JOURNEY TO THE
HEART OF CACAO
This journey is an invitation to step beyond the ordinary and experience the living traditions of the Maya.
It's an opportunity to connect with the cultures, communities, and ancestral wisdom that have safeguarded cacao, ceremony, and sacred teachings for generations.
NOVEMBER 22nd-27th, 2026
6 days, 5 nights | NOV 22ND - 27th | limited to 10 guests
A six-day retreat guided by ELDERS, held through land, ceremony, and lived tradition.
ENCOUNTER
300+ YEARS OF LIVING TRADITION
JOURNEY
TO SACRED LANDS & ANCIENT CITIES
RECEIVE
THE CACAO GATEKEEPERS
REMEMBER
CEREMONY SITES & INDIGENOUS WISDOM
Why the Cacao
Journey?
Because cacao opens the door to everything else.
Most people experience cacao as a beverage.
Few experience the landscapes, ceremonies, and relationships that continue to shape its story today.
This journey was born from years of walking these lands, sitting with elders, returning season after season, and following the threads that connect cacao, culture, history, and ceremony throughout Tabasco and Chiapas.
Over six days, we travel through cacao groves, sacred sites, indigenous communities, ancient cities, rainforests, and living traditions. We move from the refinement of historic haciendas and regional cuisine to the simplicity of ceremonial spaces where wisdom is still shared through story, prayer, fire, and direct experience.
Along the way, we meet the guardians of sacred cacao groves, sit with Maya Ch'ol elders, learn from Lacandon tradition keepers, walk among the temples of Palenque, and participate in ceremonies that remain rooted in the land and the communities that continue to preserve them.
This is not a retreat designed to remove you from the world.
It is an immersion into the beauty, complexity, mystery, and living traditions of southern Mexico—an invitation to experience cacao not as a product, but as part of a much larger cultural, historical, and spiritual landscape.
THE HEART OF THE EXPERIENCE
6 days, 5 nights | NOV 22ND - 27th | limited to 10 guests
DAY 1: Welcome to the Heart of Cacao
Our journey begins at a historic cacao hacienda in the Chontalpa region of Tabasco, where cacao has been cultivated for generations. Through ceremonial cacao, temazcal, shared meals, and ancestral teachings, we begin to connect with the land and traditions that have safeguarded cacao for centuries. As evening approaches, we attend the opening of the Harvest Cacao Festival, a sacred community ceremony led by an Aj Men (Maya spiritual leader) marking the beginning of the cacao harvest season through prayer, offerings, music, and celebration. HIGHLIGHTS • Historic cacao hacienda experience • Opening circle and ceremonial cacao • Traditional temazcal with elders • Somatic healing and integration practices • Harvest Cacao Festival attendance • Aj Men-led ceremonial gathering • Community celebration and cultural immersion • Overnight stay in Tabasco INCLUDED ✓ Airport transfer upon arrival ✓ Overnight accommodation (double occupancy) ✓ Opening circle and ceremonial cacao ✓ Traditional temazcal ceremony ✓ Harvest Cacao Festival participation ✓ Dinner on arrival day ✓ Breakfast the following morning ✓ Ground transportation throughout scheduled activities
DAY 2: Ceremony of Gratitude to the Sacred Cacao Grove
Before dawn, we journey to a sacred cacao grove to participate in the Ceremonia de Agradecimiento al Sagrado Cacaotal, an ancestral Maya ceremony honoring the beginning of the cacao harvest season. Guided by an Aj Men and Maya spiritual leaders, this living tradition offers gratitude to the guardians, protectors, and spiritual forces of the cacao grove through prayer, offerings, sacred fire, and ceremonial cacao. Following the ceremony, we spend the day immersed in the world of cacao through traditional teachings, hands-on cacao preparation, artisan chocolate making, storytelling, and time among the cacao trees that continue to sustain the region's cultural heritage. Optional healing sessions are available in the afternoon. HIGHLIGHTS • Sunrise Ceremony of Gratitude to the Sacred Cacao Grove • Ancestral Maya harvest ceremony • Sacred fire, prayers, and offerings • Ceremonial cacao with Maya spiritual leaders • Traditional cacao preparation experience • Artisan chocolate-making workshop • Cacao teachings and cultural storytelling • Time within a living cacao landscape • Optional healing sessions WHAT'S INCLUDED ✓ Roundtrip transportation ✓ Participation in the Ceremony of Gratitude to the Sacred Cacao Grove ✓ Sacred cacao teachings and cultural presentations ✓ Traditional cacao preparation experiences ✓ Artisan chocolate-making workshop ✓ Breakfast ✓ Lunch ✓ Double-occupancy accommodations ✓ Return transportation to the hotel
