Ayahuasca | Integration | San Pedro (Huachuma) $520 - $3,000

Sapan Inka Retreat Center

Sacred Valley, Cusco, Perú

4.8 (169 reviews)

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Sapan Inka: Small groups (7 people) and integration sessions

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At Sapan Inka, we believe participating in an Ayahuasca retreat is a powerful opportunity for profound energetic and spiritual cleansing and healing. An Ayahuasca experience can be immensely favorable for those embarking on a journey of transformation and spiritual development. Our unique model is a conscious synthesis of the millenary wisdom of Amazonian medicine and the principles of depth and transpersonal psychology. We are not a center for spiritual tourism or mere Ayahuasca experiences; we are a dedicated space for exploring the deep psyche, practicing ancestral Amazonian medicine, and supporting transformative processes.

We distinguish ourselves through our philosophy of minimal interference and the unwavering shamanic and spiritual support provided in our ceremonies. Our commitment to ethics and professionalism is paramount. We believe an Ayahuasca ceremony is an opening to the reality of the soul and a world of sacred images. For this reason, we practice minimal interference during your experience of expanded states of consciousness, allowing the healing intelligence of Ayahuasca and your own inner being to guide the process. This is not abandonment or a lack of warmth; it is a conscious act of respect and trust in your innate capacity to heal and in the divine power of the medicine itself.

The transformative power of Ayahuasca is fully realized through a structured integration process. At Sapan Inka, our psychotherapeutic integration is more than a simple conversation; it is a rigorous process designed to help you assimilate, process, and effectively integrate your experiences. We provide a space for you to understand the intricate symbolic language of your visions, converting profound insights into tangible and lasting change. This is how the spiritual revelations from the ceremonies are bridged with your daily life, ensuring the journey leads to genuine personal growth.

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To navigate this journey, rigorous preparation is essential. An Ayahuasca experience can be incredibly challenging, and its potency demands thorough mental, emotional, and spiritual readiness. It is crucial for participants to understand that this is not a shortcut, but a deep and profound inner work that requires commitment and maturity.

Given the serious nature of our work, we are aware that our approach may not satisfy everyone’s expectations. Those who seek a more superficial, less confrontational experience or group activities may find other centers more suitable. Our model is designed for individuals committed to holistic healing and willing to embark on a serious psychospiritual path. This is why our groups are intentionally small, to ensure the personalized and ethical attention that is the cornerstone of our years of experience and dedication.

At Sapan Inka, our commitment is to support you on your journey, respecting the authenticity of your process and providing a safe and professional environment for a genuine transformation.

If you wish to explore the details of our retreats or simply prefer a more personal connection before beginning your journey, we invite you to schedule a 15-minute video call with us.

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Reviews (169)

4.8 out of 5

Overall 4.8

jclairep215
January 16, 2018 at 1:56 pm

This retreat was beautifully designed for true spiritual growth and reflection. I trust Eric and Nilda’s intentions fully heartedly, and I believe this to be one of the most important aspects when searching for a shaman to work with. They both take the whole thing very seriously and are not just in it for the money. They keep group sizes small, because they want to be able to give their full presence to everyones needs, which would not be possible in group sizes of 40-50. They are both wonderful, authentic and experienced. This retreat is designed for true internal reflection and they help you each day with the short therapy sessions.

This retreat however is not easy, and is not for you unless you are very serious about your personal growth. This was by no means a “fun vacation,” but instead one of the most difficult and transformational things I have ever done. The house you stay in is simple and minimal, which aids in giving you ample time and space for internal reflection. You will not be flooded with distractions of any sort. There are a couple games me and my partner played during the day, as a break from the processing of our experiences. The food is wonderful and simple, just vegetables and some spices. You can leave the house in the day to go on walks and explore the surrounding nature, which was very nice.

I believe ayahuasca to be a tool, to open up your mind to show you where you are not aligned with your higher self. To awaken you to the areas in your life where you are still living in fear. I do not consider it a one-shot “answer” to your problem. My experience at Sapan Inka was extremely intense, and I ended up only participating in one ceremony. I believe it would have been very difficult for me if i did not have my partner present, to help me and support me all the following days. That said, I fully trusted Eric and Nilda’s ability to hold sacred ceremony. As i experienced the scariest things I have ever been through, they sang me through my experience and lifted me towards enlightenment. The songs were so sacred and so important. Towards the end, Eric brought me back to the room when the ceremony was over, by using one of his shamanic techniques. They were both so capable of handing my situation, even when I deemed myself a bit out of control. They are wonderful people and I would recommend this retreat to anyone who truly believes they are ready for what ayahuasca may offer them.
kbleacher
January 15, 2018 at 7:47 pm

I went to Sapan Inka for a 5 day retreat including 2 Ayahuasca ceremonies, one San Pedro ceremony and the Machu Piccu tour at the end. I am a 35 year-old American woman. I am a hard-evidence, skeptical kind of person, not a spiritual person.

Eric acted as the primary “shaman” figure, at least partially because he speaks reasonable English where Nilda does not, although they both clearly have their roles in the retreat. They are both very conscientious and professional in every aspect of their approach to this experience. Eric informs you of every detail of your somewhat strict schedule, answers all questions and reviews your thoughts and experiences at numerous points throughout the week in one-on-one interviews and during the ceremonies. While they both are clearly dedicated spiritualists, Eric is refreshingly clinical in his approach to interpreting and integrating your experience. He makes himself available before, during and after the retreat to help you along. He is obviously experienced and equally obviously works to improve himself at every opportunity, from both a psychological perspective and a service-oriented business perspective.

