I’m very grateful for my time at this center. I spent 3 weeks here, and I found Maestra Estela and her brother Roldan to be humble, caring, and focused on healing and light. Maestra’s meditation is strong. Her icaros are beautiful. Her prayers are strong. She does not over pour people and she has no problem if you want less medicine or even want none at all. I found her approach to be discerning and sensitive to trauma in this way. After witnessing her help another member of our group work through difficult energies brought up by the medicine, I also felt complete trust and safety in her ceremony. She is also a human being running a center in an industry that is at the crossroads of Western physical wealth/spiritual poverty and South American spiritual wealth/physical poverty, and it’s not without glimpses of these realities. But, I feel like she does a very good job in this context and I received profound healing that continues to unfold in magnificent and beautiful ways.

I could write a novel just about the beauty of what I have received and how it continues to unfold. I’ve been back in the US for a little over 4 weeks now and I see the diet continuing to open and grow within me every day, every time I sit to sing, pray, or meditate. The connection is deeper. Things in my life are opening and shifting, and grace seems to be around every corner. Of course life is not without challenges and pain, but more grace is here. I am moving every day towards peace inside and I get to share this peace more with others. This is a gift. Again, I am deeply grateful.

There are things to be aware of – there’s not a lot of hand holding or schedule support if you’re someone who needs that (for example no daily yoga and meditation like some other centers offer, you choose how to spend your time for better or for worse!), there’s a possibility that a translator won’t be present (there’s wifi which can be used to overcome a lack of translator), the website may still contain some outdated or inconsistent information (they’re working on updating it), you might not get a vomitivo when you arrive (but kambo is available), there’s a strict no refunds policy, the quality of the food can vary and depends on who’s employed at the time (during my stay in Jan 2026 the food was VERY good, amazing), she might change your plants during the diet if she feels it’s best.

Though I am certainly not experienced, I’ve heard that experienced dieteros may find some things about the center unconventional, such as the daytime ceremonies (my personal favorite… when I was there it was Monday night time aya, Weds daytime aya, Friday daytime huachuma or aya if you prefer), it’s not strict on silence (but you can be, I was silent the first week), kids are around (they’re very cute), there’s sometimes a community soccer game (nice reminder that we’re people on the planet during deep inner work), onions/garlic/turmeric/ginger were allowed (I was grateful), and Maestra often has people dieting multiple plants at once (though a bit overwhelming at first as I figured out my own routine, ultimately I appreciated this approach and enjoyed the opportunity to get to know different plants).

Overall, Maestra is very generous and she’s well available to you at basically anytime if you have questions or concerns, sometimes you just have to go find her. I reflect very fondly on my time at Aya Madre and I’d certainly be open to returning if things unfold in that direction.

I understand the folks who feel deterred by the rumors of misconduct of Maestro Andres/Cleber. I was aware of these rumors when I arrived and I met this Maestro, he was present during my stay. I felt safe during my time there, despite finding some of his conduct (asking for my number and then texting me) inappropriate. I brought this to Maestra’s attention, and I sent him a message asking him to stop. I feel they both responded appropriately. As of writing this, I have heard from another pasajero who is there now that he has left the center.

I recommend that you do as much research as you can, talk to trusted friends or folks who have gone, work with mental health professionals or whatever your system of support is to get clear on your intentions and what you are seeking to receive, practice your meditation and what connects you to your heart and your community, prepare yourself to surrender, make room for transformation to take place in your life, and then get your answer during your meditation and prayer about what is right for you.

Maestra Estela often says poco a poco, little by little. No need to rush. I had a profoundly beautiful and loving experience at this center. I wish you a beautiful and loving journey wherever you go.