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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amcgold
May 28, 2021 at 6:43 pmArkana Spiritual Retreat Center in Mexico was the most amazing and wonderful Ayahuasca and plant medicine experience ever. My husband and I have traveled all over the world in our 35 years together and we both agree this was the most fabulous experience of our lifetime. Our Ayahuasca and Peyote experience was so transformative and healing. The medicine opened our hearts and allowed us to heal deep wounds on such a profound level that would have taken years of therapy to resolve.
This was such a magical place and an extraordinary experience, words can not do justice to the describe it. From the moment we booked the trip and throughout the entire experience we were impressed. Jose and his amazing staff were very attentive throughout the booking and the duration of our stay. The Hacienda San Antonio Chalante was out of this world beautiful. Nestled 3 hours from Cancun in the Mayan region of the Yucatan, this extraordinary 16th Century ECO-friendly retreat center took you back in time and away from the busy hustle bustle of daily life. The beauty and spectacular setting was breath taking. Surrounded by nature this place was a little slice of heaven. From the moment you are picked up by bus to the time you leave to travel home you are taken care of by the warm, friendly and awesome staff. Every vegetarian meal was delicious and served with love and care. Jose and his amazing crew were hands on and available throughout the adventure to give support, care, and provide and an amazing individualized experience for each participant. The accommodations were warm, wonderful and cozy. We really never wanted to leave.
Taking a journey like this one can is a big decision. Often there are a lot of questions, concerns and uncertainty. Jose and his crew were awesome. They were there to give counsel, provide support, and guide each participant through this journey each step of the way. I have had other Ayahuasca experiences at two other retreat centers. So many things made this experience unique, but the thing that stood out the most were the Shaman. Mastra Justina and Mastro Mesael were remarkable healers. Mastra Justina has a very special spiritual gift that is unbelievable. If I had not seen it with my own eyes it would be difficult to believe. Through a special ceremony she was able to remove and heal participants of long term chronic conditions in an instant. I had significant pain in my left side for years and in 1 session she removed the source that was causing this pain and I haven’t had any problems since. Miraculous to say the least. What I especially cherished about this retreat is the intimacy of the small group size of no more than around 25 participants. This allowed an opportunity for individualized attention and for each participant to connect in a deep and profound way. By the end of the retreat it really felt like we were all family. I would highly recommend Arkana. It is an amazing place. You won’t be disappointed. Jose has created a spectacular experience and I can’t wait to return.
ChristopherSoto
May 25, 2021 at 12:10 pmIf you are a first timer like me to plant medicine such as Ayahuasca, it can become a daunting task to find the right retreat center. Fear as well as mistrust for possible charlatans had kept me on the fence about picking one for months and with so many choses, how do you pick one?
Back in March 2021 I decided to spend two weeks at Arkana’s retreat in the Yucatan of Mexico because of the positive feedback I heard from youtuber Dakota Of Earth time as a participant. It will probably go down as one of the best decisions I ever made.
When it comes to the staff and facilitators, there possibly may not be a better group of men and women. This cannot be understated. Jose has put together a great team that’s friendly, humorous, compassionate and your best allies when you may feel the most vulnerable. They do a tremendous job of making you feel welcomed and by the end of your time with Arkana, part of an extended family.
Accommodations were top notch. We were staying in a hacienda away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. It came equipped with well ventilated rooms, two big swimming pools, gardens and fields to bask in the sun, do yoga or meditate and if you prefer your mediation in doors, they had a room for that. Plenty of space to roam around in what at times can seem like a garden of eden.
And the number one reason you pick Arkana, is the Shaman. Out of this world amazing. Now I only have the two shaman (Maestra Justina and Maestro Mesael) that I experienced to go off of but they were outstanding and I don’t think I need to compare. They alone were worth every penny.
So what else can I say? Go! You won’t regret it.
