Ayahuasca

Pisatahua

Name: Pisatahua
Rating: 5

Beni, Bolivia

5.0 (74 reviews)

Contact for $5

Overview
Reviews
Add Review

Pisatahua is a plant-medicine ayahuasca-retreat, located in a remote area of the Bolivian Amazon. Found in the heart of the Aquicuana Lake Reserve, the 80 hectare center is situated in one of the most biodiverse areas of the world. This idyllic setting provides a comfortable environment for those seeking a responsible way to explore the Amazon, while safely working with traditional plant medicines.

Pisatahua’s healers are responsible and respected community members, dedicated to the shamanic path, with decades of experience. Our staff and facilitators are support specialists, providing guidance and personalized assistance throughout your journey. We organize small-group retreats to ensure that each individual receives the personal attention they require on their unique path of awakening and healing.

Reviews (74)

5.0 out of 5

Overall 5.0

Smosies
April 12, 2018 at 7:24 pm

Pisatahua is one of a kind ayahuasca retreat. I´m really glad I waited until I was in the remote corners of the Amazon jungle to try ayahuasca for the first time. The entire experience was beautiful, sacred, and while at times challenging very safe.

The minute you step foot on the grounds you know you are in a very sacred and healing space. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking healing, personal growth, connection and a deeper understanding of themselves. It is definitely worth it to make the trek up to Riberalta, especially if trying ayahuasca for the first time. You will get nothing short of an authentic Amazonian experience with a family−owned feel far off the tourist trail. The grounds are magical and alive. There´s not too many places that place you right in heart of the jungle action while simultaneously swaddling you in a cozy hammock and letting you shower under an indoor Niagra falls with a sunset view of river crocodiles. It´s like a vacation from your brain. The Amazon jungle will sing you to sleep at night with its chorus of indistinguishable noises. (You´ll get a very thorough briefing on which snakes and wild cats to avoid over a nice fresh glass of acai juice.) The guided tai chi, meditation and hiking are a nice touch too. Sasha, Erik and Don Chaca are one of a kind, high caliber humans. They remained very present and in touch with everyone´s needs throughout the retreat. It´s nice to know that the proceeds from Pisatahua go to support their partner nonprofit with social and environmental impact projects in the local community. Too bad I only have 5 stars to give!
Nuevo Boliviano
April 7, 2018 at 8:54 pm

I’ve experienced two ayahuasca retreats now. The first was a 7-day retreat in Iquitos, Peru and most recently the 9-day retreat at Pisatahua. Both were powerful experiences, but I recommend Pisatahua for sure. First of all, the location on Lake Aquicuana is pristine and teaming with life and it will blow your mind just by itself. But when you combine a setting like Pisatahua with a high-quality vegan diet, meditation practices, and truly authentic ayahuasca ceremonies over 9 days, the possibility to go deep within and discover new insights becomes very real. In fact, if you have the extra time, you might even consider talking to Erik and Sasha (awesome people) about options for a longer stay. One other bit of advice…Take seriously the pre-retreat recommendations on the Pisatahua website (i.e., La Dieta). It can make a big difference. Cheers.
jadamrush
April 6, 2018 at 4:07 pm

Pistatahua is the sixth Ayahuasca retreat center I’ve been fortunate to spend time at, so I believe I’ve had enough experience to write a fair review.

To summarize, the 9-day plant medicine retreat I participated in was excellent in every regard. The location is breathtakingly beautiful, located deep in the Bolivian Amazon and on the shore of a large natural lake surrounded by virgin rainforest. The accommodation I stayed in was exceedingly comfortable and luxurious, with an incredible view, comfortable bed, and private bathroom including a high-pressure shower and flushable toilet. The gourmet food was delicious and among the best I’ve had at any plant medicine or naturopathic retreat center. They also supplemented our meals with delicious and nutritious fresh juices that included carrot, beet, apple, ginger, lemon, celery, cucumber, etc—a very nice addition!

