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Borderlands

Celebrating life and honoring the dead in Huasteca, Mexico

Dates: Oct 23, 2026
-Nov 4, 2026

Journey details

Duration
13 days (October 23 – November 4, 2026)​
Group Size
Limited to 15 participants maximum to ensure an intimate and personalized experience.​
locations
Wirikuta desert, Real de Catorce, Huasteca region (Tamul, Tamaleton, Matlapa and surrounding areas). Meeting point: the city of San Luis Potosi (closest airport: San Luis Potosí International Airport).
Terrain & Ecosystem
We will explore diverse ecosystems, from the vast desert Wirikuta to lush forests and rivers of the Huasteca region.
Physical Readiness
While the journey does not include extended walks or physically straining activities, participants should be comfortable with walking and spending time outdoors in hot and humid areas. The journey is designed to be accessible and a willingness to engage with the environment is key.
Languages used
We will be using Spanish, English and Tenek throughout our journey. Translation from any of the languages into English or Spanish will be offered by the team.

The invitation

In the geographic center of Mexico there is an area where diverse realities converge, showcasing the richness of borders and margins – spaces brimming with creativity, portals to other landscapes, realities, and forms of consciousness. At this intersection, bridges are built, perspectives shift, transitions are experienced, rigid predefinitions of reality are questioned, and one steps into an active world in the process of becoming. This journey is a pilgrimage to that membrane of the borderlands.

This two-week pilgrimage takes us to inhabit several of these edges, moving between the mystical desert of Wirikuta and the humid mystery of the cloud forest, being reborn in the swollen belly of the temazcal and in sacred caves—the very entrails of Mother Earth. We will reinvigorate the body with ritual fasting and celebrate the abundance of the harvest in family and community banquets. We will weave the cosmos with the ethereal dance of the hawk or renew our pact with life in communion with the master plant of the desert. We will move through the solemnity of mourning, and the colorful joy of cemeteries and homes as we celebrate the return of our loved ones during the Day of the Dead.

On this pilgrimage, we will be welcomed by indigenous Wixárika, Téenek, and Náhuatl teachers, as well as local leaders engaged in processes of memory, identity affirmation, food sovereignty, and biological and cultural diversity. Ancient cities like Tamtok are proof of the complex urbanization systems and the observation of astronomical cycles. The rich oral history and the colorful weaving and embroidery tell the stories of the time before time and the vibrancy of celebrations and rituals announce a respectful way of being in relationship with the land and her sentient beings.The host team will accompany the integration of the journey through external and internal landscapes, guiding us in a co-creative process of dialogue, word circles, somatic practices, games, meditations, collective altar building, and music.

A call of the times

We live in a moment where many of the stories that once shaped our sense of reality are dissolving. Certainties feel less stable, identities more fluid, and the borders that once seemed fixed (between cultures, knowledge systems, worlds, and ways of being) are revealing themselves as living thresholds.

In such times, the borderlands become teachers. They remind us that transformation happens at the edges: where difference meets, where perspectives collide, where the unknown invites us to listen more deeply. These liminal spaces ask us to loosen rigid definitions, to mourn what is passing, and to cultivate the imagination needed to participate in worlds that are still emerging.

This journey is an invitation to step into those fertile margins, to learn from the wisdom of territories and peoples who have long inhabited the art of living between worlds and to rediscover our own capacity to navigate uncertainty with humility, courage and reverence for life.

Highlights

Journey flow

Our journey begins in the vast quiet of the Wirikuta desert, where the land invites us to slow down and remember older stories of life and belonging. From there, we follow the waters: rivers and waterfalls guiding us as we cross living borders in the landscape, from dry desert into the dense forests of the Huasteca. Along the way, we witness the cycles that shape life here – dryness and rain, silence and sound, death and renewal. As we arrive in the forests, caves, and sacred spaces of the Huasteca, ritual, music, and Day of the Dead celebrations remind us that transformation is part of every cycles and that crossing borders (between landscapes, cultures, and ways of seeing) is also a way of learning to live more deeply in relationship with the world.

Friday, October 23: Crossing the Threshold

Meeting in the city of San Luis Potosí by noon, we leave behind the familiar and journey into the Wirikuta desert, a sacred land where life and death intertwine in the eternal dance of creation.

