Ayahuasca retreat

We are offering authentic, safe and well guided three-week ayahuasca retreats in Amazonia (Iquitos, Peru).


First week is dedicated to exercising survival ad native skills with Cocama tribe (like fishing, jungle skills, pottery, textiles, handicraft, nature colours and tattoo, dances and stories).

The second week is Ayahuasca retreat with 3-4 ceremonies guided by our shamans and skilled facilitators.

Final week is for plant diet to seal and protect your achievements from Ayahausca so it will be well integrated and stable even when you will come back to homeland. Number of participants in group is limited to 10.

Plant medicine retreat programme

First part is preliminary screening of your health conditions, diseases and pills and also your intention what you would like to explore or heal with medicine and Ayahuasca. We will also prepare medicinal plants for each person.

Accommodation on arrival is in our hostal in the center of the city. Rooms have its own bathroom and air conditioning. Hostal have a wifi, kitchen, laundry and gallery.

* We are offering pick up at airport by mototaxi.

Three-week Vine retreat in La Casa Medicina center

What is included :

  1. Pre-liminary screening by email
  2. Consultation by skype
  3. Pick-up by mototaxi from airport
  4. Accomodation in hostal on arrival (private rooms, dining room, kitchen, laundry, free wifi)
  5. Transportation from hostal to La Casa Medicina jungle center by mototaxi or boat
  6. Transportation from La Casa Medicina jungle center to Cocama community
  7. Food and special diet food for 3-weeks
  8. Herbal teas and beverages for 3-weeks
  9. Accomodation at La Casa Medicina in single or double room with its own shower and toilet
  10. In places services : Wifi internet, laundry, daily room maintenance, electricity, 24-hour security, health nurse service
  11. Health nurse examination
  12. Translation during all activities
  13. Consulting of the healing process with healers and facilitators
  14. 1-week of survival and native skills of Cocama tribe
  15. 1-week of 3-4 Vine ceremonies
  16. 1-week of Plant diets with teacher and medicinal plants
  17. Customized treatment with medicinal plants
  18. Plant baths
  19. Biocosmetic procedures

What is not included:
Air plane ticket
Insurance
Food and beverages in local restaurants
Transportation before and after retreat programme
Eco-tourism

Retreat programme

    First week – Introduction into the life in Amazonian rainforest

    Usually there will be two main activities a day, in the morning and after lunch in afternoon.

    1. Culture of Cocama tribe

    We will visit of community of Cocama tribe in Padre Cocha. We go inside of their maloca to see their handicrafts and talk about their culture, language, division of work among men and women.

    After that we will go for a walk in jungle to learn basical survival skills in jungle, life of animals and plants. We will talk about various animals and fish that can be eaten, how to hunt them. After that there will be a preparation of traditional food such as masato or fish, bananas, etc. Then there will be their traditional tribal dance. Then we will go to La Casa de la Medicina center.

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    2. Permaculture and agroforestry, preparation of native food, jungle food

    We will go to see a small jungle farm with main crops like manioc and corn and learn how to seed, grow, harvest and cook these plants. After will go to agroforestry farm which is composed of fruit trees and other crops. Falling leaves fertilize the ground and roots prevents soil erosion. Agroforestry system can be used even on deforested jungle for recovery so this is the reason why we promote its use in local communities. Then we will go into the jungle to see which jungle plants can be eaten and finally we will prepare fishes and meals from jungle plants.

    3. Amazon art workshop, painting with nature colours

    We will have Amazon art workshop where we will introduce use of symbolic colours and ornaments in tribe life – for ceremonies, feats, for protection, fertility rites etc. Then we will paint on canvas with natural colours from plants like curcuma, achiote, huito, mishqipanga, gisador etc.

    We will meet Mercedes, local professor of art who will read the hidden symbolic meaning for each us, she is skilled in reading different languages which our unconsciousness draws in the lines of pictures and can guide us into its meaning.

    4. Botanical garden and Workshop on medicinal plants + plant bath, biocosmetic procedures, ceramics

    We will visit our Botanical garden with many species of medicinal plants and teacher plants and will learn about their medicinal uses and properties. We will prepare plant bath for good luck and protection from ajo sacha. After that we will have a biocosmetic procedures with aloe vera and fruit oils.

