The La Amatista Uruguay Amethyst Journey
More Than a Trip to See Amethyst
There is a moment when a stone stops being something you own and becomes something you understand.
On this journey, you’ll travel into the heart of Uruguay’s amethyst region and experience the story behind the stones — the land they come from, the people who work with them, the way quality is evaluated, and the relationships that make ethical sourcing possible.
You’ll step inside working mines, meet miners and artisans, explore warehouses filled with incredible material, learn how to select pieces with greater confidence, and experience Uruguay through the people and places that have shaped our own sourcing journey.
For some guests, this experience is about geology, collecting, and sourcing.
For others, it is deeply personal.
For many, it becomes both.
We’ve intentionally created space for curiosity, connection, reflection, and discovery — without asking you to believe anything other than what you experience for yourself.
Who This Journey Is For
Designed for people who feel genuinely drawn to amethyst, minerals, craftsmanship, sourcing, and want to experience the story behind the stones.
You may be a collector, rockhound, shop owner, crystal lover, practitioner, jewelry designer, or simply someone who has always wanted to understand where these extraordinary pieces actually come from.
You do not need prior sourcing experience.
You do not need to own a crystal business.
And you do not need to share a particular spiritual belief.
What matters most is curiosity, respect for the land and the people behind the stones, and a desire to experience Uruguay in a way most travelers never will.
If you want more than a typical tour — and would love the opportunity to learn, explore, connect, and choose stones directly from the source — you’ll feel at home here.
Your Journey Through Uruguay
Montevideo - Salto - Artigas - Montevideo
Arrival - Reset - Source - Return
Over the course of this small-group experience, you’ll move through Uruguay with time to explore, learn, connect, and take in the landscape at a pace that feels intentional rather than rushed.
You’ll begin in Montevideo, experiencing the culture, food, and rhythm of the country before traveling north toward Salto and the thermal waters.
From there, the journey continues into Artigas — the heart of Uruguay’s amethyst region — where you’ll spend time inside the world of mining, sourcing, selection, and craftsmanship.
Along the way, expect a thoughtful mix of:
Private access to mines, warehouses, and sourcing partners
Hands-on mineral education and quality selection
Opportunities to meet miners, artisans, and local experts
Rockhounding and time in the landscape where the stones originate
Thermal waters and space to rest and reset
Uruguayan food, culture, and regional experiences
Time to source pieces for your personal collection or business
Optional opportunities for reflection, intention, and deeper personal connection
The itinerary is intentionally designed to balance access and education with enough breathing room to actually enjoy where you are.
This is not about rushing from stop to stop.
It is about experiencing the land, the people, and the stones in a way that stays with you long after you return home.
The Journey, Day by Day
Each day is intentionally curated to give you access, education, cultural connection, and enough space to actually experience Uruguay rather than simply move through it.
You’ll travel from Montevideo to the thermal region of Salto and onward into Artigas, where the heart of the amethyst experience begins.
Expect a blend of guided experiences, sourcing access, mineral education, local culture, rest, and discovery — with flexibility built in so the journey can respond to the group, the weather, and the opportunities that arise along the way.
Day 1 — Welcome to Uruguay
Arrive in Montevideo, settle in, and begin the journey with an easy welcome experience designed to help you land, connect with the group, and ease into the rhythm of Uruguay.
Day 2 — Montevideo, Culture & Connection
Explore the city through the lens of local culture, food, history, and everyday life before we begin our journey north.
Day 3 — North to Salto
Travel toward Uruguay’s thermal region, watching the landscape change as we move deeper into the country. Once in Salto, the pace slows with time to rest, soak, and reset.
Day 4 — Thermal Waters & Mineral Foundations
Enjoy a slower morning and the restorative thermal waters, followed by an introduction to Uruguayan amethyst, sourcing, quality, and what to look for before entering the mining region.
Day 5 — Into Amethyst Country
Continue to Artigas, the heart of Uruguay’s amethyst region. This is where the journey shifts from learning about the stones to stepping directly into the world they come from.
Day 6 — Mines, Rockhounding & the Source
Visit active mining areas, experience the landscape firsthand, learn how amethyst is extracted, and spend time rockhounding and exploring where the material begins its journey.
Day 7 — Warehouses, Selection & Sourcing
Spend the day inside the sourcing world — exploring warehouses, learning how quality is evaluated, meeting local partners, and selecting pieces for your personal collection or business.
Day 8 — Closing the Journey
Begin the return toward Montevideo with time to reflect on what you’ve experienced, what you’ve learned, and the pieces and connections you’ll carry home with you.
**A NOTE ABOUT ACCOMMODATIONS**
As we travel north and deeper into the mining region, hotels become simpler and more authentic. Montevideo is boutique. Salto is a thermal resort. Artigas is a mining town - accommodations are clean, and more bare bones.
