PATH TO THE SUN JOURNEY
6 daYS IN THe Andes with Barbara Manuela
OCT 30th - NOV 5th
Somewhere along the way, we started believing that a spiritual practice meant living on lettuce, meditating for three hours a day, never cursing, and hopping from one plant ceremony to the next. And if that’s your thing, amazing! We love that for you and we’re not here to judge. Over the last five years, I’ve been rewriting what spirituality looks like for me and I want to share a glimpse into this new timeline I’ve stepped into.
I want to invite you to step back into your body, into your senses, into pleasure. Because lately, my spiritual practice has looked like:
✨ Getting lost in ceramics for three hours a week
✨ Dancing salsa and bachata four nights a week
✨ Eating food that makes my whole body say yes
✨ Lifting weights at the gym
✨ Walking alongside my favorite river in Cuenca
And honestly? It’s been the most healing, self-loving, fun, and incredible chapter of my life.
I’m so excited to gather an intimate group of women in my homeland in the Andes to experience this magic during the Path of the Sun Journey. I created this space for the multidimensional woman—the one who can read your oracle cards and enjoy a cute cocktail on a girls’ night out. The one who doesn’t need flowery language to express herself but speaks in her real, raw, and honest voice. The one who is open and ready to experience pleasure and joy in her body, knowing that this body is the vessel for life itself.
My dream for you is to leave this week feeling so good in your skin—sexy, powerful, proud to be a woman. I want this journey to show you that you can be a healer, a space holder, a medicine woman or an entrepreneur, work a 9-5—and still be deeply spiritual and deeply in your humanity without judgement. You can dance until 3 AM and still wake up to your morning rituals.
You don’t have to choose between glam queen and spiritual queen—you get to be both.
con todo mi amor,
Barbara
a journey back to yourself
From the moment you land in Cuenca, the journey begins. A private driver will be waiting to bring you to the hotel, where you’ll meet the incredible women who will be walking this path alongside you. We’ll share a delicious welcome dinner, settle in, go dancing, and get ready for what’s to come.
The next morning, we hit the road, heading straight into the heart of the Andes—driving through lush green mountains, past cows roaming freely, and into landscapes that feel like something out of a dream. After about three hours, we’ll arrive in Alausi, my ancestral hometown—a small, pueblito mágico nestled between two valleys, where time slows down, and the mountains wrap around you like a hug.
From here, we drop into the medicine of the Andes where we’ll have days filled with limpias (cleansings), cacao and tobacco rituals, hikes through sacred lands, and deep cultural exchanges with the local communities. We’ll get creative with our hands, playing with clay in a ceramics workshop and letting the energy of creation flow through us.
Every day, you’ll wake up to crisp mountain air, the sun warming your skin, and the breathtaking sight of the Apus (sacred mountains) surrounding you. We’ll be on Spirit Time, meaning we’re leaving behind the need to control, schedule, and figure things out. This is your chance to slow down, reconnect, and feel fully at home in your body.
And one of the most beautiful parts of this journey? The women you’ll meet and the lifelong sisterhood that will be formed. This isn’t just a retreat—it’s a space where you’ll connect with like-minded women who are on their own journeys of growth, healing, and self-love. You’ll laugh, cry, dance, share stories, and hold space for each other in a way that’s rare and powerful. These are the kinds of friendships that stay with you long after the retreat is over.
This experience is for women who are ready to step into their fullness—for the entrepreneurs, executives, healers, medicine women, and creatives who are always holding space for others but are now ready to choose themselves, fully and unapologetically. It’s for the women who know they don’t have to pick between being deeply spiritual and living a life of fun, pleasure, and adventure.
And when it’s time to return to Cuenca, we’ll have time to explore, grab souvenirs, and soak in everything we’ve experienced before coming together for a final dinner to celebrate not just the end of this journey, but the beginning of a new chapter.
This is more than a retreat—it’s a homecoming to yourself 🌞✨
ITINERARY
OCT 30th - NOV 5th
Day 1 | Thursday October 30th: Arrival to the city of Cuenca
Welcome to Cuenca! Upon arriving at Mariscal Lamar International Airport, a private driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel, where you’ll meet the rest of the group and settle into your new space.
We’ll gather for a welcome dinner, a chance to connect, share a delicious meal, and get to know each other. Afterward, we’ll head to a dance social to move our bodies and get in the frequency of fun.
Day 2 | Friday October 31st: Cuenca full day experience
You’ll wake up feeling refreshed and ready for an inspiring day ahead! After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, you’ll have some time to soak in the morning at your own pace. By lunchtime, we’ll gather and set off for an unforgettable hands-on experience at La Montaña en el Mar, a ceramic studio where we’ll dive into the art of clay.
Guided by Martina Vega, a third generation ceramist, you’ll shape and mold your own unique piece, letting your creativity flow. To begin, we’ll open the space with a sacred tobacco and cacao ritual, grounding ourselves in the present moment and unlocking your creative channels.
We’ll head back to the hotel to have dinner, and have a relaxing night.
