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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dgree185
May 1, 2015 at 12:00 amA brief profile of myself: Solo Traveler from Canada age 25, I enjoy being outdoors and challenging myself to what ever activities that provide energetic and stimuli for my brain and body (mentally, physically and spiritually).
Being outside allows the brain to focus, create, and appreciate with an unambiguous coherent perspective on ones life, ?a moment of clarity? as you will. My thoughts and happiness have accelerated from tortes to a hair over the 18-day adventure I had with Dan and the Ayahuasca journey. I have the ability to appreciate, understand and enjoy every moment of life with much more clarity since the experience.
My Ayahuasca adventure journey began in Lima Peru and from the moment I arrived I felt a feeling of comfort, security, and safety. I decided not to take a Spanish intro prior to coming to South America, thinking I could charades my way through bargaining and getting around, but how wrong I was. Getting off the plane in Peru?s largest city (Lima) I found that the city of 9M was plagued by 3rd world poverty and as a tourist it was only a matter of time before I got myself into a sticky situation.
Walking off the plane into the airport was like entering a circus on acid with no one speaking the same language. As I past through the runway of valets and locos twice I saw I sign pop up say ?GREENE? which triggered a calmness back into my body. In my cab within the first 5 minutes of landing I was speaking to beautiful German girl who was fascinating, which foreshadowed the entire trip. It took 85mins to get from the airport to Mira Flores, but once we arrived I knew immediately that the city on the Pacific cost had a lot to offer. My ambition and excitement of being in a new city got me excited and even after 17 hours of straight travel I had to go out and meet, talk, laugh, and eat some delicious food upon dropping off by bags.
I was dropped off by the chauffeur at the ?flying dog hostel? which was completely organized and booked by Dan and Tatyana of ?Pulse Tours? and again I thank you so much for the complete organization, pillow of comfort, and assurance of fun.
Some of the highlights of Mira Flores included my first time surfing, runs along the beach, delicious food, local markets and a good place to meet other travelers.
The second day in Mira Flores I was introduced to a group in which I would share life-changing experiences with over the next 18 days. I feel that Pulse attracts dynamic people who are open-minded and have a lot to offer the world. After sharing these experiences with each individual in the most honest open dimension, I left with a handful of new friends in which our compassion and understanding for each other surmounted that of my long time friends from my home (Canada).
While writing this blog I decided to get up and eat, while eating I thought that if I keep detailing the entire trip this blog review would take up 20 pages. However participating in such an emotional upbringing trip is the biggest and best decision I ever made. I took the leap into the spirit world and to explore the inner workings of my best self. Your reading this because your interested, and you may or may not already know but the trip will change your life in amazing ways. So I give you my memories and experiences on paper for you to see the door of opportunity that lies ahead of yourself.
After leaving Lima we went to visit Cusco, an amazing city in the Andes mountain range. Cusco was the beginning of the psychedelic?s and it below my mind. The culture, food, sites, and people were all stunning beyond imagination and it continued to climax everyday until last day of the 18-day adventure. While in Cusco we indulged into some of the most historic and cultural history the world has over. After experiencing San Pedro in Cusco my life was changed in a good way, however the experience it self was very long (12 hour trip on San Pedro) and for myself it was a bit hazy and dark with very few visions and if I has to do it again I would.
From Cusco the adventure and beauty of the country was displayed and experienced in full volume. Augus Calentias is the town that is situated below ?Macchu Picchu? that has a very individualized energy and vibe to it that I truly enjoyed every moment of. Spending 2 nights and 3 days in the town I experienced some of the best local interaction and played hours of soccer with an entire class of kids from Columbia. Oh ya, we also went to Machu Picchu and experienced the wonder of the world that for an outdoor enthusiast topped all previous experiences of hiking and climbing mountain ranges and crags within Rocky Mountains of Canada. Thinking back writing this I remember having the second day in Augus Calentias as a free day to do as I please and I have to say the set up of this group trip was phenomenal. The effort, organization, and professionalism is evident in the experience and time of your life as there is not to much internal travel but just a perfect amount of sight seeing and plenty of personal time to do a bit of individual random fun (massages, natural hot springs with locals, runs around the town, and eating AAA unknown local food in random hole in the wall places where the charades was the only way of communication to order and talk with the Spanish only speaking locals of Augus Calentas.
After 9 days of action packed country exploring and taking in the best of Peru from surfing on the beautiful Pacific coast to touring the most historic city (Cusco) in the Andies to running the many trails from the base of Machu Picchu we headed to the jungle for seclusion and introspection which changed everything?
