GENERAL INFORMATION
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LANGUAGE
All Pakarinka Ushay workshops and retreats provide instruction and activities in the English language. We often translate Kichwa words into English, but we rarely communicate in Spanish (Castellano) during this series of workshops and retreats held at our Agato, Otavalo center.
For information about Kichwa or Spanish language-based education and ceremonies, please CONTACT US HERE.
WORKSHOPS AND RETREATS
Descriptions and details about the content of our workshops and retreats can be found on our PROGRAMS page. There also is a CALENDAR of these events. REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT for these events also can be arranged through this website. Unless we label the workshop an "online workshop," all workshops and retreats are held at Pakarinka Ushay near Otavalo, Ecuador.
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TRANSPORTATION
Free round-trip local transportation from San Francisco Park in Cotacachi or the bus terminal in Otavalo is provided for registered workshop and retreat participants. Quito airport pick-up can be arranged with at least one week notice advance of your arrival: $50 one-way or $100 round-trip.
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FEES
There is only one set fee per workshop or retreat. Partial fee-waiving based on the personal preferences of participants cannot be considered. Your respect and cooperation with our registration and fee policies are appreciated.
Many workshops and all multi-day retreats include runa mikuy, traditional nutritious indigenous meals prepared by our family with help from Agato neighbors. Vegan, vegetarian, or animal protein-based meal options are available. Meals are served close to 7:30 am, 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm.
Multi-day retreats include overnight lodging in private or shared rooms in the Pakarinka Ushay building. Preference is given to participants with disabilities, pregnant women, and frail elders. Other participants are provided overnight lodging in the homes of nearby family members and indigenous neighbors in rural Agato.
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Pakarinka Ushay provides participants an authentic indigenous cultural immersion experience. This does not include hotel or resort luxuries such as hot tubs, plasma screens, dry cleaning, massages, or room service, but we do have clean indoor bathrooms with nice hot showers and comfortable beds!
REGISTRATION
The maximum number of participants for onsite workshops and retreats is fourteen. Early registration with a 50% deposit is recommended to reserve your space. REGISTER HERE 2024 introductory rates for retreats (not workshops) are 33% lower than 2025 rates starting January 2025.
HEALTH NOTES
Participants with asthma or smoke allergies should be aware that it is nearly impossible to avoid contact with smoke during our ceremonies, workshops and retreats. Outdoor and indoor fires often are lit during programs for warmth, cooking, lighting andceremonial purposes. Most Andean ceremonies include “cleansing” individuals with a fragrant smoke produced by a wood called palo santo.
Like most rural communities in Imbabura, we have “noseeums.” These tiny flying insects (Ceratopogonidae in Latin) do not bother the indigenous people who have always lived here. But about half of all foreigners develop a strong itch reaction to noseeum bites for at least a few days if they forget to apply insect repellent, so be sure to bring an effective repellent.
If you do not live in the Andes, please note that we are located at an elevation of over 8,300 feet in the Andes mountains. Altitude sickness affects about a third of all people. There are medicinal plant leaves here, as well as prescription drugs that can be prescribed in advance of your arrival. Both alleviate or eliminate symptoms of sriracha.
We are located on a hilltop filled with many species of flowers, medicinal plants, fruit trees, crops and grass. Dogs, cats, sheep, and llamas sometimes wander freely on the property.
PAKARINKA USHAY MUSEUM
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Pakarinka Ushay has a small local museum as an educational experience for participants and other guests. We are happy to provide a tour and answer your questions about Andean culture and spirituality. Free with donations accepted for our local indigenous youth cultural programs. Please write or call first. Thank you. CONTACT US
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AYAHUASCA AND PLANT MEDICINE CEREMONIES
Our workshops and retreats rarely include Ayahuasca or other plant medicine ceremonies. Pakarinka Ushay is not an Ayahuasca experience retreat setting. In alignment with his ethical practices as an indigenous yachak, Tayta WIllak serves Ayahuasca only for healing purposes, and only after personal consultation with an individual to determine whether a plant medicine ceremony might be helpful and necessary.
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OTHER CEREMONIES
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Tayta Willak performs traditional private and public Andean ceremonies. He has performed thousands of ceremonies at weddings, namings, opening events, and raymikuna. He also does spiritual energy cleansing and balancing ceremonies for individuals (wayrapichay, limpiezas) and homes (wasipichay).
