Ayahuasca Retreat Reviews — Helping You Stay Safe with 5,000+ Independent Reviews
The mission of Yosi Ocha, The Peruvian Institute of Shamanism and Natural Medicine, since its foundation in 2014, has been to establish a brand of excellence in the preservation of authentic Shipibo shamanic practices. Maestro Heberto García, who is today one of the most recognized shamans among the Shipibo descendants, preserves this indigenous tradition with great rigor. The centre was named after his grandfather and mentor, Yosi Ocha, known as the last Meraya, a title granted to curanderos that attained the highest level of shamanism.
Today we pride ourselves on offering the most complete combination of original Shipibo shamanic treatments available. The centre is the ideal refuge for those who seek deep healing and transformation through a personalised program, or wish to be trained in the fascinating art of shamanism following the ancient Shipibo tradition. Maestro Heberto makes a holistic diagnosis of each guest and designs a tailor-made program taking into account his or her individual objectives.
The passengers are free to choose the starting date and duration of their stay. Many centres offer retreats with fixed start and end dates for cost savings reasons, but in Yosi Ocha we believe that such rigidity does not favour the personalised treatment approach and goes against the central shamanic spirit that values the healing and promotion of integral well-being above any consideration of personal benefit.
Yosi Ocha is located in the depths of the Amazon rainforest, about 20 km southeast of Iquitos, in the Allpahuayo Mishana National Park. The diverse ecosystem in this magnificent part of the jungle includes majestic trees of impressive sizes, streams of reddish water and distinctive white sands that contribute even more to the enchanting beauty of the place.
Once a year, Maestro Heberto travels to Europe (Holland, Spain, etc.) to conduct intensive 3-days healing retreats. These retreats are an excellent opportunity to carry out deep personal work in a safe and loving environment, while discovering his unique approach to the medicine and healing.
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reverend_reality
March 8, 2025 at 2:00 pmI recently attended a week-long retreat at Yosi Ocha (now called Onikano). My experience was a mixed bag and largely departed from the glowing reviews others have left. I’ll share my thoughts, beginning with the positives.
Upon arrival, the retreat center immediately embraces you with its stunning jungle surroundings. The property is vast, covered in thick vegetation that gives way to open areas where guests can sit in quiet contemplation or swim in the lagoon.
During my stay, I learned how to prepare and take a plant bath. Each morning, I gathered leaves from pre-identified trees and poured the infused water over my head and body. Chilly but refreshing.
At night, the jungle came alive with a crescendo of sounds that lulled me into a pleasant rest. Some may find this overwhelming, so bringing earplugs is advisable.
The real highlight at Onikano is the ayahuasca medicine. If you separate it from the surrounding chaos (which I’ll soon address), its strength and potency are undeniable. The ayahuasca at Onikano is powerful.
Now, onto the negatives—unfortunately, there are many.
Advertised as a place for deep, personalized healing, Onikano fell far short. After a brief consultation with Maestro Heberto, every guest in my cohort was prescribed the same plant dieta. Days were mostly unstructured, leaving guests to their own devices.
The first ceremony was shocking. The website describes a thoughtful approach to administering ayahuasca, with dosages tailored to each individual. In reality, newcomers received the same, if not more, ayahuasca as experienced guests. This was true for both me (an experienced participant) and my friend, a first-timer.
In later ceremonies, guests were free to determine their own dosage. Some were clearly more interested in indulging than healing. One guest, for example, treated the experience like a competition to see who could consume the most medicine.
Even more concerning, guests could choose whichever medicine they felt like consuming. I had assumed the Maestro would prescribe what each person needed, but I was mistaken. Ayahuasca? Sure! Sacred powder? Why not? Rapé? Have at it! Dosage? Entirely up to the guest.
Another issue was Maestro Heberto’s absence during most of the ceremonies. After singing personal icaros at the beginning, he disappeared. Facilitators claimed he was “working remotely,” but there was no evidence of this. It seemed more likely that he simply went home, leaving his sister, aunt, and two facilitators to manage the guests.
The guest dynamics were also problematic. A wide range of personalities attended, which is expected at such retreats, but there was no effort to curb those who treated it as a psychedelic bender. Some guests were standoffish and territorial. One individual even claimed the space above the ceremonial area as his own, literally looking down on the rest of us.
