mamancunawa lineage).
In addition to his plant medicine work, Gwendal is a dedicated Ashtanga yoga practitioner, trained under Danny Paradise and refined in India and Indonesia. He also integrates sound healing—blending Mongolian throat singing and shamanic drumming—to enhance the energetic process of transformation.
Gwendal’s spiritual journey continues to deepen through his connection to plants, the Earth, and ancestral teachings. He is devoted to honoring the sacred wisdom of plant medicines and offering their transformative power to others.
Negar is a dedicated healer with over 15 years of experience, integrating sacred plant medicine, bodywork therapies, and yoga for holistic wellness. She has undergone apprenticeship and works with Amazonian sacred tobacco (Mapacho) and Trees under the esteemed curandero Maestro Ernesto Garcia Torres in the Peruvian Amazon, and has been initiated into the Mamancunawa lineage as a Curandera/Tabaquera.
Negar combines this ancestral plant medicine work with Chi Nei Tsang and Maya Abdominal Massage, women’s wellness practices, yoga, and sound healing—including gong meditations and vibrational therapies—to support profound physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation.
Details of this retreat
EMBARK ON A TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY — AN ALTERNATIVE TO AYAHUASCA RETREATS
In the lush rainforest of the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.
Hosted at Templo del Tigre, a center in Costa Rica offering authentic one-on-one Master Plant Dietas in the Amazonian Mamancunawa lineage — the path of sacred Tobacco (Mapacho) and tree medicines. Guided by experienced curanderos and tabaqueros trained in the Peruvian Amazon, this immersion invites deep healing, embodiment, and spiritual reconnection through traditional dieta, ceremony, and guided integration.
Discover the medicine of the forest. Reconnect with your body, mind, heart, and spirit.
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RETREAT STRUCTURE
Phase 1: Master Plant Dieta (Days 2–8)
The traditional Master Plant Dieta consists of 7 days of working with a chosen master plant, followed by the closing of the dieta on the morning of Day 8.
*Daily one-on-one ceremonies with Sacred Tobacco (Mapacho) and other master plants
*Sacred Tobacco as the central teacher; other master plants introduced when appropriate
*After the solo Sacred Tobacco dieta, participants may diet additional master plants, always accompanied by Tobacco unless health contraindications require substitution
*Individually tailored plant protocols for each participant
*7 days of ritual plant intake and 7 nights of reflective isolation
*Closing of the dieta on the morning of Day 8
*Strict plant-based organic meals (no salt, oil, or spices)
*Digital detox to support deep inner listening and introspection
*Jungle accommodations with private river access
*Access to yoga shala, journaling, meditation, and reflection
Phase 2: Integration & Nature Immersion (6 Days)
Following completion of the Master Plant Dieta, the retreat continues with six days dedicated to holistic integration, embodiment, and connection with nature.
*Yoga, meditation, breathwork, and guided reflection
*Sound healing, gong baths, and plant-based rituals
*Gentle transition from the dieta into daily integration practices
*Nature immersion: rivers, waterfalls, jungle walks, and ocean swims
*Time for reflection, rest, and integration of the dieta experience
*Closing ceremony to anchor insights and experiences
*Optional excursions (extra cost): Corcovado, kayaking, whale/dolphin tours, horseback riding, bird and night tours, and more
Retreat Options
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10-Day Master Plant Dieta
A complete retreat centered around the traditional 7-day Master Plant Dieta.
Day 1: Arrival and settling in
Days 2–8: Traditional 7-day, 7-night Master Plant Dieta
Morning of Day 8: Closing of the dieta
Day 9: Rest, guidance, and preparation for departure
Day 10: Departure
15-Day Healing Immersion
The complete Master Plant Dieta experience followed by six additional days of holistic integration and nature immersion.
Designed for those who wish to have more time to embody the teachings of the dieta through yoga, sound healing, breathwork, restorative practices, and connection with the natural environment.
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THE POWER OF THE DIETA
*Isolated Master Plant Dietas are profoundly transformative — physically, emotionally, and spiritually
*The plants’ guidance can be subtle yet deep, supporting insight and awareness at profound levels
*By unplugging from everyday life, you create a sacred container of silence and inner listening
*Through ritual, solitude, and a simple plant-based diet, the plant becomes a teacher, offering clarity, emotional release, and spiritual insight
What is a Master Plant Dieta?
