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Onikano is one of the very few ayahuasca retreat centres still owned, led, and inhabited by the same Shipibo family whose lineage it was built to honour.
Located in the Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve, 22 km from Iquitos, Onikano operates within a living Shipibo healing tradition under the direct guidance of Maestro Heberto García — known by his Shipibo name, Niwen Koshi. His grandfather, Yosi Ocha, was regarded as one of the last Merayas: healers who reached the highest level of traditional Shipibo curanderismo. That lineage is alive at Onikano today.
What makes Onikano different is the deeply personalised nature of the work. Each guest is received as an individual, not as part of a standardised retreat formula. After an initial personal evaluation, Maestro Niwen Koshi designs a healing process that takes into account each person’s history, needs, intentions, and energetic condition. Guests may come for one week or remain for several weeks or months, depending on the depth of the work they feel called to undertake.
Retreats at Onikano are rooted in a broad range of traditional Shipibo practices: ayahuasca ceremonies guided by ícaros, plant dietas, purification baths with plants and flowers, ancient rituals and work with the palos maestros, or teacher trees. Alongside this Shipibo foundation, Onikano offers San Pedro (huachuma) ceremonies — a tradition that Maestro Niwen Koshi learned from Andean maestros and integrates as a complementary path within the healing process.
Onikano sits deep within the reserve, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the Peruvian Amazon, characterised by majestic trees, red-water streams, and distinctive white-sand forests. The centre includes private bungalows, a traditional ceremonial house, a lake for swimming, and a cosy dining room where guests share meals prepared with fresh, local ingredients.
People come to Onikano for many reasons. Some arrive for their first encounter with ayahuasca. Others return year after year. Some stay for a week; others enter a longer path of healing, dieta, or shamanic apprenticeship with Maestro Niwen Koshi. What they all share is a sincere willingness to work deeply and respectfully, with trust in a tradition passed down through generations.
Onikano is not the right place for everyone. It is the right place for those who are ready to do real work. If that resonates, the journey begins with a personal application.
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Алексей Южаков
May 2, 2026 at 10:32 pmЭто был мой первый опыт работы с шаманом и с растениями, поэтому я долго не выбирал. Просто прекрасное отношение Барбары, которая берет на себя все организационные вопросы, ведет и сопровождает тебя до конца. Маэстро Гилберто – будьте уверены это светлый шаман с искренними и добрыми намерениями, это видно по нему, по участникам ретрита и по желанию маэстро делиться своим опытом и знаниями. Я это очень оценил. Пунктуальность, внимание и отзывчивость – это все про него. Ну и конечно же работа самого центра. Очень важным хочу отметить это внимание и заботу со стороны всех участников ретрита (Дон, Грэйс, Нюр, Амалия, да все…❤️!) Я был всего неделю, но попал действительно в семью, где тебя встретили и отнеслись с заботой. Я не чувствовал себя одним или что про меня забыли. Несмотря на трудности с переводом, к этому отнеслись нормально. Я благодарен Дону ! Дон Привет! Как твои тренировки? Он стал мне братом ))) Он был постоянно со мной. Я вспоминаю его с чувством что у меня давно не было такого друга как он! Я из России и в плане переводчика мне тоже повезло, в моей группе была удивительная девушка Нюр, она мне помогала с переводом! Девушка по имени Грэйс , мое вдохновение – в хорошем смысле этого слова! Самое главное ☝️… да сразу эффекта от церемонии в моем случае не произошло. В какой то момент хотелось все бросить, наступила апатия. Работа с растениями, с аяваской и с собой – это тяжелая работа, в каком то смысле нужно вытерпеть. В следующий раз ☝️, я буду готов к этому. И только по приезду в Россию спустя полторы недели после церемонии, я заметил в своем состоянии благоприятные изменения и увидел эффект от ретрита и работы маэстро Гилберто (я уже знаю, что в следующий раз поеду именно к нему), несмотря на то что мое пребывание было не продолжительным.
Мой вердикт – рекомендую!
laconic.me
April 24, 2026 at 1:26 pmChoosing Onikano and spending the whole month of November there was totally right decision. I keep repeating myself… it is something the best I could done for myself. I found Onikano by intuition somehow… medicine is wise and maestro Eberto is The Shaman.
I love that place and th0se people so much, there are no words to express gratitude and aprecciation. Very well organized, indigenous run healing centre, loving, safe. Everything you need for sucessfull healing is provided and taken care of.
But that is just a fragment of the whole picture… all you have to do is open up a little and let the experience in.
