I have had the pleasure of staying with Ken and Sun twice now, and I can thoroughly recommend their retreat to anyone who is looking for a truly peaceful and authentic ayahuasca/ San Pedro experience. I will certainly be back again in the near future, and I would not consider undertaking ayahuasca ceremonies anywhere else, as their retreat offers everything I could wish for.

Before I undertook the journey to Ecuador, I did extensive research on different retreats, and what particularly appealed to me with Ken and Sun’s was the very small group sizes, their down to earth attitude and the fact they work with an accredited indigenous Shaman in a natural jungle setting. This was critical for me, as I value my privacy and wished to experience the medicine in the most direct, authentic way possible – without any of the westernised mediation/ activities that come along with most other retreats. Ken and Sun provide an extremely supportive environment with an experienced team, so there is always someone there to help you and discuss things if you need to. However, if you need to be silent and process things alone – and just let the medicine do its work – that is possible too, and from my experience that enabled profoundly healing and joyful experiences, ones that I could not have had if I had been forced to join in group activities, stick to a rigid schedule or have 20-odd other people’s energy getting in the way.

They work with the highly experienced indigenous Shaman Tsentsak, who is quite frankly, a miraculous human being. Tsentsak exudes both deep strength and profound gentleness, and made me feel incredibly safe, so much so that I was able to open up to the medicine without reservation and inhibition. It is critical to take ayahuasca/ San Pedro with a Shaman you can trust, and who has no personal agenda – it is a serious, and oftentimes difficult undertaking, and the quality of one’s experience is directly influenced by the qualities of those around you.

Ken and Sun have secured a beautiful, natural location for the ceremonies, very close to their home. It is a cleared, private grassy area with a traditional ceremony hut – surrounded by jungle, and right next to a rushing river. You undertake the ceremonies with Tsentsak right on the river’s edge (or the hut depending on weather) and then allow the medicine to do its work while you lie back, looking at the stars, sitting by an outdoor fire and listening to the river. When you’re ready, you can then move into the beds in the hut to sleep. I’ve mostly slept outside as for me, the immediate connection to nature has been really important, but again Ken & Sun’s flexibility means that you can do what you need to without someone telling you you have to do things a certain way, or at a certain time. As with the quality of your companions, the quality of the setting profoundly influences the experience, and theirs is just wonderful. I should also mention that there are flushing toilets close by – right next to the hut – which is a blessing when the purgative aspect of the ayahuasca kicks in 🙂

As previously mentioned, Ken & Sun keep their group sizes small, which enables a high degree of personal attention, and customisation of your experience. On my first visit I think there were only six of us, and on my last visit – when I took San Pedro for the first time – I was lucky enough to be the only participant. I can’t emphasise enough the importance of a small group size, it really does make a difference. Imagine – just a few people, an amazing Shaman, the medicine, a river and the jungle….it just doesn’t get any better than that.

Well actually it does, when you get to sit down to one of Sun’s delicious vegetarian meals! You get to stay with Ken and Sun in their lovely, comfortable home, in a private room with your own bathroom. And again, there is opportunity for both communion with others should you choose, or privacy, depending on what you need. Sun is a very talented cook, and you will go home deeply nourished in both body and soul.

Ken and Sun are very special, generous people who have chosen to open their hearts and home to those of us seeking what the medicine has to offer. And I am extremely grateful that they have. For me, taking ayahuasca and SanPedro has been a truly life-changing experience, and something that continues to illuminate and enrich my daily, life long after the ceremonies have passed. It is powerful, intense stuff, and I wholeheartedly recommend Ken & Sun’s retreat as a fantastic way to have a truly authentic and supported experience.