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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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Dmitry
November 5, 2016 at 10:17 pmI did 6-days Ayahuasca and Machu Picchu Retreat in Sapan Inka with Erik and Nilda. That is one of the most fantastic adventures in my life! In the beginning I planed to have ayauasca ceremonies in Amazonian Peru, but I wanted to visit Machu Picchu so much,so I stated to look for retreats near Cusco and found the Sapan inka’s website. The more I did read, the more I was getting a feeling that it’s the place to be for me . Just the way Erik and Nilda describe their approach to using ayahuasca in ceremonies, medical spiritual historical and cultural aspects,made me believe that they are not doing it for money, but really want to share their knowledge with other people. And I was 100% right about that.
In 6 days we have had 2 ayahuasca ceremonies, San Pedro ceremony and visited Machu Picchu. Pretty intense, but It was a very balanced program with enough time to learn your lessons, analyze them and relax and enjoy amazing surroundings of Sacred Valley. Erik and Nilda are such wonderful people, who make you feel very comfortable, safe, protected and cared of. They work with small groups of people (4-6 people) and create really family like atmosphere where everyone gets a lot of attention all the time. Taking the ayahuasca is a very unusual experience,sometimes even not so pleasant and it’s very important to have the Shamans, who you trust to, who will support you, protect, help you and after the ceremony describe and translate your experience to you. After each ceremony we had individual interviews with Erik where he listened to each of us and gave his insights and recommendations. He and Nilda generously shared with us their deep knowledge about medicine plants, healthy nutrition, psychology,spirituality and history of Incas and Peru. We had very interesting conversation with them. They are very good hosts: our accommodation was comfortable, food fantastic and all our transportation and the tour to Machu Picchu very well organized. I don’t write here about my Ayahuasca ,San Pedro and Machu Picchu experiences because you have to experience it for youself and I don’t want to spoil fun, but I highly recommend Sapan Inka and I am very grateful to Erik and Nilda for their fantastic job and dedication. Much Love!
Melissa Redd
November 5, 2016 at 9:32 pmI visited Eric and Nilda in the Sacred Valley this past August of 2016.
I have NEVER experienced something like this in my life. It was OUT OF THIS WORLD, literally… and for those who are brave and those who are seekers, this is the place for you. Number one, I felt Eric and Nilda were very professional and at the same time very kind, compassionate and loving. Taking Ayahuasca is not for everyone, however I had been called to do this for over 6 years…I finally did it. And, I am so happy I did. I chose the right place. Eric and Nilda’s Retreat is small (under 12 participants) and you feel heard, nurtured, protected and well taken care of.
In a nut shell, working with this practice was really tough, mentally, physically and spiritually…but, so well worth it. I call it 20 years of therapy condensed into 7 days! If you want to lovingly removed your blocks, remove the places where you are stuck subconsciously, go… go to the sacred valley, spend some time on precious you, heal yourself to a new level.
Eric and Nilda are amazing Shamans to lead the walk to your deep transformation and a more joyful you.
Warm Regards, Melissa Redd Life Coach & Founder of PURE RETREATS
genericusername
September 6, 2016 at 9:48 pmA friend and I visited in the spring of 2015 for our first expeirence with ayahuasca. My personal experience was emotionally challenging and draining but resulted in great personal insights, of which I continue to benefit. While the medicine is obviously an important component to the ceremony, I believe the talents and skills of the curandero/shaman are of equal importance. Erik and Nilda have created an environment that facilitates tranquility and reflection. They established good boundaries with the guests while I was there by being available for discussion and questions but limiting their social interactions with the guests. Some may find it standoffish but I think their aloofness contributes to introspection. Similarly, the large open room used for the ceremonies was deemed a sacred space and treated as such, which helped to reaffirm the purpose for being there. Our first two ceremonies included a third curandero/shaman. Once I could feel the medicine, he created vocal melodies, rhythms, and textures (I feel that song would be an inaccurate description) that led me to a place in my subconscious where many unresolved emotions lay in wait. It was like a conductor or maestro of an orchestra but perhaps something greater because if he had ill intentions, I could easily have been led to very dark places.
