Mazatec Psilocybin Mushroom Retreat - Mexico
With Hugo Esteban Perez, Eva Evers, Agder Iztacmitl (White Arrow), Kate “Sunny” Ziesenheim, PA-C and Kesem Itzchaki
February 16 - 21, 2026
You are invited to participate in an intimate retreat that includes 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 three ceremonies, we offer traditional Mazatec readings, healings, and teachings, together with thoughtful preparation and integration support before, during, and after your journey, so you can embody and sustain the wisdom of this experience over time.
THE LOCATION
We will stay at a secluded retreat facility nestled in nature, near the historic Aztec town of Tepoztlan. This intimate center is surrounded by a lush, expansive view and offers both communal spaces for gathering and quiet areas for introspection.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The ceremony takes 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.
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.
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 movement, breath work, meditation and a traditional sweat lodge. 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 15 selected people.
PREPARATION |
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In the 4 weeks leading up to the retreat, we will virtually support you with your preparation.
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RETREAT |
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This is a 6 day in person retreat starting on Monday and concludes on Saturday morning.
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INTEGRATION |
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We offer integration support for 4 weeks after your retreat to transition what you have learned in your day-to-day life.
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YOUR EXPERIENCE
It is not possible to guarantee what your ceremony will be like. However, here are some of the common experiences.
We are honoured that you have chosen to take this journey with us, and we look forward to sharing this transformative experience with you.
If you wish to join our Mazatec apprenticeship program, attending this retreat is the first requirement. Please contact us on support@ancestralceremonies.org for more information.
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
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
Agder Iztacmitl (White Arrow)
Agder Iztacmitl (White Arrow) is a sacred pipe (Canupa) carrier and Sun Dancer from Mexico. He has over 30 years of experience working with the Mazatec mushroom tradition and was initiated more than 25 years ago. His father was a medicine man before him, and Agder was introduced to the medicine path at the age […]
Learn more about Agder Iztacmitl (White Arrow)
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
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