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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Lidia_kapa
October 13, 2018 at 8:31 pmI’ve been waiting roughly 10 years to start my journey with the medicine! A few months ago I knew it was time, Mother Aya was calling me! It was time now to pick up a center and with the first search i sure found a lot of them, it wasn’t easy to just pick one,it had to be right one! I came across Arkana reading reviews and experiences of others ,I cannot explain what it was but I knew Arkana was the one! I booked a one week reatreat at the end of September and i was still terrified by the thought of being in the middle of the jungle ,being surrounded by snakes and spiders and all kinds of bugs! All of it was gone as soon as ve arrived at the center! The views of the Amazan and Ucayali rivers was just breathtaking, the jungle was just so majestic and beautiful! There was nothing to be afraid of anymore! I’ve never felt more safe! The center is well maintained and clean! The staff was always so helpful and kind! The facilitators were amazing, always there for us,during the day,the night,during ceremonies,they has so much love and kindness to offer. The shamans were amazing and so powerful,we did such good work during the retreat,plus we had the opportunity to work with other powerful medicines like Kambo ,Sapo, Nunu.
As I mentioned before,I only had a one week retreat booked initially but a week later I found myself in the Sacred Valley and i knew my journey wasn’t done yet,I booked another week with Arkana family in the Sacred Valley and the place is just magical, located in the valley,right on the Urubamba river, surrounded by the Andes! It was really rewarding to be there and the week that fallowed was just beautiful, again great staff,amazing facilitators ,exceptional shamans and powerful medicines. I also had the honor to meet the owner of Arkana, Jose, a man truly caring, kind, humble and driven by his purpose to help and serve others! There are not enough words to describe my experience with Arkana and how grateful i am for healing my soul, for opening my heart,for teaching me how to love again! ❤️
SummerLove
September 25, 2018 at 3:03 pmI’ve been home from my trip to Arkana Spiritual Centre for a month now. I wanted to wait before writing this review so that I could give this perspective from a more balanced place. Reflecting on how I feel now and reading my journal entries from those 2 weeks can be summarized in 2 words: UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. I was shown pure unconditional love from the Shaman, the facilitators, my fellow visitors and all the Arkana staff both in the U.S. and in Peru. It was with the help of all these beautiful people that I learned how to love myself – the most important love of all. The Arkana people have carefully created an environment to support healing and growth. They are there with the purest intentions and give their love freely.
I spent 1 week in the Sacred Valley and 1 week in the Amazon Jungle. Although vastly different, both are well managed, maintained, comfortable and clean. My Sapo ceremony in the Sacred Valley was a vastly beautiful experience. The sounds of the Jungle at night connected me to Mother Earth and Father Universe and taught me that we are all so much greater than our form – a lesson I am very grateful for. The facilitators in both locations are incredibly gifted musicians.
If I could rate Arkana 10 stars I would! I have already recommended it to my family and friends and am planning to return next summer.
asahota
September 11, 2018 at 12:11 pmI went to Arkana near the end of August this past summer. My experience there was absolutely incredible. Arkana is a space of pure love. Over the one week I was there, I really connected with myself and the jungle. I learned so much about myself and I think because I was really open to the Ayahuasca I was able to have the experience I needed to move forward with my life. The center is absolutely beautiful and is just on the river in the Amazon rainforest. The helpers there are literally angels and were very friendly and helpful whenever we needed it. A big shout out to Angel, Nidia and Sarah for being great teachers as well as helpers. The shamans at Arkana were astonishing and had so much love to give. Their singing of the Icaros was beautiful and they created a protected space for healing and self-exploration. There were a lot of activities during the day like fishing, exploring the jungle and yoga which I really enjoyed. I also really liked how they offered other medicines other than Ayahuasca such as Kambo, Nunu, and Sappo. These medicines made my healing and experience exponentially greater. Overall my experience at Arkana was one of the most profound experiences of my life and I would highly recommend this retreat center to anyone who is looking to do Ayahuasca in a protected space of love.
jeffglidden
August 17, 2018 at 9:56 pmOverall I had an amazing experience at Arkana Sacred Valley 7 day retreat. The facilitators and the Shamans were incredible and that is the #1 priority for a retreat in my opinion. The food was good although it seemed less strict on the diet than the last place I went to. The accommodations were good although it did get a little chilly even with a space heater in the winter. I did have one night where the power went off and since I need to use a medical device to sleep at night this was frustrating as I was told the facility had 24/7 power but the staff took my call at midnight and had someone pick me up and take me to their place where the power was still on which was really nice of them. The location is amazing, right in the heart of Sacred Valley on the river; hiking is great right outside the door.
If this is your first time I HIGHLY recommend following the diet and restrictions on drugs/alcohol very closely for at least 14 days (30 days better) as you will get more out of the experience in terms of insight and visions rather than spending a lot of time up front purging out the junk in your body. Overall I highly recommend this retreat and will be going back!
A few items that are making this review 4 stars instead of 5 (I already provided this feedback verbally and I assume next visit will be 5 stars!):
1) The ceremony hall had no heat and it got really cold at night during the winter. It would have been nice not to have to deal with this as part of the experience, but was doable/manageable with layers.
2) The hike during the Huachuma day was fun but our guide didn’t take us down the safest route. While we all made it back safely this could have been managed more professionally. I know the boundary between staff/participant can get blurred when everyone is taking the plant medicine as part of the experience but this is one time where I feel it should have been a little more of a “guided” hike both up and down rather than blazing a new trail. I still had a blast this day though, one of my favorite days!!!
3) I missed my flight the last day due to the Taxi driver showing up over an hour late. I know this isn’t Arkana’s fault per se, but I still expected them to ensure I got to/from the airport as promised and so this experience was a little disappointing (and stressful!). However, when I spoke to the owner Jose about my issue he agreed to provide a credit in the amount of the cost to change my ticket which speaks volumes about the integrity of this business.
jokleb
July 24, 2018 at 1:32 pmI spent my New Years eve at a 10-day Ayahuasca retreat in the Sacred Valley, at a Spiritual Center called “Arkana”, and boy what a magical experience it was. When I reflect on my time there, the words that come to mind are: Powerful, Beautiful, Loving. The team is world class. Each and every one of them added to my experience. The Shaman has a pure soul and a huge heart and I felt completely safe and inspired in his presence. The facilitators were multi-dimensional talents, and inspired awe in me. On several occasions I couldn’t help but feel deep gratitude that we were supported through our journeys by so many deeply talented and truly caring people.
The environment was warm and inviting and I felt comfortable being vulnerable throughout my time there. And the positive vibes were felt by many. My fellow attendees became very close, and connected, and still communicate actively several months after we left the retreat. In fact, we’re coordinating a return trip back to Arkana!
I can’t recommend them highly enough. I look forward to seeing each of them again for another retreat!