“My time at La Medicina was deeply transformative” 

Claire, United Kingdom

“The best decision I made to becoming a better person” 

Sophie, New Zealand

“The wealth of knowledge shared about the Shipibo tradition deepened our trust and reverence for the medicine and ceremony” 

Conner, Canada

La Medicina stands as a sanctuary nestled within the Peruvian Amazon Jungle, presenting a traditional and serene backdrop for the profound healing journey that Ayahuasca offers. Our Ayahuasca retreat center is dedicated to those seeking healing and a strong connection with nature, facilitated through the ancient wisdom of the Shipibo and the keystone of their tradition, Ayahuasca.

We hold a deep conviction that health, happiness, and freedom are not merely aspirations but the very essence of our birthright. Anchored in the wisdom of ancient traditions, we embrace the transformative power of the medicine, guiding each soul on a journey of profound self-discovery and healing.

We understand that the path to personal evolution is paved with authenticity, integrity, vulnerability, and patience. It’s a journey of opening one’s heart to the endless possibilities of what can be, of embracing one’s true self with courage and compassion.

We are committed to the principle of unconditional giving, recognizing it as the most direct path to the expansion of human consciousness. We choose this journey daily, understanding that each step taken is a step towards a more connected, conscious, and harmonious world.

We provide a safe, nurturing space where individuals can explore the depths of their spirit, heal, and form a deep, lasting connection with the natural world. Our mission is to facilitate a journey of self-empowerment that resonates long after our guests return to their daily lives.

Our connection to the Shipibo healers, cultivated over a decade, made our transition to the stewardship of La Medicina a seamless process. We work with healers we have known for a very long time and have developed complete trust in them during those years. To keep things in balance, we always have male and female maestros present for each retreat and each ceremony. This deep-rooted respect for the traditional use of Ayahuasca informs every aspect of our work.

These healers, rooted in a lineage that has long cherished and preserved the sacred practices surrounding Ayahuasca and other Master Plants, bring years of experience and deep spiritual insight into their work. Their guidance ensures that every participant’s journey is both authentic and transformative.

Embracing diversity in all its forms, from the rich biodiversity of our jungle to the myriad of human experiences, is a cornerstone of our philosophy. Though English serves as the lingua franca of our retreats, we celebrate the variety of languages and backgrounds our team and guests bring to this collective journey. We receive guests from every continent (Antarctica remains an exception—for now), and we are proud to serve a diversified clientele.

On an annual basis, we dedicate about half of our time to working with veterans of war. We currently work with two non-profit organizations – Heroic Hearts Project USA and Heroic Hearts Project UK. This privileged work allows us to support the brave souls who’ve served, aiding their path to recovery and peace. The other half of our annual schedule is dedicated to private retreats and serving the public, where witnessing the transformative power of our work fills us with gratitude and love.

Learn more about Ayahuasca on our Harm Reduction Page

RETREATS

6 Day/5 Night Retreat Participants will engage in three Ayahuasca ceremonies throughout the 6 day/5 night retreat, scheduled consecutively over three days. This retreat serves as an ideal introduction for newcomers to Ayahuasca, as well as a convenient option for those with more experience but constrained by time.

8 Day/7 Night Retreat During the 8 day/7 night retreat, participants will attend four Ayahuasca ceremonies. These are organized as two consecutive days of ceremonies, followed by a day of rest, and then another two consecutive days of ceremonies.

10 Day/9 Night Retreat The 10 day/9 night retreat offers participants five Ayahuasca ceremonies. The schedule includes two consecutive days of ceremonies, a day off for rest, followed by another two days of back-to-back ceremonies. This is then succeeded by a day dedicated to reflection, culminating in the final Arkana ceremony.

15 Day/14 Night Master Plant Dieta The 15 day/14 night Master Plant Dieta includes five Ayahuasca ceremonies. In addition to the ceremonies, participants commit to a 5 day fast in isolation. During this period, the Maestro visits participants in their rooms twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, to administer the plant for consumption.

