The Arawako Festival is a ceremonial gathering of ancestral knowledge to remember and celebrate our cultural identity as Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean and Abya Yala (the Americas).
It is the Areyto (celebration) celebration of Iwa Kayara (New Year) Arawako and the recognition of the Spring Equinox.
A gathering for the whole family to come together, enjoy, and nurture our ancestral roots.
Before the Festival begins, we invite you to “Rumbo al Festival” to get a first taste of what this special event is all about.
Join us at these open community gatherings – the watekes are the heartbeat before the festival, where we come together to remember, celebrate, and build the collective spirit that carries and sustains us during the Festival.
Our annual celebration of connection, deep learning, reflection and spiritual growth. An immersive retreat in which our indigenous traditions transform into lived experience
Four Transformative Days of Cultural Exchange, Connection to the Land, the Community and Yourself.
Each year we are joined by elders and guardians of traditional knowledge from the Caribbean and Abya Yala, sharing spaces of knowledge, wisdom, healing, food, music and sacred ceremony.
Nación Arawako Karibe-Ayiti
Nación Quechua-Perú
Nación Yepã Mahsã - Brasil
Nación Arawako Karibe-Ayiti
We will gather around the fire with Grandmothers and Grandfathers, guardians of traditions from Kairi AyitiBohio (Haiti-Dominican Republic), Borikén, Brazil, and Peru, who will share ancestral teachings, stories, and practices to guide us back to our roots.
We will live in Yucayeke, as the ancestral communities of the Caribbean islands did. We will walk on the earth again and bathe in the crystal-clear blue waters of the River, deepening our relationship with the natural world.
We will learn the sacred art of creating traditional altars and offerings. Together, we will hold daily collective gatherings, honoring life with gratitude and reverence.
We will commune with the healing power of ancestral medicines from the Caribbean, the Andes, and the Amazon in sacred experiences designed for transformation, healing, and self-knowledge.
We will participate in hands-on learning experiences about ancestral arts: body painting, cassava bread making, creative expression, learning about kabuya (a type of reed), medicine preparation, and more, connecting with tradition through practice.
We will participate in experiences about ancestral arts: body painting, cassava bread making, creative and artistic expression, learning about kabuya, medicine preparation, and more, connecting with tradition through practice.
Through dance and music—areyto, palos, perico ripiao, and more—we will celebrate with the unique and diverse rhythms of our Afro-Indigenous, Caribbean-Amazonian, and Native heritage. We will learn traditional songs and rhythms to continue strengthening the cultural legacy of our peoples.
The Immersion Retreat will take place at EcoAldeaRD, a forest eco-village located in Los Arroyones, San José del Puerto (Villa Altagracia), Dominican Republic. This land is a quiet, spacious, and nature-rich environment ideal for ancestral gatherings, ceremony, and community connection.
Surrounded by lush, native forest, mountains, and rivers, the property has internal trails, viewpoints, waterfalls, and untouched native vegetation. The venue includes several camping zones, shaded communal kitchens, fire circles, internal walking paths, a freshwater pool, and access to the sacred Salto del Indio waterfall, a beautiful, intimate natural space.
The land also holds the Alto de Fabiola, a 570-meter viewpoint reached by a forest hike. Each area of the eco-village is surrounded by silence, allowing participants to reconnect with the land, with themselves, and with one another.
From Santo Domingo (about 45–60 minutes):
Ceremonies at the Festival Arawako are intimate, safety-led spaces. To attend, please Express Interest and complete a brief 1:1 with Alfonso. If approved, you’ll receive a private link to book. Ceremonies are not sold in the cart and have limited capacity.”
Ceremonies are guided spaces with limited spots. A brief 1:1 ensures readiness, safety, and mutual fit.
You’ll get an email to schedule a 1:1. If approved, we’ll send you a private link to book your ceremony.
Yes. Ceremony attendance requires a valid Festival Arawako pass.
No. Ceremonies are cultural/spiritual programs. They don’t replace medical or psychological care.
Due to the nature of our festival, we are unable to offer any refunds. No refunds or credits will be granted for failure to attend, complete, or for arriving late or leaving early. Nevertheless, we know that people’s life course and plans might change, in this case, you have the option to sell your ticket to another prospective participant.
If you decide to sell your ticket, please simply email us with the new ticket holder’s full name & email, at festival@maroa.org
Our ticket prices reflect the true cost of creating a safe, high-quality festival. As a non-profit organization, we do not seek to make a profit: tickets cover venue rental, meals, materials, logistics, and fair compensation for the elders, teachers, and cultural leaders who guide the experience. A portion of each ticket also goes toward a limited number of scholarships so that money is not a barrier to participation. Your contribution directly supports the land, the people, and the community we are building together.
The festival is for people from the Caribbean and their descendants, both local residents and those in the diaspora. It is also open to anyone interested in reconnecting with ancestral wisdom, our traditions, and a deeper sense of identity.
Yes, children are welcome. If they are under 13, parents will need to sign a waiver and assume responsibility for their well-being and safety at all times.
Also known as SEVA service, which stands for “selfless service,”are limited volunteer positions that are available by application only. Volunteers receive a reduced rate and are essential to the festival. This service involves a significant commitment of time and energy before, during, and after the event—a heartfelt offering. If you feel called to volunteer, please contact us at festival@maroa.org to apply.
Due to the nature of our festival, we are unable to offer refunds. No refunds or credits will be given for non-attendance, failure to complete the event, late arrival, or early departure. However, we understand that life plans and circumstances can change; in that case, you have the option to sell your ticket to another participant. If you decide to sell your ticket, please email the full name and email address of the new ticket holder to festival@maroa.org.
The Watekes are open to the public gatherings that take place in different communities on the island before the Ancestral Immersion Retreat. They are open to everyone. The Ancestral Immersion Retreat, on the other hand, has a separate cost. It is a more intimate and profound residential experience, with limited space, designed for those who want a direct connection with the practices, knowledge, and ceremonies guided by our facilitators.
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Yes. You can purchase your general admission ticket now and express your interest in the ceremony later. Please note that spaces are very limited and participation is only confirmed after an individual call with Alfonso.
At EcoAldeaRD, an eco-camp located in Los Arroyones, San José del Puerto (Villa Altagracia), Dominican Republic.
Access is limited due to road conditions. If you have special mobility needs, please email us at festival@maroa.org with your full name, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
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Parking at the venue is very limited.
Accommodation is camping-style.
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