This journey is
for you if:
You collect crystals and want to understand them more deeply
You've always wondered where your stones actually come from
You want to travel somewhere that leaves a mark on how you see the world
You're a rockhound, collector, shop owner, or simply someone who feels called
You're ready to be changed by something quietly extraordinary
INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP
We’ve designed this journey so you can focus on the experience instead of managing the logistics.
Your journey includes:
Curated small-group travel throughout Uruguay
Private ground transportation during the journey
Accommodations throughout the trip
Guided access to amethyst mining areas, warehouses, sourcing partners, and artisans
Rockhounding and hands-on mineral experiences
Mineral education, sourcing guidance, and quality-selection support
Cultural experiences in Montevideo, Salto, and Artigas
Thermal water experiences
Select meals and hosted group experiences
Support navigating purchases, sourcing, and local logistics
Personal hosting and guidance from Lisa and Diego throughout the journey
You’ll also have access to the relationships, regional knowledge, and sourcing experience that make this trip difficult to recreate on your own.
Not Included
NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP
International airfare to and from Uruguay, personal purchases, optional activities not listed in the itinerary, travel insurance, and any shipping or import costs related to stones or merchandise purchased during the journey.
OPTIONAL:
THE RESET / RESTORATION / REALIGNMENT EXTENSION
(+$1,111 per person)
Are you ready for a big intentional shift?
Why Uruguay Amplifies Your Inner Work
Traveling to Uruguay isn't just a change of scenery —
it's a shift in your energetic coordinates.
When you cross into the Southern Hemisphere, you move into a fundamentally different relationship with the Earth's magnetic field, exerting a subtle yet measurable influence on the body's bioelectric field. Creating a natural reversal of the energetic current you've been living within your entire life. This disruption isn't a threat — it's an invitation. It creates a window of heightened receptivity and accessibility, to patterns held deep in the body's field.
When the magnetic backdrop of your life shifts, the energetic charge that holds those patterns in place loosens — making them easier to see, meet, and clear to realign you with the divine source of love you are.
For guests who feel called, we invite you to join us in collaboration with our friends at the Centro de Luz, Montevideo. Guests choosing this experience will need to arrive ready to participate on June 19th and stay through June 30th. Attendees will participate in a preparatory workshop at the Centro de Luz in Montevideo and the opportunity for enhanced discussions and meditation around the South American winter solstice. We will gather for an evening dinner/ discussion on the evening of June 27th, return and then it's sister location near Minas including Constellations work, Tachyon chamber sessions, 1:1 energy work, frequency work and more.
Evening of June 18th Montevideo
- Arrive in Montevideo — hotel check-in, welcome gift in your room
June 19th Arrival + Welcome Montevideo
- Hotel breakfast & Brief Orientation
- Transportation to the Centro de Luz
- Morning Session English & Spanish
- Lunch
- Afternoon Session
- Dinner
Optional Evening Session
June 21st (Main Program is in Salto)
- Group Re-orientation Dinner
— No agenda, just rest
June 27th Montevideo
- Group Re-orientation Dinner
— No agenda, just rest
June 28th Montevideo & Aguada/ Minas
- Morning Session at the Centro de Luz Montevideo
- Lunch
- Board Coach for Retreat Property
- Meditative walk & view Sacred Sites
- Dinner
- Evening Star Observation Workshop & Meditation
June 29th Aguada/ Piriapolis/ Montevdieo
- Morning Sacred Site Meditation & Sessions
- Board bus for Piriapolis
- Lunch
- Piriapolis Session
- Dinner & Return to Montevideo
June 30th Piriapolis & Montevideo
- Group Breakfast
- Morning Session
- Lunch
- Afternoon Closing Session and Goodbyes
RESERVE YOUR SPACE
This is an intimate small-group journey with limited availability. This allows us to keep the experience personal, flexible, and deeply connected to the people and places we visit.
Investment:
$5,250 per person
Space is intentionally limited to keep the group small and the experience personal.
A $750 non-refundable deposit reserves your place.
If you need to cancel more than 120 days before departure, your deposit may be transferred one time toward a future La Amatista hosted journey offered within the following 24 months.
The remaining balance is due February 20, 2027.
You may also choose to pay in full at the time of booking.
Your journey investment includes the accommodations, private ground transportation, hosted experiences, sourcing access, mineral education, and cultural experiences outlined above.
Ready to Join Us?
If this journey feels like the kind of experience you have been looking for, you can reserve your place today.
Reserve Your Place — $750 Deposit
Because this is a small-group experience, each traveler will complete a short traveler profile after booking so we can understand your interests, needs, and what you hope to experience while in Uruguay.
