Is the ayahuasca retreat in Iquitos suitable for first-timers?

Yes. We welcome both first-time and experienced participants. Every guest receives personalized guidance and individual consultations with Shipibo healer Don Miguel before, during, and after each ceremony.

How much does the ayahuasca retreat in Peru cost?

Our 11-day ayahuasca retreat in Iquitos, Peru is priced from $2,300 USD for South American residents up to $3,300 USD for standard booking. All prices include accommodation, meals, 5 ceremonies, master plant dieta, and integration support.

What is included in the 11-day ayahuasca retreat?

The retreat includes 11 days private accommodation, 5 supervised ayahuasca ceremonies, a personalized master plant dieta, 2-3 meals per day, plant baths, vapor baths, icaros classes, individual consultations with Don Miguel, and pre and post retreat support sessions.

We operate with the highest safety standards in the industry, developed in partnership with ICEERS. Safety measures include rigorous medical and psychological screening, a maximum group size of 12-15 participants, 24-hour emergency transport, and on-call medical staff in Iquitos.

Where is the retreat center located?

Our retreat center El Encanto de Chullachaqui is located in the Peruvian Amazon, a short distance from Iquitos in the Loreto Region of Peru. Transport from Iquitos to the center is included.

7-Day Ayahuasca & Huachuma / San Pedro Retreat in Peru

Ayahuasca opens the path. Huachuma grounds the heart.

What's Included

What is this retreat?

What to Expect

A 7-day plant medicine immersion in the Peruvian Amazon combining 2 Ayahuasca ceremonies led by Maestro Don Miguel — Shipibo curandero and healer — with 1 Huachuma / San Pedro ceremony led by an experienced and initiated facilitator. Held at El Encanto de Chullachaqui near Iquitos, Peru. Maximum 12 participants. Private jungle tambos with private bathrooms.

This is not a casual encounter with plant medicine. And it is not a rush through the forest.

In seven days at El Encanto de Chullachaqui — the jungle home of Shipibo curandero Maestro Don Miguel — you will work with two of the most respected healing traditions in South America. Ayahuasca, held in the Shipibo way, will invite you inward — into the roots of what is asking to be seen, healed, or understood. Huachuma / San Pedro, the great heart medicine of the Andes, will then open and illuminate what moved in the night, bringing it into the light of the day.

This retreat is designed for those who are ready to go deep, but cannot yet commit to a longer dieta. It holds the same Shipibo lineage, the same center, the same curandero team, and the same depth of care as our longer retreats — in a format that fits seven days of your life

AYA Healing Retreats is as featured in Forbes Australia. Our safety standards are developed in partnership with ICEERS (International Centre for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service).

Why Choose This 7-Day Retreat?

The plant medicine world has many options. What makes this one worth your time, your preparation, and your trust?

Authentic Shipibo Lineage with Maestro Don Miguel

The Ayahuasca ceremonies in this retreat are led by Maestro Don Miguel — a Shipibo curandero born into the tradition. His lineage was passed to him by his grandfather, a respected community healer. His icaros carry that transmission. This is not a curated "shamanic experience" — it is the real thing, held with the same integrity that has guided hundreds of guests through AYA Healing Retreats' longer programs.
Two Sacred Medicines in One Complete Journey

Very few retreats offer both Ayahuasca and Huachuma / San Pedro in a single well-held container. When sequenced with care — as they are in this retreat — the two medicines form a coherent arc: the depth and inner work of Ayahuasca followed by the heart opening and grounding of Huachuma. Amazonian medicine and Andean medicine. Together, in one week.
Small Group. Private Tambos. Deep Amazon Jungle.

With a maximum of 12 participants, every person receives genuine attention from the team and the maestro. You sleep in your own private tambo — a jungle bungalow with a private bathroom, shower, double bed, a private deck, and a hammock — surrounded by the sounds and rhythms of the Amazon at El Encanto de Chullachaqui.
Safety and Support at Every Step

AYA Healing Retreats does not fill seats. Every participant goes through a thorough application and screening process. Our safety standards are developed in partnership with ICEERS. Two English-speaking facilitators accompany the group throughout the retreat alongside the Shipibo maestro team. Pre-retreat preparation and post-retreat integration support are included.
Serious Healing. Accessible Format.

