Build a relationship with nature and learn to connect with places of power where you go. From Tate-Haramara (Grandmother Ocean), to the mountains, lakes, and caves…each place has energy to offer you.
Activity Level
●●●○○
Group Size
30 max
Duration
5 days / 4 nights
Prerequisites
None
Spiritual Journey
Travel through the Nierika (spiritual doorway) to the four directions to receive clarity and guidance for your life. Learn to follow Kauyumari (The Magical Deer Spirit) and other spiritual guides to help you uncover a deeper understanding of yourself and the world.
Rituals & Practices
Integrate a more expansive awareness of yourself and the world around you through ancient Indigenous practices of transformation. These simple practices can have profound effects, offering a foundation of personal transformation.
Pilgrimage
Ceremony
Focus your intentions and receive blessings for your life as you dance your prayers into the altar of Mother Earth. Let the sacred chants and echoes of the drum guide you to the wisdom you are searching for.
Amara Valley
An off the grid holistic retreat center surrounded by an ancient forest in Catalunya, Spain.
Amara Valley is a beautiful healing sanctuary that enhances the wellness and development of every visitor, founded on the principles of community, co-creation, creativity and sustainable regenerative living. It’s a nurturing place where you can learn to live in harmony, where creativity can become reality, and where you can reimagine and develop individual and collective potential.
Meet Your Guides
Brant Secunda
Brant Secunda is an internationally acclaimed shaman, healer, and teacher in the indigenous Huichol tradition of Mexico. During an intensive 12-year apprenticeship, Brant became the adopted grandson and close companion of Don José Matsuwa, the renowned shaman who passed away in 1990 at the age of 110. Brant was chosen by Don José to take his place in helping to carry on Huichol Shamanism.
Recognized as a global thought leader and spiritual teacher, Brant has been a lecturer at the Mayo Clinic, the American Holistic Medical Association Conferences, and a faculty member of the Five Branches Institute of Chinese Medicine. He also co-founded the Humanistic Medicine Conference with the World Health Organization, the Peace University in Berlin, and is a founding member of the American Herbalist Guild.
Striving to bridge the worlds of fitness and spirituality, Brant co-authored the award-winning book Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You.
Nico Secunda
Nico Secunda has been steeped in the indigenous traditions and spiritual practices of the Wixáritari since birth. He completed an intensive shamanic apprenticeship with his father (Brant Secunda) at twenty-one years of age and underwent the rare transmission of power ceremony to become a Mara-Akame (shaman) in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico.
He is the Executive Director of the Dance of the Deer Foundation – Center for Shamanic Studies and the Co-Founder of the Huichol Foundation. Nico is also the Executive Director + Chief Instructor at Aikido of Santa Cruz.
As a child of both the modern world and the ancient Huichol culture, Nico has walked a unique path, bridging the new and old worlds. Because of this, he offers a very relatable approach for people striving to integrate spiritual practices into their daily lives and unify various aspects of the self.
Itinerary
Program schedule + session details
Wednesday
3:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Check-In
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Dinner
9:00 pm – 9:30 pm | Opening Session + Blessing
Thursday
7:30 am – 8:30 am | Early Morning Session
9:00 am – 10:00 am | Breakfast
10:00 am – 1:00 pm | Mid-Morning Session
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Lunch
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm | Free-time
4:00pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Dinner
Friday
7:30 am – 8:30 am | Early Morning Session
9:00 am – 10:00 am | Breakfast
10:00 am – 1:00 pm | Mid-Morning Session
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Lunch
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm | Free-time
4:00pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Dinner
Saturday
7:30 am – 8:30 am | Early Morning Session
9:00 am – 10:00 am | Breakfast
10:00 am – 1:00 pm | Mid-Morning Session
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Lunch
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm | Free-time
4:00pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Dinner
Sunday
9:00 am – 10:00 am | Breakfast
10:00 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:30 pm | Lunch & Goodbyes – we prefer to say we’ll see you later!
FAQ + Guide
Tips to ensure a great retreat experience
Where is the retreat located?