Maestro Eberto, maestra Ercilia, Tulia, Barbara, Jerry, Carlo (Torito), Pinedo, wednesday market vendors… and all other women and men who are helping to maintain such a high standard at Onikano and doing all sorts of things to make us feel good and safe while staying there… thank you from the bottom of the heart.
I met quite few people there, dieteros, clients, who already been there few times in the past. That says alot about the place. It was my first time at Onikano but I will keep coming back as well.
You have a loyal forever-friend Onikano. Hasta pronto!
Ush ush!
Alen (Slovenia)
Rone
April 15, 2026 at 7:44 amHave been at Onikano with my partner in February for 2 weeks and it was truly amazing. I have been working with Plant Medicines like ayahuasca for over 15 years in various settings in the, from which most the Western (neo-shamanic) therapeutic approach in The Netherlands. Which also can be very healing and insightful. But must say the experience at Onikano was one of a kind!
In 2019 I’ve been to another big well known centre owned by Westerners close to Iquitos and in Cuzco. It was ok but I missed the real traditional setting. Only the ceremonies were run by local healers/shaman. So this time I was looking for a more traditional setting with a true experienced Shipibo curandero. After some research I found Onikano and after reading through reviews I had a good feeling about it. And yes… it was best choice ever! I did have an amazing, magical and beautiful experience!
Onikano is situated in the jungle and run and owned by maestro Heberto, his family and local people. They are all very friendly. The place itself is beautiful with a magical lake to swim. The bungalows are simple but more than fine. For me, who likes luxury, I did not miss anything and the bed in my bungalow was very comfortabel with a soft mattress! I loved to stay at my bungalow connecting with my inner self and the environment. The food is simple but very nutricious and good enough to look forward to 🙂
The healing at Onikano it is not only about Ayahuasca, the visions and visual spectacle that might come with it. It’s about deep personal healing work, Ayahuasca is seen as a tool to help you. Maestro Heberto is also conducting personal healing work on each individual at night. And I’ve definitely sensed this for example in strange lucid dreams and sometimes physical discomforts. For me personally connecting with the plants, the trees, Pachamama (the Earth), the water (the beautiful lake and daily plant baths), the fresh air and fire (the light of the Sun Moon & Stars) and sitting with myself and emotions (inner child parts) at my bungalow (while listening to the amazing sounds of the jungle) was really healing and gave me meaningful insights about myself. The way Heberto works feels genuine and is a very special, honest and humble person. The ceremonies and rituals are conducted in a safe setting and responsible way. No body is forced to take Medicine and you are the one who decides how much Medicine you like to work with. The Icaros are beautiful. I specially did like the daytime San Pedro ceremonies including mud bath and fire ritual
It was one of my most beautiful (holiday) experiences! Now it’s time for integration…the difficult part of the work with Plant Medicines. 😉 When the time is there I (who knows already next year) will definitely come back! Probably for a longer stay.
Chenoah-Rose
April 7, 2026 at 4:11 pmReviewing my third time at OniKano – this time staying two weeks (I stayed for a month last year and two weeks the year before). I brought a group of 5 people for one week as part of a Peru Retreat I designed, and continued some of my training in the second week. Every time I return, I fall in love with the place even more. The food, the rituals, the family atmosphere, the land & the dedication from Meastro Herberto & the whole team, including Barbara who made the whole experience run smoothly. My group loved it so much that two have already booked to return in the Summer and another extended her stay for an extra 3 weeks!
The number of returning guests plus trainees I’ve met over the years is testament to the healing, teachings and care given to everyone. One thing that stands out for me is that all medicine is consensual – meaning you are never forced to take anything you don’t want to & all medicines & doses are clearly explained (this is not the case at many other centres.) Occasionally Maestro will recommend the whole group to take tobacco or sananga, but again this is explained & optional.
It really is a unique place, built on ancestral land with authentic Shipibo healers from a known lineage of Merayas. Healing with Aya can be challenging and it’s normal to feel a myriad of strong emotions, but if you trust yourself and the process the experience will be profound. Tia’s singing will transport you to another dimension, the Master Trees will whisper ancient mysteries to you & Maestro will treat you like family. I’m so grateful to have found OniKano and can’t wait to come back. Muchas Gracias, Chenoah-Rose
P.S I had to delete my previous 5star review from 2025 in order to be able to write another for OniKano on AyaAdvisors x
hannalind
April 7, 2026 at 4:11 pmThis was my first time sitting with mums Aya and I was nervous. Maestro snd the team were incredible patient and gentle. The skill of maestro is incredible and I would not been able to reach the level of healing I did just by sitting with Aya alone, his magic is next level. Will go back.