For decades, Colombia has struggled with an international reputation shaped largely by one word: cocaine.
Despite its extraordinary biodiversity, indigenous traditions, and rich cultural heritage, many people still associate the country primarily with cartels, crime, and Pablo Escobar. Yet a growing movement is attempting to tell a different story—one centered on healing, spirituality, and one of the world’s most respected traditional plant medicines.
In a conversation on the Colombia Calling podcast, Sam Believ, founder of LaWayra Ayahuasca Retreat, and filmmaker Sam Lipman-Stern discussed a new documentary project that aims to explore the history of ayahuasca in Colombia, document a personal healing journey, and challenge the stereotypes that continue to define the country in the eyes of many outsiders.
A Different Side of Colombia
For many international visitors, Colombia is still viewed through the lens of popular television shows, crime documentaries, and decades of media coverage focused on violence.
The reality, however, is far more complex.
Colombia is home to some of the oldest surviving ayahuasca traditions in the world. Indigenous communities have worked with the medicine for generations, preserving knowledge that stretches back centuries and, according to some estimates, potentially much longer.
Yet many people who travel for ayahuasca never realize this.
Instead, they often associate ayahuasca with Peru, Costa Rica, or even retreat centers in North America and Europe.
One of the documentary’s goals is to highlight Colombia’s unique place within the history of plant medicine and show audiences a side of the country that remains largely unknown.
The Journey Begins with Healing
Sam Believ’s own story began long before LaWayra existed.
Years ago, he found himself struggling emotionally and searching for answers. Although he had built a successful career, something felt missing. His first experiences with ayahuasca helped him overcome depression and eventually led him toward a completely different path.
That path resulted in the creation of an ayahuasca retreat center, a podcast dedicated to plant medicine, and now a feature documentary exploring the cultural and healing dimensions of ayahuasca in Colombia.
For Sam, the project feels like a natural continuation of a journey that began with his own search for healing.
A Filmmaker’s Personal Transformation
What makes this documentary particularly unique is that it is not simply about ayahuasca.
It is also about filmmaker Sam Lipman-Stern’s personal journey.
Before becoming involved in the project, Lipman-Stern had spent years dealing with anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies. He had been prescribed antidepressants and remained on them for years.
As preparations for the documentary began, he made the difficult decision to work with medical professionals to discontinue the medication and prepare for his first ayahuasca retreat.
The documentary follows this process from beginning to end.
Rather than presenting ayahuasca as an abstract concept, viewers will experience the story through the eyes of someone approaching the medicine for the first time, carrying many of the same questions, fears, and doubts that most newcomers experience.
Exploring Indigenous Traditions
One of the central themes of the project is authenticity.
The filmmakers recently traveled through Colombia, visiting regions including Putumayo and San Agustín while meeting indigenous leaders, traditional healers, and communities connected to the medicine.
These experiences revealed the depth of Colombia’s spiritual traditions.
The documentary explores not only the ceremonies themselves but also the process of cultivating the plants, preparing the medicine, and preserving cultural knowledge across generations.
For many viewers, this may be their first introduction to the indigenous traditions that continue to keep these practices alive today.
More Than a Psychedelic Story
While psychedelics often receive attention because of their unusual effects, the filmmakers emphasize that the documentary is ultimately about healing.
Mental health challenges are becoming increasingly common around the world.
Many people feel disconnected, overwhelmed, anxious, or trapped in patterns that seem impossible to break.
Ayahuasca has attracted growing attention because some participants report significant improvements in depression, trauma, addiction, and overall wellbeing.
The documentary seeks to examine these possibilities while remaining grounded in real human experiences rather than sensationalism.
Instead of focusing on dramatic psychedelic visuals, the story centers on transformation, vulnerability, and recovery.
Rebranding Colombia
Perhaps the most ambitious goal of the project is helping change how Colombia is perceived internationally.
According to Sam Believ, Colombia deserves to be known for more than its difficult history.
The country possesses extraordinary natural beauty, deep spiritual traditions, welcoming communities, and a rich cultural identity that extends far beyond the stories most foreigners hear.
By highlighting indigenous wisdom, healing traditions, and positive personal transformations, the filmmakers hope to contribute to a broader and more balanced understanding of Colombia.
It is not about denying the country’s past.
It is about showing audiences that there is much more to the story.
Why This Story Matters Now
Interest in ayahuasca continues to grow worldwide.
At the same time, mental health concerns, burnout, loneliness, and depression remain widespread.
Many people are actively searching for approaches that help them reconnect with themselves and find greater meaning in their lives.
This documentary arrives at a moment when those conversations are becoming increasingly important.
Whether viewers are interested in plant medicine, indigenous cultures, mental health, or Colombia itself, the film promises to offer a rare perspective into a world that remains unfamiliar to many people.
Looking Ahead
The documentary is still in development, but its mission is already clear.
By combining personal transformation, cultural exploration, and a deeper look at Colombia’s indigenous heritage, the project aims to tell a story that goes far beyond ayahuasca itself.
It is a story about healing.
It is a story about identity.
And perhaps most importantly, it is a story about challenging old narratives and creating space for new ones.
For Sam Believ, that journey started with a single ayahuasca ceremony years ago.
Now, through film, he hopes to share that journey with the world.
Listen to the whole podcast episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sj3YUlZAH1qlmWxqu9Lrl