A dieta is a traditional Amazonian practice of guided isolation, simple nutrition, and ceremonial engagement with a master plant spirit. Through discipline, silence, and personalized guidance, the plant teaches insight, clarity, and energetic alignment.
Traditionally, a Master Plant Dieta involves 7 days and 7 nights of working with one master plant, followed by the closing of the dieta on the morning of the 8th day.
Tobacco (Mapacho / Nicotiana rustica)
*Grounding, protective, and clarifying — psychoactive, not psychedelic
*Opens the dream world for lucid and symbolic insights
*Supports emotional release, detoxification, and energetic realignment
*Suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners, including those seeking to ground and integrate previous work with Ayahuasca or San Pedro
"Tobacco is a plant that nourishes the spirits. When we take this plant, we nourish our mind in something that is neither of the body nor the psyche, but of a superior and transcendent instance — something of pure intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom."
— Jacques Mabit
Other Master Plants
Alongside Tobacco, we also work with Amazonian tree medicines and master plants such as Bobinsana, Chuchuhuasi, Ajo Sacha, Abuta, Ayahuma, Bellaco Caspi, Chiric Sanango, and Tamamuri.
In Amazonian tradition, these plants are revered as teachers and doctors, each carrying distinct healing qualities, guidance, and energetic influence. They are always approached with deep respect and ceremonial care.
WHO THIS RETREAT IS FOR
*Individuals seeking healing, transformation, and reconnection
*Those seeking a grounding, non-psychedelic, dream-guided alternative to ayahuasca retreats
*Experienced practitioners seeking integration support after Ayahuasca or San Pedro
*Seekers wishing to embody the values of Sacred Tobacco medicine
*Anyone called to reconnect with nature, themselves, and spiritual guidance
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BENEFITS OF THE RETREAT
*Physical detox: cleansing and renewal through dietary simplicity and plant practice
*Emotional healing: supporting release of grief, trauma, and emotional patterns
*Spiritual insight: deeper connection to intuition and inner guidance
*Lucid dreams and revelations: insights through dream experiences
*Clarity and focus: greater inner alignment and awareness
*Trauma and addiction support: support for personal transformation and healing
*Transgenerational healing: exploring ancestral patterns and energetic imprints
*Energetic rebalancing: grounding, renewal, and reconnection
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ABOUT THE CURANDEROS
Negar — Curandera and Tabaquera, trained in the Mamancunawa lineage, integrating Sacred Tobacco with bodywork, yoga, and sound healing.
Gwendal — Curandero and Tabaquero, trained in the Mamancunawa and Shipibo lineages, blending Tobacco medicine, ceremony, sound healing, and yogic wisdom.
Together, they create a safe, intimate, and deeply experienced space for authentic plant medicine healing.
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TESTIMONIALS
Benjamin F.
"My life was profoundly impacted by the plant medicine work, especially the tobacco dieta, at Templo del Tigre. The healing I received here shifted my path and perspective in ways I never imagined. The sacred work with the plants, combined with the peaceful energy of the land, created an experience of deep spiritual awakening."
Carla N.
"This place called to me energetically. It’s calm and soothing, surrounded by an incredible variety of birds and plants, with a river at the back of the property. The rooms are comfortable, the yoga space is beautiful, and the tobacco dieta did a world of good for my body and mind. The healers are incredible."
Adrian R.
"A beautiful jungle sanctuary filled with love and dedication from Gwendal and Negar. A genuine, honest medicinal retreat. Highly recommended for anyone seeking deep healing."
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NOTES FOR PARTICIPANTS
*Intimate retreats: maximum 5 participants at a time for private and personalized guidance
*Modifications available: For health contraindications (heart problems, asthma, high/low blood pressure), Tobacco will be excluded and replaced with an appropriate master plant
*Transportation included: Pick-up and drop-off from a location near Puerto Jiménez Airport
*Participation restrictions: The retreat is not suitable for pregnant or lactating women. Use of medications or other substances will be reviewed during the intake process to ensure safety and appropriate guidance.