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Atmosphere and feature ratings above are based on Best Retreats research (November 2026). They will be updated if Inner Rising Retreats submits its own information.

Inner Rising Retreats: An In-Depth Review for Yagé Retreats near Pitalito, Huila, Colombia

Inner Rising Retreats is a small-group yagé (ayahuasca) retreat at Casa Munay, a family farm with a pool near Pitalito, Huila, Colombia, co-founded by Drew and Emily Nicoll with head shaman Taita Alejandro Rojas Krejcy, that sells seven to eight-day retreats with three ceremonies, rapé, tobacco and an herbal bath for $1,600 to $1,950, per its website. Its taita claims more than two decades of practice under an Inga teacher. Against that, no medical staff, screening, contraindication list or emergency plan appears on its homepage, about or contact pages, the exact venue is not disclosed, no legal entity is named, and it has no independent reviews.

🎯 At a Glance

• Locations: Casa Munay, a family finca near Pitalito, Huila, southern Colombia; the exact village is not published.
• Approach: Yagé ceremonies with medicine music, tobacco and rapé ceremonies, an herbal bath, cacao on some retreats, and day trips to San Agustín.
• Suitable For: Guests wanting a small Colombian retreat who arrange their own medical screening. Not suitable for people taking antidepressants or with heart or psychiatric conditions.
• Costs: $1,800 to $1,950 for the October retreat and $1,600 for the February retreat, excluding airfare; deposit and refund terms are not shown on its homepage.
• Overall Assessment: A named taita, small groups and included excursions, offset by no visible medical safeguards, an undisclosed venue, no legal entity and no independent reviews. Directory evaluation: C.

💬 What Guests Are Saying

No reviews were found on Retreat Guru, BookRetreats, AyaAdvisors, Tripadvisor or Trustpilot. It is listed by Journey Aya without a rating, and its own site shows one testimonial. No reviews of 3 stars or lower were found. If you have attended, we encourage you to share your experience through our submission form.

🚩 Incident Report

We searched review platforms and English and Spanish-language news for reports involving Inner Rising Retreats, Drew and Emily Nicoll and Taita Alejandro Rojas Krejcy.

• Deaths and serious injuries: None found.
• Sexual misconduct: No allegations found.
• Theft and fraud: None found.
• Legal action: None found.

Several team members are known by first name or were not searched individually, so this absence offers limited assurance.

If you have experienced or witnessed an incident with this center, please report it confidentially.

🔍 Critical Notes

Who runs it. The about page says the Nicolls met Taita Alejandro in Putumayo in 2017 and describes him as trained by Taita Ruber Garreta Chindoy of the Inga community, with Muisca ancestry; these lineage claims are unverified. The contact number has a US area code, and no company in Colombia or the US is named.

Screening and medical support. No medical staff are listed on the team page, and no questionnaire, contraindication list or emergency protocol appears on its homepage, about or contact pages. The exact venue, and so the distance to a hospital, is not disclosed.

Listings. The October retreat is sold as eight days but dated over ten, and shown as both 2026 and 2027.

Status. Probably operating, with 2026 dates on its site; no outside evidence confirms that retreats ran.

Legal context. Colombia has no specific law permitting or prohibiting yagé, per ICEERS.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

Ask for the screening form and contraindication list before booking. ICEERS notes that ayahuasca’s MAOI component makes it dangerous with SSRIs and other serotonergic drugs and that it is contraindicated for people prone to psychosis. Never stop a psychiatric medication to qualify for a ceremony without your prescriber’s guidance.

🧪 Brew Substance

Yagé that Taita Alejandro says he prepares himself. Ayahuasca combines the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with a DMT-containing leaf, as Erowid explains.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Setting: Mild Andean foothills of southern Huila, near the San Agustín archaeological park.
• Rooms: Cabana-style rooms at a family finca with a private pool.
• Style: Small-group yagé ceremonies with live medicine music.

Practical guidance: Plan your own travel to Pitalito in southern Huila; transport during the retreat is included, but airport pickup is not stated.

Should You Book?

Possibly, once basic information is confirmed. Ask in writing for the exact venue, the deposit and refund terms, the screening and contraindication rules, who on site is trained in first aid, and the emergency plan and hospital route. Read our guide to verifying retreat facilitators.

The Team & Story

Inner Rising presents itself as a small family of students and musicians gathered around Taita Alejandro’s medicine. We did not independently verify anyone’s training.

Prep & Integration Tips

Before you go: Disclose every medication and condition in writing and plan any change with your own doctor. After you return: Arrange support from a qualified therapist at home. Our guide on how to research ayahuasca incidents can help you check any center.

Pros & Cons

Book Your Ceremony

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Last reviewed November 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified medical professional.