Mazatec Mushroom Retreat - Colorado

With Hugo Esteban Perez, Kesem Itzchaki, Eva Evers and Kate “Sunny” Ziesenheim, PA-C

April 16 - 19, 2026

Date and Time Details: April 16-19, 2026

Location: Idaho Springs, Colorado

Contact: Institute of Ancestral Ceremonies
support@ancestralceremonies.org

Arrival : 3 pm

Departure : 11 am

Travel Suggestions: The closest airport is Denver, located about 1.5 hours from the retreat center depending on traffic.

Suggested Donation : $2000 - $3950. This is determined by your choice of sleeping arrangements. You may select a bed in a shared room or opt for a private room. Couples or friends can also share a private bedroom.

  • Fall River - Bunk Room 2 – $2,000.00
  • Fall River - Bunk Room 4 – $2,000.00
  • Fall River - King Private – $4,000.00
  • Fall River - King Shared – $2,150.00
Program is fully booked
Program is fully booked

You are invited to participate in an intimate retreat that includes two ceremonies in the ancient tradition of the Mazatec people of Oaxaca, Mexico. These ceremonies are profound spiritual undertakings that trace their origins back through generations. It became known worldwide in the 1950s and 60s through Maria Sabina, a medicine woman who first opened the ceremony of the holy children (mushrooms) to the world. Centuries of wisdom and reverence for the “holy children” have culminated in a sacred practice designed to facilitate deep introspection, spiritual healing, and divine communion.

Beyond the two ceremonies, we offer traditional Mazatec readings, healings, and teachings, together with thoughtful preparation and integration support before, during, and after your ceremonies, so you can embody and sustain the wisdom of this experience over time.

THE LOCATION

Our center is immersed in nature, set on five acres of land and backing up to the National Forest just a short drive from Idaho Springs. It is an intimate space filled with natural light, featuring an open communal area designed for connection and reflection.

Ceremonies take place indoors by the fireplace, offering a sense of warmth and containment while being surrounded by the majesty of the natural landscape just outside. The center sits alongside Fall River, with great hiking trails and mountain lakes only a few miles away. Amenities include hot tub and river access.

This peaceful setting is ideal for turning inward, reconnecting with oneself, and experiencing a ceremony rooted in an ancient lineage.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

The ceremonies take place at night, enveloped in a tapestry of songs, prayers, and a profound connection with the divine. Above all, it embraces the sanctity of silence, providing a sacred space for connecting with the profound depths of your soul.

Within the Mazatec community, psilocybin mushrooms are seen as sacred allies, bridging the gap between the physical and spiritual realms. They are believed to carry the essence of a divine consciousness, offering healing, wisdom, and connection to the sacred forces of the universe.

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One of the spiritual leaders of this tradition, “Hugo Esteban Perez,” will join us to share three ceremonies. He started working with Maria Sabina when he was 9 years old as her translator and continued his studies with many of the Mazatec elders. He is recognized by the Mexican government as a healer of this tradition and has received legal permission to work with psilocybin mushrooms.

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We take a holistic approach to optimal wellbeing and spiritual development designed to deepen your experience and offer extensive preparation and integration support before and after focused on lasting results. During the retreat, we use several modalities to enhance your experience, such as breath work and meditation. To help you feel at your optimal best organic and locally sourced (where possible) meals are included during your stay with us.

Each participant will be assessed before entering the program through a compulsory application form and screening. Due to the powerful nature of psychedelic ceremonies and the impact that others sharing the space can have, we limit this retreat to 12 selected people.
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PREPARATION

In the 4 weeks leading up to the retreat, we will virtually support you with your preparation.

  • Private 1:1 exploration call focused on your intention, preparation and to answer any questions you may have

  • Individual preparation activities 

  • Group preparation call

RETREAT

This is a 4 day in person retreat starting on Thursday afternoon and concludes on Sunday morning.

  • Two Mazatec mushroom ceremonies

  • Breathwork

  • Egg readings – optional for a fee

  • Group sharing circles

  • Private integration session
  • Mazatec wisdom teachings

INTEGRATION

We offer integration support for 4 weeks after your retreat to transition what you have learned in your day-to-day life.

  • 2 x group integration calls

  • Private integration call 
  • Further integration support is available. Please contact us at support@ancestralceremonies.org to explore.

 

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About the Facilitators

Hugo Esteban Perez

Hugo Esteban Perez is a Mazatec mushroom ceremony facilitator with over 50 years of experience in the Mazatec healing tradition. He began working with the healer María Sabina at the age of eight, serving as her translator in Huautla de Jiménez, Mexico. He continued his studies with many other respected healers from the region, deepening […]

Learn more about Hugo Esteban Perez

Kesem Itzchaki

Kesem is an initiated facilitator in the Mazatec tradition, an apprenticeship program teacher, and a close collaborator of Hugo Esteban Perez, supporting ceremonies including translation. As an emotional healing therapist, she works with clients from around the world. With nine years of dedicated study and practice in the Mazatec mushroom tradition, she is deeply committed […]

Learn more about Kesem Itzchaki

Eva Evers

Eva is a retreat, excursion, and ceremony facilitator, as well as one of the teachers and the program manager of the Mazatec Apprenticeship Program. She is a certified transformational and integration coach specializing in psychedelic therapies and spiritual development. Eva has worked with clients around the world for over 25 years. Her experience includes personal, […]

Learn more about Eva Evers

Kate “Sunny” Ziesenheim, PA-C

Sunny is a certified physician assistant, combining her expertise in psychiatry and addiction medicine with over a decade of spiritual practices, including meditation, breathwork, Native American sweat lodges, and indigenous earth medicine ceremonies. Her work bridges ancient wisdom and modern healing, fostering personal growth and connection.

Learn more about Kate “Sunny” Ziesenheim, PA-C

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