Ayahuasca

Onikano

Name: Onikano
Rating: 4.9

Iquitos, Peru

4.9 (103 reviews)

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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.

Reviews (103)

4.9 out of 5

Overall 4.9

fionaharlem
May 28, 2024 at 3:14 pm

I just returned from a 7 week stay at Yosi Ocha. It was a life changing experience and I want to share it with others. Maestro Herberto is a true Shaman and healer. He has dedicated his life to helping others. The ceremonies were conducted with the utmost respect and in true Shipibo style. It is a family run center owned and operated by the Shipibo people. This is a rarity these days.
If you do not speak Spanish do not worry. There are translators to help you every step of the way.
The food is delicious and varied so that you never get bored with the same flavors.
Maestro Herberto places many layers of protection around the center and its guests allowing for a safe environment to heal and rejuvenate.
I highly recommend!
andreacarolina
May 20, 2024 at 12:38 pm

How lucky am I that I found this place. Even just finding my way to this particular retreat has given me so much perspective and trust in the universe and my path.
It is difficult to put the actual experience to words, but what I think would be most helpful for people deciding *which* retreat to choose would be to know some basics about me:
-30-year old woman living in NYC
– Speak English and Spanish
– Traveling alone and had never done ayahuasca before

I felt very safe during my entire experience at Yosi Ocha. I am not used to traveling alone but I felt called to come to this experience on my own and I truly never felt uncomfortable or unsafe due to this. I was able to really focus on myself and my spiritual journey and I felt taken care of by the staff. I felt very seen and understood by Maestro Heberto and the wonderful serenity and peace at Yosi Ocha really helped me open my heart because I didn’t need to worry about safety or being out of control.
As others have said, this is a healing center, not necessarily a place to go to get as high as possible. I highly recommend this center to anyone who is looking to learn more about themself, or who wants to experience something different, or especially those who feel emotionally stuck or burnt out or alone. Everyone’s spiritual experience is different, but I felt that at least for the week was there, Yosi Ocha helped me understand that I am exactly where I need to be.
AlexanderSolo
May 20, 2024 at 10:31 am

A Transformative Journey: My Ayahuasca Retreat in Yosi Ocha.
I recently attended an Ayahuasca retreat in Yosi Ocha, and it was an extraordinary experience. Nestled in the Amazon rainforest, the retreat center perfectly blended rustic charm. I liked this authentic environment very much. The knowledgeable and compassionate staff created a safe and supportive environment for my journey, and I am very grateful to them for their professionally done work. I want to express my gratitude to Barbara, who helped me choose Yosi Ocha; she responded to my first inquiries quickly and professionally.
The Ayahuasca ceremonies, led by the wise Maestro Heberto, were profoundly spiritual and enlightening. Maestro Heberto Garcia is the real deal. His deep understanding of Ayahuasca and his gentle, guiding presence created a profoundly healing environment. Maestro Heberto’s icaros resonated with transformative power, and his dedication to the well-being of each individual is truly inspiring.
Integration activities like plant baths, plant diet, group talks about nature, and nature walks to Master Trees helped me process my experiences. The Peruvian Amazon’s beauty enhanced our connection to nature.
This retreat and time here were unforgettable. It offered knowledge about plant medicine and a deep journey into oneself. I highly recommend the Yosi Ocha retreat if you seek a transformative journey. It was a gift to my spirit, and I am eternally grateful. I know my Shaman and Ayahuasca place for sure now. I look forward to seeing you next time at Yosi Ocha.
clareM
April 8, 2024 at 12:23 pm

The magic of this place is hard to put into words. I have drank & worked in aya ceremonies for 4 years in Europe & wanted to find an exceptional Shipibo teacher in Peru to deepen my training & connection to the plants.

I got so much more than that. I received an in depth diagnosis at the start & end of my stay (everyone gets this). Mine revealed some serious underlying health issues, which I wasn’t fully aware of. I now understand this one of the many ‘real’ reasons my heart guided me here. In truth this centre probably saved my life. I also witnessed people with broken bones healed, PTSD healed & deep childhood trauma resolved. I saw people arrive who could barely smile, who left floating out like hummingbirds.

This is not a party centre for people to get high. This is the deepest inner/shadow/healing work you will ever do. It will be confronting & uncomfortable at times but you’re held in such a loving protective space by Celia, Herberto & Eunice (& Tulia our beautiful translator/assistant) & you feel like you can conquer anything.

I’d never experienced San Pedro or dieted other plants & loved it.

The healing, protection, singing & food is of the highest standard. I never finished a meal because the portions were so big. Herberto, Celia & Eunice who hold the ceremonies are humble, powerful & beautiful authentic Shaman in every way.
This wasn’t my first rodeo with Aya, but nothing can prepare you for drinking in the jungle. Buckle up & enjoy the ride.

This is a fully indigenous run & owned centre, which adds to the magic, authenticity & integrity of the place. It feels like one giant family.
I made friends for life, found a second home & lineage that I will be connecting to for the rest of my life as I continue my training here. The impact Yosi Ocha has had in me is indescribable & I cannot wait to return.

Tips:
*ear plugs if you’re a light sleeper. The jungle is loud especially when the frogs get going.
*natural sunscreen & bug repellent by ‘Fierce Nature’ worked great.
*Bite Away pen on Amazon, natural way to relieve any itching.
*Take USD for massages & the Shipibo market at the centre
*Pack light & wear loose clothes. It’s easy to wash stuff in the washing area
*Forget everything you’ve heard about Aya & let the medicine work with you the way she wants to
Tomaz
April 3, 2024 at 9:48 am

I spent 2 weeks in Yosi Ocha with my daughter. My intention was to experience intense spiritual journeys, but it turned out completely differently. Ayahuasca had something else in mind. It was more of a journey to my dark shadows. They wanted to be looked at and then vomited out. On the other hand, it was a real joy and grace to be able to follow the development and growth of my 19-year-old daughter. We developed a deep connection on a soul basis. I am very grateful for that. We were picked up by Herberto’s son in Iquitos and the reception in Yosi Ocha was very warm. Each of us got a bungalow that was well protected against mosquitoes. The rituals had something magical about them, especially when Herberto or his aunt or sister sang Icarus in the maloca. It was also amazing how quickly you took the other participants to your heart. Although we were only there for 2 weeks, it felt more like 4 weeks. Sometimes it felt like I was in a parallel universe. My love and thanks go to Herberto and his family and everyone who supports him on his journey and makes this paradise possible.