Nihue Rao Centro Espiritual

Llanchama, Peru

We are an ayahuasca retreat healing center, operating as a lodge in the Amazon rainforest. We are located 90 minutes outside of Iquitos, Peru near the small village of Llanchama along the Nanay River.

We provide traditional Shipibo medicine services wich includes: healing and learning diets, master plant medicine, and traditional Shipibo ayahuasca ceremonies.

Once you are here, you will meet with our shaman master healer Ricardo Amaringo, and with the asistance of a profesional translator, you can explain him your intention for the healing procces.

Your treatment will then be tailored to your personal needs, often including further treatment with a master plant. Furthermore, in traditional style, you will then adhere to a strict healing diet developed to promote the healing work of the curanderos and our medicinal plants.

Once on the diet, you will be invited to participate in ayahuasca ceremonies four times a week, for further ceremonial healing under the guidance of Ricardo and his assistants shamans. In ceremony, you will be further treated by the curanderos through the traditional healing song, called icaros.

The day after every ayahuasca ceremony, with the exception of Fridays, there is a group discussion led by Ricardo to review experiences in the ceremony and the progress of all of our participants, apprentices and visitors.

In some cases, further treatment techniques are also indicated, including healing plant preparations for bathing and vapor treatment, or cataplasm.

Traditional treatment requires time, so visitors are encouraged to visit us for one week or more. Group programs are often designed for 10 days or 2 weeks and more advanced treatment can take one/two months or longer.

For particular individuals, we also offer traditional diets for learning under the guidance of Ricardo. This level of training is best discussed in person with Ricardo himself.

We charge an all-inclusive daily fee for our services, which covers transport from the Iquitos airport, private room, modern bathrooms and showers, diet meals, laundry service, electricity, wifi internet, traditional medicine and experienced international facilitator staff support.

If you are interested in visiting, please email us to establish contact and verify availability at our center. From that point, we can plan your visit!

Reviews (147)

4.6 out of 5
Overall 4.6
  • taraapple
    May 2, 2017 at 5:53 am

    I stayed for 6 nights and 4 ceremonies in February 2017 and I am hoping to go back there again for a longer stay one day! I have so much good to say about Nihue Rao. Firstly the shaman Ricardo is very good (very important as there are many frauds now as ayahuasca is getting increasingly popular, especially in Iquitos) and the rest of the staff amazing, during the ceremonies I felt very safe and secure and had a lot of help and support through difficult periods. Being my first experience with ayahuasca I was very glad to come to such a good place! Also traveling alone as a young women I was happy to find a safe place to go to to. The facilities are good and everything is kept very clean and the food is good. Last but not least the ikaros were absolutely beautiful and powerful, get ready for some deep healing in the ceremonies!

  • Rosco
    April 30, 2017 at 1:49 pm

    Nihue Rao is a collection of all the things you need / require if you’re beginning to work with the medicine or if you’re a seasoned veteran. There is a large & varied knowledge base to assist your every need. You’re living amongst an actual Shipibo community, there are no watered down, americanized, dial-a-shaman here. There is however the amazing energetic presence, Ricardo Amaringo, a master healer, a sonic force with the Icaro and of course a seasoned Ayahuasquero, google him if you require further proof. The 10 days I spent at Nihue Rao were the most profound 10 days I’ve experienced on earth. Words don’t do it justice, but if you’re uncertain on where to invest your money, soul & energy, I would heartily push you in the direction of Nihue Rao. Tener confianza en la medicina!!! ONWARD INWARD

  • Tristan
    April 30, 2017 at 5:29 am

    I been there recently for a ten days retreat.
    The staff was very caring and the shamans was amazing. There were always someone arround in case of necessity.
    The group conversations with the shamans during the mornings was really interesting.
    The rooms are simples but the facilities as showers and toilets are perfects. The Maloca where the ceremonies are held is really beautifull.
    It was such an interesting time that I am coming back there soon. Would definitely recommend that place.

  • Enya
    April 18, 2017 at 11:33 am

    I came to Nihue Rao for one week.
    I was experienced with Aya and other plant medicine.
    I got a very dusty bunk, with holes in the bed sheet, and dozens of dead bugs. That didn’t feel very welcoming. It took over 24 hours to get the room cleaned up.

    One of the shamans touched my buttocks during a ceremony.
    I informed Ricardo (the head shaman) in the morning. He didn’t bother to respond.
    I heard that shaman was sexually violating more women, and was fired at some point. Too bad it took them so long to acknowledge the harmful behavior.
    To me, they kept on saying it didn’t happen, that it’s all in my imagination.

    On the whole, the energy there felt terrible, very dark, full of ego.
    I recommend to go elsewhere, to a place with strong ethics and integrity.
    When you are in a ceremony, you are extremely vulnerable. Make sure you go to a safe place – physically, emotionally, sexually, spiritually.
    Nihue Rao was none of those.

  • masterofnothing
    April 8, 2017 at 11:31 am

    Nihue Rao is a beautiful, safe place, with welcoming, supportive staff. As this was my first time experiencing Ayuasca ceremonies, travelling alone, I was immediately made to feel welcome upon my arrival. The centre is filled with like-minded people which made my stay all the more enjoyable. My only regret was that i was unable to stay for very long and feel i only just scratch the surface in terms of my personal healing and interaction with the sacred brew.

    I highly recommend Nihue Rao to anyone interested in the Ayuasca experience.

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