SENDA LOTO
Senda Loto is a meditation and yoga retreat set in a peaceful sanctuary in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada—referred to as “the Heart of the World” by its Indigenous people. Surrounded by jungle, rivers, and mountains, we offer silent and semi-silent retreats where meditation and yoga are not only practiced, but lived.
Our retreats are rooted in Shamatha (calm-abiding) and Vipassana (insight) meditation as taught by Dzogchen master Dudjom Rinpoche, alongside traditional Hatha yoga and breathwork. Periods of noble silence alternate with moments of connection, creating a simple rhythm that allows the mind to grow quieter and the body to settle.
At the heart of Senda Loto is a traditional, lineage-based approach to practice. Rather than trying to create a particular state of mind, the teachings gradually point toward recognizing thoughts and emotions for what they are—passing experiences within the naturally clear and open awareness that is already present.
Pema (Tibetan for “Lotus”) is a Buddhist meditation teacher and yogi with more than fifteen years of dedicated practice, primarily within the Dzogchen teachings of the Dudjom Tersar lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He has studied with renowned masters and wild yogis, including the Dalai Lama, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, and his guru, Loppon Jigme Rinpoche.
His path was anything but conventional. After losing both parents in childhood, music became his refuge and eventually led to a career as a professional musician. Yet the deeper questions never left him: Where did my parents go? What is life? Who am I?
Years later, during a particularly dark period of his life, something shifted profoundly. He saw that thoughts, emotions, and even the sense of self were not as solid as they appeared, but fleeting projections of mind—arising and dissolving within an open awareness that itself remained untouched. This experience led him to leave his old life behind and set out on a spiritual journey around the world, seeking to deepen this realization and learn how to share it with others. He studied and practiced in temples and in wandering retreat, eventually encountering the Dzogchen teachings of Dudjom Lingpa, which spoke directly to what he had experienced.
In 2025, Pema founded Senda Loto as a sister center to La Casa de Loto, bringing this contemplative way of life to the Sierra Nevada—a place for seekers to step away from everyday life, turn inward, and begin or deepen their own spiritual practice.
Reconnect with yourself in the serene beauty of the Sierra Nevada. This week-long retreat offers a supportive space to soften tension, settle the mind, and reconnect with a more natural sense of clarity through the practice of Shamatha (calm abiding) meditation, Hatha and Yin yoga, pranayama, and a mindful day hike in Tayrona National Park. Ideal for beginners and anyone seeking a gentler, more restorative retreat.
“An incredible week of peace and tranquility — daily yoga, meditation, silence, and delicious Ayurvedic cuisine. A reset my mind and body sorely needed.” – Jennifer Magallon
Look beyond appearances and recognize your inherent clarity. This immersive retreat centers on Shamatha and Vipassana meditation as taught by Tibetan Dzogchen master Dudjom Rinpoche. The practice is supported by daily Hatha yoga, pranayama, Q&A sessions, and periods of noble silence, creating the best conditions for inner stillness and insight to naturally unfold. Ideal for those who wish to deepen and stabilize their practice.
“Absolutely wonderful! The surroundings are simply amazing to practice in. Pema’s teaching and advice were tremendously helpful to deepen my spiritual path.” – Nick Ernst
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