Seven days is enough time to do real, meaningful work — if the container is designed well. This retreat is designed to give you two Ayahuasca ceremonies with proper rest and integration between each, a Huachuma ceremony to close and ground the process, and the full support of workshops, plant treatments, and facilitation. It is a serious retreat. It is simply shorter.
Trauma-Informed & Culturally Rooted

We honor the Shipibo tradition while integrating modern, trauma-informed practices. All elements are held in a safe, inclusive, and grounded space.

A Different Doorway— Not a Shortened Dieta

Let us be clear from the beginning: this retreat is not a shortened version of our 11-day Ayahuasca and Master Plant Dieta retreat or our deeper Shamanic Initiation path.

The 11-day dieta is a deep, extended immersion into one plant tradition. Participants receive a personalized Master Plant Dieta — a process of working with a specific plant teacher over many days, alongside five Ayahuasca ceremonies. It requires longer commitment, deeper restriction, and is designed for those who are ready for that particular call.

This 7-day retreat is a different journey entirely. It does not include a Master Plant Dieta or individualized plant treatments. Instead, it brings together two traditions — Amazonian and Andean — in a single, purposeful week. The depth comes not from duration but from intentionality: every element of this retreat, from the icaros workshop with Don Miguel to the Huachuma ceremony at the jungle’s edge, is designed to serve a complete healing arc.

This retreat is complete in itself. It is not a preparation for something else, though many who complete it feel called to continue on the dieta path. It is a different doorway into healing — one that is more accessible in terms of time, while preserving the integrity, safety, and Shipibo-rooted care that defines everything AYA Healing Retreats offers.

How This Retreat Compares to Our Longer Programs

The table below is offered to help you understand your options — not to rank one retreat above another. Each serves a different purpose and a different call.

← Swipe to compare →

	7-Day Ayahuasca & Huachuma Retreat	11-Day Ayahuasca & Master Plant Dieta	26-Day Deep Dieta Immersion
Duration	7 days / 6 nights	11 days / 10 nights	26 days / 25 nights
Ayahuasca ceremonies	2	5	10
Huachuma / San Pedro	✔ 1 ceremony	✗ Not included	✗ Not included
Master Plant Dieta	✗ Not included	✔ Personalized	✔ Deep immersion
Plant treatments	Plant baths, vapor baths, flower bath	Full individualized treatments	Full individualized treatments
Icaros class	✔ Included	✔ Included	✔ Included
Don Miguel workshops	✔ Included	✔ Included	✔ Included
Noya Rao night walk	✔ Included	✔ Included	✔ Included
Cacao ceremony	✔ Included	✔ Included	✔ Included
Group size	Max 12	Max 14	Max 12
Accommodation	Private tambo, ensuite	Private tambo, ensuite	Private tambo, ensuite
Standard price	USD $1,950	USD $2,700–$3,300	USD $4,900–$5,900
Best for	First-timers, shorter time, two-medicine path	Deeper healing, Master Plant Dieta call	Extended initiation, serious curanderismo study

Who This Retreat Is For

This retreat may be right for you if:

You feel genuinely called to work with Ayahuasca and are ready to take the step — with care, preparation, and sincere intention. Learn more about Ayahuasca >>
You feel drawn to Huachuma / San Pedro and want to experience both Amazonian and Andean medicines in a single well-held container
You have limited time and cannot commit to an 11-day or 26-day dieta retreat, but you want a real, serious plant medicine experience — not a shortened version of the deeper path, but a complete journey in its own right
You are new to Ayahuasca and want your first experience to be held by an experienced Shipibo curandero in an authentic jungle setting, with full support before, during, and after
You are new to Huachuma / San Pedro and want to work with this medicine for the first time in a structured, facilitated container
You are seeking clarity, emotional release, reconnection, spiritual reset, grounding, heart opening, life direction, or inner guidance — and you understand that plant medicine can open space for this work, but does not replace your own engagement with the process
You are open to the Shipibo tradition and Andean medicine traditions, and approach them with respect and humility

Ayahuasca Opens. Huachuma Grounds.

Our Women’s Retreat is a unique immersion in the heart of the Amazon. Below you’ll find key highlights of your daily journey, ceremonies, and healing practices.

