Arkana Spiritual Center

Iquitos and Urubamba in Peru

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.

Feel free to check out our reviews from previous guests on here (AyaAdvisors) and our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ArkanaSpiritualCenter/). Or, visit our website for more information and to book a retreat with us: www.arkanainternational.com. We look forward to having you with us!

Lots of Love,
The Team

Reviews (540)

4.9 out of 5
Overall 4.9
  • valeriavdxb
    valeriavdxb
    March 27, 2023 at 11:29 pm

    I couldn’t ask for a better Aya retreat! I loved every single part of it. Arkana did set the expectations so high that I wouldn’t dare to try any other retreat next time. I will be definitely back in Arkana.

    Only in one week my soul is full of light and heart full of love. My mind is clear and I feel calm. My body feels light and cleansed. I am so astonished how everything about this retreat was just perfect.

    The Amazon center is beautiful and has everything for having a successful Aya retreat: several malokas, yoga shala, well equipped gym, kitchen, unlimited fruits, water and tea, chilling space with books and hammocks, swimming pool and sun beds and much much more! Every single detail has been taken into consideration from the cleaning and new bed sheets every day to ash trays and tissues next to your bed. Food was not only healthy and organic but damn delicious!!

    Facilitators were so professional, kind, big hearted, funny, and always there for you to support you in any possible way. Shamans…aahhh just the thought of them brings me happy tears. The amount of effort, time and love they put to make our healing journey the best possible was just amazing me every single day. They are there for you from the beginning of the retreat till the end and they truly want to help you from the bottom of their hearts. The knowledge and talents they have are incredible…wether it is a natural medicine you need for your upset stomach or a piece of advice regarding plant medicines – they know it all. Also the way they sing and play different instruments makes your heart sing long time after the retreat itself.

    I am so grateful that I can’t find words to describe this feeling. I would recommend Arkana to anyone who is looking for a reliable and high quality plant medicine retreat. I know I will be back very soon. Love and light, Valeria ❤️☀️

  • Chris P
    Chris P
    March 24, 2023 at 8:07 pm

    Amazing experience. Everyone was so compassionate and caring.

    Truly grateful to everyone at Arkana.

    You have changed my life!

  • ethanthompso
    ethanthompso
    March 13, 2023 at 1:24 am

    The inner transformation during my 2 weeks at Arkana is nothing short of incredible. Everything about the centre is 5 stars, from the Maestra/Maestros, to the facilitators, to the food and to the facilities. Words can’t describe what goes on in the Molloca during ceremonies, it must be experienced first hand!

    Arkana would still be a worthwhile visit for the community of people you meet there alone. I have struggled my entire adult life to find like-minded people, little did I know they are congregating in a little corner of the Amazon Jungle! I have never felt more safe and accepted as I did during my time there.

    Will be back 100%

  • Matt D
    Matt D
    February 9, 2023 at 11:18 am

    January 2023
    I can not thank the beautiful people of Arkana enough. They possess a level of sincere compassion and selflessness I previously didn’t know existed. I am forever grateful for the experience.
    Carolina is a beautiful radiant soul.

  • Rasean Shatief Miller
    Rasean Shatief Miller
    January 20, 2023 at 4:41 am

    Arkana Pt 1 - June 2019

    Arkana Pt 2 - Dec 2019

    Arkana Pt 3 - Jan 2023

    Do yourself a favor and listen to yourself. Stop letting your doubtful twin look for a million reasons to justify what you know you want to do. Just do it. Trust yourself. Your here for a reason. Your ego is just acting like a little crying baby who got his toy taken away and is kicking and screaming and trying to find every reason to convince you not to go by (in his eyes) ideally stumbling upon 1 bad review so he can be in your damn head all day saying “:I told ya” but really whats going on is he is trying to survive because he knows that Arkana is the ultimate Ego Slayer. Ego cant stand a chance with Arkana. Go and allow yourself to experience Heaven On Earth

  • evanDee
    evanDee
    January 5, 2023 at 4:36 pm

    My experience at Arkana in the Amazon was amazing to say the least. I honestly can’t imagine a better place to have this sacred ceremony. I am so grateful for the kick-ass staff and the entire Arkana team. The family of Shipibo working with Arkana are very powerful and oh so magikal. They will forever hold a very special place in my heart and soul. My time at this facility has shown me who and what I really am. I feel “leveled” up and my vibe is very high. If you are looking for a retreat and aren’t sure where you wanna go, GO HERE!!! I promise you will not regret it. I am SO glad that i chose Arkana for my first time working with this medicine. 10/10 will be going back! The food is tops, and the pool is great. Sleeping quarters are perfect and comfortable. Bathrooms, showers, chill spots; they got you covered. Thank you to Arkana for having me and the amazing healing they have provided me and so many others around the world. You can find me talking more on this by searching Occult 45 Podcast on the web or wherever you get your podcasts. Now go book your retreat with Arkana!!!