HOW TO JOIN A RETREAT

1. Read our terms and conditions, about us, and retreat and ceremony FAQ and medical contraindications. These retreats are not for everyone and the more clarity you have about us, our location, and our retreats, the more likely it is you can avoid any sort of disappointment. Be absolutely sure our place is what you are looking for.
2. Book your preferred retreat type, date and accommodation.
3. You will be emailed a comprehensive questionnaire. Once you receive it, it is important to answer truthfully all the questions asked as your safety and the safety of all other participants and staff members is our highest priority. Please, e-mail it back as soon as possible – your spot/the room you selected will be held for you until the intake process is completed. You will receive a confirmation e-mail, and once your application is processed by our Intake Team, you will receive an e-mail with available dates for a Zoom or other video call with our Intake Specialist. After your call, you will be informed via e-mail if your application was approved or not.
4. If approved and once we receive the payment, you will receive an email confirming your spot at the retreat. You will also receive the preliminary information about how to start preparing for your retreat, how to adapt your diet, what medications to stop and by when, what to bring, where to stay in Tarapoto before the pick-up day, and other useful tips.

“The most profound and magical experience of my life” 

Jennifer, United States

TIMES

• At 11am on the first day of your retreat, we will pick you up from the lobby of the hotel we use as our pick-up site.
• Retreat start time: 11:30 PET
• End time: 10:00 PET
• Return arrival at designated hotel in Tarapoto expected around 13:00 PET

COSTS

We have three retreat lengths, 6 day/5 night, 8 day/7 night, and 10 day/9 night. Additionally, for individuals driven by a desire for deeper healing and an unparalleled bond with the natural world, we offer a 15 day/14 night Master Plant Dieta. The Master Plant Dieta is designed to provide a deep immersion into the wisdom of the Master Plants, guided by the ancestral knowledge of indigenous Shipibo healers.

Prices range from $1,750-$4,000 USD per person dependant on retreat length and accommodation choice.
 

ACCOMMODATION

Our retreat center is a haven of tranquility, purposely situated away from the distractions of modern life. By eliminating exposure to light and EMF pollution, we offer our guests the unique opportunity for a digital detox. This environment fosters an intimate connection with Mother Earth, encouraging a grounding and rejuvenation that is hard to find elsewhere.

Our facilities feature solar-powered lighting, hot showers, flush toilets, and spring-fed water systems. There are a variety of rooms to choose from, providing options for people with different tastes in accommodation. There are double-occupancy rooms, single-occupancy rooms, and eco-tambos for those seeking a truly traditional experience. Most rooms have a connected terrace so that guests can relax outside in their own space. All rooms, except the eco-tambo and two rooms in Casa Nueva, have their own bathroom. Hammocks are provided for each room, with a place to hang them up and enjoy them.

Our Ayahuasca retreat center in Peru offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature. There are plenty of paths to explore the Jungle safely, offering a chance to connect with nature, which helps retreat guests get into a connected state of mind to communicate with Ayahuasca. An abundance of Chacruna is growing along the paths, and one of the Jungle paths leads to a large Ayahuasca vine that’s been growing on the property for about a decade. There are also a variety of other Master Plants growing on the property, such as Chiric Sanango, Bobinsana, Patiquina Negra, Toe, Katawa, and many others.

LOCATION

Located next to the majestic Cordillera Escalera National Park, which spans 150,000 hectares. La Medicina is at the bottom entrance of this National Park and serves as a gateway to the Amazon rainforest. We are committed to ecological stewardship of this invaluable natural reserve, integrating modern and sustainable comforts to ensure a deeply enriching experience in a setting of safety and tranquility. Located 20 minutes from Tarapoto, Peru, our center offers an off-grid escape, fostering a profound connection with nature.

• Airport: Tarapoto Airport – Cadete FAP Guillermo del Castillo Paredes Airport
• Retreat cost includes pick up and drop off at a designated hotel in Tarapoto
• We can organize private transport for you for $25 USD from the airport or Tarapoto and bring you direct to the center.

“The facilitators demonstrated an extraordinary sensitivity to the needs of each participant, creating an atmosphere of trust and understanding” 

Daniel, Germany

YOUR FACILITATION TEAM

Maestro Jorge

Shipibo name: Iscumeni, which loosely translates into Beautiful World

Jorge started his journey with the medicine in his late twenties and started dieting at the age of 31. He first dieted tobacco for a very long time and became trained as tobaquero first before embarking on his journey to work with ayahuasca. He worked for 8 years as a tobaquero, helping to heal people in his community. While on this task, he kept dieting more plants and learning from Ayahuasca. By the age of 38, he was prepared to incorporate Ayahuasca into his healing service and has been working with the medicine ever since, while still using tobacco frequently. His favorite trees are Huacapurana, Icoja, Chuchuhuasi, Tamamuri, and Murure. He has always been called to help people and has been doing so for over 30 years.