Another frustrating aspect was the staggered arrival and departure schedules. Some guests stayed for several weeks, while others were there for just one. This created an awkward dynamic where long-term guests ignored new arrivals. Each week brought a new mix of personalities, not all of whom meshed well with the holdovers.
The food, often praised in other reviews, was inconsistent and poorly planned. One lunch included spaghetti, a hard-boiled egg, sweet potatoes, rice, lentils, shredded beets, tomatoes and lettuce — a bizarre mix. It was okay, but far from the nourishing meals one might expect at a healing retreat.
Despite the abundance of fresh fruit available in nearby Iquitos, the retreat only offered mealy apples and overripe bananas. When these ran out, they were not restocked. It felt as if keeping fresh food in supply simply wasn’t a priority.
A final note concerns the primary point of contact for guests, a woman named Barbara. If you expect to meet her upon arrival, you will be disappointed — she allegedly resides in Serbia. While this is not inherently a problem, it was never disclosed beforehand, making it an odd surprise.
Having attended a different retreat before Onikano, I have a basis for comparison. With that in mind, I cannot recommend Onikano to anyone. It was a disappointing experience that lacked the reverence and focus on healing that ayahuasca deserves. Ayahuasca is a powerful medicine, but it requires the right conditions and a group aligned in solemn energy to be truly effective.
P.S. I wasn’t sure where to include this, so I’ll leave it here. Onikano hosts up to 15 guests per week, each paying $1,400. That amounts to $21,450 per week — around $85,000 per month and more than $1 million per year. That’s a substantial sum, even by Western standards, let alone in Peru, where the average salary is $500-$800 per month. Despite this, some guests felt compelled to fundraise for Maestro Heberto so he could have some of his favorite shirts. Really. (See photo.) It’s hard to believe he couldn’t afford them himself.
frenchwoman
January 1, 2025 at 9:17 amI have never been to any other places providing this médecine before, but I did some Ayahuasca ceremonies in France, and there is absolutely nothing to compare. This shaman family do really master their craft, they are able to heal you for real. It was not an easy process for me but if I had to do it again I’ll definitely do it, and I am already planning to go there again to go deeper in the healing and de programming of myself.
During an Ayahuasca ceremony in France, the plant showed me that I had a dark entity inside of my belly, it was so stuck and impossible to remove it there, and I quickly understood that if I wanted to get rid of it, I had to travel to the land of Ayahuasca and find the real doctors who really know how to use Ayahuasca. And it was the case with this shaman family in Yosi Ocha. They did on me what we call an extraction, it took one week and a half, and I left the place as a free human being after three weeks treatment. So yeah, I do recommend this place, first it’s an amazing place, and on top of it Heberto, his sister Eunice and his aunt are so full of love, I have felt safe and protected during my whole journey, they took care of me, I was never left alone with my struggle. Even when I was going through very hard hard moments, I knew I was safe, and these are words from an ancient paranoiac woman who had never felt safe her whole life !! There is not a single day that my heart does not send them all its gratitude and I will be grateful to them all my life because they have saved me. Thanks Barbara that you have opened this place to the world.
On top of it, it’s not only just about Ayahuasca healing. It’s really a treatment, with different plants, and this treatment is personalized to each one of us. The Ayahuasca is actived and programmed personnaly to each one of us. It’s not like they make you drink the brew and let’s see what happen ! No, they programm it for your personnal healing in order that you receive what you need. The San Pedro ceremonies offers a powerfull healing too, for me it was like an emotionnal release of all the whole work done with Ayahuasca, and much more. Words are not enough to describe the way these médecines are working, but they do work. The combination of both Ayahuasca and San Pedro is really a great idea. Plant bath, mud bath are also powerfull tools, helping you to connect more with Pachamama. And then the forest with the master trees is another powerfull help, I was there almost everyday, talking to the trees and receiving their healing.
Going there was the best thing I have never done in my life. And all the people I have met there were awesome, i keep them inside my heart 🙂 I recommend at least to stay two weeks, it’s expensive but it definitely worths it. For the sensitive beings bring earplug and mask, and a powerfull light for your room. See you soon Yosi Ocha !