Saturday, October 24: Planting Dreams in the Desert

We make our way to Real de Catorce, where we walk a pilgrimage to Cerro del Quemado, a sacred mountain whispered to be the heart of Wirikuta. Here, in ceremony, the mountain listens as we offer our prayers, our questions, and our quiet resolve.

Sunday, October 25: Where the Sky Meets the Land

We journey deeper into the desert to meet a community of guardians and activists, listening to their stories and witnessing their work to defend the land. In their company, the desert reveals its resilience, its sacredness, and the living connections that sustain both people and territory.

Monday, October 26: The Path of Renewal

Morning of rest and learnings about community projects that define the activist work. In the afternoon we make our way from the desert’s expanse to the lush embrace of the Huasteca jungle.

Tuesday, October 27: Roots of Wisdom

A day of stillness and rest by the river. In the afternoon, we sit with an elder holding the deep wisdom of the Teenek people. His stories, like ancient roots, offer insights into the connection between life, land, and spirit, grounding us in the heart of this journey.

Wednesday, October 28: Flowing into Wonder

The river becomes our guide as we row to the majestic Tamul waterfall. Its cascading power reminds us of life’s relentless force, carving paths through stone and time.

Thursday, October 29: A dance of life and sky

In Tamaleton, we witness the Danza del Gavilan, a ritual that speaks of survival, strength, and balance. Conversations with the dancers and weavers deepen our understanding before we end the day at the Sotano de las Golondrinas, watching swallows circle in the twilight.

Friday, October 30: Echoes of the Underworld

The sacred caves call us into their depths. Within their dark embrace, we listen to the earth’s heartbeat, a reminder of the mysteries that cradle life and death.

Saturday, October 31: Shifting Guardians

Driving to Matlapa, we arrive in time for the cambio de fiscal in Axtla, a ritual marking the passing of responsibility from one community leader, or fiscal, to another—a sacred act rooted in continuity and collective care. The air is alive with celebration and reverence, a vivid tapestry of tradition that bridges generations. 

Sunday, November 1: Faces of the Spirit

Day of preparation of our altar and joining village festivities in Aquismon village. As evening falls, we return to create our altar, a space to honor those who have passed and those who remain.

Monday, November 2: The Veil’s Lifting

On the Day of the Dead, we step into a world where the living and the departed meet. Through group process and shared reflection, we honor this sacred communion and the stories it reveals.

Tuesday, November 3: A Celebration of Cycles

The day unfolds in integration and joy, celebrating the richness of life and the lessons of death. Memories, celebration and gratitude fill the air, closing the circle we began in Carretas.

Wednesday, November 4: Carrying the journey home

As we return to San Luis Potosi, the land’s wisdom stays with us – a quiet voice urging us to walk gently, to live deeply, and to hold life and death as one.

For this pilgrimage, we are inviting a blended sustainability model combining a sliding-scale model and gift economy principles rooted in trust, generosity, and mutual care.

To honor this, there is no fixed fee to participate – starting from a minimum contribution that covers the operational costs of your accommodation, transportation, entrance fees, and ceremony contributions + the participation of one team member in person. Beyond these basic costs, you are invited to offer a gift from the heart, according to your reality and capacity. Those who are able to give more help sustain the journey, support the people holding the space, and make it possible for others with fewer resources to participate. In this way, your financial contribution becomes part of a cycle of generosity and community support, moving beyond  transactional payment for a service. 

To join us, we invite you to make contributions that range between $1,300 and $3,000. We require a non-refundable deposit of $500 to reserve your spot.

What Your Contribution Supports

  • The design, preparation, and organization of the journey
  • The presence and guidance of the hosting team throughout the pilgrimage
  • Accommodation, transportation for the duration of the journey, entrance fees, and ceremonies. (Food is not included and should be covered by each participant individually)
  • The many hours of coordination, logistics, translation, and care that make the journey possible

Much of this work happens behind the scenes and on a donation basis, offered with dedication to the spirit of the Interbeing Un/Learning Journeys.
We are exploring new approaches to make the journeys accessible for as many people as possible while covering the logistical costs involved and honouring the contributions of our faculty, the projects hosting us and the team. To support this, we have adopted a sliding scale model – inviting you to choose a contribution that honors different financial realities.