Before ending up in the tranquil amazon jungle after a 2 hour joint smoking banana boat ride we spent a day and night in the hustle and bustle of Iquitos which is kind of ironic. Arriving in Iquitos I immediately got the sense of the Bangkok craziness as tuktuk?s and touting to get your business awaited us outside the airport. Again the uneasy situation of wondering what the fuck was averted as Dan and Tatyana were on top of things and got the entire group situated in taxis and soon we were at our hotel which was located in the epicenter of Iquitos. For myself this was the perfect dock into the realm of mind alternating and jungle seclusion for the next 8 days for one reason; we found bomb Sativa weed which was lacking in all other parts of the country. It was very nice to find such high quality sativa energy weed to have for what was about to happen over the next 8 days. One of the only nights that I took a pass on going out was the precursor into ?the best experience of my life? however if you are looking for a party and nightlife this is the place to go which again is kind of ironic because it is the gateway into the amazon where the complete opposite experience is awaiting.
In the banana boat we picked up 3 assets that were invaluable to the entire experience and the rest of the trip, Weeler, Angela, and Victor. As I am writing this in perspective 6 months after the fact I wish I could just insert my journal diary into this section as you are now wanting the juicy details of what happened, what it is like, what I experienced, and how it went down. I have good news and bad news, the Good; still to this date I re-read my journals and this epilogue of my journey which yes has taken this long to produce, but I stand unwaivered on my feelings that it was the most amazing introspective life altering journey of my life that was summed up in a few words, ?FUCK YA GIVE ME MORE , I LOVE IT!, GIVE ME MORE!!!?, and the Bad; by now you may or may not know my experience was like know one else?s and yours will be the same, each experience is like DNA, one of a kind. I can provide details what made my experience so life changing and positive though to make you understand what made it so special for me. I tell everyone 3 things are needed and not suggested but required in my mind to receive benefit and truly experience AY to its full potential; 1) Environment 2) Medicine and Shaman. 3) Intention.
This is what Dan understands and has been engrained and bred into his vision through his extensive experience and personality. He is one of only few individuals who have earned the trust of the Amazonian people that has allowed him to create the ?center? and ?Maloca? which is the best place in the world for this experience to take place in. The location is perfect in all aspects and I was only there on the 2nd ever experience (before the gym and 2nd building was complete). Having the ability to sleep in the Maloca that I recommend or the cabins that are close and safe to get to, being right on the shore that allows for the best jungle reflections and tours , and beach runs for relaxation provide the setting of a fairytale. The Maloca is a very special structure, which also contributes to the experience (sound, set up, everything)!!
Having the dual of Wheeler and Angela was amazing and definitely contributed to my visions and life changing experience as their icaros guided and saved me many of times. This gets a bit confusing because this is the part I try to describe my experience but all I know is that I felt comfortable at all times with either Dan or T as the facilitators and I was provided all the room and space I needed which again made me feel comfortable, because shit gets crazy very very very fast about 45 minutes after digestion the medicine and it HELPS (IE NEEDED) to be reassured things are ok and safe. I was very lucky and had the ability to try 3 different mixes of medicine, which gets very technical, however I only did 2 because of my experiences with the one was so good that I choose to not change it up on my last ceremony. The medicine and my body interacted well enough to know that this AY mixture is the proper DMT you should be ingesting and oh ya is very powerful so be carful, again Dan does a perfect job of knowing and analyzing the needs of every individual as the ceremonies progress and how much to give each individual which is reassuring considering a pushed the envelope every time. Most important is the intention and what you are trying to answer, if you have no specific intention it is unlikely you will have a very deep and meaningful experience. Overall to sum up the trip I would recommend this to anyone who is adventurous, excited about new opportunities and or looking for deeper spiritual meaning in life. I can?t thank Dan and Tatyana enough and I hope to be back sooner rather than later, I actually was suppose to come again in the next 2 weeks but just couldn?t make it work. I am so grateful and thankful for the AY adventure center and every value and good intention it is built upon. Thank you Dan and Tatyana !
Regards,
Dallas G
pragmatizt
April 24, 2015 at 12:00 amThe community and environment that the Pulse Adventure Tours team has built deep in the Amazon Rainforest is truly amazing.
I found myself in a place earlier this year where I was ready to close out and integrate the lessons on a major chapter in my life. It is true what they say that when you are ready for the medicine, it will call for you. I’ve reached a point in my life where I knew that this was something that could help me accept my past, and move forward into the next chapter in my life. Having never tried this medicine before, I wanted to make sure that I was putting myself under the hands of not only capable people, but people who deeply cared about my well being, and respectful of the phase that I was in my life.
Dan, Tatyana, Brendan, Adriano, Ana, Andrea, and Valentina were very, very welcoming from the get go, and made the group very comfortable right from the start. And, during the ceremonies themselves, Wiler and Angela were wonderful guides as each member of the group dove deep into their subconscious. We all know how scary that can be — the act of letting go of your ego, and going into a place that you know nothing about. The people at Pulse Tours allowed us to dive into these depths because we knew, and felt, that they would be there with us as our guides every step of the way.
This place is a jewel in the Amazon. I could not have imagined spending such a momentous occasion in my life with other people, nor at any other place but here. I will never forget my experience at that place, will always hold the people I met during this trip dear to me, and am forever changed by the realizations and insights I’ve gained from my trip.
Thank you everyone. I say that with so much gratitude.
