Ayahuasca Retreat Reviews — Helping You Stay Safe with 5,000+ Independent Reviews
Our Program
At Arkana, we create the space for you to get in touch with your truth, opening your path for deeper meaning and greater fulfillment in your life. We work with ancestral medicines such as Ayahuasca, San Pedro, Bufo Alvarius, Rapé , using the traditional practices of the indigenous cultures of the Peruvian Amazon. We currently operate two centers in Peru, one in the Peruvian Amazon and a second one in the Sacred Valley (close to Machu Picchu), and one in Mexico, the choice is yours.
With great respect for the plants and the knowledge and healing that comes with them, our lineage of Shipibo shamans set the stage for truly deep and profound healing. Awaken your inner power through their sacred and powerful icaros (healing songs), and discover your connection to all things by exploring some of the 2.2 million hectare Pacaya Samiria National Reserve which is our backyard. Nourish your body and soul with fresh, clean, delicious meals that promote your Ayahuasca experience, and integrate healthy habits into your routine with our yoga classes and extensive selection of gym equipment for all levels. We believe the health of physical body sets the foundation for the health of the energetic body – Often ignored in this type of spiritual work, we find this to be an important part of the healing process, so you can begin implementing the healthy habits that will carry this work with you into your life back home. Finally, relax your mind and spirit with sound baths, meditations, breathwave sessions, and OM circles, or simply enjoy the tranquil views of both sunrise and sunset from our front porch on the banks of the Ucayali River, surrounded by lush biodiversity and the mesmerizing sounds of the jungle.
Arkana’s exceptional team of highly-trained Shipibo Master Shamans represent an unbroken lineage of plant medicine work. With a combined history of over 70 years of experience working closely with Ayahuasca and other master plant teachers of the jungle, our compassionate healers lovingly share their teachings, healing songs (icaros), capabilities, and knowledge with integrity and honor. We strive to maintain the traditional practices passed down through thousands of years of indigenous Amazonian culture, in order to continue to promote the true purpose and nature of plant medicine work.
Experiencing the medicines with us is a transformative personal journey, and so much more. We also work closely with our local community, the Amazonian village of Libertad, to ensure that our Center can benefit and give back to the people who have so generously let us into their homes and hearts. We create employment opportunities, teach free English classes, provide a space for the ladies to sell their handmade crafts, and assist in construction projects, among other things. Our latest endeavor is outfitting the entire village with free solar panels, so every house can have light and electricity. When you join us, you are helping the rainforest and the Amazon communities that live here.
Guests that come to our Center often say they feel like “part of the family” with us – that’s no coincidence, as we are one big family at Arkana! The people that are with you throughout your experience can simply facilitate your own healing journey or become an integral part of it. Our experienced, loving, and professional team of caregivers welcomes you to join our tribe, where we strive to make you feel at home and at ease, supported and cared for with all the love and compassion that is at the core of the plant medicines and people we work with.
Ayahuasca is a powerful medicine that offers us the opportunity to understand our true nature, by shining a light onto our darkness, and holding a mirror up to our fears, negative thought patterns, and self-limiting beliefs. We provide the environment and expertise of a team of highly skilled, warm, compassionate Shamans and facilitators to guide you through the process of awakening, of choosing differently, healing, and expanding. It is a slow but steady path towards freedom – from fear, from illusion, from self-constructed boundaries – resulting in a lighter, brighter, more authentic self, and the full experience of love. It is our honor to help you on this most fulfilling of all journeys: the journey back home.
We look forward to having you with us!
Lots of Love,
The Team
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Jonramlal
September 12, 2016 at 1:41 pmHonestly a week of my life I know I’ll never forget, I don’t know where to begin.
The retreat itself is something out of fiction; the maloka, bedrooms, hammock rooms, gym, and dinner room have a sense of comfort and power to them. All areas of the retreat are completely safe, the location is magical, and I can’t recall once ever being in some sort of discomfort being within the Amazon Jungle there.