    After lunch we will have a workshop on ceramics – what are different types of ceramics, clays, colours and ornaments and we will make our own. It needs to dry slowly many days after.

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    5. Tambo (jungle hut) construction, basic jungle carpentry

    We will construct basical jungle hut called tambo with bed and palm leaves roof. After we will learn how to construct fireplace, how to keep wood dry, how to create bed, hamaka, cooking bowls, water and food bowsl, hunting and fishing tools and textiles. There are many aspect of jungle life and use of daily items we will learn about how to use it right.

    6. Handicrafts (items of daily use – handbags, threads, knife, axe, textiles and clothings) and artesania (jungle jewellery)

    We will manufacture handicrafts of daily use like handbags, boxes, threads, knife, axe and artesanie (jungle jewellery) like necklaces, bracelets, crowns, wood animal figures. There is strong symbolism regarding use of each jungle element (like seeds, bones, fish scales) and we will learn about how to use it.

    7. Myths, legends and tribal shamanism

    We will learn about myths, legends and tribal shamanism. We will learn about tradition of mestizo vegetalismo and tribal healing, master and teacher plants, tobacco and ayahuasca.

    We will visit our Reserve of ten different ayahuasca species and will talk about preparation of ayahuasca and its conservation and growing.

    Second week – Ayahuasca retreat with 3-4 Ayahuasca ceremonies

    People often come to retreats in condition like living great portion of time in their head or social media virtual spaces, for this reason the first week is used to ground people and introduce them the jungle life. Another problem is lot of toxic residues coming from food additives, rest of pharmaceuticals, polluted air or smog. This can cause problems with receiving the visions and connecting smoothly with Ayahuasca medicine. For that reason we will give each person every day before breakfast individual prescribed mix of plants to detoxify and harmonize the body and mind and all energetic system.

    Ayahuasca weekly retreat schedule

    MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
    7:00BreakfastBreakfastBreakfastBreakfastBreakfastBreakfastBreakfast
    8:00Meeting with the groupSharing circlePainting with natural colorsSharing circleVisit of Lupuna treeSharing circleSharing circle
    9:00Meeting with the groupSharing circlePainting with natural colorsSharing circleTobacco cleanseSharing circleSharing circle
    12:00LunchLunchLunchLunchLunchLunchLunch
    14:00Free timeMud bathFree timeFruit bathFree timeFree timeFree time
    16:00Free timeFree timeFree timeFree timeFree time
    17:00Free timeDinnerFree timeDinnerFree timeFree timeDinner
    18:00Plant bathPlant bathPlant bathPlant bathBonfire
    19:00
    20:00⁠–00:00CeremonyCeremonyCeremonyCeremony
    * free time can be used to reserve individual consultations

    Please use your free time wisely for inner work, contemplation or simply relaxing, because plant medicine work is hard work and you will need to replenish your energy after every ceremony to have a strength to go on well.

    You can ask a healer for individual consultation at any time, because this principle of guidance is what makes a good outcome from ceremonies.

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    Third week – Plant diet

    Six days of plant diets is used for deepening and protecting achievements from ayahuasca ceremonies, integrating these experiences into body and soul. Plant diet means you will stay in isolation in your tambo (cabin) for a day and receive every day potion of prescribed teacher plants empowered with icaro (shamanic song). You will eat blind food with no salt, sugar, oils, spices, alcohol, red meat. Only diet food like potatoes, fish, rice, oatmeals, greens etc.

    During these six days you will experience deep communication with plants which will work on your body, mind and heart to integrate your achievements with medicine. Seventh day is used for cutting the plant diet, with potion of lemon juice, sugar and salt. Post diet is recommended for at least 3-7 next day.

    Plant diet

    We will introduce you to the concept of a plant diet (La planta dieta – in Spanish), as it is known from the still living tradition of Vegetalismo (healing or plant knowledge) from South America. This tradition of Vegetalismo has been well researched in terms of anthropological and ethnobotanical research over the last 40 years, which is why we present it here. This tradition is still alive, so it is possible to draw directly from the experience of healers who have nothing but the forest, medicinal plants and themselves, their experience and knowledge.