We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and interruption coverage.
If La Amatista must cancel the journey, payments made directly to La Amatista will be refunded according to our Booking Terms.
Booking Terms & Conditions
La Amatista Retreat June 20–27, 2027 (optional Add on June 18th-30, 2027)
La Amatista is a mineral business offering a single, hosted small-group mineral education and sourcing experience in Uruguay (the “Journey”). Please read these Booking Terms & Conditions carefully before making a payment. By submitting a deposit, making a payment, or reserving a place, you agree to these Terms.
Journey Price and Reservation
The Journey price is $5,250 USD per person. The Add On is $1,111.00
A $750 USD deposit per person for the main trip is required to request a reservation and is applied toward the total Journey price. Your place is not confirmed until La Amatista receives your deposit and sends you a written Reservation Confirmation.
The remaining $4,500 USD balance is due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 20, 2027. Reservations made on or after February 20, 2027 require full payment at booking. La Amatista may release an unpaid reservation after the Final Payment Date.
Included and Not Included
The Journey price includes accommodations during the official Journey dates; arranged ground transportation identified in the itinerary; scheduled hosted activities, cultural experiences, mine-region and sourcing visits; mineral education and sourcing guidance; scheduled thermal-water experiences; group hosting by Lisa and Diego; and only those meals expressly identified as included in the published itinerary.
The Journey price does not include airfare; transportation to or from the Journey meeting point outside the official itinerary; passports, visas, entry documentation, travel insurance, medical expenses, personal purchases, shipping, packaging, insurance, customs charges, duties, taxes, import fees, optional activities, unscheduled meals or beverages, gratuities, hotel incidentals, pre- or post-Journey lodging, or expenses caused by flight delays, missed connections, illness, early departure, or changes to a traveler’s personal plans.
Cancellation and Refunds
All cancellations must be sent in writing to [email protected]. A cancellation is effective when received by La Amatista, measured in Eastern Time.
Cancellation schedule
Written cancellation receivedCancellation feeRefund if paid in fullOn or before February 19, 2027$750 deposit$4,500February 20–March 21, 2027$1,312.50$3,937.50March 22–April 20, 2027$2,625$2,625April 21–May 20, 2027$3,937.50$1,312.50On or after May 21, 2027, or no-show$5,250No refund
If a refund is due, La Amatista will issue it to the original payment method within 30 calendar days after receiving written cancellation.
No refund, credit, or price reduction is available for late arrival, early departure, missed flights or connections, missed activities, unused accommodations, unused meals, or a traveler’s decision not to participate.
If La Amatista receives written cancellation on or before February 19, 2027, the $750 deposit may be transferred one time toward a future La Amatista-hosted journey departing within 24 months after June 20, 2027, if such a journey is offered and space is available. Any price difference is the traveler’s responsibility. Deposits have no cash value.
Required Insurance and Documents
Each traveler must maintain travel medical insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation coverage for the full duration of the Journey. Proof of coverage may be required before departure. We also strongly recommend comprehensive trip-cancellation and interruption insurance shortly after booking.
Travelers must complete all required participant documents by the requested deadline, including the Traveler Profile, emergency-contact information, any required medical or accessibility information, proof of insurance, and any required assumption-of-risk acknowledgment, waiver, or release. A traveler who does not meet these requirements may be unable to participate, and the cancellation policy may apply.
The U.S. State Department encourages medical-evacuation insurance for travel to Uruguay and recommends it for travel where medical care may be limited or risks are higher.
Itinerary, Participation, and Purchases
This is a working mineral-region experience. Mine operations, weather, roads, local schedules, supplier availability, safety conditions, government requirements, and other circumstances may require changes to the itinerary. La Amatista may modify the timing, order, accommodations, transportation, activities, mine or warehouse visits, restaurants, suppliers, or other Journey elements when reasonably necessary. We will make reasonable efforts to provide a comparable experience where possible; minor changes are not grounds for cancellation or refund.
The Journey may include working mineral regions, mines, warehouses, rural sites, uneven terrain, stairs, unpaved surfaces, walking, standing, and extended transportation. Travelers are responsible for determining whether they can safely participate and should disclose mobility needs before booking. Accessibility cannot be guaranteed at every location.
Purchases of minerals, jewelry, artisan goods, or other merchandise are separate transactions between the traveler and the applicable seller unless La Amatista confirms otherwise in writing. La Amatista does not guarantee the availability, authenticity, provenance, treatment status, quality, value, resale potential, exportability, or importability of independently purchased goods. Travelers are responsible for their own purchases, shipping, insurance, customs declarations, duties, taxes, import requirements, and compliance with applicable laws.
