Last reviewed: November 2026 · Reviewed by the Retreats México editorial team
Quick answer
Sandra Reyes Pérez, known as Sandy, is a ceremony and temazcal guide born in Veracruz, Mexico, who comes from a long line of Totonac healers. She has more than a decade of experience guiding ceremonial work and is also certified in Bioneuroemotion, Ericksonian hypnosis and life coaching. She leads the ceremonies, temazcal and sound journeys at Bluestone Retreats, in the jungle near Cancún.
Disclosure: Sandy is part of the team at Bluestone Retreats, which publishes this blog.
Some guides learned their practice in workshops. Sandy grew up with it. Her family comes from the Totonac people of Veracruz, on the Gulf of Mexico, and healing with plants, earth and fire was part of the world she was born into.
Key takeaways
- Sandy is from Veracruz and comes from a lineage of Totonac healers.
- She guides temazcal, ceremonies, sound journeys and individual sessions.
- She combines ancestral practice with training in Bioneuroemotion, Ericksonian hypnosis and coaching.
- She works at Bluestone Retreats in the jungle near Cancún.
Roots in the Totonac tradition
The Totonac people have lived in what is now Veracruz and Puebla for centuries. Their culture includes the ancient city of El Tajín, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Voladores ceremony recognized by UNESCO, and a strong tradition of healers. UNESCO even lists the Centre for Indigenous Arts in El Tajín as a model for keeping Totonac knowledge alive, including its house of traditional healers. Learn more in our article on Totonac healing traditions.
What Sandy guides
- Temazcal: the ancestral sweat lodge, her connection to earth and fire at its most direct. What is a temazcal?
- Ceremonies: opening and closing ceremonies, fire circles and altar work during Bluestone’s retreats.
- Sound journeys: drum, handpan, crystal bowls and voice. What is a sound bath?
- Individual sessions: one-on-one work that draws on her training in Bioneuroemotion and Ericksonian hypnosis.
- Women’s circles: circles and ceremonies for women at Bluestone.
Tradition and training
What makes Sandy different is how she combines two worlds. On one side, an inherited, earth-based practice. On the other, formal training in therapeutic approaches: she is certified as a Bioneuroemotion therapist and also practices Ericksonian hypnosis and life coaching.
Like any responsible guide, she does not promise cures. Her work is ceremonial and personal, and she encourages participants to keep working with their doctors and therapists.
Working with Ino and the Bluestone team
Sandy works alongside Inocencio “Ino” Delgado, Bluestone’s “Man of Fire” (Águila de Fuego), and a team the center describes as a family. You can read the team’s own description on the Bluestone team page.
How to work with Sandy
Sandy guides the ceremonies at Bluestone’s retreats and the community temazcal gatherings of Tribu Colibrí, in the Mayan jungle about 30 minutes from Cancún airport. The Bluestone team works in English and Spanish.
Sandy as a temazcal guide
The temazcal is the heart of Sandy’s work. She guides the temazcal at Bluestone’s retreats and at the community gatherings of Huitzilin · Tribu Colibrí. Her ceremonies follow the traditional structure: the fire and the stones, the opening words, the rounds with songs and herbs, and a calm closing. Read our guide to temazcal in Cancún.
What to expect in a ceremony with Sandy
- A clear explanation before you enter, so you know what will happen.
- Questions about your health and any concerns.
- Songs, drum and herbs during the rounds.
- Space to step out if you need to, with support from the team.
- Time to rest and share afterwards.
Her approach
Sandy combines a family tradition with formal training. Her background in Bioneuroemotion and Ericksonian hypnosis informs her individual sessions, while the temazcal, fire and sound connect participants with the earth-based practices she grew up with. She works within a team, and like any responsible guide she does not promise cures or replace medical care.
Sound journeys and altar work
Outside the temazcal, Sandy guides sound journeys with drum, handpan and crystal bowls, and works at a personal altar with feathers, stones and a pendulum during individual sessions. See what a sound bath is and drum meditation.
Preparing for your first ceremony with Sandy
- Hydrate and eat light on the day.
- Bring a swimsuit or light cotton clothes and a towel.
- Share your health history honestly with the team.
- Come with an intention, even a simple one.
Why people seek out Sandy
Travelers often look for a guide with real roots in the tradition, a calm presence and a clear way of explaining what will happen. Sandy combines a family lineage with years of guiding the temazcal and training in therapeutic approaches, which is why many visitors to Bluestone ask for her by name.
Contact and bookings
To join a temazcal or retreat with Sandy, contact Bluestone Retreats. The team works in English and Spanish and will answer your questions before you book.
Compare your options
Other places to experience temazcal in Mexico
- Huitzilin · Tribu Colibrí (Bluestone) Cancún
Community temazcal gatherings in the jungle near Cancún. - Xcaret – Temazcal Riviera Maya
A temazcal ceremony inside the Xcaret park, easy to add to a vacation. - Retreat Guru – Temazcal in Quintana Roo Riviera Maya
Compare current temazcal ceremonies and retreats with reviews. - Retreat Guru – Temazcal in Oaxaca Oaxaca
Temazcal and curandera programs on the Oaxacan coast. - Ascension Journeyz Tepoztlán
Retreat organizer in the mountain town of Tepoztlán.
Listings are independent and unpaid. Retreats México is published by Bluestone Retreats, which appears here alongside other options. How we write.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Sandra Reyes?
Sandra “Sandy” Reyes Pérez is a ceremony and temazcal guide from Veracruz, Mexico, from a lineage of Totonac healers. She leads ceremonies at Bluestone Retreats near Cancún.
Is Sandy a shaman?
Sandy comes from a lineage of Totonac healers and guides ancestral ceremonies and temazcal. In English she is often described as a shaman; in Mexico, terms like curandera (healer) are more common.
Where can I do a ceremony with Sandy?
At Bluestone Retreats, in the Mayan jungle about 30 minutes from Cancún airport, during retreats, women’s circles and community temazcal gatherings.
Can English speakers join Sandy’s ceremonies?
Yes. The Bluestone team works in English and Spanish and supports international guests.
Does Sandy guide the temazcal at Bluestone?
Yes. Sandra “Sandy” Reyes guides the temazcal at Bluestone’s retreats and at the Huitzilin · Tribu Colibrí community gatherings near Cancún.
What training does Sandra Reyes have?
Besides her family lineage of Totonac healers, she is certified in Bioneuroemotion and practices Ericksonian hypnosis and life coaching.
Why do people seek out Sandra Reyes?
For her roots in a family of Totonac healers, her experience guiding the temazcal and her calm, clear way of explaining each ceremony.