They are a very dedicated couple and address every angle of this experience between the two of them. This is a whole body/mind wellness retreat, not a drug experience. You are encouraged to meditate, write and otherwise process your journey alone. You are not entertained, there is no wifi or even board games. Your food is simple and healthy and served to you as-is…i.e. no menu or alternative options. The accommodations are clean and comfortable, but not luxurious by American standards. Eric and Nilda are friendly but distant. I’m not sure how much of that was a language barrier, but I firmly believe it is a deliberate choice on their part. If you are looking for a magical experience that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy, go somewhere else. If you are looking for an opportunity to affect real personal growth and are prepared to put in a lot of work before, during and after this experience, then I highly recommend this retreat.

A few notes:

While the food was simple, it was tasty. I made a pest of myself getting one of Nilda’s soup recipes.

The area where the retreat is located, which is their home, is beautiful. The San Pedro hike was one of the highlights of the experience for me because there was so much to see and learn. Incidentally, I felt the most engaged with Eric and Nilda during this hike. They seemed to love nature and sharing Peru’s bounty as much as I wanted to soak it in.

In my personal opinion, I feel that Ayahuasca is a tool, not a solution in and of itself. I wish I had prepared a more specific goal for myself instead of keeping my mind open to whatever came up with some nebulous ideas floating around. I also wish I could have stayed longer to do a few more ceremonies. As much as they aren’t really enjoyable, I feel like I barely scratched the surface of what I could’ve learned and would have happily done more.

I’m glad I followed the diet the month before going on the retreat. It seemed like the people who didn’t had a much harder time and didn’t get as much out of it.

I felt safe and secure at all times, despite being pretty nervous. They know what they’re doing.

The Macchu Picchu tour was very well planned by Eric and Nilda. Their guide was excellent. Honestly, as much as I want to be awed by history and whatnot, I’m much more likely to get bored and learn nothing. The guide was interesting and passionate about the site, I am very thankful for the experience.
Erika
January 10, 2018 at 7:09 pm

I have participated in two 5 day ceremonies with Erik and Nilda. They are both professional and serious about their work as healers. I felt safe, cared about, well-informed all round, and highly recommend Sapaninka as a place to observe ceremony. Both ceremonies have provided me with life-changing insights about myself as a spiritual being living in a physical body and world. I wouldn’t trade my experiences for anything. They were worth every ounce of energy and money.
oochd
January 5, 2018 at 11:01 am

Unlike most of the reviewers above, I did not have such a great time at Sapan Inka. It felt very dry and austere to me, completely different from the amazing, beautiful and juicy ceremonies that I am used to at other centers.

Erik and Nilda do not stay with the retreatants during the whole ceremony, but go to bed after about two hours, leaving people to deal with their trip for the remainder. This to me is not the way to run a safe ayahuasca ceremony.

My first ceremony involved quite a lot of shaking and bodily release, which is normal for me in the first ceremony of a retreat where by the body is releasing tension, and every shaman I have worked with has told me this a a normal and natural part of the process. Erik’s interpretation the next day was that this was ayahuasca’s way of telling me that my “lifestyle” had not yet caught up to insights from previous retreats, and he tried to talk me out of participating the second night.

The second night went fine, but I still had my reservations with the way they run their ceremonies. When I shared these the next morning instead of engaging with it, they just ordered a car for me and told me to leave.

It was weird being kicked out of an ayahuasca retreat, but on the other hand I was happy to leave. Did another aya ceremony at Sacred Valley Tribe and a San Pedro ceremony at Hummingbird, which were both beautiful and amazing and which I likely would have missed out on if I hadn’t been kicked out. So in the end it worked out for the best for me.
- Owner
  January 5, 2018 at 4:49 pm
  
  Hello Oege
  Thank you very much for leaving your review about your experience in our Retreat Center. We believe your point of view about our work is interesting and rewarding, since it is the first time that a participant shows disagreement with our therapeutic system and with the way how we guide the retreats. We think that this experience is an indication that we still have a lot of work to do and that we should not cease our efforts to improve. The Sapan Inka Retreat Center has been organizing retreats for more than 10 years and there are more than a thousand participants who have attended our retreats, and it has been always our main interest the psychic and spiritual health of all the participants. Over the years we have developed a therapeutic model that integrates ancestral Amazonian / Andean wisdom and psychotherapy. And it is a top priority for us to make the participants feel safe in our home and that everyone can benefit from the therapeutic process.
  We are sorry if we were not able to provide you with the help you expected during your stay in our home, during the ceremonies and during our integration talks. We are sorry for not doing a job according to your expectations and your personal quest. It is true that it was our decision to ask you to leave the retreat and to refund some of your money, and we do not regret it, since we considered it to be the most healthy decisión for both sides. We are responsible for our decisions. And we honestly hope that everything goes very well on your personal development path.
asnewb
December 30, 2017 at 7:03 pm

I’m not really sure what to think about this experience.

Erik and Nilda are WONDERFUL. They are genuinely interested in your well-being and growth, and do everything they can to help you prepare and, later, integrate what you experienced into your life. Theirs is a small group experience, which was ideal for me. The center is beautiful, spotlessly clean, comfortable and very well-maintained. Even when I examine my time with them closely I can find nothing I would change.

But what I went looking for, a better understanding of the Spirit World, I did not find. Perhaps my search was not well enough articulated. Perhaps I did not even know what it was I wanted. It could even be that the message was given and I am just now beginning to be ready to receive it.

There is a unique fullness of the Spirit in the Sacred Valley. This in itself is enough to draw me back. I’ve worshipped all over the world and never found anything approaching what is here.

My message to anyone considering this experience would be to prepare yourself. Physically and spiritually. Clearly define exactly what you want to get out of it. Your intentions must be as exact as you can make them. Ayahuasca is not a toy, something to take recreationally. It can save you, or it can damage you. It’s more powerful than you think.