We are an ayahuasca retreat healing center, operating as a lodge in the Amazon rainforest. We are located 90 minutes outside of Iquitos, Peru near the small village of Llanchama along the Nanay River.
We provide traditional Shipibo medicine services wich includes: healing and learning diets, master plant medicine, and traditional Shipibo ayahuasca ceremonies.
Once you are here, you will meet with our shaman master healer Ricardo Amaringo, and with the asistance of a profesional translator, you can explain him your intention for the healing procces.
Your treatment will then be tailored to your personal needs, often including further treatment with a master plant. Furthermore, in traditional style, you will then adhere to a strict healing diet developed to promote the healing work of the curanderos and our medicinal plants.
Once on the diet, you will be invited to participate in ayahuasca ceremonies four times a week, for further ceremonial healing under the guidance of Ricardo and his assistants shamans. In ceremony, you will be further treated by the curanderos through the traditional healing song, called icaros.
The day after every ayahuasca ceremony, with the exception of Fridays, there is a group discussion led by Ricardo to review experiences in the ceremony and the progress of all of our participants, apprentices and visitors.
In some cases, further treatment techniques are also indicated, including healing plant preparations for bathing and vapor treatment, or cataplasm.
Traditional treatment requires time, so visitors are encouraged to visit us for one week or more. Group programs are often designed for 10 days or 2 weeks and more advanced treatment can take one/two months or longer.
For particular individuals, we also offer traditional diets for learning under the guidance of Ricardo. This level of training is best discussed in person with Ricardo himself.
We charge an all-inclusive daily fee for our services, which covers transport from the Iquitos airport, private room, modern bathrooms and showers, diet meals, laundry service, electricity, wifi internet, traditional medicine and experienced international facilitator staff support.
If you are interested in visiting, please email us to establish contact and verify availability at our center. From that point, we can plan your visit!
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Splash
November 7, 2018 at 6:46 pmMy stay at Nihue Rao was transformational. I strongly recommend the center with it’s supportive staff, pleasant accommodations and deep and powerful ceremonies. They provided a diet (dieta) that is plain but palatable in accordance with the Shipibo vegetalismo tradition. Four times a week I sat in ceremony attended by a staff of three and led by five Shipibo shamans who sang healing ícaros to each attendee individually as well as to the group as a whole.
It took me a few days to get used to the food and the routine. However in my 16 day stay I got the healing I came for: getting my life back by letting go of addictive behaviors and reconnecting to spirit.
AieaChris
November 7, 2018 at 1:21 pmThis was my first trip to an ayahuasca retreat. This place was so much more than I’d expected. First, the place is safe. I have never been as vulnerable in my life and the staff and shaman there were the perfect place to open up like that. I’d also say that I would feel 100% comfortable recommending this to women. One of the core principals that Nihue Rao functions under is that ALL pasajeros are treated with the respect and care that you would expect from a spiritual center. The facilities are clean and well tended. The maloka is absolutely beautiful. The facilitators are genuine and completely invested in helping you to have a healthy and productive experience. During the ceremonies I kept getting the big picture of the level of service they were providing to humanity. I went in expecting a shaman in the ceremonies. We had a minimum of 6. I didn’t really understand how powerful the icaros are. When these people start working on you, you know it. I can’t tell you how or why, but these folks are the real deal. I guess the best testimony I heard was from several people who had gone to other centers. In their own way, they all said that they had experienced powerful things before but that this place was in a league of it’s own.
cmckinzie
October 31, 2018 at 12:53 pmA dear friend and I went to Nihue Rao this past August; we originally planned to stay for a week with the intention of doing some deep healing. After our initial consultation at the center, we were encouraged to extend our stay to 10 days to add Master Plants to support the work. I’m very glad that we did. If you are trying to decide between a week or 10 days, I highly recommend the longer stay.
As most reviews say, this is a place for healing rather than fantastic visions, although I received those as well. The retreat center itself is set up and run very smoothly and feels very safe for female-identified travelers. The accommodations are simple, comfortable, and lovely; pulling the mosquito netting over your bed after ceremony feels like you are in a jungle cocoon. At one point, a small dresser magically appeared in my room which made me smile.
I was requesting a lot of physical healing, as well as healing for mental health issues. We thought of the experience as checking ourselves in to “spiritual hospital” and being willing to follow the advice, treatment plan, diet, medicines, and interventions of this tradition with faith and trust in the process. Ricardo and the team of shamans are amazing healers.
It was very helpful to have a close friend to swing on the hammocks with, and process material that came up after ceremony. We read Dr. Joe’s book aloud to each other during the day, which made the work really come alive. Bring some good books that support your work, a journal, a friend, an extra pillow, warmer clothes than you think you need in the jungle (it got a little damp-chilly at night and I needed an extra hoodie and long sleeved shirt), and an open heart.
The 10 days jump-started my healing process; since I’ve been home there is more work to be done and I’m finding the right people to support that work, taking better care of my body and mind, feel lighter and brighter, and generally feel more hopeful. I’m sure I’ll go back when it feels like the time is right. Thank you to the caring and loving staff for all of their support!
Tanamemo
October 23, 2018 at 9:19 amMy girlfriend Lynette and I visited Nihue Rao in October of 2018. It was the most amazing experience of love light and healing. I must say it was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. Benoit,Lewis and harry were amazing and Nihue Rao is run so professionally.ill just say at this point ,PLEASE READ THE REVIEW BY Jade Carver. Her review says everything I would in the most articulate manner. Everything she says is accurate . This is not a plac e to go do drugs ,it is a healing center. I will also say I feel I’ve made friends for life.ive been home for one day and I miss them already. I just want give vey special thanks to Harry for having my back and to Lewis for taking special care of my beloved Lynette. Benoit you work so hard. I love you guys and hope to see you again soon. Love and blessings. Dru
Claytoast
October 21, 2018 at 10:03 pmThis center was recommended by a friend and I am so happy I listened. Everything about my experience here was nothing short of amazing. From the people who run it, to the people who were my co-passengers, we will all be friends for life.
The Insight I gained here has changed my life forever and I cannot wait to come back to do a longer diet.