Sumaq Kawsay Healing Retreat
6 days in the Ecuadorian Andes
with Barbara Manuela and Krystal Sandoval
February 12th - February 17th
This retreat is more than travel — it is an immersion into Sumaq Kawsay, the ancestral Andean philosophy of living in beauty and harmony. Rooted in ancient wisdom, Sumaq Kawsay calls us to live in balance: with our own bodies and emotions, with the Earth that sustains us, with our communities and relationships, and with the unseen forces that guide us.
For the Andean peoples, true well-being is never found in isolation. Instead, it flows from reciprocity — the sacred exchange of giving and receiving with respect. It is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and remember that we are apart of something much greater than ourselves.
Throughout this curated experience, you will be guided into a rhythm of connection and presence. Mornings begin with restorative movement to awaken your body. Days unfold with intimate encounters with local communities, immersive cultural experiences, and private ceremonies that honor both the land and your own inner journey. Evenings invite reflection, nourishing cuisine, and meaningful conversation.
Every detail has been designed for you to feel both held and inspired — blending luxury and adventure with profound cultural connection. This is not simply a journey abroad; it is a reawakening of how you walk through life.
At the heart of this retreat lies Sumaq Kawsay: a way of being that restores harmony, celebrates beauty, and reminds us how to live in right relationship with ourselves, others, and the world around us.
A Journey Back to Harmony: Sumaq Kawsay
Welcome to Barbara’s Ancestral Hometown, ALAUSI
In between two valleys of the Ecuadorian Andes you’ll find Alausí, a pueblito mágico, that has shaped my life in the most profound ways. My family’s migration story stretches across generations—my mother raised in New York, my father in Ecuador, their union bridging both worlds.
When we returned to Alausí from Queens, what felt like a childhood nightmare became one of my greatest blessings. Here I have healed, fallen in love, and come home to myself.
Life in Alausí is slow, colorful, and peaceful with every moment being an invitation to connect with nature, with others, and with yourself.
This retreat is my way of sharing that magic with you. Together we’ll explore breathtaking landscapes, gather in intimate ceremonies rooted in ancestral wisdom, and savor delicious Ecuadorian cuisine.
This is not mass tourism, but a carefully curated, intimate experience with limited spaces—a rare opportunity to receive the medicine of this land, the beauty of simplicity, and the adventure of discovery.
ITINERARY
February 12th - February 17th
Day 1 | Thursday February 12th: Arrival to the city of Cuenca
Welcome to Cuenca! Upon arriving at Mariscal Lamar International Airport, a private driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel, where you’ll meet the rest of the group and settle down.
We’ll gather for a welcome dinner, a chance to connect, share a delicious meal, and get to know each other.
Day 2 | Friday February 13th: Cuenca half-day experience
We’ll start the day with an early Pilates class, followed by breakfast at the hotel. Before noon, we’ll head to Alausí and take the famous train to La Nariz del Diablo. There, we’ll share lunch with the Nizag community and have time to shop from local vendors.
In the afternoon, we’ll return to Alausí and drive to the Hacienda. You’ll get settled in, enjoy dinner, and then we’ll gather for our Opening Ceremony before heading to bed.
Day 2-5 | Saturday February 13-16th: Hacienda in the Andes
From Friday evening to Monday morning, we’ll be completely immersed in the magic of the sacred land. Some of the experiences we’ll share include: limpias (energetic cleansing’s), rituals, altar building, hikes to waterfalls and lakes, a visit to La Nariz del Diablo (the most difficult train built in the world) , and heartfelt cultural exchanges with a local Andean community.
Guiding us on this journey are Manuel, the guardian and caretaker of the land, and Sebastian Mejía, a certified trekking guide, both of them will help us connect deeply with the spirit of the land.
Throughout our time together, Barbara and Krystal will lead group sessions exploring themes of self-love, self-worth, and how to connect with your own spiritual practice, and healing. This will be a time to rediscover yourself, embrace your power, and step into deep connection with nature and your own spirit.
Beyond the planned activities, we’ll also have free time built in to either do your own thing or be in connection with the other folks in the journey. Sometimes in those empty spaces is where the magic happens.
