Roots & Resonance:

The Sweet Medicine of the Jungle

Durga’s Tiger Land Community

11 – 15 December 2026 / 15 – 19 august 2026 

14 – 18 november 2026 / 12 – 16 december 2026

A 3-Day Immersive Journey into Cacao, Stillness, and Wild Nature.

Step beyond the ordinary.
Durga’s Tiger’s Land is a pristine sanctuary in Chontaduro, Esmeraldas, designed for deep integration after the yoga teacher training or for a wild experience and somatic awakening during your travels. We offer a bridge between the intensity of modern practice and the raw, grounding pulse of the Earth.
 

The pillars of this experience:

  • The Land: Immerse yourself in a wild ecosystem where ancient trees and the singing river become your guides.

  • Somatic Integration: Daily rituals cleansing in the Rio Verde – Green River, mud grounding, and forest walks to anchor the spirit back into the body.

  • Ancestral Cacao: Experience the “Sweet Medicine” from the source. From tree to hands, from hands to soul—participate in the harvest and ritual of the cacao we grow on our own soil.

  • The Jungle to the Ocean: A seamless transition from the deep green of the forest to the breath of the Pacific Ocean, just half an hour away from the land.  After the 3 days in the jungle, if you want to stay a whole day or more, on the Ocean: you can stay in Iris and David’s little beach house on the shore of the ocean in a tiny fisher village. You can watch the fisher going out every morning with their little blue boats. Fresh fish and prowns every day!!

Where?

Chontaduro, Rio Verde, Esmeraldas, Ecuador – Durga’s Tiger Land Community

The vision of the Durga’s Tiger Land is to create a healing and educational center. A Healing space not just for people, but also for plants and animals through sumak kawsay living and permaculture. The idea is to combine western, eastern and indigenous medicines together to raise our consciousness about healing. In our holistic retreats and practitioner trainings, you will find tantric wisdom, Ayurveda and modern nutrition, learn and experience shamanism and the power of different plant medicines. Here is the Durga’s Tiger Land web page

Travel schedule

The Daily activities can vary depending on the energy level of the group and the weather.

Day 1

  • With the night bus from Quito, you arrive in the early morning to Esmeraldas bus station and from there you can take another bus that leaves you at the entrance of Durga’s Tiger Land.
  • If you want to come independently and not with the group from Quito, just check in with us for details

Day 2

  • For those who come from Quito: you will be at Esmeralda bus station at 6:00 am, you take the bus to Chumunde at 7:00 am and you will arrive at Durga’s Tiger Land at 8:00
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast
  • 9:00 – 10:00 settle in / installation
  • 10:00 – 11:00 we go to the River: singing at the riverbank before entering and meditation: letting the water flow.
  • 13:00- 14:00 lunch
  • 14:00 – 15:30 rest
  • 15:30 – 18:00 · River crossing + forest or baby cacao walk
  • 18:30 – 19:30 dinner
  • 20:00 – 21:00 dance, talking stick (yoga shala)
  • 21:30 sleep

 

Day 3

  • 7:30 – 8:00 AM · Meditation
  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM · Breakfast Note: nature is not Disneyland. Tropical rain can be part of the experience.
  • 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM · River crossing + forest or baby cacao walk
  • 12:00 – 2:00 PM · Lunch
  •  2:00 – 3:00 PM · Rest
  • 3:00 – 6:00 PM · Dry cacao experience
  • Planting cacao (with Félix or Andrea): each person plants one: smell and observe, fermentation, process: roast, dry, peel, fan
  • 6:00 – 7:00 PM · Snack
  • 8:00 PM · Cacao ritual (yoga shala)

Day 4

  • 7:30 – 8:00 AM · Meditation
  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM · Breakfast
  • 9:00 – 9:30 AM · Pack up
  • 9:30 AM · Departure
  • 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Beach
  • 12:45 – 1:45 PM · Lunch ( @ Camarones)
  • 2:40 PM (aproximately) · Return bus from Esmeraldas
  • 6:00 PM (aproximately) · Arrival in Quito
  • 7:00 PM · Arrival at Durga’s Tiger School

 

*If you would like to stay on the Ocean and enjoy the stay in the little house the cost is $15 per nigh

About the team

Organizer: Tomás Flores

The Tiger’s Land Explorer

A True Tiger Rider, Explorer & Somatic Guide

A certified Kaula Tantra Yoga teacher and a lifelong traveler of the Ecuadorian landscapes, Tomás serves as the bridge and guide for the immersive experience at Durga’s Tiger Land. With a deep-rooted connection to the earth and the elements, he brings years of walking the spiritual path alongside the wisdom of sacred plants and the guidance of the elders.

His journey is one of reconnection—merging the medicine of Tantra with the spirit of the land. Whether leading students through the roots of the cacao medicine or navigating the wild energy of the Tiger’s territory, Tomás facilitates a space of charismatic leadership and soulful communication. He is not just a guide, but a fellow traveler dedicated to honoring the spirits of the forest and the ocean, inviting every seeker to find their own rhythm within the heart of the world.

 

Kitchen & Permaculture: Andrea Arara Cevall

Andrea studied Permaculture, and works with us since we started. She created and tends our permaculture garden, so we have to buy very few fruits and vegetables. She knows a lot about medicinal herbs and chocolate making. She is a wonderful cook, making our workshop participants happy. She lives with her husband, a beekeeper, and two sons on the other side of the river.

The Guardians of the Tigerland

The story of our land is written by the hands of those who care for it every day. Since arriving on Christmas Eve, 2024, Félix, his partner, Elsa, and their children—Eric, Isabel, Ashley, Paul, and Erly—have become the heartbeat of the farm.

They are a family united by the rhythm of the seasons. While Félix focuses on the cacao groves, the family works together in the nursery, nurturing the “baby cacao” plants and tending to the land with deep devotion. For them, the countryside isn’t just work; it’s a passion. Whether it’s clearing the paths with a scythe or managing the seedlings, their love for the earth is evident in every corner of the property.

When groups arrive at Durga’s Tigerland, the family opens their hearts. Isabel often shares her love for music, teaching students how to dance and celebrate life, creating a bridge between cultures through movement. They are the true keepers of the medicine, ensuring that every visitor feels at home in the wild.

retreat in the Jungle

Costs and inscription

  • $250 USD (All-inclusive: Full Experience + Adventure Gear Bundle + Round-trip transportation).
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