Cancellation by La Amatista
This Journey requires a minimum of 5 confirmed travelers. La Amatista will notify confirmed travelers no later than March 15th, 2027 if the Journey will not operate due to insufficient participation.
If La Amatista cancels the entire Journey before departure, amounts paid directly to La Amatista for the Journey will be refunded unless the traveler voluntarily chooses an available future-Journey credit in writing. La Amatista is not responsible for airfare, travel insurance, passport or visa fees, pre- or post-Journey lodging, or other arrangements purchased independently. Travelers should wait for a separate written Journey-Operation Confirmation before purchasing non-refundable airfare or other non-refundable independent arrangements.
Conduct, Privacy, and Acceptance
Travelers are expected to treat fellow guests, hosts, guides, drivers, miners, artisans, suppliers, and local communities with respect and to follow reasonable safety instructions. La Amatista may remove a traveler whose conduct endangers others, harasses others, causes significant disruption, damages property, or disregards reasonable instructions. In that event, no refund will be provided and the traveler is responsible for additional expenses caused by removal.
Photography or video may be restricted at mines, warehouses, supplier locations, or other sites. Travelers must respect all restrictions and obtain permission before photographing individuals where consent is reasonably expected. Non-public supplier information, sourcing locations, pricing, and business details must not be shared or used commercially without permission.
Nothing in these Terms limits any right that cannot legally be waived under applicable law. These Terms may be accompanied by additional participant forms, acknowledgments, releases, or waivers required before participation.
Questions before booking? Please contact La Amatista at [email protected] before submitting payment.
About Your Hosts
Diego & Lisa Cusano are the founders of La Amatista, an ethical gem and mineral sourcing company with direct relationships at the amethyst mines of Artigas, Uruguay. Diego grew up in Uruguay and his family had deep love and respect for the Artigas region. Together Diego & Lisa they have walked these mines, met the miners, and developed the friendships and sourcing partnerships that lasts generations. Diego is an expert in the region and import/ export in Uruguay. He knows the ins and out and has solid relationships that gives others the exclusive opportunity/ and access to resources not available to the general public.
Lisa & Diego have also been asked to be Crystal Keepers which requires intentional selection, placement, and protection for these precious gifts of the earth.
Lisa has spent the last 20 years developing wellness tools and programs, all supporting the inner journey of healing. Everything she utilizes with clients she also utilizes with herself and her family, and she understands how they all dance together and range the gamut inlcuding - Reiki Master, Sound Practitioner, Human Design Advanced Practitioner, Holistic Health Coach, Emotion Code Practitioner, Aromatherapist, Life Coach, Frequency Medicine Practitioner, and Mentor. Together Diego & Lisa bring a holistic picture that is perfect for the rockhound, the business owner, the crystal lover and the energy practitioner. They are the guides for your own individual exploration.
@theamatista | La Amatista
FAQs
Answers to Enhance Your Amethyst Journey Experience
What should I bring to wear?
July is winter in South America. Similar to a cold day in Atlanta, GA. It is also wet! Many places have mini split heating instead of central heat. Be prepared with comfortable layers, rain gear, a warm coat and most importantly comfortable shoes. We also recommend a bathing suit and robe for the thermal baths and a water bottle!
What airlines are best to travel on and who do you recommend for trip insurance?
We generally fly COPA from IAD to MVD with a stop over in Panama. Copa offers a free layover should you like to add that to your trip. UNITED is a COPA partner. LATAM flies in partnership with DELTA . You will generally have a layover in Santiago , Chile, Buenos Aires, Argentina or San Paolo, Brazil.
We highly recommend purchasing full travel insurance. We have had the best experience with Allianz.
Will I be able to purchase stones during the tour?
Yes, visitors can purchase amethysts directly. We will also be able to arrange shipment for you.
What safety measures are in place for the mine tours and how accessible are the mine tours for people with disabilities?
Safety is our top priority. All guests are provided with helmets and necessary safety gear. Our tours are always conducted in the presence of professional miners and first aid trained guides. Detailed safety instructions are provided prior to all tours.
We aim to make our tours as accessible as possible but some areas may not be fully accessible due to natural terrain. Please contact us for additional considerations.
Is there a best time of year to participate in the La Amatista Sourcing Journey?
The best time is from March to November, avoiding the peak summer heat for comfort. July is an excellent time to escape the heat in the US as well!
Can you tell me more about the Reset/ Restoration/ Realignment Extension?
For those that feel called this extension provides the opportunity to come into realignment within themselves. Traveling to the other side of the equator allows us to reset our own magnetic resonance. The change allows things to come to the surface to identify and release. Doing this in combination with the journey including the cleansing in the thermal baths and closeness to the the amethysts in Artigas has given access to profound shifts and a feeling of positive realignment upon returning home.