“The time at Arkana has been the most transformative chapter of my entire life! Arkana is pure magic and has been co-created with such profound love and support, creating the safest and most supportive space to allow the deepest soul healing and Divine rebirth. My life will never be the same and I can’t wait to see what the future holds ahead.”
Highly Rated
ABOUT ARKANA SPIRITUAL CENTER
Arkana Spiritual Center is an international retreat organisation offering plant-medicine programmes in Peru and Mexico. The centre operates two permanent retreat locations in Peru—one in the Amazon rainforest near Iquitos and another in the Sacred Valley near Cusco—alongside seasonal retreats in Mexico featuring psilocybin, bufo, and peyote in Valle de Bravo and the Yucatán.
Retreats are guided by experienced Shipibo and Andean shamans and are designed to honour traditional ceremonial practices while prioritising safety, respect, and integrity. Arkana’s approach focuses on creating a supportive environment for emotional healing, personal insight, and spiritual exploration through the use of ancestral medicines.
Programs integrate traditional ceremonies with complementary practices such as yoga, breathwork, sound healing, and structured integration workshops. Retreat groups are kept intentionally small, allowing participants to receive individualised care from a multidisciplinary team that includes healers, facilitators, and integration coaches. With thousands of participants supported over the years and a strong emphasis on screening, preparation, and aftercare, Arkana Spiritual Center is recognised for its comprehensive and safety-conscious retreat model.
KEY DETAILS
- 👤 Leadership: Jose Saenz – Chief Dharma Officer
- 📍 Location:
- Amazon Jungle, Peru – Near Iquitos. Arkana Amazon is an eco-lodge located on the banks of the Ucayali River in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. Set within protected rainforest near the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
- Sacred Valley, Peru – In the Andes near Cusco and Machu Picchu.
- Valle de Bravo, Mexico – Mountainous retreat site near Mexico City.
- Yucatán, Mexico – XVI-century hacienda, nestled in the heart of the Mayan Jungle.
- 🗣️ Language Spoken: English and Spanish, with translation support available for international guests.
- 👥 Group Size: Amazon programs host a maximum of 24 guests, Sacred Valley retreats accommodate up to 18, and Mexico retreats typically welcome up to 22.
- 📅 Program Length: 4, 7, 14, and 21 day programs available.
- 💵 Price Range: Starting at $1,980
- 🧘 Primary Focus Areas: Deep emotional healing, trauma resolution, addiction recovery, grief work, self-discovery, and spiritual awakening. Programs support participants in gaining clarity, releasing limiting patterns, and cultivating greater self-love through guided ceremonies, nature immersion, and structured integration practices.
- 💙 Medicine / Modality: Ayahuasca, San Pedro (Wachuma), Hapé, Bufo Alvarius (5-MeO-DMT), Psilocybin Mushrooms.
- 🌿 Type: Holistic plant‑medicine retreats combining ancient shamanic ceremonies with modern therapeutic practices.
- 🌿 Approach: Indigenous ceremonial traditions with complementary practices such as breathwork, yoga, meditation, sound healing, journaling, and structured integration workshops. Programs prioritise proper set and setting, high staff-to-guest ratios, and personalized support to create a safe, intentional environment for deep and lasting transformation.
ACCOMMODATIONS
🏠 Facility Amenities
- Lodging:
- Amazon Jungle – Rustic yet comfortable rooms equipped with orthopedic mattresses, mosquito nets, solar-powered electricity, and in-room safes. Features a swimming pool, spa, yoga shala, jungle gym, and social lounge.
- Sacred Valley – Single and double rooms with mountain views, complemented by an open-air gym, vegetable garden, Andean spa, ceremonial temple, and gazebo.
- Valle de Bravo & Yucatán – Luxury single and double accommodations set within historic architecture, featuring botanical gardens, pools, meditation halls, and traditional sweat lodges.
- Bathrooms A mix of shared and private bathrooms with hot showers is available at all locations, with high standards of cleanliness and sanitation maintained throughout.
- Wellness Facilities On-site spas, temazcal sweat lodges, swimming pools, and botanical gardens support rest, rejuvenation, and detoxification.
- Wi-Fi Availability Starlink or comparable Wi-Fi is available in communal areas for essential communication. Guests are encouraged to disconnect during ceremonies to support a deeper retreat experience.
- Security Staff are present 24/7 to ensure guest safety. Rooms include secure safes.
MEALS & NUTRITION
Dietary Options:
- 🥗Omnivore
- 🌱Vegetarian
- 🌾Vegan dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice.
Nutritional Approach
Meals are farm-to-table, organic, and aligned with traditional ayahuasca dieta guidelines. The cuisine emphasises fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and light proteins, while avoiding salt, sugar, spices, caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods before and during the retreat. Unlimited fruit, purified water, and herbal teas are available throughout the program.
Travel & Arrival Details
- 📍Nearest Airport:
- Amazon – