Our story
Plantas Sagradas was born from a shared belief that healing is often found through connection—connection to ourselves, to one another, to nature, and to the wisdom traditions that have supported human transformation for generations.
Founded by Alan Romano, LCSW, and Anna Canchola, Plantas Sagradas helps individuals access thoughtfully curated retreat experiences in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. Our mission is to provide a supportive bridge between participants seeking personal growth and experienced local facilitators who have dedicated themselves to this work.
Over years of engaging in our own work with these medicines, Anna and Alan have developed meaningful relationships with facilitators, medicine workers, and retreat communities throughout Mexico. These relationships have been built through shared experiences, mutual respect, and a genuine appreciation for the traditions that have stewarded these practices for generations.
Today, those relationships allow us to create retreat experiences in collaboration with the individuals who serve the medicines and help guide the ceremonial process. By bringing together trusted medicine workers, experienced facilitators, and a carefully designed retreat environment, we strive to create spaces that honor both the traditions from which these practices emerge and the individuals who come seeking growth, reflection, and transformation.
We understand that traveling internationally for a retreat can feel overwhelming. Plantas Sagradas helps simplify the experience by providing consultation, preparation support, and transportation coordination from designated arrival points in the San Diego area directly to the retreat location in Rosarito.
Our retreats are designed for individuals seeking meaningful personal exploration, healing, self-discovery, and reconnection. Whether you are new to this work or have previous experience, our goal is to help create an environment where you can approach the journey with safety, respect, and clear intention.
At Plantas Sagradas, we believe that transformation is not found in a single experience but in the relationships, insights, and practices that continue long after the retreat has ended. We are honored to walk alongside those who feel called to this path.
Alan Romano, LCSW - Cofounder
After earning his Master of Social Work degree in 2020, Alan Romano, LCSW, dedicated himself to advanced post-graduate training in psychedelic-assisted therapy and integrative healing practices. Over the past five years, he has worked extensively as a Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapist, supporting individuals navigating trauma, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and personal transformation.
In September 2023, Alan co-founded a ketamine treatment clinic in Boynton Beach, Florida, where he continues to provide psychotherapy, preparation, and integration services while helping develop innovative approaches to mental health care.
In addition to his work with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, Alan is a trained and certified Kambo Practitioner and has been facilitating Kambo experiences for nearly three years. His professional development has included experiential and clinical training programs across the United States and Europe, including Boulder, Colorado, California, and The Netherlands, with a focus on ketamine, psilocybin, Kambo, and psychedelic-assisted therapeutic approaches.
Alan's work is grounded in the belief that healing occurs through the restoration of connection—to oneself, to others, and to the broader systems that shape human experience. His approach integrates clinical expertise, lived experience, and a deep respect for traditional healing practices and the communities that have stewarded them.
Hear Alan's Story
Every clinician brings a story to their work. In this conversation, Alan Romano shares the personal experiences that shaped his path, from addiction and recovery to years of exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicines. He reflects on the lessons learned through ibogaine, ayahuasca, ketamine, and psychotherapy, and how those experiences gradually evolved into the systems-based perspective that now informs his clinical work and the development of Functional Systems Regulation Theory.
Rather than focusing on a single medicine or moment of transformation, the conversation explores the ongoing process of healing, the importance of integration, and why lasting change requires more than insight alone.
Listen to the interview to learn more about the experiences, philosophy, and perspective behind Alan's work.
Anna Canchola - Cofounder
Integration Guide • Cultural Bridge • Retreat Support
Anna Canchola is a first-generation Mexican-American whose healing journey has been deeply shaped by her connection to ancestral traditions, sacred medicines, and the wisdom carried through her lineage.
Raised between cultures, Anna understands the complexities of identity, belonging, and returning to one's roots. Through her own healing process, she was called to reconnect with the land, traditions, and medicines of Mexico. An experience that transformed not only her relationship with her heritage, but also her understanding of healing itself.
Today, Anna brings a grounded, compassionate, and trauma-informed presence to her work. She is passionate about helping others navigate meaningful experiences with greater clarity, safety, and self-trust. Her unique ability to bridge cultures allows her to create spaces that honor both Indigenous wisdom and the realities of modern life.
At Plantas Sagradas, Anna helps support participants throughout their journey, offering a steady presence, cultural insight, and heartfelt care. She is committed to creating environments where individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered to engage their healing process with authenticity and courage.
Her work reflects a simple yet profound belief: that healing often begins when we remember where we come from and reconnect with what has always lived within us.
Plantas Sagradas provides educational, wellness, and retreat experiences in Mexico. The information contained on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical or mental health condition. Participation in retreat activities is subject to a screening process and individual eligibility requirements.