Day 1 · Taganga

Entering the heart of the world

We arrive in Taganga and stay beside the Caribbean Sea. We meet as a group and begin with an introduction to Gonawindúa, the Black Line, and the deep ecological and spiritual bond between the sea and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Together with Juan Carlos, we begin to explore the ancestral meaning of this coastal territory and its sacred sites.

At sunset we gather to share local food, music and an opening circle where we set our intentions for the journey.

Day 2 · Taganga

Regenerating the Caribbean sea

We enter the Caribbean for a hands-on ecological restoration experience: diving or snorkelling combined with an underwater clean-up, followed by a beach clean-up.

We also visit the traditional mud baths — a playful, restorative experience in the mineral-rich coastal mud that locals have enjoyed for generations.

These activities help us understand the importance of marine conservation and how ocean, rivers and mountains are all connected.

Juan Carlos shares the Indigenous view of the sea as part of a living, sacred territory, including the ancestral meaning of the Taganga landscape. The afternoon is free for swimming, reflection and enjoying the coast.

Day 3 · Tayrona National Park

Sacred forests and shores

We travel to Tayrona National Natural Park and hike through tropical forest to the Caribbean coast, discovering an extraordinary meeting of mountains, rivers, forest and ocean.

With Juan Carlos, we learn about the spiritual meaning of the landscape, its sacred geography and the ancestral relationship between the Kogi people and their territory.

We move through the park with respect for its ecological and cultural importance — hiking, swimming in permitted areas and taking time for contemplation.

A visit to a Kogi settlement inside the park is only possible with permission from the community leader.

Day 4 · Minca

Mountain forests, waterfalls and regenerative farming

We head into the mountains of Minca, through lush forests, waterfalls, coffee country and viewpoints looking out over the Caribbean.

Where conditions allow, we explore by e-bike, discovering cacao, coffee, agroforestry, fermentation, soil regeneration and how plants become food.

Carlos takes us to a beautiful mountain retreat with exceptional panoramic views and very comfortable lodging. Along the way, Juan Carlos shares ancestral perspectives on water, forests, farming and the protection of Gonawindúa.

Day 5 · Ciénaga

Indigenous community and the Safe House project

We travel to Ciénaga to meet the Kogi community connected with Aldenjina and learn about the Safe House project.

This initiative aims to create a safe, welcoming place for Kogi families who come down from the Sierra Nevada for healthcare, paperwork and other essential needs.

We learn about the community’s needs, the building project, and how regenerative travel can directly support priorities the community has set for itself. Juan Carlos connects our journey with the practical realities of supporting Indigenous communities.

Afterwards we visit natural hot springs — thermal mineral pools at 40°C–42°C, connected to Indigenous Kogi and Arhuaco sites — to rest and restore before the mountains.

Day 6 · Road to El Congo

Into the ancestral mountains

We set out for El Congo, an ancient settlement in the Sierra Nevada that Juan Carlos proposes as an alternative to Teyuna (the Lost City).

The trail leads through wild mountains, forests and rivers — a deep immersion in nature.

Juan Carlos introduces the ancestral meaning of El Congo and the traditional story of Mulkue, described to us as the last father of humanity.

Day 7 · El Congo

Ancestral heritage, living territory

We continue exploring El Congo. According to Juan Carlos and Carlos, it holds archaeological remains of a settlement they believe is older than Teyuna, though smaller.

Rather than treating it as a tourist attraction, we explore its meaning through the knowledge of our Kogi guide — ancestral history, sacred geography, water, biodiversity, and the communities who still protect this land.

Afterwards we walk to the Kogi village, about an hour away, to begin our time with the community.

Day 8 · Kogi Community

Coffee, weaving and ancestral knowledge

In the morning we join a traditional coffee workshop — growing, preparing and sharing coffee, and learning its role in community life.

After lunch comes a traditional weaving workshop. Community members show how natural fibres for the Kogi mochila bags are gathered and prepared, and we help with the materials while learning the weaving practices of Indigenous women.

At night we gather around the fire for ancestral stories, the cultural meaning of the poporo, and traditional flute music — as the community chooses to share.

Day 9 · Kogi Community

Sacred territory, childhood and cultural exchange

The morning is a community-led workshop — traditional farming, ecological knowledge, or a guided visit to sacred sites, according to the community’s wishes and permissions.

In the afternoon we share a joyful time with the Kogi children: visitors, guides, families and kids play games and activities together, building friendship and mutual learning.

The intention is true cultural exchange, not simply observing community life. The evening is left open for conversation, reflection and quiet connection with the land.

Day 10 · Kogi Community

Ancestral dance and farewell

This morning is for learning from Mamos surrounded by breathtaking Nature. Our journey brought us to the deepest understanding of what “civilized” mean – how to harmonize ourselves and our community in accordance of the Earth intelligence – the only real intelligence it is… We learn practices of listening – to the frequencies of the Mother, to her expression of cosmic harmony.

As a farewell, we dance. The community will invite you to share a traditional ancestral dance with them, into the night.

This moment becomes the symbolic culmination of the journey: a celebration of reciprocity, ecological awareness, ancestral wisdom and the relationships we’ve built.

Day 11 · Taganga

Return to the sea

We make our way back down to Taganga, returning to the Caribbean Sea where our journey began.

A final evening together by the water — time to rest, share and let the experience settle.

End of the expedition.