Meet the Shamans
You will have the unparalleled opportunity to learn first-hand from these wise elder Yachaks (Shamans), and to personally experience their powerful healing ceremonies. They will share with you the Andes cosmology, their perspective of life, and their individual traditional healing practices that have been passed down through many generations.
DOÑA MARIA JUANA and her son Don Raul YAMBERLA
Maria Juana Yamberla and her son Raul reside in San Louis de Agualongo on the slopes of Imbabura mountain in the Otavalo region. Although tiny in size, she is known as the most powerful and fierce medicine woman in the region. Maria Juana’s expertise is in midwifery and women's health. She prides herself on the power of her healing prayers that go directly to God. Since the passing of her husband Antonio, her son Raul has assisted her in her healing work. Maria Juana heals by performing la limpia and using pendulums, flowers, dolls, sacred alcohol, bodywork, massage, and additional methods when needed.
Zumac Cuilla Taco Ortiz
Zumac Cuilla Taco Ortiz is the daughter of Jaton Taita Yachak Don Albero Taxo, an Atis tradition from the Cotopaxi community of Ecuador. As a student of her late, esteemed father, she carries his wisdom and medicine. Her mission is to pass it to the next generations to honor our late father's legacy in ceremonies and teachings.
DON JOSE Zambrano
Jose E. Zambrano (Amanaka) is a local medicine man and wisdom keeper. With over 23 years of experience leading groups into remote jungles, mountains and bridging cultures with Amazonic and Andean tribes. Some of the tribes he works with are the Siekopai, Cofan, Kichwa, Achuar and Waorani. He is one of our visionary founders and medicine holder for this powerful ancient spiritual technology.
taita Yachak DON OSCAR SANTILLAN
Don Oscar Santillan, also known as Kuricharik (gold or sun in the heart, one who possesses the treasure), is from Agato, in the province of Imbabura. He is a 7th generation sound healer, community leader, and teacher of traditional Andean wisdom. His family has preserved the wisdom and music of their culture for centuries. Their lineage centers on opening the heart, and on the natural elements, and bringing the natural world actively into our lives. Along with his family, he has created Pakarinka Sisari, or Center for Ancestral Wisdom. Don Oscar performs sound healing ceremonies utilizing unique instruments including a 4000-year-old stone pan flute, and flutes made from condor feathers. Learn More.
Vitelia Alarcón, Medicine Woman
Vitelia Alarcón, Medicine Woman is from Pacto. She is devoted to preserving and stewarding the ancient Pre-Inca tradition and wisdom of the Yumbos through community ceremonies and teachings of native Ecuadorians and visitors. She lives in a community of people with great knowledge who value the four elements of nature: water, air, earth, and fire. “They (The Yumbos) had a lot of knowledge about ethnobotany and medicine, which is very valuable to us.”
DON MANUEL CALAZACON
Taita Manuel with Henry and his younger family.
Don Manuel is a member of Tsachila tribe of Santo Domingo de Los Colorados. They are believed to be the holders of secrets of the rainforest, and of healing powers that would heal whenever western medicine or other shamans had failed. He is an expert in energy purification, Plant Medicine and Temazcal (sweat lodge). Legend has it that they are Tainos who fled Puerto Rico when the Spaniards conquered them. The Tsachila mens’ unique hairstyle is fashioned to look like the seedpods of the red achiote, which they used when their shaman asked Spirit to guide them to cure smallpox that had ravaged their community. They were guided to an Achiote bush. A few days after they covered themselves with the red juices of the seedpods, the mortality in the group was drastically reduced.