Set up deep in the hills of Armenia, this project is a non profit, aiming to share what we learn living on this gorgeous piece of land, from building with bamboo to collecting cacao to becoming self sufficient in our energetic needs to planting a food forest.

Little by little things are shaping up.

With each encounter something magical happens that furthers the project. Fascinated by all things metaphysical and mystical, it is my goal to share it with others through workshops and retreats.

It is my hope that this place will give you as much as it gave me, that you will find a pocket of calm and serenity, to disconnect from the hectic pace of traveling and modern life, to regroup, to reconnect with nature, to recharge your internal batteries, to appreciate the simple life

Until we meet I wish you some amazing travels and  wondrous encounters

THE PROJECT

The RETREATS

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Once in a while, it is good to reconnect with ourselves, with each other, with nature

To put down our smartphones, internet connection, laptops

To get back to a slower rhythm

Modern society emphasizes left brain thinking, focusing on logic, analysis, details

We lose our connection to the right part of our brain which deals with imagination, intuition, compassion

Creative expression has a way to make us reconnect with this part of ourselves so we paint, draw, make arts and crafts, dream catchers, macrame, build things with bamboo, coffee wood, recycled materials

We meditate, learn about chakras and energetic system, work with inspirational videos and documentaries

Through a series of exercises, we work on visualization, gratitude, the law of attraction

We prepare and eat fresh fruits, veggies and other goodies cooked with wood fire

We get pampered with facials, hair mask, foot bath, scrubs, massages

We sample fresh homegrown cacao

You can have a private coaching and healing session

You can dive into the unknown and heal with an Ayahuasca ceremony

Learn more about the retreats, about the project and how you can pledge or donate in order to build an informal teaching ground for self sufficiency, sustainability, responsibility for ourselves and our environment

Mystic Banana is located about 12 km form the city of Armenia, far enough to feel we are in the middle of nowhere but close enough that civilization is not that far away. We are set in the middle of a hill with no car access so you will need to walk down a dirt path for about 300 meters.

Coming here requires efforts but once here it is pure relaxation, no noise, no pollution, fresh air, jungle sounds to wake you up after one of the best night sleep.

The year long average temperature is about 23-25 degrees so we fully take advantage of the outdoors with large open window bamboo cabanas - one with a queen size bed, one with 2 twin beds and a 5 bed dorm (no electricity inside the huts) - Jungle showers - An outdoor kitchen with fridge, electric burners, pots and pans, a wood fire pit and a majestic vista point with lots of hammocks

There is also an indoor lounge, a physical and digital library, music instruments, yoga mats

To come here, you will board a Willyz, an old US Navy jeep, typical of the region that will take you through stunning landscapes of banana and coffee fields.

The easiest way to come is to take the 4PM communal jeep that will bring you to the top of the property or if you'd like to hike for about 30 minutes you can catch an hourly jeep as well

More information on direction page and directions pdf print out with phone numbers for mototaxi and private jeep drivers

You can hike, meditate, cleanse on a lemon detox, indulge in a massage, facial, manicure-pedicure

(I will need 48 hour advance notice to schedule the lady)

Our prices are very reasonable and for your convenience there is a small onsite shop with basics, rice, pasta, condiments, oil, beers ....

We do not carry wifi as the whole point of being here is to detox however if you do need to get online, you can walk about 45 minutes to the village where there is a wifi spot or get a sim card with data, I can also make a call to refill your sim card

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The setting

food forest

The land spans 5 hectares and we are now in the process of planting a food forest that will feed and sustain everyone who comes here with fresh organic produce

It should be operational by July 2018

There are about 100 cacao trees  that we regularly pick up and process

You are more than welcome to come and give us a hand and see for yourself the whole process

The idea is to be self sustainable as much as possible,

to learn how to plant and grow our own food,

to learn how to cook and share recipe ideas,

to learn how to make chocolate from our own cacao seeds,

how to make cheese, bread,

how to make liquor,

how to make our own soap, lotions,

to learn the virtues of plants

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• Maintaining and upgrading the facilities

• Buying material, tools, arts and crafts supplies

• Local labour

• Planting an maintaining a food forest

• Building a yoga platform

• Building a kitchen extension with cob oven and rocket mass stove, rain water collection system, watermill to haul  fresh spring water, with equipment to process homemade chocolate and sugar cane from the land, a root cellar

• Building a wood fired sweat lodge and hot tub

• Building an extensive library to study medicinal plants, permaculture, astro farming, aromatherapy, the chakra system, essential oils, Reiki, Crystals, Feng Shui, acupuncture, ayurveda, shamanism, eco construction, natural building, clean energy, waste management

• Recycling awareness through arts and crafts

• Blogging, shooting videos about everything we learn here

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The PROCEEDS