La Luna Del Amazonas

Iquitos, Peru

La Luna is run by Maestro Don Guido Rimachi. The center was first opened in 1987 as the local village clinic by the Rimachi brothers, and used to serve mainly local patients. As time went on the word was spread, and patients from all over Peru and the rest of the world started to show up. Throughout the last 30 years people have traveled to Santa Maria de Ojeal for healing.

2015 Don Guido decided to expand the village clinic into a full-service Ayahuasca healing center with private bungalows for visitors traveling abroad, wishing to stay many nights and focus on personal healing.

In 2016 the new facilities were opened with a different name, but the sacred Amazonian healing techniques remain. Our shamans work the traditional way with Ayahuasca, passed down through many generations.

Today, La Luna del Amazonas is both one of the oldest and the newest centers around. The center is traditional yet modern, perfect for those who want access to ancient healing in a comfortable environment.

Reviews (56)

5.0 out of 5
Overall 5.0
  • citizen3earth
    citizen3earth
    November 28, 2023 at 5:07 pm

    I embarked on a week retreat at La Luna Del Amazonas, and wow am I so elated I answered the calling to this space and mother Aya. Right away the volunteers and facilitators make you feel home before even arriving at the space. A beautiful boat ride takes you an hour out of Iquitos to the small nestled village of Santa Maria. As soon as you walk up to the property it’s hard not to be taken back by the beauty of the land. Exactly how I had pictured a rustic cozy retreat space in the amazon. You arrive to a meal, your room, and a quick chance to get to know everyone and the schedule for the week. I have much appreciation for the brother, Walter, steward of the land at La Luna(Don Benino’s Son). He spends the days tending to our needs, brewing the sacred brew, and smiling ear to ear. Before ceremony on the first night you get to speak to your shamans and share some intentions. This moment for myself gave me much trust, my shamans were Jack and Don Benino. Jacks calming and loving nature makes it easy to fall into a surrender state with the medicine and the flow of the week. Don Benino is a ball of light who’s been working with the medicine for over 70 years. A true carrier of Mother aya. For myself, from the start of the first ceremony I felt the healing force of the medicine and the shamans. When it comes to the Aya ceremonies, I truly have found a home to drink and commune with the medicine. I don’t see myself going anywhere else to drink. The facilitators are so helpful and attentive. Enrique and his wife will typically be in the facilitator role along with volunteers. The brother Oscar was very helpful in ceremony to many in my group and just an all around great friend to get to know. Enrique, owner and manager here, is truly an amazing human. Taking the call to help bring so much healing to those who make their way here. I’m excited for my future weavings here and to connect with all the La Luna family more. Besides the ceremonies, the rest of the flow is great. Monkey Island on Thursday is a blast, playing with primates, swimming in the amazon, and aya ceremony that night. It’s the ideal day in the amazon. The food, besides the aya diet days of course, is phenomenal. The cook Karen is so nice and will feed you with her heart. One of my highlights was the visit to the local indigenous tribe. Truly such a special experience being welcomed to their land and seeing the traditional ways in which they live. If you attend a retreat here, you’ll definitely wanna make that.
    All in all I recommend La Luna a thousand times over to anyone looking to come to the Amazon and sit with Aya. Sending an abundance of gratitude to Enrique, Lidia, Walter, Karen, Jack, Don Benino, Mother aya, and the Amazon jungle. Traditional, organic, and so so beautiful. Im so grateful to have found La Luna.

  • Stefan
    Stefan
    October 20, 2023 at 12:07 am

    La Luna Del Amazonas is the perfect place for anyone to experience ayahuasca and delve within, while enjoying the Peruvian Amazon Jungle – the true home of ayahuasca.
    La Luna offers:
    – small groups
    – experienced shamans (with pre- and post-ceremony discussions)
    – incremental doses of ayahuasca (adjusted based on how your body reacts to it)
    – excellent food (aligned with the dietary needs for an optimal experience)
    – exceptionally beautiful environment allowing you access to the isolation you require to connect with ayahuasca
    – Enrique’s extremely knowledgeable support and translations from English, Spanish or Swedish
    – trips introducing you to the Yagua people and spending time on the Monkey Island.

    In a nutshell, you cannot have a more in-depth experience packed within a week. I would definitely go back there again and I will continue to recommend this retreat to everyone.