DAY 6 | February 16: Travel back to Cuenca
From the Andes, we’ll make our way back to Cuenca, where the adventure isn’t over just yet! Once we arrive, you’ll have the chance to wander through the charming streets of El Centro, soaking in the colonial beauty, vibrant culture, and rich history of this incredible city. It’s the perfect time to pick up local souvenirs and keepsakes to bring a piece of Ecuador home with you.
We’ll come together for our final dinner at La Maria Cocina Libre, a renowned restaurant that beautifully showcases Ecuador’s diverse flavors and local ingredients in every dish. It’ll be a night to celebrate our journey, share reflections, and enjoy one last meal as a group.
Day 7 | Tuesday February 17th: Journey back home
We'll gather one last time for breakfast, have our goodbye’s, and have a private taxi take you to the airport. If anybody is planning to stay a couple of extra days exploring Cuenca, we will drop you off in your next location.
Ready for an adventure of a lifetime?
When you apply and register by Friday October 10th you’ll save $800!
discount already applied at checkout
6 monthly payments of
$1063
$930
Popular
8 monthly payments of
$797
$697
Pay in Full
$5800
$5000
Because of the intimate nature of this experience, limited spots are available.
🌟 Pay In Full Bonus 🌟
When you pay in full for the Healing retreat you’ll get a bonus limpia with Amazonian Tobacco, Andean Ritual Bath, and 1 personalized healing session with Medicine woman, Krystal (value $380)
YOUR EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
You will be taken care of from the moment you land in Cuenca to your departure. It’s our mission for you to arrive and immediately feel held throughout this magical experience. You relax, let me deal with all the logistics.
☑️ 6 nights of accommodations: 2 nights in Cuenca, 3 nights at the Hacienda Paraiso in Alausi, 1 final night in Cuenca before flying home.
*Most of lodging will be shared accommodations with another member of the group, but if it’s important for you to have your own room, please email me at hello@barbieenruta.com and I will do my best to accommodate you.
☑️ Meals: Three vegetarian meals a day will be provided throughout the journey
☑️ Entrance to a Pilates class
☑️ Integration Support: Before the Andes, during the Andes, and post-Andes
☑️ All transportation throughout the journey
☑️ Pick up and drop off at the Aeropuerto Cuenca, Ecuador.
☑️ Certified Trekking Guide
☑️ Snacks on travel adventure days
YOUR EXPERIENCE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
❌ Flights to and from Ecuador
❌ Alcoholic Beverages
❌ Souvenir money
❌ Medicine Ceremony ($60)
MEET YOUR GUIDES
Barbara Sánchez is a medicine woman, facilitator, and retreat leader who guides people into their heart and spirit through working with cacao, tobacco, and sound. Through her trauma-informed training, Barbara creates safe spaces where individuals can reconnect with their wholeness and self-worth.
Krystal Sandoval is a Medicine woman whose healing work draws from both Indigenous wisdom and modern medicine. Her practice is informed by over ten years of experience providing one-on-one patient care in both the hospital setting and through traditional healing.
Her trauma-informed perspective addresses mental health challenges and their physical manifestations in the body through techniques like energetic healing, somatic sound healing, herbalism, meditation, breathing practices and traditional plant medicine.
Calli Cura’s identity is rooted in ancient Mesoamerican medicine practices and guided by Krystal’s continued research and apprenticeship under elders within her community, familial lineage and shamans in the Amazon jungle. She honors her Indigenous lineage by proudly uplifting, reviving and utilizing these Indigenous epistemologies, sciences and healing systems.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING…
Testimonials
“Barbara created a space during our time with the Sapara that felt sacred, real, and deeply respectful. Her relationships within the community aren’t performative — they’re built on years of trust, reciprocity, and presence.
I was able to soften into the experience because she had already done the work to ensure we were entering in a good way.
With Barbara, I didn’t just attend a retreat — I experienced a reclamation.
return to the Earth, to spirit, and to my own knowing. If you’re being called to this retreat, trust the call. You’ll be held.”
MISHA, RETREAT PARTICIPANT & PSYCHOLOGIST
Ready for an adventure of a lifetime?
