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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Nathan.folbrecht@aol.com
April 29, 2022 at 3:36 pmIt’s not common to find a place that you feel at home right away. From the moment you enter the gates of Arkana, you’re welcomed, no matter who you are or what you’ve been through. You’re reminded that you’re not alone, that you’re safe and that there’s always an opportunity to learn, grow and heal.
The location (Sacred Valley for me, though I hope/plan to visit the jungle as well) feels like an oasis. It’s lush, vibrant and amplifies the positive energy at every turn.
Aside from the amazing location, the people involved w/ Arkana make the most impact. The facilitators, maestros and staff are kind, thoughtful, deeply caring and genuinely amazing. This makes all the difference in uncomfortable or new situations.
The days are filled with respectful conversations, art activities, yoga, meditation, reading, writing, reflecting and eating some of the best food (that happens to also be healthy…I’m still blown away how it was possible) around.
There’s not a single negative thing I can think of, and I suggest anyone who feels the calling to at least look at what Arkana offers, and consider it as your retreat destination if you decide the time is right. I hope to go back and share another review of the miracles I witnessed that are only possible at such special destinations.
Thank you, Arkana.
vanaoi
April 27, 2022 at 11:44 amMy experience at Arkana was quite literally out of this world. Beginning with the staff (cats included here), which are outstanding and attentive to everyone’s needs, to the location (I was in the Sacred Valley) which vibrates with an energy I haven’t felt anywhere else, and of course the shamans and the medicine itself.
Background information: I have suffered from chronic pain and anxiety for years, which come in a vicious self-perpetuating package. The tension in my back and neck has been so bad that I had to quit poledancing because I’d black out due to blood flow being restricted and oxygen reaching my brain. At some point my cervical spine was in danger because of the pressure created by the tension in my neck. I scared countless massage therapists over the years.
On top of that, I’ve had vulvodynia since I was a child. It got diagnosed in my earlier 20s, despite my complaining to every doctor.
The anxiety had been at times debilitating, in the afraid to go outside of my room sense. Sometimes the smallest decision would send my body in a fight or flight mode, and it made the tension worse.
My body and my mind had been through a lot, from childhood trauma to repeated sexual abuse later on.
Trauma is made by events which cannot be processed at the time and are jammed back into your system. Your body remembers, even if you were under the influence, even if you were under anesthesia. The things to which you did not react to will stay in until they are cleansed or acted out.
Conventional methods of therapy can help up to a point, because there is so much we don’t remember, and so much we avoid telling our therapists, and even admit to ourselves. Traditional medicine and altered states of consciousness will cut to the chase, because they act from inside, and there’s no hiding from what’s in there, there’s no lying to yourself. You will be shown why things happened and how to move on, you will be helped in releasing, you will be helped in adapting. But as any short path, it will not come without effort. However, both the facilitators and the shamans are there for you and will guide you, even if you have doubts about stating your intentions prior to the ceremonies.
For me personally, the cleansing of the pain was only the first night. What happened the following ceremonies is hard to describe, I was given everything I asked for and more. Encouragment and guidance, faith in myself. I have already been on a spiritual path for some years, and it only made my beliefs stronger.
But what’s relevant is now it doesnt hurt to ride the bike, I can move my neck all the way around without pain, most of the knots in my shoulders are gone, and if I get worried about something anxiety doesn’t come rushing like wildfire hurting all of my muscles.
That being said, if you feel the calling, if you need answers, or if regular methods of treatment have failed you, I recommend coming to Arkana, you will be in the best possible hands.
As a last down to earth note, before booking I thought it was a bit spicy for my wallet. All thoughts of this immediately went away when I arrived. The whole week I was there I had no care in the world, everything was taken care of, there were even hot water bottles waiting on our pillows after the ceremonies. It’s worth every penny. The extra treatments they offer, like massage or floating tank, are a treat as well. It really is like spending time in paradise, butterflies flying around and all. I tried to make it a mission to photograph every type of flower they have there, ended up with over 20 but I think I might have missed a few.
CristaFV
April 25, 2022 at 4:08 pmI have been to Arkana Sacred Valley twice now. My most recent visit was April 2022 (for my birthday) and I expect it was not my last visit. I hope to visit the other retreat centers one day, but the Valley will always hold a special place in my heart. The two weeks that I spent at Arkana have been the greatest gifts I have ever given myself by far. A gift of healing, friendship and fun with laughter and adventure too! In those two weeks I felt safe, completely cared for, loved and comfortable. I also made life long friends and had some of the most profound and insightful aha moments of my life. What more can you ask for from an experience?
The Facilitators: it is abundantly clear that they love making you feel welcome, safe and cared for. They have so much positive energy and are always trying to figure out how to better serve. Their energy is so infectious that I find myself wondering if I should try and become one of them because they just seem so happy, centered and like they have found their calling. There is no doubt that they are there for you and they are also incredibly professional.
The Shamans: The Arkana Shamans all come from the same tribe and are true masters of their craft with a life time of training and experience with plant medicines. They are authentic and approachable. Their voices heal you, protect you and guide your experience. It is incredible how they orchestrate the room and your journey. You have to experience it to understand it. They stay on the premises and you feel their presence in and out of ceremony.
