Journey with Us into the Living Heart of the Amazon

Step into a transformative shamanic pilgrimage that invites you to reconnect with the Unbroken intelligence of the Earth herself and to meet deeply with the indigenous peoples who are the natural Guardians of the forest. Dancing With the Heart of the World is an intimate and immersive experience guided by Ya’Acov and Susannah Darling Khan, rooted in decades of dedicated relationship with the Pachamama Alliance and our indigenous Achuar and Sápara relatives.

This year’s journey offers an evolved and more intimate encounter with the teachings, landscapes, and guardians of the Amazon. Designed as a profound initiation, it weaves Movement Medicine, indigenous ceremony, and creative exploration into a highly engaged and experiential process.

Participants can expect a deep and honest meeting with themselves and the world around them. The work suited to those who have travelled deeply inward before and who feel called to contribute meaningfully in this era of ecological and social turning. Together, we will explore what it means to be part of the solution, guided by ancient wisdom, embodied practice, and the living forest.

Join us as we return to the Heart of the World to listen, to learn, and to walk forward with renewed purpose.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Given the depth and intensity of this experience, it is important that we learn more about you to see if there is an appropriate match between you and this particular journey. Applications will open soon.

"Built on respectful alliances grown over almost 30 years, and possible only through unique soul connections forged by Ya'acov & Susannah with elders of the indigenous Sapara and Achuar nations, the Dancing in the Heart of the World January 2025 Movement Medicine Journey was a fabulous trip to Ecuador. While it was at times challenging for us (age 75 and 77, oldest in our group of 16 voyagers), our native hosts and trip guides were present, strong and helpful every step of the way. Expertly curated and organized through the Pachamama Alliance, this trip was indeed a a deep immersion, beautifully held by Ya'Acov and Susannah." KOLIN LYMWORTH

COMMITMENT

Before you decide to commit to this journey, it is important for you to be aware that we travel to the Amazon Rainforest, not as tourists, but as friends and allies of the indigenous peoples of the forest. These journeys provide vital income for the indigenous led communities that we visit. Our intention is that you will become part of a growing network of Pachamama supporters who have helped build connections, bridge diverse communities, prioritise inner work and healing, and build trust for almost 30 years. That is the ground for the work of Fundación Pachamama and the Pachamama Alliance. 

MORE ABOUT THE JOURNEY

This journey includes spending time in nature, in indigenous communities and staying in indigenous owned and operated lodges, and ecotourism camps. Your participation represents a direct source of local jobs and revenue, enabling these communities to continue their pursue of biodiversity protection, cultural preservation, and sustainable development. 

“My Journey into The Amazon Rainforest with Ya'Acov and Susannah and Pachamama Journeys was a once in a lifetime experience which will stay with me forever. And when I say once in a lifetime, I mean that anyone who is able to do it, should experience it at least once in a lifetime. It was, as always is the case with Ya'Acov and Susannah and The School of Movement Medicine, perfectly designed and organised. The interaction with nature, the indigenous communities and the medicine was beautiful, most welcoming, and extremely well held. We were incredibly well taken care of by Ya'Acov and Susannah as well as our local and indigenous guides and all the four coummunities we had the privilege to spend time with.” Katryna Samut Tagliaferro

FUND RAISING

Pachamama Journey participants are people who understand that the forest and its peoples stand for the health of the whole biosphere. For that reason, we want you to know that this journey is intended to create a deep connection between you and the Amazon Rainforest, and we will be asking you to become a financial ally of Fundacion Pachamama and its work at the end of the trip. We look forward to welcoming you as a supporter of future community projects. It is our sincere hope that the journey will make it clear why this is such a good investment for the generations to come. Thank you.

HEAR MORE FROM SUSANNAH & YA'ACOV

On Tues 17 Nov 2026, Susannah and Ya'Acov will host an online event where they will share insights into the journey, introduce participants to the spirit of the forest through a short mini-embodiment practice, and answer questions about the journey.

Susannah and Ya'Acov Darling Khan are the founders of Movement Medicine, a contemporary movement meditation practice grounded in an engaged shamanic approach intended to be accessible to all. They have been teaching internationally since 1989 and are two of the most experienced teachers of embodied wisdom on the planet. They have also led many journeys to the Amazon for the Pachamama Alliance and are deep allies of the forest and its peoples. 

Given the depth and intensity of this experience, it is important that we learn more about you to see if there is an appropriate match between you and this particular journey. To register for the application, click on this APPLICATION button and you will be prompted through the process.

Before you decide to commit to this journey, it is important for you to be aware that this is a deep immersion. We travel to the Amazon Rainforest, not as tourists, but as friends and allies, and as part of a growing network of Pachamama supporters who have helped build connections, bridge diverse communities, prioritize inner work and healing, and build trust for almost 30 years. That is the ground for the work of Fundación Pachamama and the Pachamama Alliance. 

This journey includes spending time in nature, in indigenous communities and staying in indigenous owned- and operated lodges, and ecotourism camps. Your participation represents a direct source of local jobs and revenue, enabling these communities to continue their pursue of biodiversity protection, cultural preservation, and sustainable development. 