    Traditional vegetalismo

    The Vegetalismo tradition evolved from the original tribal shamanism and healing traditions in South America, especially in the Amazon rainforest. About two hundred years ago, rubber mining and processing began to interfere with the Indian tribal areas of the rainforest, bringing the original indigenous tribes into contact with civilization and the common majority population of mestizos (descendants of white conquistadors and Indians). The urban population thus became acquainted with the procedures of healing and learning with the help of medicinal plants. However, there were important differences. While tribal shamanism was based on symbiosis with the forest and was more focused on protecting the tribe from danger, maintaining social harmony and healing diseases – mestizo Vegetalismo focuses on individual cure because the mestizo population already lived mainly in cities, urban way of life. Both the tribal healing system and the Vegetalismo system use the basic technique of plant diet in order to learn to work with medicinal plants and absorb their healing power and wisdom. This technique is called the Plant Diet (La planta dieta).

    According to vegetalistas in order to learn how to heal with the help of plants and use their medicine, they must first show to plants that they deserve their trust. They must prove to the plants that they are strong and faithful, they must generally spend at least six months in isolation during the initiation, live deep in the rainforest and follow a strict diet with the teacher’s plants. Diet is the key to building a relationship with plants, because plants do not easily discover their medicine. In total, the process of diet and learning takes at least five to ten years before the healer absorbs enough plant medicine and knowledge. If the healer successfully goes through a strict diet, he will receive additional gifts, protection and healing abilities from the mothers of the plants. If he or she is successful, the plants pass on to him the so-called icaros (sacred healing songs), by which they can then cure various diseases with the help of medicinal plants and plants of strength. However, the healer must learn more than just going through the diet properly, he must remain faithful to the plants and the world of nature, and he must also follow in his life what he has learned from the plants.

    Plant diet concept

    An herbal diet is the process of using plant extracts and a diet (without salt, sugar, spices, oil, fat, pork and red meat, predatory fish, alcohol, drugs and sex) for a set period of time for the purpose of healing or learning. During the diet, the body is cleansed and the body’s endocrine system is better able to receive information and active substances from medicinal plants, and in addition, the energy barrier between the human body and its surroundings, i.e. the natural world, is weakened during the diet. During the diet, the world of people and the world of plants are connected and knowledge, learning and healing energy are transferred from plants to humans. South American native tribes believe that every plant has a mother (madre), who is the soul of the whole plant species and resides in the spiritual world. Unlike common medicinal plants (plantas medicinales), there are also teacher plants (plantas maestras) and also plants of strength and wisdom (plantas de poder y sabiduria). Teacher plants can not only heal but also teach. During the process of diet, the soul of the plant acts on the body and soul of man and performs healing and learning there. A person who diet (so-called dietero) can then heal and slowly learn what he needs or wishes to know. In this way, the causes of various psychosomatic and civilizational diseases, which are rooted in fear, rejection, pain, sadness, unmet needs, family burdens, etc., can be accessed and experienced. Another possibility is to use a plant diet for personal and spiritual development. Herbs give everyone what they need.

    Practical information on the plant diet

    The recommended diet is seven days in one month. If you are overweight, it is possible to follow a diet for longer after consulting a doctor. There are two types of diet, depending on how strict it is to be, the stricter it is, the deeper the effect.

    A less strict diet is the so-called outpatient diet (ambulatory diet) and is used for treatment. It is possible to go to work, to the city, but it is necessary to avoid physical contact with people and places where there is a high concentration of people, polluted areas, noise, etc. It is necessary to eat only diet (without salt, sugar, spices, oils , fat, pork and red meat, predatory fish, alcohol, drugs and sex). Sexual abstinence is observed in order to accumulate the life force that is very necessary during treatment. The diet should be neither hot nor cold, it should be lukewarm, because the body is sensitive to irritation during the diet. Every day of the diet, the prescribed plant extract is taken 1-3 times a day. It is also important to drink a lot during the day in order to flush out any unnecessary or toxic substances that are released during the healing process. It is also necessary that a person on a strict diet does not come into contact with fire (e.g. by a candle or fireplace) and does not get burned, and also that he is not exposed to strong sun, rain and cold. These forces of nature are too strong for humans during the diet and could cause complications. Food supplements, fragrances, perfumes, deodorants and no cosmetics are not used during the outpatient diet. However, it is possible to use, for example, natural toothpaste, natural soap or natural shampoo. Creams and skin serums are not used during the diet, because during the diet all layers of skin, pores and vascular supply are cleaned and also the function of sebum is restored. The diet ends on the eighth day in the morning, when after dawn, a solution of lemon juice, a teaspoon of sugar, salt and spices is drunk. Then it is good to lie down for 20 minutes so that the person absorbs the end of the process.