Huachuma: The Heart-Opening Medicine of the Andes

Huachuma (also widely known as San Pedro) is a sacred cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi) that has been used in ceremony and healing for thousands of years by Andean cultures of South America. It is one of the oldest documented medicinal plants on the continent, revered for its capacity to open the heart, clarify the mind, and restore a sense of connection — with oneself, with others, and with the living world.

Where Ayahuasca tends to move inward and downward — into the roots, the depths, the unconscious — Huachuma tends to move outward and upward, into the heart and the senses. It is a medicine of the daylight: gentle in its unfolding, expansive in its reach, deeply grounding in its quality.

In this retreat, Huachuma is offered after the Ayahuasca work is complete. On Day 5, the ceremony opens in the morning and moves through the day — in the maloca, in nature, by the jungle’s edge. What moved in the darkness during the Ayahuasca ceremonies is met by the light of the Huachuma day. The heart opens to receive it. The body comes home.

Ayahuasca: Going Inward with the Shipibo Tradition

The Shipibo tradition and the Andean Huachuma tradition come from different geographical and cultural roots — one from the Amazon rainforest, one from the high Andes. They approach healing from different directions. And yet they are deeply complementary.

Ayahuasca opens the inner world — the emotional body, the subconscious, the energetic field. Huachuma receives what Ayahuasca revealed and meets it with love, clarity, and grounding. In traditional understanding, the Amazon is the realm of the roots and the depths; the Andes is the realm of the heart and the sky. When sequenced with care and proper rest between them, the two medicines can support a fuller arc of healing than either might offer alone.

This combination is not casual or commercial. It is offered in this retreat with reverence for both traditions — and with the understanding that the two medicines are each given their own complete ceremony, their own proper preparation, and their own respectful holding.

Availability: Reserve Your Spot Today

Our retreats fill quickly due to limited space, ensuring a personalized and intimate experience.

The 7-Day Journey

The schedule below provides a clear sense of the week’s flow. While we follow this structure, the retreat is always guided by the needs of the group and the guidance of Maestro Don Miguel. Some flexibility is natural and welcome.

+ Day 1 — Arrival, Orientation & Intention Setting ›

October 24

11:30 amDeparture from Iquitos Airport and / or a designated meeting point in Iquitos. Our team receives you and travels with you to the center.

2:00 pmArrival and check-in at El Encanto de Chullachaqui. Orientation to the center, your tambo, and the rhythms of the jungle.

2:30 pmLunch.

4:00–6:00 pmGroup intention-setting workshop. We gather as a group to introduce ourselves, share what brought us here, and set our intentions for the week with care and honesty. This is an important moment — the container begins here.

6:00–7:00 pmDinner.

7:00–8:00 pmNoya Rao night walk. An evening immersion in the jungle at El Encanto de Chullachaqui — a living encounter with the forest at night, guided by our team.

9:00 pmSilence begins.

+ Day 2 — Individual Consultation & First Ayahuasca Ceremony ›

October 25

8:00–10:00 amBreakfast.

9:30 am–12:00 pmIndividual consultations with Maestro Don Miguel. Each participant meets privately with Don Miguel to share their intentions, health background, and what they are bringing into the work. This consultation is essential — it is how the maestro begins to know you and how the medicine work is personalized.

12:00–1:00 pmLunch.

3:30–5:30 pmCeremony guidelines and preparation session with the facilitation team. What to expect during the ceremony, how to work with the medicine, the protocols of the maloca, and how to support yourself and your fellow participants.

7:30 pm onwardsFirst Ayahuasca ceremony with Maestro Don Miguel. The maloca opens. The icaros begin. The medicine does its work.

+ Day 3 — Integration, Vapor Baths & Shipibo Teachings ›

October 26

8:30–10:30 amBreakfast (or fasting for those personally guided to continue).

10:30 am–12:00 pmGroup sharing and integration circle. A facilitated space to process and ground what arose in the first ceremony. Sharing with the group in a safe container deepens and clarifies the personal process.

12:00–2:00 pmLunch.

2:00–4:00 pmVapor baths. A traditional Amazonian purification — medicinal plants heated to produce a cleansing steam that supports the body's continued release and integration after ceremony.