DAY 3: MAYA CH’OL LANDS
After breakfast, we travel to Palenque and settle into our accommodations before entering the ancestral lands of the Maya Ch’ol. The afternoon is devoted to ceremony, healing, and cultural exchange as we begin our immersion into the traditions that continue to be preserved and practiced throughout the region. Participants are welcomed through a traditional cacao ceremony, experience a temazcal guided by respected elders, and have the opportunity to receive individual healing sessions. Throughout the day, we gather in community, learn from local wisdom keepers, and deepen our connection to the cultural traditions of the Maya Ch’ol people. The evening is reserved for rest, reflection, and integration before continuing our journey. HIGHLIGHTS • Travel through the Maya Ch’ol region • Traditional cacao ceremony • Temazcal guided by respected elders • Cultural exchange and ancestral teachings • Optional individual healing sessions • Community gathering and reflection • Time for integration and rest WHAT'S INCLUDED ✓ Transportation to Palenque ✓ Traditional cacao ceremony ✓ Temazcal with Maya elders ✓ Access to individual healing sessions ✓ Breakfast ✓ Lunch ✓ Double-occupancy accommodations
DAY 4: BONAMPAK & THE SACRED FOREST
Today we travel into one of the most culturally and ecologically significant regions of southern Mexico, where ancient Maya history, rainforest landscapes, and living traditions converge. Our journey includes a visit to Bonampak, renowned for its remarkably preserved murals that offer a rare glimpse into the ceremonial and cultural life of the ancient Maya. We continue through the forest to sacred waterfalls and gathering places where participants can connect with the natural beauty and spiritual significance of the region. The day concludes with a traditional tobacco ceremony guided by Maya elders, offering an opportunity for reflection, prayer, and connection to ancestral teachings that continue to be practiced today. HIGHLIGHTS • Visit to Bonampak Archaeological Site • Ancient Maya murals and cultural history • Guided experience through the rainforest region • Sacred waterfall visit • Traditional tobacco ceremony with Maya elders • Connection with the natural and cultural heritage of the region • Time for reflection and integration WHAT'S INCLUDED ✓ Transportation ✓ Entrance to Bonampak Archaeological Site ✓ Guided regional and cultural experiences ✓ Sacred waterfall visit ✓ Traditional tobacco ceremony ✓ Breakfast ✓ Lunch OPTIONAL OVERNIGHT IN THE FOREST If overnight accommodations in the rainforest are confirmed, the experience will also include: ✓ Dinner ✓ Overnight accommodations ✓ Evening immersion in the forest environment
DAY 5: PALENQUE: CITY OF KINGS & COSMOLOGY
This morning we explore Palenque, one of the most extraordinary cities of the ancient Maya world. Rising from the surrounding forest, its temples, plazas, and ceremonial structures offer a glimpse into a sophisticated civilization whose understanding of time, nature, and spirit continues to inspire awe today. Guided by a regional specialist, we walk among sacred architecture, carved inscriptions, and ceremonial spaces that reveal the stories of rulers, cosmology, and the enduring legacy of the Maya. Surrounded by forest, flowing water, and the sounds of the natural world, Palenque invites both contemplation and discovery. Following our visit, we return to the hotel for rest and personal integration. The afternoon is intentionally left open, allowing time to swim, journal, relax, or simply absorb the experiences of the journey. As evening approaches, we gather for a closing integration circle to reflect on the week, share insights, and honor the connections formed along the way. Together, we prepare to carry the teachings, experiences, and memories of this journey back into our daily lives. HIGHLIGHTS • Guided exploration of Palenque Archaeological Site • Ancient Maya temples, plazas, and ceremonial complexes • Regional historical and cultural interpretation • Time for personal reflection and integration • Closing group integration circle • Evening of rest and preparation for departure WHAT'S INCLUDED ✓ Breakfast ✓ Lunch ✓ Transportation ✓ Guided tour of Palenque ✓ Entrance to the archaeological site ✓ Closing integration session ✓ Double-occupancy hotel accommodations ✓ Breakfast the following morning
