Heartagena: The Wild Heart of Colombia
8,000+ Miles • One Journey • Infinite Transformation
What if a road trip could become a movement?
What if crossing borders could heal the ones within us?​
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This December, three travelers from across the Americas unite for an 8,000-mile pilgrimage from Toronto to Cartagena — weaving a story of wellness, creativity, and human connection that transcends borders.
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It’s part road trip, part spiritual expedition — a living reminder that belonging isn’t something we find; it’s something we remember.
The Journey
This isn’t luxury tourism — it’s a living pilgrimage.
A road stretching from Toronto to Cartagena, across borders and languages, asking what it truly means to belong to the world.
The journey begins in Toronto, where Jamie — a wellness entrepreneur focused on men’s mental health — sets out to pick up Juno Lux, founder of The Haus of H, in New York City. Together, they’ll travel more than 8,000 miles through the Americas, documenting how wellness, creativity, and collaboration can build bridges where systems once built walls.
Along the way, they’ll meet local guides, healers, artists, and elders — community voices preserving culture, care, and connection in the face of global change. Each encounter will be filmed as part of an upcoming documentary exploring the intersections of spirit, story, and survival across the Western Hemisphere.
In Costa Rica, they’re joined by Matias — a Colombian entrepreneur working to restore sustainable industry and creative opportunity in his homeland. Together, the caravan becomes a circle — a living model of international collaboration rooted in shared purpose.
The journey culminates on Colombia’s Caribbean coast with a five-day retreat:
a gathering rooted in ritual, sweat lodge, cacao, storytelling, and the wild pulse of the sea.
For travelers, it’s a call to remember what it means to be fully alive.
For sponsors, it’s an opportunity to align with a movement that champions mental health, creative economy, and cross-cultural connection — beyond borders, beyond fear, beyond what we’ve been told is possible.
Meet the Travelers
Three travelers. Three callings. One shared mission: to explore how wellness, creativity, and collaboration can unite us across borders.
The Route
Act I — Northeast to Desert
(U.S.)
New Jersey → Nashville → New Orleans → Texas → Arizona
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We begin where roads meet rebellion — tracing the heartbeat of America through jazz, barbecue, and desert ritual.From the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis to the Sonoran sands, we film the story of movement: leaving home, shedding expectation, and stepping into the unknown.
Act II — Through Mexico
& Central America
Nogales → Mexico City → Tulum → Belize → Costa Rica
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Crossing into Mexico, the journey deepens.We travel through art, ritual, and spirit — from Mexico City’s chaos to a Bufo ceremony in Tulum.Christmas finds us in Nicaragua, and by New Year’s Eve in Costa Rica, we welcome rebirth at the turn of the year.
Act III — The Passage & Arrival
(Panama → Colombia)
Panama → Ocean Crossing → Cartagena
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We load the car on a ship and set sail across the Darién Gap — a passage once deemed impassable.At sea, we film the threshold between worlds.And when we reach Cartagena, we gather for Hartagena: The Wild Heart of Colombia — a 5-day retreat of sweat lodge, cacao, and storytelling.
Capturing the Journey
Every step of Hartagena will be documented — not just as travel, but as testimony: a living record of how collaboration, care, and creativity can rebuild the world we share.
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Purpose:
Our goal is to document a living model of sustainable community-building — uplifting local artisans, healers, and facilitators while creating a replicable framework for intercultural collaboration, wellness tourism, and inclusive global citizenship.
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Deliverables:
The footage collected will support:
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A 10–12 episode documentary mini-series (Q2 2026)
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A feature-length documentary for international film festival submission
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Marketing and educational materials for future retreats and partnerships
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Promotional content spotlighting sponsors’ roles in supporting inclusive, locally rooted industry
Retreat Schedule
Day 1 – Arrival & Opening
Theme: The community gathers for the first time.
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Film arrival moments, check-ins, and first introductions.
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Capture facilitator setup and preparation — realism and warmth.
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The welcome “Elixir Mixer” — herbal drinks, laughter, orientation.
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Opening circle and sound bath: group intention setting and collective grounding.
Sponsor Focus: Products or gear visible in natural use (cameras, hydration, travel, wellness, audio).
Day 2 – Building + Cacao
Theme: Shared labor and cultural exchange.
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Document the collaborative building of the sweat lodge with a local guide — highlighting indigenous technique and sustainable materials.
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Cacao ceremony: preparation, cultural roots, and facilitator-led heart-opening reflections.
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Afternoon journaling and small-group integration conversations.
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Sponsor Focus: Cultural respect, sustainability, and collaboration across traditions.
Day 3 – Sweat Lodge + Drum Circle + Cold Plunge
Theme: Transformation and renewal through community ritual.
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Capture the sweat lodge process respectfully from the outside — fire tending, structure, and the rhythm of the ceremony.
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Drum circle and ecstatic movement: energy building, music as communication, community expression.
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The cold plunge: participants emerging from heat to cool — symbolic rebirth, laughter, and relief.
Sponsor Focus: Mental wellness, authentic ritual, and human connection; ideal for gear and wellness brand visibility.
Day 4 – Nature + Culture Integration
Theme: Rooted in community, nourished by culture.
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Gentle morning integration: breakfast, group reflection, journaling, creative expression.
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Afternoon rest and local immersion — participants connecting with artisans or exploring nearby markets and music.
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“Cooking with Grandmas”: Afro-Colombian abuelas teaching traditional recipes, sharing oral histories, and preparing a communal meal.
Sponsor Focus: Local agriculture, culinary storytelling, sustainable tourism, and women-led empowerment.
Day 5 – Farewell
Theme: Integration and continuation.
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Closing circle: meditation, reflection, gratitude to facilitators and local partners.
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Participant testimonials about what they’re taking home — emotional storytelling moments.
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Farewell brunch celebrating community and connection.
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Sponsor Focus: Emotional resolution; placement opportunity in closing montage or end credits.