Obogon
May 24, 2021 at 6:33 pmThis was my first experience at a retreat center and also a first doing Ayahuasca. Arkana had come highly reccomended by people I trust and I am so glad I took the leap to go out and do it at their Yucatan center. I have nothing but good things to say about the whole experience. Everyone there was professional, accepting and open to talk if you needed anything at all. Arkana knows how to set the perfect stage for a transformational experience. Just knowing that everyone there was here to help you if you needed it put my mind at ease. The Medicine (Ayahuasca, Sapo and Peyote) was all gathered sustainably and was very potent at getting to the core of your own set intentions. I will only be doing retreats with Arkana in the future and I consider everyone involved like family.
amusick2021
May 24, 2021 at 2:53 pmWhere do I begin? If anyone had told me a year ago that I would be going on an ayahuasca retreat in the Yucatan jungle by myself, I would have thought they were crazy. Fast forward a year and I am still amazed at the person I have become now compared to a year ago. A year ago, I was suicidal, going through a nasty divorce after 20 years of marriage, not sure I would make it through the next day. The universe pointed me in the direction of this retreat. Multiple messages through multiple sources directed me to find this. I had been on anti-depressants for over 7 years, spent tens of thousands of dollars and many many hours in personal therapy, but nothing could compare to the transformation I experienced through the Arkana Spiritual Medicines Retreat. Through recommendations of close friends of mine, I attended the retreat in Mexico in May. I had no idea what to expect, but was open to wherever the universe wanted to take me on my journey of self healing and spiritual growth. I cannot give enough words of praise to the organizers, the shamans, the facilitators–everything was so well organized and I’ve never felt more loved and protected in my life. It felt like home from the moment I arrived. There are no words to describe the tranquility of the retreat center, truly a remarkable, relaxing, one-of-a-kind place unlike anyplace I have ever been. Don’t get me wrong, the amenities were rustic–no air conditioning, clocks or mirrors, but that is all part of the point of being there, away from the distractions of life that prevent us from looking inward to true healing and growth. All of the ceremonies were well prepared and beyond professional. I’ve never felt more safe and cared for. All of the staff were the most amazing human beings! Now that I’ve experienced true unconditional love and support, it’s difficult to settle for anything less in life. I felt like I went through 15 years of intense therapy and healing in one week. It was brutal, but the pay off was well worth it. Trust the process. The medicine and shamans will heal you, each of us, individually. It is a very personal experience. The bonds I formed with everyone on the retreat will be with me for life. I whole heartedly recommend the Arkana Spiritual Center retreats to anyone who is considering taking this leap of faith into a deeply healing and life transforming endeavor. It is not for the weak at heart. It is hard core emotional work. But the beauty and magic of what comes as a result of healing is beyond words. As others have said, if everyone in the world could experience this even once, the world would be a much happier, peaceful place. I will absolutely return to Arkana again as I feel I have only scratched the surface of what the medicines can teach me. I feel incredibly blessed and grateful to have had this experience. If you are reading this and considering it even a little bit, run, do not walk! You will not regret it!
kileighhawk
May 24, 2021 at 2:23 pmI have been working with Ayahuasca and wachuma for about 10+ years . I recently left a community where unethical things were occurring. I came Across Arkana Spiritual center. I decided to take the trip and went without expectations but was truly hoping for the universe to bring me a new authentic medicine home. The universe answered my call ten fold in such a magical blessed way.
Arkana spiritual center exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I had been dealing with a lot of dark energy that seemed to be stuck in my stomach since leaving the old community and I must say the attention , care and individual focus we received during this retreat was undeniably the best i have experience in 10 + years working with other shamans. Maestra Justina and Maestro Misael were amazing, magical and there healing capabilities are far beyond what words could ever possibly describe. The icaros were so beautifully balanced between masculine and feminine . I could feel the individual attention and healing so strongly during each ceremony. Maestra Justina was able to suck out the negative energy in my stomach. This was the most profound experience in my life. The pain was instantly gone and I have felt so much lighter clearer and realigned with my true self for the first time in years. This retreat also mixed in with the sacred peyote ceremony has changed my life . They Peyote ceremony was so divine with the most authentic Marakame from mexico. Marakame Juan lead ceremony with the most powerful prayer . The sacred peyote was the most heart opening experience of my life . I am left overflowing with gratitude. The medicine facilitators were so focused on everyone’s individual care and intentions. The facilitators and Maestros took the time to carefully and patiently sit with each of us individually to listen to our struggles. They took notes and made a plan of action to help us keep focus , intention and heal. The relationship between the owner Jose and the Maestros was so beautiful, truthful , humble and heart warming to see. So much love so much healing and a truly beautiful magical , one of a kind facility was offered . This is Truly a very authentic, humble Shipibo lineage full of love and integrity. Totally worth every penny!!!! I will be back soon!!!
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