Maestra Sulmira

Shipibo name: Siniveri, which translates to All Equal

Sulmira started to diet at the age of 13 with her father Melchiade Vela Lomas, who was a well-known healer in the region. Her first dieta was with piñon colorado, and she kept dieting with her father for years, sometimes for months at a time. She started to treat people with medicinal plants and ayahuasca in her late twenties, and now has over 23 years of experience in the field. She has always been working with people of all ages, children, adults, and seniors, as from her childhood she had always known that helping people to heal from all sorts of conditions is her calling in life. Sulmira has dieted lots of plants and her favorite ones are piñon colorado, albahaca, bobinsana, and waira caspi.

Kasey Schweickert

Kasey has been studying, teaching, practicing, and offering workshops in the sacred healing and esoteric arts for over 22 years. She has trained and been certified in several modalities, with teachers of multiple disciplinary studies, including indigenous cultural traditions of both North and South America, which allows for deep and comprehensive offerings, teachings and personal sessions.

Kasey has a deep connection with the plant kingdom. In the late 90’s, western medicine was falling short of helping with chronic health issues. That’s when Kasey found help through alternative methods for health and well being. These modalities became her main focus and she spent several years diving deep into the studies of herbalism and earth-based practices. Kasey began her intentional journey, and studies, with Huachuma (San Pedro) and Ayahuasca in 2010. This has led to a continuation of a lifelong journey with the plants and their amazing abilities to assist in the health of humanity. She has studied with many mestizo and traditional lineages of Peru, Columbia, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico and North America. For the past 7 years, Kasey has been working with several Shipibo families in the Amazon diving deeper into her diet work and the traditions of this beautiful culture.

Holding a degree in Sound Therapy, sound and music are an important component to all of her work. Kasey plays a wide variety of instruments and teaches workshops in frame drum and rattle making, along with weaving, sewing and leather crafts. With Kasey’s Masters in Art education, she has taught in public and private school settings, as well as Non-profit organizations, focusing on art, music, gardening and social justice.

Vlad

Vlad was born and raised in the Czech Republic. He left Europe in 1996 to study in the United States and has lived in a variety of countries around the world since then. Vlad’s studies included Physical Education, Geography, and General Human Communication. He holds a Master degree in Liberal Studies focusing on the theme “The Vision of Good and Sustainable Societies”. For the last 2.5 decades Vlad has been exploring health consciousness across physical, mental and spiritual planes.

Vlad came into contact with Ayahuasca for the first time in 2004. In 2011 he moved to Peru to work directly with Shipibo healers in the Amazon jungle. On his journey, Vlad spent five years working at the Temple of the Way of Light – an Ayahuasca healing center, three years studying with a mestizo tabaquero healer in Iquitos, four years on and off learning from a Quechua healer and San Pedro medicine in the mountains of Peru, and four months in Gabon exploring the Bwiti tradition and Iboga. In 2021, Vlad came to facilitate the retreats in Soltara, Costa Rica and helped to bring Soltara to Peru in 2022 by offering Soltara retreats at La Medicina site.

Vlad has love for all plants and all natural medicines, as well as direct experience with many master plants and indigenous traditions. 

Matty Evans

Matty is a facilitator at La Medicina and works as a Liaison and Coach with the non-profit, Heroic Hearts Project (USA and UK), supporting Veterans coming to Peru to experience ayahuasca as an alternative treatment for PTSD, depression, TBI’s and other trauma related ailments.

After a career as a self defense instructor in the UK, and former MMA fighter, Matty found his way to  plant medicine after an accident in 2018 that left him in a wheelchair for several months. During that time he had a calling to face a family related trauma that had been buried deep inside and was on the search for something but was not sure what it was. He was looking for an alternative approach and that is when he found his way to work with ceremonial plant medicines such as Ayahuasca and Psilocybin, among others. This has led to a deep dive into work with Mestizo lineages of Mexico and Peru, and as of late with the Shipibo tradition.

He has been working with groups and individuals in mentally challenging physical and emotional environments for over 25 years. He now focuses on bringing a spiritual element to this environment through breathing exercises, meditation, chanting, movement and other self-care practices.

REFUNDS POLICY: Please note, we do not arrange refunds or exchanges. When possible we encourage reselling on Ticketswap.

ACCESS:  We do our best to include everyone in our events, regardless of health circumstances. If you have access requirements please email the event organiser directly to discuss. Many facilitators are able to offer reduced ticket prices for those truly unable to afford the ticket price. If this applies to you, do please get in touch with the event organiser.

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