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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elsar
April 15, 2019 at 2:06 amI spent two weeks at Arkana Sacred Valley in February 2019 in which I had the most profound and life saving experience! It would not have been possible with out my beautiful familia I met at Arkana; from my brothers and sisters that healed with me, the Shipibo shamans, the loving facilitators and staff that ran daily activities/outings, the staff in the kitchen that made glorious meals to support la dieta(always made sure I had enough vegan options), the staff sweeping the red stairs each morning that greeted me with authentic smiles and those that provided prompt room cleaning and laundry services.
I have pure gratitude and so much love for all involved at Arkana!! The shamans and facilitators genuinely care about you as it is evident in the unconditional love that is felt as they prepare and guide you in working with mother Ayahuasca. They guided me to trust in the divine path with mother aya, to letting go and opening up to the healing process but most importantly they helped me see the divine within myself to trust in my inner strength to continue onward in life.
I’m in complete awe and in tears of how the medicine continues to work with me daily as well as in my dreams!!! I’m grateful for everyone that was apart of my experience, muchas gracias!! It is as though I came back with new eyes/perspective for life, reborn as new and I’m finally able to see the path that was laid out for me in this lifetime. My 70 year old dad is completely blown away by my experience and is even interested in pursuing his own journey here. If there is something inside of you calling for this inner journey, trust and listen to it! If so, I fully recommend Arkana Spiritual Center, hands down best decision you will make!
Solu
April 14, 2019 at 11:44 pmIf you are looking for a supportive and welcoming atmosphere for an ayahuasca retreat, you can’t go wrong with Arkana. You will seriously be in great hands.
I stayed at Arkana in the amazon rainforest this past December at their new years retreat, and I have nothing but gratitude and love for the staff, facilitators, and shamans. The facility was very clean, and the food is healthy and delicious. There were daily yoga classes which were very enjoyable. The jungle itself is such a beautiful setting, and being able to be right in the midst of this incredible ecosystem is something special. The excursions are a fun break from the plant medicine work, though you can skip them if you choose. I ended up skipping one to be able to relax and do some reflection and journaling ahead of my last ayahuasca session.
The plant medicines were potent, and the shamans really do know what they are doing. The experience itself is otherworldly – much of it is ineffable and hard to describe, but the shamans help to guide you by explaining the significance of your experiences. This is really helpful – I took many pages of notes while I was on my retreat to capture my experience, and I find I am still learning new things as I continue my process of integration. And I most certainly feel like I came back a changed person – the medicine taught me so much about myself, and helped me purge unhelpful and toxic thoughts and emotions which were bottled up inside me.
If you’re on the fence about doing sapo – I highly recommend it! It was one of the most powerful and meaningful experiences I’ve ever had. And I felt like it really helped me with my subsequent ayahuasca sessions as well.
All in all – I highly recommend Arkana in the amazon. You’ll meet great people from around the world, experience learning and personal growth, and get to take in the incredible beauty of the rainforest. I am very grateful for the time I got to spend there!
simonfmwf
April 14, 2019 at 5:13 pmI went to Arkana spiritual center this past February for a one week Ayahuasca retreat. Everything in my life kind of brought me there as if a was pulled by a magnetic field. I was already in a very good place in my life before getting there, and I already had some experience with all the medicine available at the center.
The whole process of getting there, discovering/using the facility and meeting peoples went super smoothly, their system is super well tuned. The week schedule is packed with really nice activities that help the group to connect with each other and, at the same time, to make sure you won’t miss a thing. You can always choose to take time for yourself if needed to process your experience.
The comfort of their facility is 5 on 5; the quality, the professionalism and the wisdom of the team has put the bar very high. The experience I had at Arkana was way above any expectation I could have had.
They are able to handle the plant spirit and the experience of the group in such a genius way that everybody gets every possible tool that they could possibly need to accomplish their goal. The shamanic presence of true Shipibo people is authentic, super deep and leads to ultra safe ceremonies.
Since I’ve left the centre, my whole life has taken a different path, all for the best. I am still processing the impact of the week I spent under their care. I experienced things over there that left me with a super deep sense of gratitude to the Arkana team. The amount of love, professionalism and the positive dedication to their intention put so much hope inside me.
I truly recommend Arkana, it’s a safe and very caring place where you can meet with the medicine and where you are accompanied by authentic shamanic healing
Batshizquark
April 14, 2019 at 7:06 amI stayed at Arkana amazon jungle center in February 2018 for the 7-day retreat.
We were welcomed to the center with music and dance by the local people from the village of Libertad.
We had quite a few interactions with the local people who were all so warm and friendly, as were the staff at the center, who catered to the needs of each individual.
Each participant had an individual meeting with the shamans and facilitators prior to treatment, to make an assessment for the customized healing for that individual.
Concise information about preparation for ceremony and for processing and integration after retreat was given both on arrival and before departure, and the opportunity for discussion was given daily during group shares which were always very thorough.
Daily excisions and activities included jungle walks, night-time boat rides on the river, day trips where we could swim in safe areas (the local guides are so fab and so lovely to talk to!), yoga and sound workshops, all inclusive to the price of retreat. Supplemental individual treatments were also offered on request for a premium, but the facilitators were always available for one-to-one counseling at no extra charge. I felt like they always had time for me should I have needed to do this.
I liked the relaxed atmosphere, that none of the activities (including ceremony) were mandatory and there were no rigid rules, for example sleeping in the maloca was permitted; we were not obligated to stay in our rooms at any set times and we could walk around the center freely.
There was security around the center which I thought was great, as it was good to know that during ceremony I would be taken care of in the event that I might have left the maloca unattended and wouldn’t be able to wander off into the jungle!
The facilities are basic, no luxuries such as hot water or air conditioning; but that was to be expected for somewhere deep in the jungle. I was actually pleasantly surprised at some of the comforts offered: running water, flushing toilets, a laundry service and even (limited) electricity and internet service. The food was simple but delicious, there was always enough and it was varied and healthy.
The ceremonies were conducted really well, and the power and beauty of the icaros sung by the shamans could not be overstated. Absolutely magnificent, and the layout of the maloca was perfect. There were at least 4 facilitators on hand to assist during ceremony and each participant received their own personal icaros during every ceremony. The medicine was very very potent and has given me some profound insights and lessons which have taken me over 12 months to integrate.
Also offered here was Kambo, which I found to be very beneficial and helped me to prepare for the Ayahuasca ceremonies.
Overall I would rate Arkana amazon spiritual center very highly, I would definitely go back again and would recommend to anyone considering a jungle retreat.
sarahegood@gmail.com
April 13, 2019 at 8:59 pmI traveled to Arkana Spiritual Center looking for healing from a past trauma and spiritual growth. I left with much more. There are truly no words to express the level of gratitude I have for the beautiful Facilitators, Shamans, Mother Ayahuasca, Sapo, and San Pedro.
Years ago I was assaulted while traveling where I feared for my life. This resulted in PTSD and living with fear and shame. My experience at Arkana provided me with deep healing and clarity. Beyond this, I gained many more insights, huge amounts of healing in several other areas, powerful spiritual connection, ego awareness, and my heart cracking wide open. It has since enhanced my professional and personal relationships, and I feel like this is just the beginning. The medicine and experience continue to provide healing and growth.
The connection I found with the other travelers, Facilitators, and Shamans was transformational. Since the experience at Arkana can only be described as genuinely ethereal, I know my deep healing was made possible by the marvelous Sacred Valley setting and extraordinary helpers. The comfort, care, and love I received were more than I have ever known and something I will forever carry with me. I recommend Arkana Spiritual Center with my whole heart. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU!