Ayahuasca

Pisatahua

Name: Pisatahua
Rating: 5

Beni, Bolivia

5.0 (74 reviews)

Contact for $5

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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

mobelukie
November 26, 2021 at 11:25 am

I am forever grateful to the guides at Pisatahua who curated a safe space and supported me through a profound, life changing experience. It’s been almost two months since I’ve stayed at the retreat in Riberalta, Bolivia, and the gifts keep unfolding. Since I’ve been home, there has been an immediate integration of the lessons I’ve learned and the awareness I’ve gained unlike any other medicine or therapy has ever gifted me in the past. My experience at Pisatahua has helped me gain a stronger sense of confidence. It affirmed me in my life path and heightened my understanding to the gifts I have to offer. There is a magic that has blossomed from my heart chakra, and it only continues to grow stronger by the second. The shift is palpable. Pisatahua is a sacred space, and the healers are wise beyond their years. The ceremonies are held to respect the ancestral tradition and sacredness of the plants. Pisatahua lives in harmony with Pachamama. The sanctuary of the cabanas are a most restorative and reflective space… Swinging on the hammock and overlooking to Acquicana Reserve, I spent many hours journaling about the experiences flowing through these newly opened channels. Investing the time and energy to arrive to Pisatahua is absolutely an investment in oneself… You will be greeted with an abundance of grace, respect and guidance the moment you choose this journey… You will never be alone in the process, and the effect of the love and joy you feel from the space around you will lift you to a higher vibration like never felt before! I have so many thanks to Pisatahua, and can’t wait to return.
ydoucette
September 21, 2021 at 6:14 pm

Living in the fast paced, overcrowded, technological city life, you tend to forget how life can be. Pisatahua is a place of peace and happiness. A place where you discover the meaning of life again. How it should be. Calm, relaxing, and peaceful.

My fiancé and I had a custom visit of 6 days and 2 ceremonies and were the only ones there. “VIP” as our healer Franz called it. It was mainly because we couldn’t make the 10-day retreat work with our family visit/ vacation time in Bolivia. Though after our experience we would’ve been more than happy to do 10 days. This was our first time taking Ayahuasca and we couldn’t have asked for a better place. From the landscape to the care takers, everything made you feel as if you were in the right place. Good. Safe.

Our healer was Franz, and his assistant Aneshka. They were both wonderful and very caring throughout our time. I found out from Franz that most Shamans prefer to be called “Curandero” (Healer), because that’s what they are and that’s what they do. They heal. They both ensured our time with mother Ayahuasca was comforting and meaningful. I can say this plant medicine is no joke. She is powerful and can slap some sense back into you. My personal experience with her was more physical and more on the grounds of how she works. I could feel I needed more time with her after the 2 ceremonies, and Franz confirmed it. Hence why I plan to return and do a full 10-day, 4 ceremony experience. My fiancé’s experience on the other hand was more emotional, and she was able to let things go and forgive. It was beautiful for her, and I couldn’t have been happier. The conversations you have with the Curanderos after each ceremony are very meaningful and bonding, and we are truly grateful for those.

While there you’re served a specific diet. No added salt or sugar. Very clean. Which was surprisingly tasty. We had a tour of the jungle seeing the many plants that grow amongst each other. There are some massive trees who protect the Amazon and connect with Shamans. Also, a nice boat ride on the river to see more wildlife and amazing views of the Amazon. There were many times I found myself laying down and gazing into the sky. Mind clear of thoughts and peace with oneself which is an amazing feeling.

I can’t thank the team at Pisatahua enough for their kindness, hospitality, and the time and effort that they put into this place to make it a place that brings peace back into your life. Thank you so much to Erik, Sasha, Franz, Aneshka, and the caretakers. You are all wonderful individuals, and the world needs more of you.
Ausspoon
April 20, 2020 at 10:51 am