  • Ethan Furman
    Ethan Furman
    December 14, 2022 at 1:07 pm

    Simply put, the experience I had at Arkana Amazon was among the most profound and important of my life. The decision to participate in an ayahuasca ceremony, let alone 4 in a week, should not be taken lightly; if you do decide to heed the call, I cannot imagine a better facility or setting than this. The shamans are local indigenous healers whose connection to the medicine goes back generations, and their orchestration of the ceremonies was absolutely masterful and vital to the authenticity of the experience. The facilities are so elegant, simple, and clean; I never once felt uncomfortable despite being a city slicker fond of my creature comforts 😉 The food is healthy and delicious, and the staff and facilitators are beyond professional, providing support and genuine friendship during what can often be a scary and uncertain process. The healing I experienced during my week at Arkana was beyond what I could have ever imagined, and I hope will serve me for many years to come — if not the rest of my life. I have so much respect for not only the medicine itself, but the Shipibo culture, the country of Peru, and every single person I met, be it shaman, staff, or fellow guests — and I got the deep sense the respect was mutual. A gorgeous experience all the way.

    My only caveat is that because the group was fairly large (about 20 people), there isn’t a ton of personal integration following the ceremonies. I could see the benefit of doing a smaller ceremony with just a handful of people, although I’m sure that would be considerably more expensive. I found Arkana to be not only extremely affordable, but also well worth the money spent.

  • ejr427
    ejr427
    November 25, 2022 at 10:01 am

    Arkana Sacred Valley is an amazing center full of loving people from the organizers to the staff to the facilitators to the shamans. They are all there for you and your healing process. Everything they do is well thought out and comprehensive. I felt safe and well taken care of throughout my visit. I cannot express enough how much love I received at this center. The food was delicious with great variety. The staff kept everything clean and well organized. Fruit and tea were available 24 hours at the bar in the courtyard. The grounds are beautiful and the rooms are very comfy. We found a hot water bottle in our beds after each ceremony which was a nice comforting touch, and I had the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had during the bonfire on Wednesday. The organizers stay in touch with you before, during, and after the retreat with all the information you need. Thank you, Liliana, Jose & Israel. The shamans are loving and experienced and I felt that I was in the hands of good people. Thank you, Maestros Armando, Samuel and Elcidrio. The facilitators were loving, patient, kind souls with great talent. I cannot thank you enough, Manuel, Isa, Theo, Canelo & Tunde. Lastly, the group I shared my retreat with were beautiful people that I will love for eternity. I went to Arkana seeking a ‘New Me’. I left with exactly what I wished for. Thank you, Arkana family!

    Note: This review was edited for over capitalization and punctuation, but has otherwise been left in its original form.

  • imsweepy
    imsweepy
    October 4, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    I spent 1 week in the Amazon and 1 week in the sacred valley and it was the most transformative and healing 2 weeks of my life. The facilitators truly care about you and it is evident that they are constantly trying to improve the experience wherever they can.

  • rachel_sims
    rachel_sims
    October 3, 2022 at 7:30 am

    I’m a therapist and I will forever be sending my clients to Arkana. Words will never match the experience I have faced, worked through, conquered, battled, and won these past 7 days. I found Ayahuasca a long time ago to help heal someone I cared about and I feel like Mother Ayahuasca really forced it was me who needed it. She couldn’t be more right and I’m forever thankful for the lessons and guidance I learned here.

    In 7 days here at Arkana I found myself, found my love for life, my emotions, my strength, my worth, lost and conquered fear. Words cannot explain to others who have not experienced this themselves, but if you feel called to start your own self healing or self journey or interested in Ayahuasca this is where you need to be. I researched high and low to find the perfect setting and I’m so glad I found Arkana and I wish I could scream from the rooftops how amazing this place is. And how forever THANKFUL I was supported and taken care of when there are so many other Ayahuasca retreats that are dangerous. Guests come here to heal what other retreats hurt or broke. This is your safe haven.

    This world Is powerful and energies and spirits are real. I got my life back in Peru and I will forever be blessed that I had the strength and courage to find myself. 18 people came on the same journey and we left family. We are let into this secret to life and it’s a beautiful thing. Arkana Spiritual Center I owe you my life and so blessed Jose you created a place that was safe for everyone’s healing journeys. As a therapist I cannot speak highly of the support, comfort, and care that goes into every piece of this retreat even the hot water bottle they put in your bed waiting for you after a long ceremony. Lots of tears and lots of laughs but I’m whole and I cannot ask more than that. From all the support and amazing facilitators (Danielle, Theo, Manuel, Isa, Tundae Manuel) and the amazing shamans, classes, activities, ceremony support as well as the little touches that make you feel safe, comfortable, knowledgeable, and confident in this process I’ll never be able to repay you. I will be a return guest for the rest of my life if Mother Ayahuasca called me back. If you are on the fence on where to go Arkana is your home.

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