Enjoy a relaxed morning with breakfast and time to rest before departure. Take a final walk, journal, connect with fellow travelers, or simply savor the atmosphere of Southern Mexico one last time. As the journey comes to a close, participants depart carrying the memories, relationships, and experiences gathered throughout the week. HIGHLIGHTS • Leisurely morning • Breakfast • Personal reflection and free time • Final farewells • Departure and return travel WHAT'S INCLUDED ✓ Breakfast ✓ Hotel accommodations from the previous evening ✓ Scheduled departure transportation ✓ Time for rest and personal reflection before departure
MEET THE WISDOM KEEPERS
CHIAPAS: MAYA CH'OL
Encounter the living traditions of the Maya Ch'ol through sacred cacao ceremony, temazcal, fire teachings, healing practices, and community gathering. Guided by respected elders, this immersive experience offers a rare opportunity to connect with ancestral wisdom that continues to be carried forward today.
GUARDIANS OF THE SACRED CACAO GROVE
Experience the living cacao traditions of the Yokot'an Maya through sacred harvest ceremonies, ancestral prayers, ceremonial cacao, and time within the sacred cacao groves of Tabasco. Guided by Maya spiritual leaders and tradition keepers, this rare cultural immersion offers a direct connection to more than 300 years of cacao heritage
GUARDIANS OF THE SACRED FOREST
Experience the living traditions of the Lacandon Maya through sacred tobacco ceremonies, copal offerings, ancestral teachings, and time within the forests and sacred landscapes they have stewarded for generations. Guided by respected elders, this cultural immersion offers a rare opportunity to connect with one of Mexico's most enduring indigenous traditions.
IS THIS JOURNEY
FOR YOU?
This journey requires:
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A strong, undeniable calling to be here—whether you can explain it or simply trust the pull.
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A willingness to show up fully present for six days, understanding that every moment is part of the work.
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Good physical and mental health, with openness about any medical conditions during screening.
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Genuine curiosity and respect for the elders, communities, and traditions you will meet.
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A sincere intention to do your own inner work and honor the container we create together.
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A valid passport and ability to travel to Mexico without restriction.
To Apply:
Complete the form below, email rociocervantesav@gmail.com, or call to request a private interview with Rocío. She personally meets with each participant to ensure this journey is a true calling.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS JOURNEY
Ceremonies with ELDERS
Enter ceremonial spaces guided by ELDERS whose lives are rooted in land, lineage, and responsibility. These ceremonies are not symbolic reenactments. They are living practices shaped by continuity, prayer, and daily relationship with the land.
Cacao as Living Tradition
Work with cacao as it is held today: as lineage, nourishment, offering, and relational medicine. You will participate in cacao practices that honor its agricultural, ceremonial, and communal role, learning through experience rather than explanation.
Traditional Altar Creation
Participate in the creation of Maya altars and offerings to the land. These acts are not decorative. They are gestures of reciprocity, gratitude, and presence that mark each ceremonial threshold of the journey.
Teachings on Maya Cosmovision
Receive teachings on time, land, ceremony, and relationship within Maya cosmovision. These teachings are offered through story, observation, and lived context rather than doctrine.
One-on-One Time with ELDERS
The journey is intentionally small to allow for direct conversation, guidance, and shared presence with ELDERS. These moments often become the most impactful, not because they are dramatic, but because they are honest.