In a time when the entire world essentially shut down because of the coronavirus, the team here in Riberalta has gone above and beyond to accommodate our group of five. Even now, about a month since our final ceremony, we are still being taken care of, due to the extended quarantine. This speaks volumes about the character and values of Pisatahua, and I could not be more thankful.
It’s tough to put into words how positively transformational the 10 day retreat was for me. I was warned right from the get-go that this was going to be a very difficult experience, and yeah, they weren’t kidding. It certainly pushed me to my limits, but the overall result has exceeded my expectations. With the guidance from our healers(Wara and Franz), I have been able to integrate what I’ve learned from the Ayahuasca into my daily life. Although I am much more grateful for life itself and optimistic about the future, I’m also aware that not every day will go the way I want. There will still be tough times, but one thing Wara said to us that I repeat to myself every day, goes like this, “It’s better to suffer for 4 hours, than it is to suffer for the rest of your life.”
As far as accommodation, food, and overall hospitality in the jungle goes, I have zero complaints. This type of experience is not supposed to be a “vacation”, but the team here made our lives as easy and comfortable as possible. I know I will be called back to the medicine sometime in the future, and there truly is no place I’d rather go to than Pisatahua. I won’t find any place more affordable with more personable people than I’ve found here.
Mikeyspecs
March 28, 2020 at 9:29 am

The nature, the people, really the whole experience from the very beginning was nothing but a positive and uplifting. Erik was very prompt and answered all questions I had and Wayra is such an incredible healer and human being. Made memories that will last a lifetime! I found the retreat through a friend and we planned on going together but in the end I ended up going solo and so happy I did because I really bonded with the small group of other attendees. It also gave me more of an opportunity for diving into more self reflection which I did, also worked through some old trauma and phyaical chronic health conditions. I feel like it was a giant reset button for me physically, mentally and emotionally. Now that I’m back home and adjusting to city life again, I still hold the memories of the ceremonies close and still receiving the lessons learned and finding it helping me in my daily life and routine. Was totally everything and more that I could ever ask of a retreat centre and if I feel like the medicine calls me again, I know where I’m going!
mkcanada
March 22, 2020 at 8:50 pm

I was at Pisatahua in February earlier this year, the first group in 2020. Below are some highlights from my time spent at the centre. Overall, I had an overwhelmingly positive experience. I am forever grateful to the group that attended, to Wayra our spiritual leader, to the staff on the grounds and lastly to Erik and his support. I would highly recommend a retreat at Pisatahua.

Background. prior to Pisatahua I had never taken Ayahuasca or anything like it. I had learned about the plant medicine years ago from friends and more recently through various sources that I follow related to self development and healing

My decision. Possibly like many of you, I came across countless other retreats offering similar programs. After researching, Pisatahua fit what I was looking for in a centre with respect to the feel and description of the program and the surroundings. My interaction with the team (and Erik) leading up to my registration gave me the confidence that this was the right choice for me — and it just felt right in my gut

First impressions. Exactly as I had imagined / expected based on my research and on my conversations with Erik. No (negative) surprises whatsoever. I can only say that everything met or exceeded my expectations

Our shaman. Wayra. Kind, patient, warm and experienced. There was nothing more that I could have wanted from him. We had an initial one-on-one before the first ceremony. This was followed up with group sharing each day after a ceremony. He always made himself available for additional one-on-one conversation if we needed. After the second ceremony, he adjusted my medicine by adding another plant to help with my journey. This was different from to other participants, who received a different adjustment based on their experience from the first 2 ceremonies. For me the addition during the third ceremony deepen my experience and I felt it was just what I needed. Aside from his work with the plant medicines Wayra is also a music teacher, and for me this added so much depth to the ceremonies he led because he incorporated wonderful musical instruments that complemented his chanting.

The other participants and facilities. I am so grateful to each and everyone of the other participants — thank you for being there with me and for me! We were a smaller group than the capacity at Pisatahua – in total we were 5. We had full access to all the facilities and all the trips that were available, including a jungle hike, a boat ride and other activities specific to our individual needs based on discussion with Wayra and our plant medicine journey.

The environment and surroundings. Beautiful. Stunning. Exactly as portrayed on the website — and definitely more grand in person. You will appreciate the details the centre has put into the facilities, as well the vibe from the surrounding communities.

In summary, I would describe my 10-days spent at the centre, including the ceremonies and the times of solitude available to us, an experience of this lifetime. I felt taken care of, and most importantly I felt safe. For me this feeling of safety is not a simple task, and yet it is so importance as I journeyed with Ayahuasca.

I hope you make the right and best decision for you. If you have any questions or concerns, I have no doubt that Erik will be able to help!

**Note: for me an Ayahuasca experience is a deeply personal journey, therefore I have intentionally left out details from the ceremonies and instead focus my review on aspects that I felt added to my time there, and how they made me feel**