Bogota Hotels
Close to the airport -
ALoft is great and has a shuttle to the airport every 30 minutes.
In City - The Grace Hotel (can be booked via Air B and B) this is located in Chapinero a beautiful part of Bogota. Additionally the old town called La Candelaria is a great place to explore and stay.
Taxis are very inexpensive as well as Uber.
It is safe and very easy to get a taxi from the airport to your hotel. There are designated taxis at the airport to take you where you need to go. You must visit the outside kiosk and let them know where you would like to go, you will then be quoted a fare and assigned a taxi cab. Very user friendly and clearly marked. Note: Get a quote before agreeing to take the ride with your taxi.
The day your retreat starts you will be picked up at the Villa Garzón airport or in a place within Villa Garzón. If you miss your flight you can take a flight to Puerto Asis and from there take a 1.30 minute taxi ride to Villa Garzon. Note that you must arrive well before sunset in order to be driven into the jungle.
Money
A great way to get some Colombian Pesos is directly at the airport when you land in Bogotá. If the ATM machine at arrivals is out of cash you can go upstairs where there are plenty more. There are also plenty of ATM machines all over Bogotá, where you’ll be able to withdraw cash. Villa Garzon also has ATM machines.
We have a small gift shop at the retreat center where you can pay in USD or Colombian Pesos alternatively we also accept Venmo or Zelle.
Let your bank know about your travel plans so you can take out cash at an ATM.
What to Bring
- Headlamp/flashlight
- Hammock with mosquito net* We have extras at the center please let us know if you’d like to use an existing one.
- Hat
- Long sleeve, light weight pants an shirts are great way to keep insects at bay during our excursions as well as on site. Also pack shorts and short sleeve shirts.
- Personal toiletries. We provide towels, shampoo, conditioner and body wash.
- Journal/pen (optional)
- Backpack for excursions
- Refillable water bottle
- Light weight rain jacket or a plastic poncho
- Bathing suit/trunk
- Rain boots (we will take the group to a shop in Villa Garzón to purchase those. They are roughly $20 each) We also have some from previous attendees, let us know your size so we can reserve you a pair.
- Rain boots are more comfortable in long socks. Bring one for each day. You can also wear sneakers but when it rains it can get quite muddy.
- Flip Flops/slippers for indoors and showers
- Anti itch cream
- Mosquito repellant
Vaccines
Some travelers get vaccinated against yellow fever, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. The area you will be in has no still water, just a rapid river flow, therefore; there are no optimal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and no big risk for any mosquito transmitted disease.
As of June 12, 2022, CDC will no longer require air passengers traveling from a foreign country to the United States to show a negative COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight.
Immigration Colombia
Before entering Colombia, you must complete an online form (
‘Check-Mig') on the Migracion Colombia website alternatively your airline will send you the link in an email. Our address for the form is: Jungle Harmony, Calle 5 # 7-86, Barrio Progresso, Villa Garzon, Putumayo.
Retreat Center Amenities
- Housekeeping
- Laundry*
- Free Wifi
- Towels
- Tea
- River
The outlets in Colombia are the same as in the US. We have solar power so you can charge your phones in the main house. The individual cabins have no outlets.
*We offer on site laundry service for a fee of $1 per item. The laundry service will be unavailable on the last day of the retreat.
Food & Water
There are three meals served per day with exception to days with ceremony. You do want to avoid swallowing tap water in Colombia. We have filtered water at the center and filled daily in your cabin. The drinking water at the retreat is fresh spring water. It is packed with minerals and we run it through a filter so it is 100% safe for you to drink.
The food served at the retreat will be dairy & red meat free. Please let us know if you have any food restrictions or allergies. Should you need anything whilst at the retreat it is no issue for us to send a driver into the nearest town to retrieve it.
Rules & Recommendations
You will be staying on private property, therefore we ask that you not leave the grounds without notifying a staff member.
No alcohol, cannabis, drugs or weapons of any kind are permitted in our community. If you carry a camping knife please let us know in advance. Taking any kind of stimulant or CBD can greatly influence the ceremonial experience. Note that drinking Yagé in the jungle is not the same as in the US.
A good custom to adapt is to check most open areas before laying or sitting down. Insects or animals won’t cause a threat if we don’t threaten them.
You will be asked not to wear outside shoes/boots in the dining room as well as in the Maloka therefore you may want to bring some indoor shoes or slippers/flip flops.
Ceremony Etiquette
All cultures around the world are different and have distinctive ways of operating harmoniously. When it comes to your Yagé ceremony inside the Maloka (that is the designated ceremony house) we ask these rules to be followed:
Cell phones can be brought to the Maloka for photographs, however they will have to be handed over to a member of staff for the duration of the ceremony itself.
There is no specific dress code, you are free to wear what you feel most comfortable in.
Please do not interrupt the Taita (The Elder/Shaman) during any part of the ceremony. That means no chanting along, whistling, clapping, singing etc. This can be extremely distracting towards other participants and disrespectful to- wards the Elders. We always welcome you to share your music and gifts after the blessing at the end of ceremony.
Weather
Bogotá is generally tempered and varies. It can sometimes be pretty sunny and warm, and sometimes chilly and rainy. It is recommended to check the weather forecast a few days prior. It doesn’t get terribly cold at night, a sweater or jacket will work fine.
The jungle will be warm (hot) with high chance of rain (sub tropical climate) On rainy days it can get a bit more chilly, it's recommended to have a sweat shirt handy. The nights in the jungle can get quite chilly. It is recommended to wear/bring sweatpants to stay warm and cozy during ceremony. Umbrellas will be provided, but we suggest you bring a rain jacket or poncho as well.