    Everyone at La Luna Del Amazonas has become practically family.

    Muchas gracias, Enrique, Don Leonardo, Don Benigno, Walter, Karen, Lidia and Josef!
    Estamos muy agradecidos!!!

    A huge thank you to Andy, Stephanie, Kapil, Brittany, Kiko and Daniel! You guys are da best!

    Note: This review was edited to correct over-capitalization, but has otherwise been left in its original formm.

  • AnaV
    AnaV
    October 13, 2023 at 11:57 am

    Words can not express my gratitude for the experience I had at La Luna. I’m so happy I trusted my gut and chose La Luna for my first ever experience with Ayahuasca. The shamans that serve and heal at this place are made from the cloth of humility and respect and come from a long lineage of Curanderos with a deep knowledge of nature and the healing properties of the plants. They expertly work with ayahuasca and help facilitate deep healing for humanity. They are truly good peoples and they care about their patients coming to heal from the natural plants. The strong sense of protection and care during the ceremonies was so deeply humbling for me. I cried rivers of gratitude tears for their presence!! I wish I could close my eyes and hear all the words in the Icaros again. The energy was so real, so true for me. On top of this, the location is as close to nature as it gets, with access to the Amazon river basin and the beautiful nature surrounding it. If you are looking for a luxury retreat, then maybe La Luna isn’t for you, but ask yourself what is the connection between jacuzzi’s and televisions and nature? The journey with ayahuasca is a recipe of important ingredients that each deepen the experience, and being in nature and without those luxuries – facing yourself and being humbled to the ways of the people – is one of those ingredients that makes the experience very powerful. Enrique our host is wonderful and was attentive to our needs and any questions. Our cook this week was Carin, one of the loveliest most humble souls on the planet. All staff and family on site were like family to us guests. It truly was like being in a family community. I learned very valuable lessons about the journey and process with ayahuasca this week and I realize that my journey isn’t over. I will definitely be meeting with mother Aya again in the next year or so and La Luna is the only place I’d go. They’ve created a safe space for their guests and they are very knowledgeable and caring. They also offer opportunities in the week to meet the local Yagua tribe, walk through the village on the way to get the boat for Monkey island. You get to truly see the land and the peoples. I have a deep respect for everyone at La Luna and can’t wait to be back. I tried to run from some things this week but I’ll be back to build a better relationship with the plant and allow her to take me to the places that my ego wasn’t ready to go this week.

  • LouEsmeralda
    LouEsmeralda
    September 15, 2023 at 3:46 am

    I ventured to Peru, searching for healing after many years of failed attempts with talk-therapies, various esoteric interventions and body work sessions. During my time at La Luna Del Amazonas, I received that which I had been longing for.

    La Luna provides a safe and professional environment within which to heal and discover oneself, offering an authentic ceremonial atmosphere within a truly familial setting. Since the time I arrived, I felt safe, welcomed, at peace… at home.

    The team at La Luna provide the much needed personal support, attending to individuals and their specific needs. Each attendant has a private bungalow and the ceremonies are kept to small groups (10 people max.) so that participants are able to receive the healing that they require from the shamans, who are extensively trained and highly experienced, during each ceremony.

    The catering is exceptional and little outings during the week can help to break up the much-needed downtime between ceremonies.

    If I need to return to the jungle and take more of the medicine, Ayahuasca, in the future, I will hands down return to La Luna

    Thank you and much love and respect for the service the team at La Luna are providing for humanity. I look forward to seeing you all again ❤️

  • Lukas
    Lukas
    August 31, 2023 at 8:17 am

    This was my first time taking the medicine and I was very picky in choosing the place. I am so happy that I went to La Luna del Amazonas. The week I was there was perfect in every way possible. The place is beautiful and holds everything you need to have a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Enrique or Henrik, as we call him in Swedish, welcomes you with open arms and you feel at home immediately. He together with the truly amazing shamans will answer any questions you might have and guide you through the week and whatever challenges you might face. The ceremonies are pure magic and I cannot praise Leonardo and Guido enough, they have enormous experience and it shows in every aspect of the healing process. I can not recommend this place more, if you are looking for a place that is safe, professional, and perfect for your individual journey this is the one. For me, it truly was a life-changing experience and I am forever grateful for what the medicine and the shamans did for me and my family.