My intent in trying ayahuasca was for introspective exploration. In Searching for a retreat, I was looking for small group sizes, affordability, authenticity, and sincerity and I found exactly what I was looking for. They have a maximum of four people at a time, which limited a lot of external stimulation. The cost was quite reasonable for five days, perhaps slightly more than the nightly rate at a hotel. Erik and Nilda provided an experience that was both therapeutic and enlightening. They showed great concern in ensuring each of their guests were able to use the medicine for positive and therapeutic purposes. This included some extensive interviews and dietary/health guidlines before and after the ceremony. I would highly recommend their retreat and hope to return some day. I advise anyone who has inquired about my experience to research options and determine their motivations for using ayahuasca before taking one’s recommendation or review. Thank you, Erik and Nilda.
andrewr
September 6, 2015 at 12:00 amI attended a three day ayahuasca retreat in July of this year with Erik and Nilda at their wonderful home in the Sacred Valley and could not be happier with the experience. And because this was not my first time with ayahuasca it was not difficult for me to see that Erik and Nilda were providing a level of service, care and dedication unmatched by many other offerings across South America.
On the first day we were picked up from Cusco in a comfortable van that took us promptly to Erik and Nilda’s beautiful home in the picturesque Sacred Valley. There we had time to eat, relax and spend some quality time one-on-one with Erik himself before the ceremony in order to discuss our experiences, expectations and concerns. This effectively became the formula each day, which I found gave me ample time to prepare, process and consider the work that was either done or to be done, but also to relax and recuperate. The meals, too, were always delicious, light and healthy, while the facilities were always clean and sufficient.
The ceremony’s themselves, of which I undertook two, were expertly led by both Erik and Nilda who took it in turns to chant and sing their beautiful and inspiring icaros while also keeping a watchful eye over the participants. I myself had some very therapeutic experiences during my two ceremonies, and when during the second ceremony I struggled to bring myself out of the ceremony due to some difficult material I was confronting, Erik, amazingly, was able to safely bring me out of it and back to reality so that I could take myself to bed.
Overall I have learnt a lot as a result of my experiences here and across other retreats in South America. So I thank both Erik and Nilda for all their care and generosity and wish them all the best as well as hoping that they can continue their wonderful and healing work for many years to come.
madmaddison
August 31, 2015 at 12:00 amIn January 2015 I have visited the sacred house of Erik and Nilda and participated in an Ayahuasca/San Pedro retreat. And still now, half a year later, a can feel the aftereffects of this positive experience.
It wasn’t my first encounter with psychedelics, but until then my intentions were more for diversion and experimentation. Having heard of Ayahuasca and it?s power of giving a “life-changing experience” made me curious, although I had high doubts on the sustainability of this kind of experiences.
Looking for a proper place for getting into the ‘rabbit hole’ I was first thinking of going into the amazonian jungle to the Ucayali valley the look for an indigenous shaman to take master plant. But during my research crossed over the homepage of the sapan inca project. The way they write about their work and the plants indicate the depth of knowledge they share. And the fact that they work with small groups of max 4 participants proves that they do not seek maximum economic profit for themselves but rather maximum benefit for the guests. Also being a couple of a man and a woman made a lot of sense to me, so I decided to participate in the retreat – which turned out to be a real damn good decision! 😉
Prior to the retreat I was asked to answer a questionnaire, for two reasons: First, that Erik is able to analyze my intentions and personal topics/challenges and second, that I prepare myself appropriately for the experience – which makes a lot of sense to me and is sadly not a matter of course in every retreat location.
The house and the surrounding in a quiet village near Calca in the center of the sacred valley are simply magically. Tranquilo, pure and wonderful nature and positive vibrations from the holy mountains (apus). It?s a perfect place for these retreats.
The food served is delicious, vegetarian, especially selected for ayahuasca usage and prepared with local, organic ingredients and lots of love!
The accommodation is very cosy and comfortable.
The rituals themselves are a bit hard to describe with words and individually very different. Erik and Nilda guided us very calm, clear and in holy and sacred way. There voices and chants and their presence guide and give space at the same time.
My first ritual was not at all what I expected of one of the most powerful entheogens: I did not feel a lot a effects beside purging hard and cocooning myself on the mattress.
The talk with Erik on the next morning eased me, saying that sometimes the plant medicine first has to tear down some walls before working further beyond – and he should be proved correct:
On the second evening Ayahuasca with the guidance of the two shamans took me down into darkness and up into the bright sky again, connecting a lot of loose ends in my life and leading to a quiet and light place of acceptance of myself and connectivity to the universe.
The last ritual was with San Pedro and was initiated with a despacho from a curandero of the Q’ero people. I was fascinated of the inner energy and kindness and the respect to mother nature and its inhabitants – best practice of Buen Vivir (Sumak kawsay, Waiki!).
Looking back on the last months between now and the retreat, I am happily surprised how my life has developed. Thank you so much for this experience and the good wishes and the buenas ondas which still keep vibrating!
I am looking forward to travel back to Calca one fine day and continue the journey….
I highly recommend the Sapan Inca Project for everyone with good intentions who is looking for an authentic, safe and inspirational Ayahuasca and/or San Pedro experience.