Colombia Healing Center

HOLISTIC HOTEL AND HEALING CENTER

IN BRIEF…

I wish to create a holistic healing center that can welcome groups and individuals wishing to get closer to the traditional medicines of the Andes and Amazonia in southern Colombia.

IN DETAIL:

THE MISSION

The mission of this center is to bring together Western societies and indigenous Ando-Amazonian societies through encounters and sharing, not only through traditional and ancestral medicines, but also through crafts, music, nature, culture and traditions.

The center offers turnkey retreats of varying lengths for those wishing to be accompanied throughout their stay. 1 weekend for visitors. One, two or even more weeks for those wishing to immerse themselves for longer. Other formulas will also exist for people wishing to follow a personalized treatment, but it will of course also be possible to come and stay in this place and simply take advantage of the infrastructures available independently, as in an «almost» normal hotel ;-)

WHY THIS CENTER?

In today’s modern society, more and more of us feel disconnected from nature and our own essence. This can affect us to the point of developing fears, anxieties, addictions, illnesses or chronic physical pain, linked to deep, sometimes even unconscious, wounds or traumas. By opening up to traditional medicines that connect us to our very being, we can heal and cure many of the physical and psychological discomforts that plague us in our daily lives, where modern medicine has sometimes been unable to remedy them. Healing here takes on a whole new meaning. Traditional medicines are both preventive and curative. They act as a lever for our own healing.

As a foreigner, however, it’s hard to find the right plans, the right place, the right contacts and, above all, to feel safe and secure. Often, beyond the language barrier, it takes a lot of time and research to find the right people. Accommodation and supervision conditions are often not adapted to Western needs and expectations. This host site offers you a place of trust, a well-supervised and safe base from which to discover these medicines and indigenous communities, and to visit the region without worrying about the restrictive aspects.

The other aspect is the encounter with indigenous traditions and communities. Thanks to my well-established collaborations and friendships with indigenous communities, it is possible to discover their art and music, and to go on excursions in addition to the care packages on offer.

SITE INFRASTRUCTURE

The idea is for the facility to be functional and comfortable. It will have 3 dormitory rooms, 2 double rooms, a community kitchen, a patio for eating, showers (with hot water!), toilets, a rest and relaxation area and a ceremonial center for meditation, yoga and various medicine ceremonies.

It’s slightly off the center of Sibundoy, but easily accessible on foot, by bike or even by motorcycle cab. It’s close to everything but far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the village center, halfway between the urban zone and the area belonging to indigenous territory.

COLLABORATIONS AND ALLIANCES

I actively collaborate with the local communities and the recognized and respected traditional doctors and indigenous healers.

Through this project, I support the various struggles of local communities, helping to highlight their heritage, know-how and traditions. I offer workshops in sewing, handicrafts, music, dance and much more to mix and immerse ourselves in customs and traditions.

WHO AM I?

My name is Diego and I was born in Switzerland to a Spanish father and a Bolivian mother. Having lived in Switzerland for almost 40 years, I did all my schooling here, including the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne. After that, I worked in various fields, in particular events management and housekeeping. For almost 10 years now, I have been working in the field of holistic care and traditional Amazonian Ando medicine, dividing my time between Switzerland and mainly Colombia, but also Mexico, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. I dedicate my life to ancestral medicines, and I’m gradually making progress on this new path that has opened up to me.

Obviously, at a certain point, these rich and atypical paths merged and took on their full meaning. They gave me the desire to share my daily life, my experiences and to put my skills and my network to good use in these multicultural alliances to do good around me and bring people together. I also speak 4 languages (French, Spanish, German, English), which is a real asset when it comes to accompanying people from different backgrounds.

This is where the project for a B&B and holistic retreat in Colombia was born, in the Sibundoy valley in the Putumayo department.

HOW FAR ALONG IS THE PROJECT? IMPACT OF YOUR SUPPORT

The site is well underway, but there’s still a long way to go. The hotel part consists of 3 dormitory rooms, 2 showers with changing rooms, 3 toilets, a community kitchen and terraces for eating, resting, meditation and yoga. The structure is already in place, but the finishing touches - a major part of the project - are still missing. Electricity, gas, furnishings, equipment, paintwork, etc. are still to be done or acquired.

Your invaluable support will enable us to finish building the gîte and start work on the ceremonial center.

I’m counting on you to help me raise sufficient funds to finalize this project, which is so dear to my heart, and achieve my goal.

Thank you very much for your time and for reading this text, and I hope it has inspired you to help me :-)

A PLACE ADAPTED TO THE NEEDS OF TODAY'S SOCIETY

A gap exists between the traditions of indigenous communities and modern society. Medicine and care are no exception. In order to get closer to these ways of living and doing things, it’s important for me to offer guidance that’s adapted to the expectations and needs of modern society.

I propose more than just a trip, but a real immersion in unique and authentic experiences, with quality, reliable and, above all, trustworthy accompaniment.

Thanks to the fact that I was born and raised in Switzerland, I’m well attuned to the needs and apprehensions of Westerners. My Latin origins and my rich experience of working with these communities and their cultures, as well as my knowledge of the country, enable me to bridge the gap between the two.

HOW WILL YOUR SUPPORT BE USED?

We’ve already built a large part of the project, but I don’t have the resources to finish the lodge part. Your funding will enable us to finish building the accommodation and welcome the first groups in March 2025.

If the fund-raising target is exceeded, it will then be possible to take care of the finishing touches and eventually move on to the construction of the Maloca, which will be the ceremonial center planned for the green space still available.