OUR RETREATS
SMALL GROUP SIZES - WORD OF MOUTH ONLY
If you’ve done this before, you are already aware of just how important group size and composition are. Working with ayahuasca is intensely personal and puts us into a challenging state of vulnerability. It is of the utmost importance to feel at home with those whom we share these experiences with.
In order to maintain an intimate and secure space, our groups are always ten people or less and composed only from a word–of–mouth network. We do not accept bookings directly through our website, which ensures that each intake process is a personal connection with us and so that you find the right retreat to join. We also welcome private groups.
If you would like to set up a face to face call or have questions about anything, please reach out to us through our Contact Form, here.
RETREAT LOCATION
We are located within the protected area of Cordillera Escalera Conservation Park, surrounded by stunning tropical mountain forest, waterfalls and the banks of the Cumbaza River. And yet, we are only 45 minutes away from the Tarapoto airport.
Each room is large and comfortable with a private or semi-private bathroom, shower and balcony. The expansive common areas are nestled within the jungle and built as an open air environment, giving us plenty of space to be alone, to be together and to be with nature.
AYAHUASCA CEREMONIES
In recent years, Ayahuasca has rapidly spread around the globe. Ceremonies are held in all kinds of locations by all kinds of practitioners. Some traditions have indigenous roots, others don’t. Some methods are highly effective, others less so. There is no one way. There is no right way.
At our retreats, you will work with Shipibo maestros and their ayahuasca brews in ceremony. We began to work exclusively with them after many years of experiencing different types of ceremonies. We found that drinking ayahuasca with a genuine Shipibo maestro (or maestra) is like nothing else. Their icaros and their methodology of “working with the plants” are virtually beyond description ― but the effects on your medicine journey are absolutely undeniable once you have experienced it for yourself.
Ayahuasca originates in the Amazon ― and so do these people and their centuries–old tradition of working with it. Much has been written and documented about this fascinating culture and their medicine craft, and there is still much to be learned from them and about them. For us, they are one of a kind and something to be treasured.
For more in–depth information on the Shipibos, how our ceremonies are held, and what to expect, see our Informational Videos page (coming soon!).
“The first half of life
is devoted to forming a healthy ego,
the second half is going inward and letting go of it.”
―C.G.Jung
OUTSIDE OF CEREMONY
During the many hours outside of ceremony is when much of the learning, growing and healing take place. Experienced ayahuasqueros know that the medicine is continuously working in this time and that too much food, chit chat or distraction strongly limits that process. All too often, other centers encourage just such diversion to keep everyone comfortable. To us, this is poor guidance and the waste of a beautiful opportunity.
We have no swimming pool, list of amenities or constant flow of activities to keep you preoccupied. Rather, we choose to lean into the catalyzing discomfort that comes with stillness, silence and intermittent fasting. What you find and feel during these special, difficult hours will open new levels of depth and clarity in your ayahuasca ceremonies and new doors in your life.
Kajsa and Jonathan are always available and will, through conversation or written materials, encourage you to ask yourself certain questions, peel back layers, and find roots. In this guided introspection, we analyze our relationships ― to others, food, substances, work, purpose, and ourselves. We look at what has occurred in the past and what possibilities there are for the future. We listen to what our bodies and minds have to say when there is nothing else to do and nowhere else to go.
This nuanced process allows us to get to know ourselves in a radically new way ― which, we believe, is the key to profound healing and lasting change.
SWEAT LODGE
While this is originally a tradition from North America (Temazcal), it is one of our favorite indigenous healing modalities and something we have worked with for many years. It is a surprisingly powerful medicine that perfectly complements the work with ayahuasca and the process of focused introspection.
The basic idea is that fire-heated stones and water are used to create a primitive steam room inside of a structure usually made of flexible saplings and covered with blankets (originally animal hides). Inside this steam lodge, we will meditate in silence, sway to the beating of the drum, and surrender to the heat. We will sweat out toxins and wonder if we have the strength to go on. After the climax of effect, we will plunge into the cool mountain stream only a few steps away.
Don’t worry, participation will always be optional and the length of time and degree of heat are variables that we will adjust for every person and group as desired.
DIGITAL DETOX
These days, phones, the internet and constant connection affect us more strongly than ever. Disconnecting and resetting our systems is beautifully aligned with the work at hand – and we consistently hear from people how impactful this has been for them.
So, during your retreat, we will strongly encourage you to put your phone in our safe and leave it there until the last day. We will give you an old fashioned alarm clock and recommend that you bring a disposable camera to use for photographs.
Certainly, exceptions can be made or hybrid solutions created. However, we will ask that you take this idea seriously and generally embrace it as fun and worthwhile.
CONNECTING WITH NATURE
You will be coming to a particularly awe-inspiring example of Mother Nature, the place where the rainforest runs up and out of the Amazon basin into the Andes mountains. It's known here as the high jungle, as opposed to the low jungle.
This is one of the single most biologically dense and diverse places on earth – and is exceptionally beautiful. Expect to see insects, frogs and birds with colors and features that boggle the mind. Expect to drift off to sleep every night and wake up every morning to a symphony of sounds like nothing you’ve heard before. Expect to feel inspired and exhilarated by unexpected things.
Come ready to take your shoes off, get a few mosquito bites, sweat in the sun and shower in the rain. And, yes, for those of you who have been with us before, you will be pleased to know that our little Brown-Mantled Tamarin, Louie, is still with us and goes everywhere we go.
“Find out what a person fears most
and that is where he will develop next.”
- C. G Jung
DELICIOUS FOOD, CONSCIOUS EATING
Many traditions around the world respect fasting as a way to cleanse and strengthen our physical systems – and to open the door to non-physical transformation. The Shipibos also consider the ayuno, or the fast, to be a critical part of working with ayahuasca. So, yes, we are going to embrace the challenge and opportunity of eating less than we normally would and fasting for certain periods of time during the retreat (though, fasting will always be optional).
In turn, this will give us a chance to reset our taste buds and our sense of satisfaction and allow for a deeper connection with the medicine during the ceremony. We will talk and share before and after most meals, but when we do eat, we will do so in silence, focusing on every bite, texture and feeling in the moment.
The food will be rich, healthy and exciting while reminding us of just how wonderful the simple things are. There will be exotic fruits from the jungle, plenty of organic veggies and fresh fish from the local rivers.
Tarapoto, Peru - hello@amakaya.org