Senda Loto — Local services in Guatapé

Casa De Lotto Review

I flew across South America for a 7-day Casa De Lotto (CDL) retreat. I arrived full of hope but left after 4 days for lack of safety and well being, integrity, growth, equity, consideration, responsibility, competence, communication, healing and hope.

My CDL program started with 7 participants who traveled from 7 countries (USA, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Holland, France and Peru). In spite of the significant effort and resources seven CDL guests dedicated to this retreat, FOUR OF US LEFT EARLY

I arrived in the dark ( CDL was aware). No one met me, there was no lighting or signage, and I navigated with my luggage and cellphone light - a steep, curvy trail that involved steep climbing and descending, tires filled with water, rocks, water crossings, etc.

After surviving CDL's ‘small ecological path’ in the dark with luggage and no light, I had to climb a steep hill (about 130 rock steps) in the pitch dark to reach people.. Breathless and confused, I encountered a table with 6 disoriented guests eating in silence. It was supremely awkward for everyone.

Communication from CDL was inaccurate, cryptic and omitted critical information.

-CDL failed to inform us that ‘Pima’ traveled to his own retreat during our retreat. We arrived with a cook and yoga teacher on site (neither fluent in English). The operation is tiny and program is cryptic. There was no orientation, direction, program or support.

When Pima returned from Mexico, he informed us he had no intention of leading us until Monday night - (program ending Thursday). Frustrated guests confronted Pima who responded by blaming and dismissing his Yoga teacher (who left crying). Pima replaced our yoga instructor with a visiting massage therapist. She led ineffective stretching classes that bear no resemblance to yoga.

CDL communication prior to arriving was inaccurate and tragic at best. And while at CDL there was no formal communication channel at all. We relied on the cook to help us out.

Upon arrival there is absolutely no orientation for guests to make sense out of their surroundings, protocols, expectations, opportunities, how to leave campus, etc. We were literally dumped on the side of a mountain and expected to ‘figure it out’ all while observing noble silence. The 6 bullets on the one page ‘registration’ we received proffered ‘don’t kill bugs’ and ‘observe ‘noble silence’ for 21 hours, ( not evenings as posted on the website and single post registration email).

CDL failed to include a pack list of essential supplies, including headlamp, long socks (to protect from ankle-devouring insects), rain gear (it poured every night), and many other supplies that would have supported this trip.

And CDL failed to advise guests that the facility and grounds are inaccessible for guests with disabilities or cardiac risks.

CDL lacked competence in many areas including yoga instruction, meditation and mindfulness support, communication, guest consideration, equity, ‘ayurvedic’ diet guidance, and program delivery.

When challenged with CDL Program hardships, Pima consistently blamed his female subordinates.

My experience at CDL was beyond unsatisfactory: I left needing safety and well being, integrity, growth, equity, consideration, responsibility, competence, communication, healing and hope.

CDL offered no support, insights, guidance or growth. We were literally left on our own and instructed to observe silence for 21 hours a day on the side of a mountain. The tiny campus (maybe 2 hectares) is so steep there is literally nowhere to walk. The only program ‘guidance’- scheduled after meditation- comes with absolutely nothing prepared or presented.

It’s been a month since I left CDL and the scabs covering my ankles and feet are just now disappearing.

I really struggle with the omissions and lack of consideration that compelled me to abandon a retreat for which I sacrificed and invested a great deal,...

My month long stay at La Casa de Loto was amazing! The retreat was beautiful, Pema and his family were welcoming and compassionate, the food was absolutely delicious (Mary is a fantastic Chef), and last but not least, Pema's dogs were a pleasant addition for a lover of animals! I almost forgot...this is a silent retreat. The silence begins on Sunday evening and ends around lunch time on Friday! It is fantastic! Helpful tip for people uncomfortable with silence: read up on mindfulness and mindful eating!

I would highly recommend this retreat for anyone who wants to learn about Buddhism and meditation or is looking for a place to deepen their own meditation practice. This is mostly a meditation retreat with 1 1/2 to 2 hours of yoga every morning. Most of the day is self-directed with a typed up schedule as a guide/reminder. A typical day looks like this: 6 am sitting meditation (typically 20 minutes or more), 7 am breakfast, 8 am walking meditation 9 am yoga, 11 am sitting meditation, etc...Pema meets with everyone once a day for guided meditation instruction, followed by a Q&A.

Most participants stay for one week, arriving on Sunday and leaving on Saturday. So, if you stay more than one week, it can feel like your going in and out of retreat every week. However, if you are there for more than one week, my guess is, you've been practicing meditation or have done other longer retreats and do not need as much guidance as someone new to meditation. You can easily stay at La Casa de Loto for more than a week and get the benefits of retreat life. Another helpful tip if you're staying more than one week: when the silence ends on Friday, pace yourself when chatting with others. Retreat to your mat or your room for quiet time. If you don't do this, and you chat for the remainder of the day, you will feel exhausted on Saturday morning...I call it a "verbal hangover."

Again, I would highly recommend this place, regardless of your level of knowledge of Buddhism, meditation or yoga. You will get out what you put in! Bring an open-mind, Dharma books (books about meditation), and a sense of urgency to let go of your "stuff". La Casa de Loto is the perfect place to unplug from your over stimulated world...

There are not enough words to describe my experience at la casa de loto. I will try again for the sake of this review; the bottom line is: go! reconnect with your innate wellbeing! The casa de loto family, the serene environment, the energy of the place, the teachings, the food, the sound of the water running through the property, the birds, the eternal spring, and the ever expanding community all helped me reconnect with myself. I stayed for three weeks and I did not want to leave. I not only fell in love with the lovely people who run the place and fed me, but I also fell in love with the feeling of being okay—not needing to do anything or be anyone, just being! Which is a practice! Pema and the silence and the energy of the finca (as soon as I walked up the stone steps I could feel how much practice had taken place there, such a calm embrace) will help you practice being. The modern world demands so much from us, wrecks our nervous systems, teaches us that we need to change in order to feel peace and love… la casa de loto will remind you that everything you need is within you, you are already dancing in imperfect perfection, and the root of your suffering is illusory—peak behind the curtain! Of course, suffering is real… I was a very burnt out social worker before my time in retreat (anxious, scattered, obsessive, insecure) and the Buddhist teachings, which Pema so beautifully presents, reaffirmed the nature of my suffering and the path towards relief. Going on this retreat will be a wonderful opportunity to deepen your practice and insight, and, if you’re less concerned with the illusory nature of self, I think you’ll still find what you need. Whether you want to dive deep into dharma, or if you are looking for a relaxing place to recharge, la casa de loto will meet you where you are.

I am so grateful for the time I was able to spend in such a lovely place with such lovely people. I hope you are able to experience the magic, too!

Side note: my skin cleared and I felt so healthy/ happy after the three weeks! And being able to plunge in fresh mountain water on the property was such a...