The Red Thread is an invitation to explore the depths of who we are, guided by the voice of nature, ancestral wisdom and indigenous traditions. It is an ongoing journey and series of experiences that is returning to Northern Colombia in 2026.
This year Alma Experiences is taking young men (ages 12-14) together with their guardian of choice to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range in Northern Colombia.
There we will meet, learn from and exchange with local members and leaders of the Wiwa indigenous communities who have all graciously agreed to sit with us; and receive knowledge and rituals that have been passed down through generations regarding one of the most significant thresholds in one’s life: the crossing from childhood to adolescence. A liminal space celebrated by many cultures; a rite of passage often overlooked and in some cases forgotten.
July 5 - 10, 2026
In the beginning there was nothing. All was darkness. Sé. There was nothing at all, only the mother Aluna, a pure thought without form. She began to think. She conceived the world in the darkness. She conceived us as ideas. As if we were thinking of a house before we begin to make it real. She spun the thread, spinning us all in the story. Creating us in thought. And then came the light. And the world was real.
- Excerpt from Aluna, the film.
Together we will:
Listen to the songs and stories that originated from a territory known as the Heart Of The World
Remember who we are, where we are coming from and our responsibilities as children of the Earth
Learn from indigenous ancestral ways of living in harmony and reciprocity with nature
Connect to the land and the ones that care for it; reconnect to nature, ourselves and each other
Participate in rituals that belong to Wiwa indigenous culture
Sit in ceremony and celebrate a time of transition and metamorphosis and the new cycle to begin
Give back by supporting indigenous craft
Swim, dance, and play.
This experience provides a unique opportunity for both family members to celebrate and honor one of the most fundamental rites of passage in one’s life with indigenous communities steeped in history, culture and tradition. It is for you if you speak English and/or Spanish.
Day 1
Arrive at Salvia Madre. Settle, relax and get ready to meet the rest of the group for dinner.
6:30pm Dinner at Salvia Madre
Day 2
Breakfast at Salvia Madre
Visit Sé Reserva Natural, a short hike away.
Sit in the Kankurwa (House of Thought) with Wiwa Elder Brothers to cleanse our energy field and balance our thoughts, learn about indigenous ways of life, their relationship with the environment, the Heart of the World, the Law of Origin and the fundamental principle of living in harmony and reciprocity with nature.
Lunch at Sé
Explore ways to be in relationship with the land.
Swim in the waters of the Guachaca river, sacred to the indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Dinner at Salvia Madre
Day 3
Breakfast at Salvia Madre
Meet with Mamo Rumaldo and Saga Maria Luisa to discuss how the Wiwa communities view the passage from childhood to adulthood, the role of the parents, community and nature. What do they teach their young men and what happens during that time.
Lunch at Salvia Madre
We journey through our individual time of transition and ask personalized questions to Mamo Rumaldo and Saga Maria Luisa.
Dinner at Salvia Madre
Day 4
Breakfast at Salvia Madre
Walk to Sé and start the day with Santiago from Jaguar Siembra and learn about his rites of passage and how the Jaguar spirit guided him through the “jungles” of the modern world.
Lunch at Salvia Madre
Experience the Jaguar Path in a Syntropic Workshop led by Jaguar Siembra.
Dinner at Salvia Madre
Day 5
Breakfast at Salvia Madre
Take a walk in the jungle and practice the ways we can connect to ourselves and nature. Become one with nature. Explore our intuition.
Lunch at Salvia Madre
Embody the Jaguar.
Dinner at Salvia Madre
Day 6
Breakfast at Salvia Madre
Together we celebrate life, our life, and all of its cycles. We dance, we play.
Lunch at Salvia Madre
Meet with local communities
4pm Closing
We will stay and eat at the beautiful Salvia Madre, a 12-hectare regenerative farm on the Guachaca River. There you will be nourished with delicious healthy nutritious food prepared with love from Salvia Madre’s kitchen. Please share with us any dietary restrictions, if any.
Closest airport: Simón Bolívar International Airport (SMR), 1.5 hrs away from Salvia Madre.
PRICE PER PERSON: 1,400 US dollars
5 nights in a private room for 2 at Salvia Madre
15 nourishing homemade meals beginning with dinner on Sunday and concluding with lunch on Friday
All planned activities and any associated transportation
Guides and translator.
What is included in the price:
Airfare
Transport to and from Salvia Madre (airport transport can be arranged with Salvia Madre)
Travel insurance (required) to be purchased before departure. We usually use World Nomads
Tips and any purchases you wish to make supporting indigenous craft.
What is not included:
60+ days - 95% refund
Between 60 & 30 days - 50%
Less than 30 days - no refund
We suggest you find a replacement in the unfortunate event you had to cancel.
Cancellations Overview:
If you believe this experience might interest your friends and family, we kindly request that you extend this invitation to them. We genuinely appreciate your efforts in spreading the word to those in your circle!