Some reference points for your decision:

  • $1300 — Covers your journey costs + supports 1 team member to join in person
  • $1600 — Covers your journey costs + supports 2 team members to join in person (ideal situation)
  • $2000+ — Helps subsidize others and nourish the long-term continuity of this work
Consider contributing MORE on the scale if you:

  • Can comfortably meet all your basic needs
  • Work full-time or belong to a sponsoring organisation
  • Have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money
  • Travel recreationally
  • Have access to family money and resources
  • Work part-time by choice
  • Own your home
  • Have high earning potential due to education, privilege, etc.
Consider contributing LESS on the scale if you:

  • Struggle to meet basic expenses
  • Support children or other dependents
  • Have significant debt or medical expenses
  • Are an elder with limited financial support
  • Are an unpaid community organizer
  • Have unstable housing or unreliable transportation
  • Have not taken time off due to financial constraints
If you select an amount at the higher end of the scale, you will make possible future offerings and support the good work of the speakers, facilitators, and organizers who are generously contributing their gifts to this event. You will also be contributing to the partial grants fund for those needing financial support.
(This model is inspired by our friends at Re-imagine Education and is based on the ‘Green Bottle’ sliding scale model by Alexis J. Cunningfolk  www.wortsandcunning.com)

Contribute at your own pace and gift from the heart

What matters most is that your offering feels true and aligned with your reality. If you are able to give more, your generosity may support someone else’s path. If your resources are limited, your presence and sincerity are just as welcome.

To support your financial situation, we also offer the option of paying in installments. If a staggered payment plan makes your participation easier, we will gladly adapt. Don’t hesitate to mention it on your application form so we can find a plan that works for you.

 

FAQ's

Once your application is accepted, you will receive payment details via e-mail. A deposit of $500 is required to secure your spot, with the remaining amount due before the journey begins. Payment can be made via bank transfer or other available methods.

To join, fill out the application form and share a bit about your interest in this journey. Once reviewed, we’ll reach out to align expectations. If it’s a good fit, you’ll receive the next steps for confirming your spot.

An un/learning journey invites you to step beyond conventional ways of knowing and into a deeper, more embodied experience of learning. It weaves together personal reflection, cultural immersion, and relational practices that challenge assumptions and open new ways of being.

During the journey, we will spend a considerable amount of time walking and moving through natural environments, so a medium level of physical comfort and ability is required. Participants should feel comfortable spending extended periods outdoors, encountering a range of terrain, altitudes, and climates – from arid desert heat to the cool humidity of the forest. A general level of physical ease and openness to the elements will help you fully engage with the experience.

No prior experience is needed—only a willingness to engage with the journey’s practices and an openness to exploration.

Once confirmed, you’ll receive a preparation guide with packing tips, recommended readings, and reflective prompts to help you arrive with intention.

Faculty & the Team:

Ana Marica

Community weaver, facilitator, and learning designer who explores how knowledge is woven across communities, cultures, ecologies, and ways of being. She currently works at the intersections of geographies and worlds, designing unlearning experiences that invite individuals and communities to question, reimagine, and transform. Based in Bucharest, Romania, Ana moves between territories - both terrestrial and underwater - in search of the wisdom held by diverse ecosystems and communities.

Bernardo Sánchez Lapuente

Traveler, artist, world-crosser, bridge-builder. Father of two daughters, social anthropologist, pedagogue of play, visual creator, process companion, attentive observer of emerging curiosities. Apprentice of unlearning. Based in Latin America and Germany, he participates in various projects whose common denominator is the intention to unlearn, to generate community processes and collective creation. Through the facilitation of spaces for integration, word circles, songs, games and other magical ingredients, Bernardo creates impulses that help groups generate intimate narratives of what is being experienced both at a collective and an individual level. His presence and facilitation invite reflections that help participants understand what they are experiencing as a space of resonance available to make audible the transforming whisper of the journey.

How to Apply?

To apply for this journey, please click on the button.

Upon application, we will get back to you via e-mail with additional questions and/or information.