Day 3 | Saturday November 1st: Travel from Cuenca to an hacienda in the Andes
We’ll kick off the day bright and early, setting out on a breathtaking journey into the heart of the Andes. As we drive you’ll see rolling hills, indigenous communities, and traditional farmland so stunning they’ll take your breath away.
After a 3-hour drive, we’ll arrive in my hometown of Alausi, a true pueblito mágico, hugged between two mountains. We’ll have lunch at a local spot, soak in the charm of the town, and then make our way to the hacienda that’s just 20 minutes away.
After settling in, we’ll gather for a welcome ceremony. As the day winds down, we’ll enjoy a nourishing dinner and connect with the women in the group.
DAY 4-6| Nov 1st - Nov 3rd: Hacienda in the Andes
From Saturday afternoon to Wednesday morning, we’ll be completely immersed in the magic of the sacred land. Some of the experiences we’ll share include: limpias (energetic cleansing’s), rituals, altar building, hikes to waterfalls and lakes, a visit to the Andean sacred site Ingapirca, and heartfelt cultural exchanges with a local Andean community.
Guiding us on this journey are Manuel, the guardian and caretaker of the land, and Mario, a certified trekking guide, both of them will help us connect deeply with the spirit of the land.
Throughout our time together, Barbara will lead group sessions exploring themes of self-love, self-worth, and how to connect with your own spiritual practice, and healing. This will be a time to rediscover yourself, embrace your power, and step into deep connection with nature and your own spirit.
Beyond the planned activities, we’ll also have free time built in to either do your own thing or be in connection with the other women in the journey. Sometimes in those empty spaces is where the magic happens.
DAY 7 | Tuesday November 4th: Travel back to Cuenca
From the Andes, we’ll make our way back to Cuenca, where the adventure isn’t over just yet! Once we arrive, you’ll have the chance to wander through the charming streets of El Centro, soaking in the colonial beauty, vibrant culture, and rich history of this incredible city. It’s the perfect time to pick up local souvenirs and keepsakes to bring a piece of Ecuador home with you.
We’ll come together for our final dinner at Dos Sucres, a renowned restaurant that beautifully showcases Ecuador’s diverse flavors and local ingredients in every dish. It’ll be a night to celebrate our journey, share reflections, and enjoy one last meal as a group.
Before the days ends, you’ll also receive your handmade ceramics, a special reminder of the creativity and connection you cultivated during this experience.
Day 8 | Wednesday November 5th: Journey back home
We'll gather one last time for breakfast, have our goodbye’s, and have a private taxi take you to the airport. If anybody is planning to stay a couple of extra days exploring Cuenca, we will drop you off in your next location.
The Mysticism of the Andes on Día de los Difuntos (The day of the dead)
My ancestral roots are deeply woven into the Andes — a sacred land rich with memory, medicine, and ancestral wisdom. Over the past few years, I’ve been walking a path of reconnection with my indigenous lineage, and since returning to Ecuador, I’ve undergone profound transformations that have shaped me into the woman I am today.
We will gather in the Andes during the days surrounding Día de los Difuntos — a sacred time when the veil between worlds is thin and we honor those who came before us. In this land of grandmothers and grandfathers, we will pay homage to life, death, and the eternal spirit through Andean rituals, altar building, and offerings of food, flowers, and tobacco.
Our journey will be an invitation to remember, to give thanks, and to connect in a modern yet deeply rooted way with the Andean cosmo-vision — walking in step with our ancestors, not only in memory, but in living presence.
5 Monthly Payments of
$869
$769
ready for an adventure of a lifetime?
Register by Friday, June 6th at 11:59pm EST and SAVE $500!
*discount already applied at checkout*
Pay in Full
$3950
$3450
Because of the intimate nature of this experience, there are only 10 spots available.
yOUR EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
You will be taken care of from the moment you land in Cuenca to your departure. It’s my mission for you to arrive and immediately feel held throughout this magical experience. You relax, let me deal with all the logistics.
☑️ 7 nights of accommodations: 2 nights in Cuenca, 4 nights at the Hacienda Paraiso in my hometown of Alausi, 1 final night in Cuenca before flying home.
*Most of lodging will be shared accommodations with another member of the group, but if it’s important for you to have your own room, please email me at hello@barbieenruta.com and I will do my best to accommodate you.
☑️ Meals: Three meals a day will be provided throughout the journey. Dietary requests can be accommodated.
☑️ Entrance to a bachata and salsa social
☑️ Integration Support: Before the Andes, during the Andes, and post-Andes
☑️ All transportation throughout the journey.
☑️ Pick up and drop off at the Aeropuerto Cuenca, Ecuador.
☑️ Pottery workshop led by third generation ceramicist, Martina Vega.
☑️ Certified Trekking Guide for our hikes throughout the journey.
yOUR EXPERIENCE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
❌ Flights to and from Ecuador
❌ Alcoholic Beverages
❌ Souvenir money
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING…
Meet your guide barbara manuela
Barbara Sánchez is a medicine woman, facilitator, and retreat leader who guides people into their heart and spirit through working with cacao, tobacco, and sound. Through her trauma-informed training, Barbara creates safe spaces where individuals can reconnect with their wholeness and self-worth.