Boa Gente
December 30, 2024 at 4:48 amI recently spent a week at Yosi Ocha. It was a beautiful experience and without going in so much details as other participants have described in their reviews, I concur with everything they wrote and I recommend highly Yosi Ocha to anyone wanting an authentic, loving and safe Ayahuasca experience in the Amazonian rainforest.
Although, in the best of sense, Yosi Ocha is set-up to cater for westerners with their specific needs and expectations, thanks to the amazing support of Barbara and Tulia – the center is owned by a Shipibo family of Shamans, Maestro Herberto, Tia Ercilia and Eunice, which for me was a big factor in choosing Yosi Ocha over other centers which are owned by foreigners… hoping to contribute in this way for this ancient and mysterious culture to be preserved by and for the benefit of its authentic legatees.
Spending time at Yosi Ocha is like getting invited to peak into the magical reality of the Shipibo tribe and gaining a new perspective on nature, the cosmos and ourselves. It is a holistic experience engaging all of our senses and levels of consciousness not only through the plant medicine but also through the mystical Icaros songs, the connection to the energetic intensity of the rainforest, the cleansing with mud and flower baths, the nurturing of the Shamans and the staff, the wholesome food prepared with love and the sharing of this spiritual and joyous adventure with genuinely good people from all over the world.
If you feel the call to go there, don’t hesitate!
I am so grateful to have had this experience and I hope to be back one day…
josee
December 16, 2024 at 12:20 pmYosi Ocha is, without a doubt, the best decision I have ever made in my life!
Starting with Barbara, this beautiful soul makes your experience seamless even before you arrive at the retreat. She facilitates communication and addresses all your questions ahead of time, making you feel like you are already part of this large family. Thank you, Barbarita! If you don’t speak Spanish, there’s no need to worry, as they provide translators. I had the chance to be there when Tulia and Wyppi were present, and they are not just translators; they are caring friends who genuinely want to assist you to the best of their abilities! I was looking for a place where I wouldn’t have to share my sleeping space, and Yosi Ocha offers cozy bungalows that meet everyone’s needs! I couldn’t ask for anything better. The food is simply delicious. Chef Ruben prepares and cooks for us every day, accommodating all our special dietary requirements!
This retreat is like an oasis in the heart of the jungle, and I truly feel very safe here!
The reason I chose Yosi Ocha is the smaller number of participants at a time. Maestro Herberto, his sister Heo, and Tia Hernissa are the heart of this family retreat, and they are doing extraordinary work for each one of us. There is genuine healing taking place here, and words cannot adequately express the love and devotion they are pouring into each of us! This is a true love story! I also want to acknowledge my dear friend Dorocco, who was present at every ceremony and throughout the property, providing us with care and support. This is not an adiós; it is a hasta luego because I know I will be back! My visit was about connection and healing, and I felt fully supported throughout the experience. I made friends for life!
mandeepsaini
December 4, 2024 at 12:44 pmI remember when I came across this retreat online and saw all the five-star reviews, I asked myself, “Is this too good to be true?” But then I explored their website and could tell it was genuinely written. I immediately connected with Barbara and asked if it was safe for a solo woman. She was so specific and kind right from the start. I’m sharing how I found this retreat because I know many solo travelers are reading reviews like this. If you’re wondering and feeling skeptical, as I did, don’t be—little did I know this place would turn into a Wishing Well for me.
# Ceremonies
The ceremonies are profound and can be intense, depending on the amount of medicine you take. The medicine is wise; it doesn’t give you what you want but what you need. Before starting, everyone in the group is thoroughly briefed about how the ceremonies work, the process, and detailed instructions. The ceremonies take place in the main maloka, a sacred and pure space filled with special energy.
During the ceremonies, the maestros sit at the center of the room, monitoring the experience alongside a translator. Each participant has a designated mattress and a bucket for purging, facing the center of the room. If someone enters a deep trance, the maestras, who are highly trained, provide care and help guide the process. They are incredible at what they do.