Also, the staff were friendly, approachable, and very supportive of the individual and group healing processes; they really care about you and your experience, and will go the ‘extra mile’ to ensure all your needs are met. Daily we had group sessions of tai chi, pranayama (deep breathing exercises), and meditation, in addition to some discussions regarding the work with plant medicines and integration. The Ayahuasca ceremonies themselves were profound and transformative; the medicine was very strong and effective; and the shamans were professional, attentive, and wise.

I left the center feeling a renewed and deepened awareness and connection to myself, others, and the world. I highly recommend Pisatahua to anyone looking to experience or work with Ayahuasca in a beautiful, comfortable, loving, and supportive environment.
Tobe
April 1, 2018 at 11:00 am

Highly recommendable Ayahuasca-retreat-center
From the very beginning, when I was picked up at the airport in Riberalta by Erik and Sasha, I knew that I was in good hands. And my first impression turned out to be absolutely true.
The four ceremonies I partook felt very authentic and deep. There was enough quietness and darkness to give me all the space I needed, but without ever feeling alone or lost. There was always someone if needed, during and after the ceremonies. Shamans Don Rene and Don Marcial are both very warm and kindhearted men, and the crew became quickly a group of friends. The knowledge that I was in a safe space – which is probably the most important thing for every retreat-center – allowed me to immerse deep in the experience and have rewarding experiences.
The retreat center itself is beautifully located in the amazon of nothern Bolivia near a jungle lake. The cabins are new, comfortable and spaciuos, and the food is delicious and plenty. Because of the small number of retreat guests activities (ranging from jungle hikes and boat rides to Tai-chi and yoga) could be arranged or changed very easy – which was necessary in my case because there was a lot of rain. Being at Pisatahua is not only about ayahuasca, but at least as much about experiencing the jungle, which for me was worth the travel on its own.
What impressed me especially was the beautiful, respectful way Pisatahua works with the local community and how they care for the environnement. You could see that everyone involved enjoys being involved: the local family nearby that was assisting in various ways, the shamans from the neighbouring villages, their friends in the town of Riberalta.
It’s a retreat center that is not at all secluded from its surrounding, but part of it, and something you become part of as well: part of the ayahuasca, part of the crew and their vision, part of the local family, part of the deep jungle, that is surrounding you.

Big thanks to Pisatahua
locobuzzy
March 30, 2018 at 2:50 pm

Thank you so much Pisatahua! Ayahuasca can and should be one of the most incredible experiences of your life – as it was for me. If you are considering working with Ayahuasca, I would highly recommend choosing Pisatahua for your retreat. They make you feel comfortable, safe and well-informed throughout the whole experience. Well in advance we were told about the physical and spiritual preparations we should undertake in order to make the most of the retreat and avoid intense sickness. We met with the shaman and staff before each session and learned a lot about the sacred plant including the science behind its work. This information session was extremely valuable and demonstrated that the shaman who would lead the session is knowledgeable. All medical contraindications were checked for and everybody signed an informed consent form. The space designated for the retreat was well-prepared with ample space, comfortable mattresses, and an enchanting ambience with the full moon glowing above in the sky and the fire glittering in the background.

Ayahuasca is not a hallucinogenic drug. Ayahuasca is a teacher. It helps you confront your fears and weaknesses and reconnect with nature. As I lie down on the mattress the wind on my cheek felt like a caress. My senses remained amplified even weeks after the retreat, allowing me to hear, see and feel everything in an intensified manner. The retreat experience allowed me to enter the shoes of other animals and surrounded me with herds of insects accompanied by a feeling that they are not going to hurt me. After this experience you may come to think twice before killing a spider or a fly. The experience, however, is not always a relaxing Mary Go Round. There were some minutes (or hours!) in which Mother Ayahuasca made me feel terrible, weirdly nauseous and most importantly guilty. If there are things on your conscience you do not want to confront Ayuahuasca will make sure to show you just that. But afterwards it is all calm. It is a very positive experience. After a period of intense “teaching” all I could think of was ‘Thank you Mother Ayahuasca’.

One thing to keep in mind is that no matter what Pisatahua’s staff and healers are always there to help you. Whether you need to stand up to use the bathroom, have your water bottle filled or feeling nauseous. Their and Piña’s (their lovely dog) constant vigilance will make you feel safe. Safe and ready to embrace the spirit…