FORTIS: 8-Day Men's Strength, Brotherhood & Purpose Retreat in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Day one sets the tone. You're met at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito and driven about three hours through the Andes and down into the Amazon, with a welcome brunch on the way. By sunset you're at Hamadryade Lodge, above the Napo River, with no signal and nothing to perform. The first evening is a welcome drink, a welcome gift and the opening circle.

A typical day runs roughly like this: early breathwork, men's yoga and functional movement on the open deck; a high-protein breakfast of farm-to-table food; then the midday block, which is the wild part — functional hiking, cave hikes, shelter building, traditional fire making with your hands, guided by local Kichwa guides. One night is spent camping in the jungle with all equipment provided. Afternoons and evenings alternate between fire-and-ice work (guided conscious breathing, cold plunge, temazcal), spa and hydrotherapy recovery, and facilitated men's circles around the fire. There's a Guayusa ceremony before sunrise, a cacao ceremony, a primal scream and a ritual of releasing the burden, and workshops on the father relationship, purpose and legacy.

What separates this from a standard men's retreat is that it refuses to pick one lane. Most programmes do physical challenge, or emotional depth, or ceremony. FORTIS does all three in the same week: you'll camp in the jungle, make fire by hand, sit in daily circles where nothing is off limits, and finish with San Pedro, cacao and a drum you built yourself. The fire-and-ice contrast — cold plunges against temazcal — is used deliberately to test whether you can stay grounded under pressure, with facilitators who work in men's emotional labour supporting you through it.

The property is a 64-hectare private primary rainforest reserve with 20 years of hospitality behind it. On the grounds: a sacred ceremonial Maloca, an open-air functional training area, a hydrotherapy circuit with cold plunge, thermal hot tub, sauna and pool, an open-air spa, a restaurant, lounge areas and walking paths. The suites are built into the canopy with premium bedding, air conditioning, private bathrooms, Wi-Fi and a terrace. Only a handful of suites exist, so the place stays quiet.

The facilitator team is multidisciplinary and assembled per retreat — the page lists yoga teachers, psychologists, wellness coaches, neuroscientists, indigenous wisdom keepers, ceremonial guides, artists, nutrition specialists, bodywork practitioners, outdoor adventure leaders and personal development experts. The retreat host is Dr. Maëva. No previous experience with breathwork, cold exposure, functional training or men's circles is needed; every activity is adapted to all fitness and experience levels.

By day eight you're driven back to Quito. The page's own framing is that the change is internal — clearer vision, less tension, and a group of men you stay in touch with. There's pre- and post-retreat support from the team, and a course manual and warrior kit to take home.

What's included

- Airport pickup and drop-off - 6 nights in the lodge plus 1 night jungle camping with all equipment - 3 daily meals - Water, tea and coffee served throughout the day - Welcome drink - Welcome gift - Daily men's circles facilitated by experts in men's work and male emotional labour - Functional training, yoga for men and guided meditation - Guayusa ceremony, cacao ceremony and fire rituals - Primal scream and ritual of releasing the burden - Guided deep conscious breathing session - Guided cold plunge bath with breathwork - Temazcal ceremony - Workshop: make your own sacred drum to take home - Workshop on purpose and legacy - Jungle camping expedition, cave hike, hand fire making and functional hiking - Warrior kit and certificate of participation - Spa session for deep body recovery - Private guide - Pre- and post-retreat support from the team - Transportation during the retreat - Course manual - Luggage storage - Parking - Wi-Fi connection

What's not included

- Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fee - Additional treatments - Additional activities not included in the itinerary