Stays at selected luxury 4 to 4.5-star hotels
Accommodations have been chosen for comfort, quality, and alignment with the character and history of each region, allowing space for rest and integration.
Optional Individual Healing Sessions
For those who feel called, individual healing sessions with ELDERS may be requested during the journey. Participation is always optional and approached with respect for personal readiness and consent.
Meditation at high-energy and ancient sites
Including Palenque, archaeological sites in Tabasco, and locations deep within the jungle, offering time for stillness, listening, and direct contact with the land in places of historical and energetic significance.
Time Across Two Regions
Spend time in two distinct cacao regions: Tabasco and Chiapas. Each carries its own cultural, ecological, and energetic character, offering different ways of listening, learning, and being with the land.
Temazcal (Sweat Lodge)
Enter a traditional temazcal as a practice of purification, preparation, and renewal. The temazcal is held with intention and care, honoring its role as a space of humility, prayer, and recalibration.
Visits to Ancient and Living Sites
Move between archaeological sites, cacao lands, and active ceremonial spaces. These are not museum visits. They are places where life, memory, and meaning continue to be shaped.
Integration and Personal Guidance
This retreat does not end when you leave Mexico. The journey includes one-on-one coaching with Rocío before, during, and after the retreat to support integration, clarity, and grounded return.
WHY THIS JOURNEY IS DIFFERENT
Most spiritual retreats are extractive experiences you arrive, consume, and leave. The Cacao Journey is different. It's a six month initiation into ancestral wisdom, not a weekend escape.
A Real Container, Not a Performance
This isn't a staged experience. You're entering the actual ceremonial life of three distinct Maya lineages Yokot'an Maya (Maya Chontal), Maya Ch'ol, and Lacandon Maya. The elders aren't featured speakers. They're teachers you develop relationships with across the journey.
Preparation Comes First
Before you arrive in Tabasco and Chiapas, you complete a five week Preparation and Pattern Work series. Weekly coaching with Rocío rewires your nervous system to receive ancestral teachings. You're not arriving as a tourist. You're arriving prepared.
Rooted in Place and Ecology
You're not doing cacao ceremony in a yoga studio. You're in the actual cacao lands the forests, haciendas, and sacred sites where these traditions live. You'll move through three distinct ecosystems and three distinct cosmovisions, each with its own way of knowing.
Integration Built In
The journey doesn't end when you fly home. Optional ongoing coaching with Rocío is available for months after, helping you embody what you've received into your actual life and nervous system. Integration support is offered separately.
This is ancestral apprenticeship, not tourism.
Rocio
Cervantes
Founder of Ancestras · Transformational Coach · Integration Guide
Rocío Cervantes is a transformational coach and ceremonial cacao facilitator who specializes in helping people move from insight to lasting change. Her work bridges personal transformation with ancestral wisdom, creating experiences where ceremony opens the door and rigorous coaching ensures you actually walk through it.
Rocío's path into this work was shaped through lived initiation. She moved through childhood trauma, fear held in the body, years of numbness and anxiety, and the slow reconstruction of identity from the inside out. That lived depth, earned through experience, honesty, and the willingness to meet herself fully, is what she brings to every person she works with.
She trained under transformational teacher Kute Blackson, refining a coaching approach rooted in truth, presence, and personal responsibility.
Her style is direct, grounded, compassionate, and deeply human. She does not offer quick fixes or spiritual bypassing. She meets people exactly where they are and supports them in accessing clarity they have not been able to reach on their own.
On the Cacao Journey, Rocío works with you before, during, and after your time in Mexico. Before departure, she helps you clarify your intentions and prepare your nervous system for deep work. During the journey, she holds the container alongside the elders, meeting you with presence and directness as you move through ceremony and experience.
After your return home, she guides your integration through one-on-one coaching to ensure that the insights, relationships, and teachings continue to shift how you live, not just how you think.
The ancestral and ceremonial authority within this journey comes directly from the elders and communities who carry those traditions. Rocío's role is to steward access, hold the container, and support you in reconnecting with your own innate intelligence so that what is received is not romanticized or left behind, but lived.