– Ira
mike_jag
April 22, 2015 at 12:00 amMy 5 reasons to choose Pulse Tours
1) Positive and open atmosphere
In my experience with Ayahuasca in U.S. and Canada, I often notice a sense of negativity surrounding it, almost as if people think that, as this is called a ?medicine?, it should be on reserved for the sick. Now, while Aya can certainly do wonders for people in desperate need, I asked myself: Should a source of great love and wisdom not be available to everyone?
Pulse Tours stands strong in this belief and offers a place of positivity and growth for ALL. On my journey, I have met both soldiers with PTSD, people with life traumas, as well as inspired artists, passionate musicians and successful entrepreneurs. Whoever and wherever they were in life, they all reached the next level here.
2) Safety, comfort and adventure
Pulse Tours has created a retreat in the heart of the Amazon out of the vision to bring the best of South American healing tradition and innovate it with positive modern Western elements. They have created an epic sanctuary with the perfect balance of nature, healing, adventure, fitness, nutrition and comfort.
The ?Ayahuasca Adventure Center? resonates with a strong and positive spirit of healing and adventure. They organize daily adventure trips which give context to the experience, by exploring the vast jungle, surrounding villages and swimming the Amazon river.
The facilities are very comfortable, with large, soft beds and practical amenities such as proper washrooms, high speed wi-fi and even a full fitness facility. I was impressed by the advanced nutrition program that gives visitors the option of having either the traditional Ayahuasca ?dieta? or a more relaxed version, focused on proper nutrition, tasty jungle food and healthy energy. Being in the care of their nurse, a U.S.-trained medic with the warmest smile I have ever seen, made me feel safe and it was reassuring to know we were close to a village and only a short boat ride away from a large Peruvian city with advanced care facilities. This made the Ayahuasca Adventure Center quickly feel like a home, away from home.
3) Ayahuasca quality
The founder of Pulse Tours has a rich background in adventure tourism. He has explored South America extensively over the last decade and a half and has attended close to a hundred Ayahuasca ceremonies with dozens of different shaman healers. As such, he knows first hand what constitutes a qualitative and meaningful Ayahuasca encounter and has handpicked their shaman because of his rich experience, loving personal attention and hard work ethic. Their shaman definitely resonates the positive healing and growth that Pulse Tours stands for.
The quality of the shaman goes hand in hand with the quality of the Ayahuasca brew and here, the master shaman makes it in its most authentic and pure form with the only the two ingredients that should ever be in it: the Ayahuasca vine and Chacruna leaf.
The combination of shaman and the brew makes for an authentic, pure and powerful experience that resonates with strength, healing, learning and love.
4) Community and personal attention
The team at Pulse really understands the power of community. From the very start, I got welcomed into a warm group of like-minded individuals with whom I created a deep connection with over the course of my journey. Going through an intense growing experience like this and being able to share it with a close group of caring people helped me tremendously. I felt a sense of caring support and personal attention and found it incredibly useful to hear other people?s perspective. This made me feel part of something bigger and left me with lifelong friendships and a newfound spiritual side.
Another example of how Pulse Tours embraces community is their strong online presence that seeks to connect travelers, operators and seekers alike. It is amazing to stay in touch with the people I have met and see them continue their work and help each other to learn, connect and grow. The experience inspires many to create articles, poetry, pictures, music and even documentaries (e.g. Google ?drinking the jungle?, it was filmed at the center!). Newcomers are welcome to connect and to ask away, in the spirit of welcoming openness.
It is amazing to continue being part of this caring, creative and passionate community.
5) A place of Love
From the very first moment I connected with Pulse Tours, I felt a strong, honest and loving energy that made me feel completely welcome and filled me with trust and confidence.
The amount of pure, sincere love I feel from the team, until this very day, is a testament of how much they dedicate their life to heal people, accelerate personal growth, give life meaning and work tirelessly towards making the world a better place every day.
From the glorious example of masculinity that is Dan, to the healing, loving and motherly nature of his partner Tatyana, and the caring and endlessly giving energy of their experienced nurse / medic Brendan, these individuals are shining examples of the most beautiful things humanity has to offer.
Dan, Tatyana, Brendan, thank you an infinite
bhep
April 21, 2015 at 12:00 amI did a 7 day tour with Pulse in January 2015 and I really enjoyed it. It’s in a beautiful and secluded location and the staff is first rate. Tatyana is so caring and thoughtful that you’re sure to have a great time. If you like what you see and read on their site, you’ll like your trip, no surprises. Their shaman, Wiler, was also amazing. Beautiful icaros and a wealth of knowledge. Can’t recommend them enough.
silentjay1975
April 17, 2015 at 12:00 amMy wife and I received the ayahuasca calling a few years back and spent a lot of time researching various retreats. We chose Pulse for their rating on ayaadvisor and because of their many videos on YouTube, showing the construction of their centre and interviews with those who had experiences there.
This place has solid, caring staff, an excellent shaman and strong medicine as well as offering daily jungle excursions. They are well deserving of their 5-star rating. We both had excellent experiences, made many breakthroughs and look forward to joining Pulse again in the future.