When you apply and register by Friday October 10th you’ll save $800!
discount already applied at checkout
6 monthly payments of
$1063
$930
Popular
8 monthly payments of
$797
$697
Pay in Full
$5800
$5000
🌟 Pay In Full Bonus 🌟
When you pay in full for the Healing retreat you’ll get a bonus limpia with Amazonian Tobacco, Andean Ritual Bath, and 1 personalized healing session with Medicine woman, Krystal (value $380)
Because of the intimate nature of this experience, limited spots are available.
Have any questions? Schedule a FREE 30 minute call with Barbara and Krystal.
FAQ’s
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If you cancel your reservation:
61 days or more prior to the start of the retreat, you receive 50% of the money you have paid (minus a non-refundable $500 administrative fee).
31-60 days prior to the start of the retreat, you receive: 20% of the money you have paid (minus a non-refundable $500 administrative fee).
0-30 days prior to the start of the retreat, no refunds are given.
To cancel, you must send an email stating that you wish to do so to hello@barbieenruta.com
There will be no refunds or discounts for arriving late, leaving early, flight cancellations, travel delays or illness.
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WiFi is accesible in every location we will visit.
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Most of lodging will be shared accommodations with another member of the group, but if it’s important for you to have your own room, please email me at hello@barbieenruta.com and I will do my best to accommodate you.
note: At Hacienda Paraiso all accommodations will be shared as per the style of the lodge.
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Your passport must be valid for at least six months past your date of entry in order to enter Ecuador. You will not be allowed to enter the country with a passport that expires within six months of your date of entry. Be sure to check your passport now to see if you meet this requirement so you can secure a timely renewal if necessary. No visa is required for entry with a Canadian or US passport.
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In June, the Ecuadorian Andes experience cool temperatures and relatively dry conditions, as it falls within the region's dry season (June–September).
Both Cuenca and Alausí experience cool temperatures with frequent rainfall. Cuenca sees average highs of 16°C (61°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F), with rain over 16 days, moderate sunshine, and a high UV index. Alausí has similar temperatures, ranging from 16°C (61°F) during the day to 7°C (45°F) at night, but experiences heavier rainfall with high humidity. Given the weather conditions, you should pack layered clothing, including sweaters, long-sleeve shirts, and a warm jacket for cooler evenings. Waterproof jackets, sturdy footwear, and umbrellas are essential for the rain, while sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats are necessary due to the strong UV exposure despite the cooler climate. By preparing for fluctuating conditions, attendees will stay comfortable throughout the retreat.
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Once you register, you will receive our suggested packing list. We do encourage you to pack lightly and pack only what you will need.
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In countries like Ecuador, diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and hepatitis can be contracted. However, if the necessary preventative steps are taken, these illnesses can be successfully avoided. This information is provided to keep you safe and healthy during the trip.
Immunizations: No immunizations are required for entry into Ecuador unless you are entering from an endemic area. Yellow fever immunization is required if you are passing through any other South American country on your way to Ecuador (even when you are only in an airport) or if you are entering Ecuador from an endemic area. The Center for Disease Control has an extensive website with travel related information at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm. Your Ecuadorian consulate can also advise you on current requirements.
Please consult your healthcare professional or local travel clinic for more information on these topics and to meet your specific needs. It is generally recommended to have an updated Hep A, Hep B, and Tetanus vaccination. If you choose to get a typhoid vaccination we recommend taking it orally for less side effects.
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Ecuador’s economy is based on the US dollar so there is no need to make an exchange. Be sure to bring your money in loose change and dollars in smaller denominations (mostly $1’s, $5’s, $10’s and just a few $20’s). Most vendors and local businesses will not have the appropriate change and $1 and $5 bills will be very handy and even necessary.
Credit cards may be accepted at larger establishments but often with a surcharge.
ATMs are available only in Ecuador’s larger cities and pin numbers must not be longer than 4 digits. You will have access to an ATM in Cuenca upon arrival and then in Alausi.
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You'll have an opportunity to purchase local handmade crafts like jewelry and ceramics. We suggest $250 in personal spending cash.
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We strongly suggest that you purchase travel insurance (medical & flight cancellation) for your time away from home. This kind of travel can be unpredictable.