4:00–5:30 pmLecture and workshop with Maestro Don Miguel. Don Miguel teaches on themes from the Shipibo cosmological and medicinal tradition — plant spirits, the nature of healing, the role of the curandero, and the world of the icaros.

6:30–7:30 pmDinner (or continued fasting if personally guided).

9:30 pmSilence.

+ Day 4 — Icaros, Purgative Support & Second Ayahuasca Ceremony ›

October 27

7:00–8:00 amOptional voluntary purgative plant support. For those who feel called to participate, a traditional purgative plant can support deep cleansing of the physical and energetic body before the second ceremony. Participation is always voluntary.

9:00–10:30 amBreakfast.

10:30 am–12:00 pmIcaros class with Maestro Don Miguel. Don Miguel teaches the healing songs of the Shipibo tradition. Participants are invited to listen, learn, and understand how the icaros work as a form of energetic medicine. One of the most intimate and memorable mornings of the week.

12:00–2:00 pmLunch.

2:00–3:30 pmVapor bath. Second purification session before the evening ceremony.

6:00–7:00 pmRest.

7:30 pm onwardsSecond Ayahuasca ceremony with Maestro Don Miguel. The second ceremony tends to go deeper. The body knows the medicine now. The process continues.

+ Day 5 — Huachuma / San Pedro Ceremony & Heart Integration ›

October 28

This day has its own rhythm. The Huachuma ceremony unfolds slowly through the daylight hours — there is no rush, no agenda, only presence.

10:00 amHuachuma / San Pedro ceremony opens. The medicine is received in a ceremonial space prepared by the Huachuma facilitator. The process is held with care and experience.

11:30 am onwardsGuided journey. As the medicine deepens, the group moves — into nature, into stillness, into their own process. The jungle is the container. The facilitator is present throughout.

4:00 pmReturn to stillness. A shared meal. The medicine begins its descent.

5:30 pmLove bath / flower bath. A traditional closing ceremony using flowers and medicinal plants — a blessing that cleanses, softens, and seals the work of the day.

6:30 pmClosing fire ceremony. A gentle close to a full and open day.

+ Day 6 — Integration, Cacao & Embodiment ›

October 29

8:30–9:30 amBreakfast.

10:30 am–12:00 pmIntegration group circle and workshop. Two Ayahuasca ceremonies and the Huachuma day are now complete. This morning we begin the essential work of integration — understanding what arose, what shifted, and how to carry it home. Facilitated by the team with depth and warmth.

12:00–1:30 pmLunch.

3:30 pmCacao ceremony and dance. Sacred cacao — offered as a heart medicine and an invitation to celebrate — opens a space for joy, movement, and embodiment. Dance is an ancient form of integration. This afternoon honors the body and the life returning to it.

6:30 pmDinner together.

+ Day 7 — Closing & Departure ›

October 30

8:00–9:00 amBreakfast.

9:00–10:00 amClosing circle and group photos. We close the container together — with gratitude, with honesty, and with a sense of what each person is carrying home. Farewells that matter.

10:30 amDeparture. Transport to Iquitos Airport and / or the designated drop-off point in Iquitos.

After departure, integration support continues. You do not leave the process behind when you leave the jungle.

Meet your Healer

Don Miguel — Shipibo Curandero, Healer & Teacher

Senen Yoi — “Speaking the Truth”

Maestro Don Miguel was born in Roaboya, a Shipibo community on the River Ucayali in the Loreto region of Peru. His grandfather, Angel Sanchez Vargas, was the community’s curandero — a man of deep knowledge, respected for his work with sacred plant medicines and his role as a spiritual guide and healer. The school built in Roaboya was later named after Vargas, and the community became recognized as the first indigenous community of its kind.

Don Miguel grew up immersed in this lineage. From a very young age, he began his apprenticeship as a curandero through plant dietas — the traditional Shipibo process of working in deep relationship with plant spirits over extended periods — under the guidance of his grandfather. He carries the songs, the knowledge, and the responsibility of that transmission.

Don Miguel is not only a curandero but also a trained literature professor with a lifelong dedication to teaching the Shipibo language and culture. Since 2012, he has led ceremonies, workshops, lectures, and retreats at El Encanto de Chullachaqui with AYA Healing Retreats. His icaros — the healing songs at the heart of Shipibo ceremony — carry the depth of that lineage.