Pachamama Journey participants are people who understand that the forest and its peoples must stand for the health of the whole biosphere. For that reason, we want you to know that this journey is intended to create a deep connection between you and the Amazon Rainforest, and that we look forward to welcoming you as a supporter of future community projects. It is our sincere hope that the journey will make it clear why this is such a good investment for the generations to come. Thank you.

Group meets at 5 pm at the historic Quito hotel, Mama Cuchara, for a welcome and orientation followed by a group dinner together. Accommodations at Hotel Mama Cuchara. 

After a gourmet breakfast at Cultura Manor, we’ll head south on a beautiful drive descending the Andes through the Avenue of the Volcanoes. We will stop at Salasaca for a traditional indigenous meal with our friend Alonso before heading towards the town of Baños where we will have a short stop. We plan to arrive at Miramelindo ain time for a Movement Medicine session before dinner.

Following breakfast, we will head to the nearby town of Shell where we will take a flight to the Sápara village of Llanchamacocha. Receive a warm welcome with smiles, embraces, followed by an individualized purification ritual. We’ll get settled into our village encampment which we’ll stay at for the next three nights on the banks of the Conambo river. We’ll spend time with the leaders and elder grandmother discussing their history, customs, and vision for defending their forest for future generations of all life.  After an introduction and orientation to the Naku project and the inspiring vision the Sápara have for the future, we’ll take a refreshing swim in the Conambo river and settle into their community lodge. 

 Early morning dream-sharing, and purification ceremony using time-tested ancient techniques. After breakfast, we’ll hike through the primary forest to learn about the Sápara’s unique physical and spiritual connection to the rainforest, visiting a medicinal plant garden in the primary forest followed by a sacred tobacco ritual and solo meditation in preparation for the evening ceremony. 

After Debriefing the ceremony with our local indigenous Shaman and Susannah and Ya’Acov, we will enjoy a restful morning. Followed by lunch then a river swim before sharing intimate conversation with our Sapara friends, partaking in traditional foods, music, and experiencing Sumak Kawsay (Good Living) together.

After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll prepare our belongings and return to the community to say our farewells. We will then take a 40-minute flight deeper into the Amazon rainforest to the Achuar village of Sharamentsa.

We will take time to settle in before a Movement Medicine session and time to meet our Achuar hosts and hear more from them about what matters most in their lives right now. 

Early morning dream sharing ritual with Achuar families followed by a hike with our Achuar guide to learn about the extensive flora and fauna of this pristine rainforest. Witness how the Achuar live in an interconnected way with their environment, including the use of medicinal plants, natural building materials, and small-scale, sustainable farming. We’ll visit a sacred waterfall and learn about the Achuar cosmo-vision and spiritual practices. Here we will enjoy some quiet and contemplative time to connect with the forest and ourselves, taking in the innumerable forms of life all around us. Gentle Movement Medicine session, followed by an evening shamanic ceremony 

Morning debrief session with the local shaman and Ya’Acov and Susannah. Time for rest in the hammocks, journaling, reflection, etc. After a siesta, we’ll have the chance to float on on the river, taking in the magnificence of the rainforest. In the evening we’ll exchange songs, chants, and dances and enjoy an Achuar feast with locally grown foods.

After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll prepare our belongings and return to the community to say our farewells and take a beautiful canoe ride down the mighty Pastaza River and up the Capahauri River to the Achuar village of Wayunsentsa. Upon arrival, we will receive a traditional welcome then settle into our encampment. All being well, we will meet the shaman Rafael  Taisch and participate in an ancient ritual that evening. 

Time in the community before breakfast and sharing with elder about the prior evening's ceremony. 

In the afternoon we will canoe down the Capahuari river for a beautiful ride to the acclaimed, Achuar-owned and operated, Kapawi Ecolodge.

Early morning bird and animal watching. After breakfast, we’ll set out on a hike to learn more about medicinal plants, Achuar spirituality followed by solo meditation around the massive grandfather and grandmother Kapok Trees. In the afternoon, we will have a short Movement Medicine session followed by rest and relaxation in preparation for the evening ceremony.

Debrief sharing with our shamans and quiet time to reflect and take in the forest surrounding the Kapawi Lodge. After lunch, we will have a leisurely afternoon to reflect on our time in the forest before a cultural sharing with the local Achuar community in the evening.

After breakfast, we’ll canoe up the Capahuari river to a local Achuar community for a flight to Shell airport, where our bus will take us to Samari Spa Resort, a 4 hectare ranch with beautiful gardens and 300 years of history.

Later in the evening, we’ll take time to celebrate with a powerful inquiry and discussion that will deepen the context and meaning of our journey, having just been with the indigenous people who inspired the work of the Pachamama Alliance and Fundación Pachamama. 

After breakfast, our group will have a powerful and focused Movement Medicine closing ceremony of integration and completion. Following lunch, we will depart by charter bus for Quito. Check-in at Hotel Mama Cuchara for a celebration meal together. 

 After breakfast and our final goodbyes group departs.