  • christia
    christia
    July 18, 2023 at 11:50 am

    I had a truly life-changing experience at La Luna del Amazonas :).
    From the moment I arrived, I felt a deep sense of respect and reverence for the tradition and the medicine. The shamans and facilitators were incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, and their commitment to safety was evident in every aspect of the retreat.

    The Ayahuasca medicine itself was incredibly powerful and transformative. I felt like I was able to access deep parts of myself and gain insights and clarity that I had never experienced before. The ceremonies were conducted with the utmost care and respect for the medicine, and I felt like I was in good hands throughout.

    What struck me most was their deep respect for the cosmology and traditions surrounding the use of Ayahuasca. The ceremonies were conducted in a way that honored the indigenous traditions from which the medicine comes, and the shamans gave us time every day for conversations and explained the significance of each aspect of the ceremony. This added a layer of depth and meaning to the experience that I had not encountered before.

    Thank you so much all of you (Leonardo, Guido, Jack, Benigno, Ociel?, Walter, Enrique and Carmen). I’m looking forward to meeting you all again soon!

  • Sid2023
    Sid2023
    May 19, 2023 at 7:23 pm

    A magical community

    I spent one week at La Luna del Amazonas. I had been traveling around Peru with my partner and felt a deep urge to visit the Amazon and learn more about the healing properties of Ayahuasca. While researching for a place (by reading various online reviews) to experience the Ayahuasca traditions, a criterion that felt essential was safety. I was grateful to learn that those who had previously visited and reviewed La Luna had felt comfortable and secure in their experiences. In addition, I relied on the reviews of past guests who spoke highly of La Luna for its community, incredible access to the forests, and compassion from the program operators (Henrik/Enrique) and the remarkable Shamans. Now, it feels necessary that I share my experiences so that I may inspire future guests to visit La Luna.

    What allowed me to feel safe immediately at La Luna (and thus contributed to me having trusting experiences with Ayahuasca as medicine asap) was witnessing the diversity in the participants at our first ceremony. Enrique’s teenage son was attending, as was a three-generation Colombian family, and a few participants from the U.S. and Canada ages 20-40. We had the chance to meet with the Shamans and Enrique before our first ceremony to discuss intentions, and I felt heard, seen, and loved throughout the preparations. I must review and comment on the level of safety because my ability to trust the Ayahuasca medicine and have a profound experience relied so deeply on initial feelings of safety and trust. From the first moment of arrival and continued one year later, I have felt held by the talented healers. This past year especially (about six months after I left the retreat), I began to notice I had developed an aversion to alcohol. Enrique was so patient and kind, taking the time to write to me about the ways of integration after Ayahuasca and some examples of how that might manifest. That is extreme care. I continue to feel held by this lovely family.

    I have broken this review into simple categories (things that mattered to me when deciding). I hope this helps you too!

    Location:
    Getting to La Luna was very simple. We met at a cafe in Iquitos and were guided to the docks and aboard the boat that brought us to its remote location. La Luna is a private secluded space deep in the jungle on a tributary of the Amazon River, which hosts opportunities for comfortable swimming, exploring by canoe, and wandering in the woods. There is a small village nearby and some activity on the river as locals pass by in canoes.

    Space:
    There is a central screened-in structure where we ate meals and lounged. There are multiple hammocks, a small library with great Ayahuasca-related reading material, and places to rest and relax. Stilted wooden platforms connect this building to the private rooms and the Maloka. The rooms provide everything you need and are well-kept, clean, and spacious. I cannot describe the beauty of the Maloka, with its circular design and surrounded by the jungle (see photos attached/experience yourself). There is also one extra cabin across from the main structure offering another place for resting and quiet. Finally, plenty of lush greenspace surrounds for stretching, yoga, meditation, walking, playing, etc.

    Food:
    On arrival, I was surprised to learn that I had been pre-dieting with pretty wild limitations I had read from people online. I would adhere to the dieta that Enrique shares with you when registering and not worry so much about the advice of strangers from other platforms online. The meals prepared at La Luna were delicious, and there was always plenty to go around.

