22 Nov 2022
100 words is not enough to relay our experience. Shaman was high on SOMETHING, Shaman’s helper vomiting in the temezcal….NO English spoken other than Shaman: “You okay? Close your eyes….1,2,3” At one point we asked the Shaman, “Are YOU okay?” He opened the sweat lodge 4-5 times during the ceremony, almost had hot rocks flung on us, wanted us to stand by the pit and almost received steam burns. Our driver was great but when we got to the destination NO ONE spoke to us. Sat around a table for 30-45 minutes and then a hurried “Go! The Shaman is ready!” No further explanation. The “Shaman” had 2 helpers with him that appeared to be his teenage children. The older of the 2 helpers had to leave the sweat repeatedly, finally beginning to wretch and vomit. I have done sweats and this was NOT a sweat. My poor husband had never done a sweat, and I begged him to go with me, promising an AMAZING experience. I have sealed my fate that he will never go again! The San Carlos Ecolodge was a BEAUTIFUL place. Perfect surroundings. We paid a TON for a private sweat with a true Shaman. Could have been so amazing, but an out of his tits “Shaman” who could barely stand up and could barely speak other than slurred words while swaying and practically unable to stand at one point, turned the experience into quite the debacle. I’m a nurse, my husband a retired firefighter; we thought we would be providing medical care at several points in the 90 minute “experience” The San Carlos Ecolodge owner was mortified and very apologetic. He said he had never dealt with this “Shaman” before.