This is for you if you are:
✨ A high-achieving woman—entrepreneur, executive, professional, medicine woman, ceremony leader, facilitator—who is constantly showing up for others and is now ready to show up for herself.
✨ A woman ready to take full ownership of her life—no more victimhood, no more playing small
✨ A ‘badass b*tch’ and a ‘glam spiritual queen’—someone who knows you can be deeply spiritual AND live in full pleasure and confidence
✨ Healing from a breakup and stepping into a season of self-worth, self-love, and self-respect like never before
✨ A ‘todo terreno’ woman—down for the cause, adaptable, open to adventure, ready to say YES to herself
✨ Walking a spiritual path or feeling called to start, reconnect, or deepen that journey.
✨ Craving connection—to your own roots, lineage, and deeper purpose
This journey will deepen your connection to the world of spirit and the healing medicine of tobacco and cacao, and connect you with tools you can carry with you for personal healing and to support others.
It’s time to step into the full power of who you are, so let’s do this together. 🌞✨
ready for an adventure of a lifetime?
Register by Friday, June 28th at 11:59pm EST and SAVE $500!
*discount already applied at checkout*
5 Monthly Payments of
$869
$769
Pay in Full
$3950
$3450
Because of the intimate nature of this experience, there are only 10 spots available.
Got any questions? Schedule A FREE 20 minute call with Barbara.
What people are saying…
FAQ’s
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If you cancel your reservation:
61 days or more prior to the start of the retreat, you receive 50% of the money you have paid (minus a non-refundable $500 administrative fee).
31-60 days prior to the start of the retreat, you receive: 20% of the money you have paid (minus a non-refundable $500 administrative fee).
0-30 days prior to the start of the retreat, no refunds are given.
To cancel, you must send an email stating that you wish to do so to hello@barbieenruta.com
There will be no refunds or discounts for arriving late, leaving early, flight cancellations, travel delays or illness.
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WiFi is accesible in every location we will visit.
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Most of lodging will be shared accommodations with another member of the group, but if it’s important for you to have your own room, please email me at hello@barbieenruta.com and I will do my best to accommodate you.
note: At Hacienda Paraiso all accommodations will be shared as per the style of the lodge.
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Your passport must be valid for at least six months past your date of entry in order to enter Ecuador. You will not be allowed to enter the country with a passport that expires within six months of your date of entry. Be sure to check your passport now to see if you meet this requirement so you can secure a timely renewal if necessary. No visa is required for entry with a Canadian or US passport.
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In June, the Ecuadorian Andes experience cool temperatures and relatively dry conditions, as it falls within the region's dry season (June–September).
Both Cuenca and Alausí experience cool temperatures with frequent rainfall. Cuenca sees average highs of 16°C (61°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F), with rain over 16 days, moderate sunshine, and a high UV index. Alausí has similar temperatures, ranging from 16°C (61°F) during the day to 7°C (45°F) at night, but experiences heavier rainfall with high humidity. Given the weather conditions, you should pack layered clothing, including sweaters, long-sleeve shirts, and a warm jacket for cooler evenings. Waterproof jackets, sturdy footwear, and umbrellas are essential for the rain, while sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats are necessary due to the strong UV exposure despite the cooler climate. By preparing for fluctuating conditions, attendees will stay comfortable throughout the retreat.
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Once you register, you will receive our suggested packing list. We do encourage you to pack lightly and pack only what you will need.
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In countries like Ecuador, diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and hepatitis can be contracted. However, if the necessary preventative steps are taken, these illnesses can be successfully avoided. This information is provided to keep you safe and healthy during the trip.
Immunizations: No immunizations are required for entry into Ecuador unless you are entering from an endemic area. Yellow fever immunization is required if you are passing through any other South American country on your way to Ecuador (even when you are only in an airport) or if you are entering Ecuador from an endemic area. The Center for Disease Control has an extensive website with travel related information at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm. Your Ecuadorian consulate can also advise you on current requirements.
Please consult your healthcare professional or local travel clinic for more information on these topics and to meet your specific needs. It is generally recommended to have an updated Hep A, Hep B, and Tetanus vaccination. If you choose to get a typhoid vaccination we recommend taking it orally for less side effects.
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Ecuador’s economy is based on the US dollar so there is no need to make an exchange. Be sure to bring your money in loose change and dollars in smaller denominations (mostly $1’s, $5’s, $10’s and just a few $20’s). Most vendors and local businesses will not have the appropriate change and $1 and $5 bills will be very handy and even necessary.
Credit cards may be accepted at larger establishments but often with a surcharge.
ATMs are available only in Ecuador’s larger cities and pin numbers must not be longer than 4 digits. You will have access to an ATM in Cuenca upon arrival and then in Alausi.
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You'll have an opportunity to purchase local handmade crafts like jewelry and ceramics. We suggest $250 in personal spending cash.
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We strongly suggest that you purchase travel insurance (medical & flight cancellation) for your time away from home. This kind of travel can be unpredictable.