Friendship Safari
a heart-opening retreat
Colombia, February 7 to 12, 2026
A unique + intimate friendship gathering. By invitation only.
A peaceful beach.
An ancient mountain.
Friends getting together.
Hugs, great food, nature.
Sacred rituals.
And you're there.
WHEN
February 7 - 12, 2026
Feb 7 - Fly to Colombia: Bogota (El Dorado Airport)
Feb 8 - Fly to Santa Marta early in the morning + ground transportation to the venue
Feb 8 to Feb 12 - Retreat at the beach resort
Feb 12. Departures.
We recommend flying into Bogota on the 7th and spending the night there, so that we can all depart to the beach together on the 8th early in the morning. The retreat package does not include the extra night in Bogota, but we’d be happy to provide hotel recommendations.
WHERE
Open your heart at the heart of the world.
We’ll be traveling to a sacred place where the Caribbean Sea meets the magical allure of the jungle and snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia.
For thousands of years, wise indigenous communities have called this mystical area The Heart of the World.
We’ll stay at a beautiful beach resort called “Gitana del Mar,” with the most amazing views, food, bungalows, and common spaces.
Please note that we will be staying in beautiful bungalows designed for shared accommodation. After all, it’s a friendship retreat :)
what will we experience together?
Activities in nature that awaken the senses and promote deep connection to the self, others, and nature.
Mystical and heart-opening ceremonies with local indigenous teachers—our Arhuaco elders.
Transformative teachings and practices that restore the body and soul both individually and collectively.
Practices to shift toward an eco-centric perspective on life and a deeper understanding of our roles in caring for the interconnectedness of all life.
As an example, on a given day we may experience:
Morning mindfulness practice
Movement session
Breakfast
Morning friendship exploration
Lunch
Visit to sacred site
Dinner
Cacao and fire ceremony
WHAT
Get ready to bond + build + bridge + belong as friends.
This isn’t your typical retreat; it’s a living laboratory of friendship.
Over several days together, we’ll explore the art of friending — the practice of connection that nourishes every part of a flourishing life.
Every corner of this blue planet holds the quiet memory of interconnection.
There are places where that memory is still alive and strong, kept sacred for millennia by Indigenous peoples—guardians of balance, protectors of life, and teachers of what it means to live in relationship: with the land, with one another, and with ourselves.
When we gather in such places, something in us remembers the deep, true connection. Our nervous systems soften. Our hearts open.
We feel held—not just by nature, but by one another.
Friendship, like nature, is regenerative. It restores our rhythm, rewires our belonging, and reminds us that we flourish not in isolation but in relation.
We are living in times that ask for reconnection to what matters most, to who we are, and to one another. Times that invite us to release the patterns that separate us and to begin again, together.
Get ready to do things that are…
Silly + profound.
Fun + serious.
Spontaneous + structured.
Gentle + brave.
Intentional + effortless.
Practical + magical.
And above all, activities that elevate us all,
as the friends we are. The friends we’ll become.
What’s Included?
Lodging
Enjoy 4 nights and 5 days at the beautiful beach resort. It’s designed with deep respect for the Earth; this sacred space invites simplicity and connection.
We will be staying in beautiful bungalows designed for shared accommodation (2-5 people per bungalow).
Please note: There’s no air conditioning; only the gentle sea breeze, the sound of the waves, and the feeling of being fully alive in nature.
Meals
Savor three gourmet meals a day, crafted with local ingredients and global inspiration. Each dish is designed to nourish your body, heart, and soul, honoring both Colombian flavors and communal enjoyment.
Activities
Every day will offer a balance of introspection, movement, and connection through practices such as:
Ceremonies in sacred sites with indigenous elders
Workshops
Movement / yoga / Dancing
Temazcal: an ancestral steam bath for purification
Cacao Ceremony
Nature excursions
Personal reflection spaces
Games
Heart-centered guidance and support throughout your journey
Ground Transportation
What’s Not Included?
Airfare (to and within Colombia)
Accommodation before February 8th or after February 12th
Spa treatments or wellness services outside the retreat program
Activities or excursions not listed in the schedule
Additional meals, snacks, or beverages outside those provided
Alcoholic beverages
Travel insurance
Toiletries, outside of what’s provided by the hotel
Transportation for any off-site experiences, to and from the Santa Marta airport.
We hope you’ll join us
To keep the experience intimate and profound, we only have a limited number of spots available. Reserve yours below.
Early Bird Special
SOLD OUT
$2,200
General Admission - Shared accommodation
$2,500
when you register by December 15, 2025
Register with a friend or partner | Shared Accommodation
$2,000
per person. Use the promo code “friend400” to receive the discount.
Late Admission
$2,800
if you register by January 31, 2026
friendly faculty
We have decades of teaching, coaching, and facilitation experience together.
We care deeply about personal and collective growth.
Above all, we’re a group of friends wanting to bring friendship to the center of life, while having a good time.
Will you join us?
Jenn Maer
Designer, creative, and very, very good friend. Her ideas bypass the brain and go straight to the heart.
Juan Felipe Robledo
Medicine man who’s learned directly from indigenous communities from around the world. A modern shaman.
Carolina Lasso
Mindfulness, Purpose + EQ teacher. Eternal student of human flourishing. Empathy all around.
Jeff Hamaoui
Friendship accelerator, reluctant guru, beloved experience facilitator, a true friend, father of two.