    Activity:
    I was hoping for a place with less scheduled activity as I was preparing to spend much of my time in contemplation, meditation, sleep recovery, etc. At La Luna, this relaxed pace is the vibe. Aside from
    the ceremonies and flower baths, there is no activity schedule you have to be present for. I think this element is so important and often missed at other retreats. Your body will need time to relax, your mind time to wander, and your soul time to be. This zero-pressure, schedule-less agenda was so lovely. That said, for busier types, there was always lots to do. If you like to participate in activities, there were incredible adventures on non-ceremony days. We went on an informative forest walk with the shamans, visited Monkey Island, borrowed canoes to explore the area, and did yoga together as a group (led by a participant).

    Ceremonies:
    This part is altogether much harder to review. I had transformative experiences that I will forever be grateful for, but I feel uncomfortable writing a review as this certainly is not guaranteed. I have learned that Ayahuasca will hold you/ or challenge you the way you need her. I feel comfortable commenting on the level of security, the intimacy of the small group size, and the wisdom of the shamans and Enrique. You are eased into Ayahuasca medicine, starting with a small quantity on day one and adjusting as the healing experts (and yourself) see fit based on your personal experiences. The follow-up share circles the day after were enjoyable and helped foster a community among group members and provided one-on-one communication with the Shaman. As for the Ayahuasca experience itself, that magic is yours to discover. I trusted the process and had great revelations after just four ceremonies.

    Healers:
    All the staff members exceeded my expectations as program facilitators and Shamans. They were born to be healers. I speak Spanish at an intermediate level, so I felt comfortable talking to the shamans. That said, I experienced deep gratitude for Enrique’s advanced translations with the many feelings I struggled to communicate in a second language. His phenomenal translation abilities helped me understand the Shamans’ reflections and offered eased communication overall.

    The community at La Luna welcomed me with arms wide open. The place will forever hold a special place in my heart. I am already looking forward to when I will be able to return.

    Thank you, La Luna,

  • monwubere
    monwubere
    May 12, 2023 at 7:54 pm

    La Luna is a place where words can’t do it justice. My experience there was amazing from the interaction with Enrique, Guido, and the beautiful family of workers and staff, to the location – a healing center in the heart of the Amazon. I was immediately touched by the genuineness and sensitivity that existed here. This was my 2nd ayahuasca experience and my intention was to find a deeper understanding and confirmation of the life path I was taking after my 1st experience. La Luna provided me with that and more. I received amazing insight but the richness of those experiences was developed from the many conversations and reflections that were given to me by Enrique and Guido. The truest wisdom was espoused by in a way where I was the seeker and ultimately the finder. Also, I was blessed to be surrounded by a beautiful group of human beings who also were sharing in this experience. This led to beautiful discussions and support throughout this experience. Without question, I highly recommend La Luna to anyone wanting to experience the power and insight of an ayahuasca ceremony in a safe and supportive environment. I look forward to next time!

  • bradleyaustin
    bradleyaustin
    May 7, 2023 at 12:18 pm

    My time at La Luna del Amazonas was hands down the most amazing and fulfilling experience of my life! I was looking for an Ayahuasca experience in the Amazon with an indigenous shaman that did not cater too much to western conveniences, and this was the perfect place.

    The accommodations were rustic, but way more than adequate. The food was so good (thanks Carmen!). Enrique’s vast experience with facilitating and support made me feel even more safe and comfortable. The whole La Luna family is just incredible.

    There were 4 shamans with us together in amazing ceremonies in a beautiful maloca temple with a red clay earth floor surrounded by the jungle and all of it’s glorious sounds and spirits. I felt truly held by Las Amazonas..

    I was filled with so much awe and reverence just being in the presence of these authentic indigenous shamans, the elder of whom is in his 80s! Their combined experience with Ayahuasca and healing ceremonies is nothing short of extraordinary.

    I feel truly blessed to have been apart of it all and I will definitely be returning.

  • daveworld
    daveworld
    April 21, 2023 at 10:47 pm

    I spent 1 week in La luna del Amazonas. It was one of the best weeks of my life.
    I’ve been to other Ayahuasca centers before, but it doesn’t compare.
    Henrik – an extremely nice and empathetic person. He was always interested in how the guests felt. Shaman – not only a good connoisseur of the jungle, but also an ever-smiling nice guy.
    Staff great. Great food, lots of fruit.
    A rich program that provided me with experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life.
    Central location in an amazing location right on the river.
    Lots of animals everywhere.
    Everything clean, plenty of hygiene items.

    I can only recommend this center. I’d be right back.

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