Don Miguel

Shipibo Curandero

Huachuma / San Pedro Facilitation

The Huachuma / San Pedro ceremony in this retreat is led by a highly experienced and initiated facilitator who has spent many years in dedicated relationship with this medicine and its Andean traditions.

Huachuma facilitation is its own lineage and its own responsibility. The facilitator guiding this ceremony holds the space with depth and experience — understanding the rhythm of the medicine through the day, how to support different states that may arise, and how to bring the process to a grounded, integrated close.

The Huachuma ceremony at El Encanto de Chullachaqui moves through the natural environment of the center — using the jungle, the sounds, and the living world as part of the medicine experience. This is not a clinical space. It is a living container.

Further details about the Huachuma facilitator will be shared with accepted applicants.

Integration & Preparation

Before arriving, you’ll receive personalized guidance to prepare your body, mind and spirit. After the retreat, we offer continued support to help you integrate the insights and healing into your daily life.

Support: We’re Here to Help

At AYA Healing Retreats, we believe in providing full support to ensure a seamless and transformative experience. If you have any questions or need guidance, our team is here for you every step of the way.

Comprehensive Support Before and After Your Journey with Us

Your transformative journey is fully supported with dedicated guidance before and after your retreat. Begin with a personalized preparation session, designed to help you mentally, emotionally, and physically prepare for the deep work ahead. This session provides essential tools, practices, and insights to ensure you step into the experience with clarity and readiness, allowing for a more profound and meaningful retreat.

After your retreat, continue your journey of integration with a one-hour personalized session, helping you ground and embody the experiences and insights gained. Using somatic-based approaches, this session supports you in applying your healing and transformation to everyday life, ensuring lasting impact and continued personal growth.

This holistic approach, from preparation to integration, ensures you feel fully supported at every stage of your journey.

How to Apply

This retreat is for those ready to commit to their healing path with respect, humility and intention. To apply, click below and complete a short form. A team member will schedule a call to answer your questions and ensure this is the right fit.

1. Pre-Apply by Filling Out the Initial Form

Start your journey by submitting a brief pre-application form to help us get to know you.
2. Complete the Full Application

Once pre-approved, you’ll receive the full application to share more details about your intention and health background.
3. Wait for a Response from Our Team

Our team will review your application carefully and get in touch via email if any further information is needed.
4. Receive the Payment Link

Once accepted, we’ll send you a private payment link to securely reserve your space.
5. Secure Your Spot

Make your payment in full or choose a monthly payment plan to confirm your place in the retreat.
6. Receive Your Welcome Pack

We’ll send you a detailed welcome guide with all the key information to prepare for your experience.
7. Join Our Telegram Community

You’ll be invited to join our private Telegram group to connect with facilitators and fellow participants.
8. Pre-Retreat Integration Call

Our team will schedule a call to guide you through preparation and answer any remaining questions.
9. Attend the Retreat

Travel to our center with clarity and confidence. We’ll be there to receive you and guide the process.
10. Post-Retreat Integration Support

After your retreat, we’ll offer integration support so you can continue the healing journey with clarity and care.
11. Stay Connected

Remain part of our extended community and reach out anytime. We’re here to support your path.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 7-day ayahuasca retreat in Peru suitable for first-timers?

Yes. The 7-day retreat is designed to welcome both first-time and experienced participants. All applicants go through a careful screening process to ensure the retreat is the right fit. First-time participants receive individual consultation with Maestro Don Miguel and full preparation guidance before their first ceremony.

What is the difference between the 7-day retreat and the 11-day Master Plant Dieta retreat?

The 7-day retreat is a complete plant medicine journey combining Ayahuasca and Huachuma / San Pedro. It does not include a Master Plant Dieta or individualized plant treatments. The 11-day dieta retreat includes 5 Ayahuasca ceremonies and a personalized Master Plant Dieta — a deeper, longer immersion for those called to that path. Both are serious retreats; they serve different purposes.

Is it safe to combine Ayahuasca and Huachuma / San Pedro in the same retreat?

Yes, when properly sequenced and held by experienced practitioners. In this retreat, the two ceremonies are separated by a full rest and integration day. Ayahuasca ceremonies are held on Days 2 and 4; the Huachuma / San Pedro ceremony is held on Day 5. Each medicine is respected as its own complete experience. All health information and contraindications are reviewed carefully before any application is accepted.