    The second type of diet is more strict and is called a strict diet and is used for deep healing as well as learning. During this strict diet, it is necessary to stay in an isolated place (e.g. in your own room, apartment) where you are alone and you must not talk to or touch anyone during the whole diet. Due to the fact that a person stops receiving stimuli from the external environment (tastes, smells, communication), he can concentrate on internal processes and perceptions, which thus become more clear and perceptible. Teacher plants are able to control these processes correctly and to accompany man. You only need to eat a diet (without salt, sugar, spices, oil, fat, pork and red meat, predatory fish, alcohol, drugs and sex). Sexual abstinence is observed in order to accumulate the life force that is very necessary during treatment. The diet should be neither hot nor cold, it should be lukewarm, because the body is sensitive to irritation during the diet. No dietary supplements, fragrances, perfumes, deodorants or any cosmetics are used during a strict diet. No toothpaste, soap or shampoo is used. It is also necessary that a person on a strict diet does not come into contact with fire (e.g. by a candle or fireplace) and does not get burned, and that he is not exposed to strong sun, rain or cold. These forces of nature are too strong for humans during the diet and could cause complications. Every day of the diet, the prescribed plant extract is taken 1-3 times a day. It is also important to drink a lot during the day in order to flush out any unnecessary or toxic substances that are released during the healing process. The diet ends on the eighth day in the morning, when after dawn, a solution of lemon juice, a teaspoon of sugar, salt and spices is drunk. Then it is good to lie down for 20 minutes so that the person absorbs the end of the process.

    What foods can be eaten: During the diet, it is advisable to eat, for example, boiled potatoes, carrots, corn, rice, oatmeal in a mushy form, so that the diet is well digested. It is also possible to eat fruits that are not too sweet and sour (apples, bananas), humus, chickpeas. Only water to drink.

    The course of the diet: During the diet, there may be a decrease in energy, malaise, slowness, but also greater concentration, calming the body and mind, eliminating disturbing thoughts and relieving tension in the body. Long-established memories can also appear, and their revelation aids the healing process. During the diet, vivid dreams often appear, which can be important for a person, can experience what he needs or learn an important message. Perceptions such as flow or accumulation of energy in the body, a feeling of unblocking or highlighting body blocks or mental patterns of behavior may also occur during the diet.

    Other recommendations

    The intense results of the diet process show up another week after the end of the diet (i.e. as long as the diet process lasted) and show a feeling of lightness, sharpening of the mind, better mood, greater concentration, overall greater vitality. If the diet settles well in a person, it settles permanently and its effect lasts. One week after the end of the diet, it is advisable to partially maintain the diet, eat more light meals, fried meals, avoid, for example, sweets, pork and red meat. The effect of the diet is thus deepened and the treatment process has a chance to settle deeper.

    Diet mistakes

    Mistakes in the diet can cause complications called crossing of the diet (cruzado). This can happen when there is a violation of the prescribed diet, for example: contact with a person with inappropriate behavior or eating forbidden food. Crossing a diet can manifest itself in sudden nausea, headaches, and very unpleasant feelings. In traditional societies, the diet is led by the healer, who also possibly eliminates cross-dieting by blowing tobbaco smoke with icaros and takes a patient on the recovery diet, twice as long as original. When dieting alone, there is nothing left but to end the diet and then start the diet again the next day, but to keep it twice as long as the diet lasted until cross-breeding occurred.

    Other sources

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