This retreat will be held at Amara Valley, a peaceful off-grid Nature and Wellness Retreat Centre nestled amidst the lush forests of Catalunya, Spain. Amara Valley is just 1.5 hours north of Barcelona and about 45 minutes from the city of Girona. It’s the perfect setting to reconnect with nature and dive deep into spiritual practice.
What are the accommodations?
There are a variety of lodging options, including private and shared rooms.
All meals are included (Wednesday dinner – Sunday breakfast).
How do I arrange my travel?
To avoid incorrect routes, Amara Valley recommends first arriving in Banyoles and then following the directions to Amara. Find Amara Valley on Google Maps →
By Air
The nearest major airport is Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN), located approximately 1.5 hours from Amara Valley by car. Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) is another option, just under 1.5 hours away.
By Bus + Taxi
There are reliable Teisa bus services running daily from Barcelona and Girona to Banyoles, the nearest town to Amara. You can find the bus timetables here. Taxis cost around 20€ per trip (depending on time of day and week), which can be shared between participants. Amara Valley can help organize shuttles from Banyoles, upon request.
What is the weather typically like?
In June, the weather is typically warm and sunny during the day, with cooler evenings. Rain is uncommon but possible, so it’s a good idea to bring a light jacket and some rain gear just in case. The long daylight hours and pleasant temperatures make it an ideal time to enjoy the natural beauty of Amara Valley.
Do I need to bring anything?
Here is a list of items to bring:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Hat and sun protection
- Bathing suit
- Snacks, if desired
- Rain jacket + umbrella
- Personal toiletries
- Pocket knife for prayer arrows
- Layers of clothing (the temperature may vary)
- Flashlight
- Anything special you would like to have blessed on the ceremonial altar
Are there any prerequisites to attend?
No. This retreat is open to anyone, whether you are looking to take the first step on the shamanic path or if you’ve been studying with Brant for decades.
When does the program start and end?
The Retreat will begin on Wednesday (June 10, 2026) with check-in from 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm, followed by dinner at 7:00 pm and an opening session at 8:30 pm.
The program will conclude on Sunday (June 14, 2026) at 11:00 am with a closing session following breakfast.
Will the program be live-streamed?
No. This retreat will only be available for those attending in person. If you’re interested in joining a virtual program online, please take a look at our schedule of upcoming programs.
Do I need to attend the entire program?
We greatly encourage everyone to join the Retreat and/or Retreat + Intensive for the full time in order to gain the complete experience of the teachings and practices, while also helping maintain the energy of the collective group.
Will plant medicine be offered?
No, this program does not include any type of plant medicine. Although this is indeed an integral part of shamanic traditions, this program will focus on the use of drumming, rattling, chanting, and dance to achieve similar altered states of consciousness.
Will I become a shaman by attending this program?
No, our programs do not provide any type of certification and are not designed to teach people to become shamans, as this requires years of complete dedication through a traditional shamanic apprenticeship. Instead, this retreat provides an opportunity to practice shamanism, learn the ancient exercises for spiritual developemnt, and celebrate life in sacred ceremony and ritual.
The practices of shamanism are ones that can be integrated into your everyday routine in order to empower yourself, your community, and all that lives on Mother Earth.
Can children attend?
Yes, we welcome families and children at all our programs and love having all ages included in our circle. We offer a 50% discount for children ages 4-17 and infants under the age of 4 join free of charge.
Children (anyone under 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
What is Shamanism?
Shamanism is a way of honoring nature. Practiced in various forms around the world by different indigenous tribes, the methods of shamanism are diverse; however, they are unified in their inherent basis in the natural world.
Wixárika Tribe
The Huichol (Wixáritari) are a small indigenous tribe of approximately 35,000, living in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico. They are considered one of the last cultures in North America to have maintained their pre-Columbian traditions to this day.
Shamanic Healing
Inherent to the spiritual traditions of shamanism is the art of healing. Although our programs do not aim to teach people to heal or become shamans, they most definitely provide the tools for personal healing and transformation.