April CleanPlanet Day: A Ceremony with Nature at Parque Tayrona

Some CleanPlanet Days are simple.

Others are pure magic.

This April, our CleanPlanet Day was unlike any other.

Coming off our powerful quarterly retreat, El Encuentro Mágico, where we shared space with indigenous tribe members, we decided to complete the journey where the jungle meets the sea: Cabo San Juan, in Parque Tayrona.

And what an ending it was.

Plant Medicine, Cleanups, and Spirit Signs

Last Saturday—the last Saturday of April—we gathered on this iconic beach to connect deeply with nature, each other, and our own inner worlds.

We began with a mushroom ceremony, opening our hearts and minds to the land, the ocean, and the ancient spirits that live in every rock, wave, and tree.

As the ceremony unfolded, I felt a powerful pull to do more than just connect — I wanted to give back.

So I grabbed a big trash bag, pulled on my CleanPlanet hat and shirt, and started walking from one end of the beach to the other, picking up every piece of plastic I could find.

There’s something profound about cleaning the Earth while in an altered state of deep connection.

Each wrapper, each bottle cap, each forgotten piece of trash—I honored it as an offering to the land, a piece of karma being cleared.

And then... magic happened.

The Sacred Seed

As I was walking along, I stumbled upon something special:

a rare seed I had only seen a few times before.

A seed that, according to a shaman I once worked with, symbolizes protection—a spirit that absorbs negativity and shields the one who finds it.

It felt like a thank you from the Earth itself.

A small reminder that when we take care of nature, nature takes care of us in return.

Into the Wild

After filling my bag and reaching the far end of the beach, I spotted a hidden path—an unexplored territory calling my name.

I couldn't resist.

Leaving the heavy bag behind, I climbed through the path and found myself standing atop giant coastal rocks, gazing at the endless blue ocean.

Without overthinking, I jumped.

Plunging into the ocean felt like a baptism, a final surrender, a deep "yes" to life, to trust, and to the unknow

Reflections from April’s CleanPlanet Day

Connection and Responsibility: True connection with the Earth comes with a responsibility to protect her.

Signs and Synchronicities: When we align with service, the universe sends signs to guide and affirm us.

Courage and Curiosity: Sometimes, cleaning up trash leads you to places you never imagined—physically and spiritually.

Quick Facts: Parque Tayrona & Cabo San Juan

Parque Tayrona is one of Colombia’s most iconic national parks, home to stunning beaches, ancient indigenous history, and incredible biodiversity.

The Kogi, Arhuaco, and Wiwa tribes—descendants of the Tairona civilization—still call these mountains home, considering the Sierra Nevada the Heart of the World.

Cabo San Juan is famous for its twin beaches separated by a rocky viewpoint, offering one of the best sunrise experiences in Colombia.

The park is a sacred territory, where visitors are asked to tread lightly and honor the natural and spiritual richness of the land.

Gratitude and Next Steps

This CleanPlanet Day was a reminder that our mission is bigger than trash bags.

It’s about relationship, reverence, and remembering that we are not separate from the Earth—we are part of her story.

Thank you to every CleanPlanet volunteer across the world who showed up in your own way this month.

Every act, no matter how small, is a prayer for a cleaner, more conscious world.

Here’s to more ceremonies of the heart, more cleanups of the soul, and more leaps into the unknown.

Together, we heal the Earth—one step, one beach, one breath at a time.