The food: My group has literally been asking for an Arkana cookbook because we love the food so much! Most of the food is grown in the garden on the premises. And the chef is top notch. I miss the food!
Details: A warm water bottle in your bed on cold nights, soft cozy beds with down comforters (I opted for my own room), beautifully maintained gardens, tea and fruits 24/7. The staff is constantly working behind the scenes to make your experience as incredible as possible. They do your laundry on Wednesday! The mountains are beautiful, the river creates a gorgeous soundscape and the stars at night are bright. Yoga and sound healing workshops are welcome perks as well!
The medicine: The medicine has changed my life for the better and I hope to keep growing with it. Living without anxiety is a blessing I only wish I found sooner. Some of my ceremonies were challenging and some beautiful. All were what I needed in a safe environment.
A little about me: 41 year old single female. I work a corporate job in New York City. I was completely unaware of what Ayahuasca was until a few months before my first trip to Arkana.
I had never tried a psychedelic before my arrival and many in my circle wouldn’t understand this journey. I am grateful that I was somehow led to this medicine and I cannot recommend Arkana highly enough.
buffy
April 7, 2022 at 11:37 pmI didn’t know what to expect when my friend and I booked a week at Arkana, but I can tell you now that it far exceeded my expectations! They have you arrive the day before the retreat starts to check-in and acclimate yourself to the altitude. It starts off awkward because you don’t know anyone, except for whoever you came with, but that quickly changes within the first day. Over the course of the week, you really bond and get to know the other guests. You can be as cold or as vulnerable as you want, but I encourage the latter if you really want to get some depth out of your experience.
The grounds here was beautiful and conducive to meditation, focus, and relaxation. Angel trumpets and green everything surrounded you in every direction. The dog and cats here were friendly and empathic. The rooms were surprisingly nice. They were minimalistic but gave you everything you needed: a bed, blankets, sheets, towels, lights, a place to charge your electronics, a private bathroom, and a place to put your dirty laundry.
Food, fruit (bananas, peaches, apples, mangos, dragon fruit, etc.), and teas/water is included in the stay, and I gotta say, you can feel that the food was made with love and care. It’s mostly vegan or complies with the dieta, but it was so delicious, especially the chicken chickpea curry dish, quinoa, and salads. No need to bring your own food unless you like to snack on nuts. You will absolutely love the mango here!
Arkana prepares you well for the ayahuasca ceremony, from the moment you step foot on the grounds with a celebration of your presence, to the preparation ceremonies, to the food, and to the environment. There are 3 ayahuasca ceremonies (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday), a San Pedro ceremony on Friday, and an optional Sapo (Bufo) ceremony on Thursday as well throughout the stay. I highly recommend you add the Sapo experience. It’s hard to describe, but while it’s short and intense, it was mind-blowing and life-altering to the core. Any guard you had up during the week will be derailed by a toad. It will show you things you’ve never seen and feelings you didn’t know existed. I was lucky and my Sapo and last ayahuasca ceremony aligned with one another, so it made my journey all the more beautiful.
The ceremonies were beautifully performed. The ayahuasca is portioned to you individually, so they factor in weight, how you felt the previous ceremony, and if you felt you needed more or less depending on your journey. The shamans even perform a personal icaros for you, so it fits exactly what you need. During the ceremony, the shamans sing different icaros, and the facilitators also sing and play musical instruments. And my, do they sing beautifully! It’s even better when you’re under the ayahuasca spell. My only suggestion is to play music (from a playlist of what have you) at the beginning of the ceremony as I felt it would have enhanced the feel of the journey. Some silence is good, but the first hour was a long time of silence.
Lastly, the staff here is amazing. Even the food they make was made with love. Danielle, Tunde, Theo, Canelo, and Julio were exceptionally caring and nurturing and made the experience beautiful from start to finish. They are there for you when you need them and they are there for you when you didn’t know you needed them. They really made the experience and stay so calm and relaxing and handled any issues professionally and with great thought.
If you’re looking for a memorable and spiritually enriching ayahuasca experience, Arkana is the place to go! I would definitely do another retreat with them and already thinking about it! Thank you for making my experience an unforgettable one!
Cory
March 28, 2022 at 1:30 pmLOOK NO FURTHER! Jose and the Arkana team including each facilitator, and shaman, healers, front and back of house staff were so talented and made you feel so safe, secure, they made sure even the smallest detail was addressed, making me feel so comfortable.
I went to the Sacred Valley location in the Andes. I had elevation sickness for 24-48 hrs. But the Coca leaves and tea mixed with the Muna tea really helped.
The food was incredible, (Jose if you are reading this, please tell the chef to make a cookbook for purchase) The accommodations were great with private bathrooms. The scenery was majestic, and the amount of individual growth I gained in 7 days was insurmountable. I would have never thought that I would look at my experience and the people like my second family.
I’m now working extra hard this year so I can afford to send my wife to Mexico or Sacred Valley. Then I want to go to the Jungle next year.