The Staff and Shamans are by far experienced within their field ensuring that safety and proper ceremonies are held, all ceremonies are authentic and keep the roots of Shamanism alive. They catered to my needs and are there to talk to whenever needed.
The excursions are insane!! definitely things that are done once in a lifetime and are by far worth the cost itself excluding the ceremonies included.
The Ayahuasca is by far powerful, it would be an understatement to say anything less.
On top of all this, you meet friends for the rest of your life, definitely people I would never forget and would love a reunion with down the road.
Overall I would recommend this to anyone, friend, family, or stranger. This place is run by the most spiritual and sophisticated group of people you can find within this field and their ready to give you a life changing experience.
Thank you Pulse and to all the Shamans and Facilitators that are involved. My heart goes out to all of you.
With love, Jonathan.
Joe Springer
September 2, 2016 at 11:21 amI returned from a 7-day experience about a month ago (it was actually 5 days because my initial flight was cancelled). Melissa came and met me at the airport and took me into the jungle. Although my trip was shortened, I still got to participate in 3 of the 4 ceremonies and it was still completely worth the trip. The experience met or exceeded all of my expectations and “reverberated” in my mind long after I came back (it’s still reverberating!). If you’re reading this, you know that Ayahuasca is definitely not for everyone, and even if you think you’re prepared, she will likely give you more than you bargained for in many ways. Regarding Pulse Tours specifically, I was extremely pleased with how everything was handled and arranged. Their description on their website is 100% accurate. I would highly recommend them if you’re considering an Ayahuasca experience.
NickBignall
August 22, 2016 at 9:42 pmAmazing time!
So much to do and see, in the heart of the jungle undergoing not only an adventure of a lifetime but of course… much needed psychological surgery and a splash of spiritual enlightenment as well.
I will say although I’ve still got some stuff to work through in life, like everyone does, my mental toolbox has been pimped up a bit so now I can do what I have to do. I know myself more and things that used to bother me more now bother me less or not at all.
The staff, facilitators and shamans know EXACTLY what they’re doing and I felt like I was honestly in the best possible hands. I stayed with Pulse Tours for three weeks. During that time, when me and the other guests weren’t puking our guts up under the influence of the medicine, we’d spend our hours joking and laughing, doing activities like jungle walks or helping one another through tough spots.
Ayahuasca is by no means a cakewalk. In fact, you spend a lot of time in some form of discomfort but the fun you have and the payoff makes it all worth it. It’s not all about being sick and crapping one’s self either. You’ll have some memorable experiences to say the least. Some will be hard work while others will be beautiful and fascinating.
Pulse Tours is who I’d recommend if you’re still deciding whether ayahuasca is something you’re interested in.
Final words:
Do it, do it DO IT!!
kuzucu1
August 19, 2016 at 5:47 amThe greatest experience of my life, I have been to other top rated retreats but medicine at this retreat was much stronger and better. The people are just beautiful and it felt like a second home. It is worth every cent and I am already planning my next trip to pulse
johana
August 18, 2016 at 8:20 pmI want to just reveal that this place just put so much pressure on guests to post a positive review that I can just give one star.
This place is kind of commercial but not that bad. If you really want a genuine spiritual place choose an other center. If you want to trip and explore jungle this is the right place.
Pulse Tours
August 21, 2016 at 4:03 pmOur model is based on accountability and transparency, and our organization is built on the backs of guest reviews. At the end of each retreat, we pass out thank you cards with a written request to leave us a review and we also offer a free company T shirt (otherwise sold for $25) for those who wish to commit to leaving us a review when they return home.
Our spiritual programs are directly translated from our three full-time indigenous Shipibo shamans, unadulterated apart from some terminology we change to soften up the religious language they use, for those more universally spiritual, non-spiritual or even atheist guests that we welcome. However, rest assured that the medicine is work is 100% authentic Shipibo medicine, and the shamans do their healing work in a deeply spiritual realm that few understand. Apart from the medicine work, we offer jungle adventures, fitness and a usually fun social bonding experience between the group. We do believe that deep spiritual healing can coexist with fun, adventure and a social bonding experience.