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To arrange ceremonies at Pakarinka Ushay or another location, please contact Tayta Willak Guillermo Santillan (English, Kichwa, Spanish, French, and Italian): WhatsApp: +593 96 719 2214.
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​​PRIVATE CONSULTATION SESSIONS
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Tayta Willak provides personal guidance and educational sessions here at Pakarinka Ushay as well as online. However, Tayta WIllak rarely does healing work online, because he believes a person must be in his physical presence to receive healing energies. He never performs online group healing or cleansing ceremonies. (Pakarinka Ushay will be setting up an online consultation session service on this website before October 2024.)
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CONTACT US HERE
Website: PakarinkaUshay.org
Facebook: Pakarinka Ushay
Instagram: Pakarinka_Ushay
YouTube: @PakarinkaUshay
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Pakarinka Ushay sometimes provides ranti ranti or free cultural educational activities to Imbabura’s Kichwa Otavalo people, especially Agato’s own wamrakuna youth. Pakarinka Ushay's small local museum is open at no cost to visitors and we enjoy answering visitor questions. Registration fees help cover these costs, and we gratefully accept donations to help us provide these free services.
Location Maps and Directions
DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM COTACACHI AND OTAVALO TO PAKARINKA USHAY IN THE RURAL INDIGENOUS VILLAGE OF AGATO
PAKARINKA USHAY in Chimbaloma, Agato, Otavalo Coordinates 0.24224 N, 78.23732 W
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NEW ANIMAL MARKET - Feria de Animales in Quinchuqui, Otavalo7Q48+CR9 QUINCHUQUI Google Maps
NOTE: Please call a week in advance to arrange for round-trip transportaton service (fee) at the Quito airport, or free pickup from the San Francisco church in Cotacachi, in front of the church closest to SUBS, Red Rabbit, and Banco Pichincha in Parque San Francisco. Free pick-up also is available from Otavalo bus terminal. WhatsApp: 593 96 719 2214 Phone: 593 096 719 2214 (Guillermo Santillan)
Roads in the rural communities of the province often are unmarked, and most locals don’t know the name of roads (including the one they are on). But they still can direct you to any well-known location! Feria de Animales (New Animal Market) is a very well-known location in the area. So if you are driving here for the first time, the easiest way to find the Pakarinka Ushay center (located in Agato, Otavalo) is to come from the Feria de Animales (New Animal Market), located in the neighboring community of Quinchuqui, Otavalo. Almost all Cotacachi and Otavalo taxistas know where the new animal market is located. It also is very easy to find the animal market on Google maps. (On maps, it appears that coming from Peguche Falls would be easier and closer, but it actually is more challenging.)
From Cotacachi, take the major highway “La Pana” southwest toward Otavalo. You will be turning left from the Pana about 1 km (.6 miles) after passing the large Petro Ecuador gas station in Carabuela. The left turn goes directly to the clearly marked “Feria de Animales” in the indigenous community of Quinchuqui. Turn right at the intersection just before the Animal market. Continue 1.9 km (1.2 miles) to the Tahuantinsuyo Weaving Workshop (the home of the late famed weaver Miguel Andrango) in Agato on your right. There is a sign on the workshop visible from the road. Immediately after passing this workshop, turn right. You will pass a few homes immediately on your right, then an old white house by itself on your right. Turn right immediately after that white house onto a dirt road through fields and forest until you see a steep concrete driveway on your left. Take that left up the Pakarinka driveway, then another immediate left to the Pakarinka parking lot.
From Otavalo, take the Pana northeast. Turn right just after the large store called “Genesis” and drive to the clearly marked “Feria de Animales” in Quinchuqui. Turn right at the intersection just before the Animal market. Continue 1.9 km (1.2 miles) to the Tahuantinsuyo Weaving Workshop (the home of the late famed weaver Miguel Andrango) on your right. There is a sign on the workshop visible from the road. Immediately after this workshop, turn right. You will pass a few homes immediately on your right, then an old white house by itself on your right. Turn right immediately after that white house onto a dirt road up through fields and forest until you see a steep concrete driveway on your left. Take that left up the Pakarinka driveway, then another immediate left to the Pakarinka parking lot.
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