After the first round of administering ayahuasca, the maestros begin singing icaros. These songs are so beautiful, it feels like a divine download into your body as they sing. The maestros’ voices are captivating, guiding you through the ceremony with their melodies. Doroteo, who often sits near the door, helps participants during their trance states. Overall, the ceremonies are masterfully administered. Get ready for profound, deep healing.
# The People
# Maestro Heberto
He is a magical healer and an incredibly kind human being, full of love and compassion. From the first consultation, you can feel his energy—a blend of deep knowledge and confidence. His aura sparkles, and he ensures everything is translated well so everyone feels safe and informed. His icaros are melodic and deeply healing.
The way he runs this center with love, care, and his incredible gift is inspiring. He takes great care of his staff, manages the ceremonies flawlessly, and works tirelessly. Huge respect for him. May the universe bless him with even more happiness, love, and success so healing becomes more accessible to humanity. I feel so lucky to have been part of this experience.
# Maestra Eunice
She is such a kind soul, always smiling warmly and radiating kindness. She gives wonderful massages, and her voice is like a nightingale when she sings icaros. During ceremonies, she helps participants who are in deep trances, removing negative energies with incredible skill. She helped me a couple of times, and I felt held by her as if she were pulling out the bad energies from my body. It was magical. I miss her deeply.
# Maestra Cecilia
She is like a surrogate mother. She helped me multiple times during my ceremonies, especially in my first week when I was very emotional. She comforted me with maternal love, holding me, kissing my forehead, wiping my tears, and hugging me. She even removed negative energies from my belly and head during one panic attack, making me feel normal again. That experience was profoundly healing. I am so grateful to her and tear up just thinking about it. I miss her so much.
# Doroteo
I love Doroteo. He is the sweetest—so kind and such a beautiful soul, and I’ll always cherish the kindness he showed.
# Tulia
Tulia is such a gentle and nurturing presence. She exudes warmth and kindness that makes everyone feel at ease. During my stay, she often checked in on me to ensure I was comfortable and supported. Her calming energy and genuine care were incredibly reassuring, and I’m so grateful for her role in my journey. She’s truly a gem.
# Barbara
From the moment I spoke with Barbara while booking the retreat, I could tell she was amazing. She is disciplined, warm, and incredibly organized. She manages the center like a boss! I miss her dearly and admire her so much.
# Fellow Participants
One of the highlights of this journey was meeting the other visitors at the retreat. They were some of the kindest, most compassionate people I’ve ever encountered. Sharing this experience with them created deep connections that I will always cherish. I’m so grateful to have met them on this path.
# The Staff
Every single staff member is kind-hearted, cheerful, and dedicated. They ensure everyone is comfortable and safe, even standing on guard at night to provide security. I felt so safe and cared for by them.
# The Forest
The forest is breathtaking. Pachamama is thriving here. The master trees are magnificent, with the Lagarto tree being my favorite. These trees seem to talk back to you, and visiting them feels like connecting with an ancient, wise friend. Be prepared, though—the “tax” to visit them is mosquito bites. Cover up and use repellent, but even then, it’s worth it. The forest’s beauty is beyond words.
# Bungalows
The bungalows are charming, with peaceful forest sounds at night. Each has a shower, toilet, and my favorite—a hammock—perfect for relaxation. The screens ensure no bugs or insects get in, and they even provide bug spray, just in case.
# The Lake
The man-made lake adds an extra layer of tranquility to the experience. The water temperature is perfect, making it a relaxing spot to swim and unwind.
# Other Details
The program is thoughtfully designed with activities like plant baths, mud baths, and orientations with the teacher trees—all wonderful ways to connect with Pachamama. The food was amazing; I’ll never forget the delicious watermelons, passion fruits, and papayas that everyone devoured within minutes.
I also made such good connections with other visitors at the retreat. They were incredibly kind-hearted, and I am so grateful to have met them on this journey.
# Conclusion
I spent two weeks here, and I was showered with love, care, and happiness. I’ve never experienced so much unconditional love anywhere. This place truly is a wishing well for me. As I continue to integrate the insights and visions from my ceremonies, I feel more peace and calmness than ever before. I returned home with a heart full of gratitude, love, and compassion. I can’t wait to reunite with my Yosi Ocha family. I love you all ❤️.
Note: This review was edited for over-punctuation, but has otherwise been left in its original form.