What is the price of the 7-day ayahuasca retreat?

The standard price is USD $1,950. A Sacred South price of USD $1,450 is available for participants from Central and South American countries. Payment plans are available — ask our team.

What is the Sacred South price?

The Sacred South price (USD $1,450) is a reduced rate available to participants from Central and South American countries. It is offered with respect and gratitude to make the retreat more accessible to our regional community and to honor the heritage of this land.

What is Huachuma / San Pedro?

Huachuma (also known as San Pedro) is a sacred cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi) native to the Andes of South America. Used in ceremony for thousands of years, it is known as a heart-opening medicine — it tends to expand awareness, deepen connection with nature, and bring clarity and compassion. In this retreat, Huachuma / San Pedro is used as a closing ceremony after the Ayahuasca work.

Where is El Encanto de Chullachaqui?

El Encanto de Chullachaqui is a jungle retreat center in the Peruvian Amazon, located near Iquitos in the Loreto region of Peru. Transport from Iquitos Airport and a designated meeting point in Iquitos is included in the retreat package.

What accommodation is provided during the retreat?

Participants stay in private jungle tambos (bungalows) at El Encanto de Chullachaqui. Each tambo includes a private bathroom, shower, toilet, double bed, fully enclosed room, private deck, and hammock — set within the sounds and atmosphere of the Amazon rainforest.

What are the contraindications for this retreat?

People taking SSRIs, MAOIs, antipsychotics, lithium, or other medications with Ayahuasca contraindications should not participate without first tapering safely under medical supervision. People with serious heart conditions, uncontrolled high blood pressure, epilepsy, or in active psychiatric crisis should not participate. A full list of contraindications is provided during the application process. Read our safety FAQ.

How do I apply for the retreat?

Complete the pre-application form on this page. Our team will review it, schedule a personal call with you, and guide you through the next steps. The retreat is application-based — not first-come, first-served.

What Our Guests Say

Hear directly from those who have walked this transformative journey with us. Their stories reflect the deep healing, spiritual awakening, and growth they experienced during our Ayahuasca retreat.

7-Day Ayahuasca & Huachuma / San Pedro Retreat in Peru

What is this retreat?

What to Expect

Why Choose This 7-Day Retreat?

Authentic Shipibo Lineage with Maestro Don Miguel

Two Sacred Medicines in One Complete Journey

Small Group. Private Tambos. Deep Amazon Jungle.

Safety and Support at Every Step

Serious Healing. Accessible Format.

Trauma-Informed & Culturally Rooted

A Different Doorway— Not a Shortened Dieta

How This Retreat Compares to Our Longer Programs

Who This Retreat Is For

Ayahuasca Opens. Huachuma Grounds.

Huachuma: The Heart-Opening Medicine of the Andes

Ayahuasca: Going Inward with the Shipibo Tradition

Availability: Reserve Your Spot Today

The 7-Day Journey

The schedule below provides a clear sense of the week’s flow. While we follow this structure, the retreat is always guided by the needs of the group and the guidance of Maestro Don Miguel. Some flexibility is natural and welcome.

Meet your Healer

Don Miguel — Shipibo Curandero, Healer & Teacher

Don Miguel

Huachuma / San Pedro Facilitation

Integration & Preparation

Support: We’re Here to Help

Comprehensive Support Before and After Your Journey with Us

How to Apply

1. Pre-Apply by Filling Out the Initial Form

2. Complete the Full Application

3. Wait for a Response from Our Team

4. Receive the Payment Link

5. Secure Your Spot

6. Receive Your Welcome Pack

7. Join Our Telegram Community

8. Pre-Retreat Integration Call

9. Attend the Retreat

10. Post-Retreat Integration Support

11. Stay Connected

Frequently Asked Questions

What Our Guests Say

Not Included

Don Miguel

Shipibo Curandero

AKA Senen Yoi - 'Speaking the Truth'

Don Miguel

Shipibo Curandero

AKA Senen Yoi - 'Speaking the Truth'

Atira Tan

Trauma Specialist - Mentor

Atira Tan

Trauma Specialist - Mentor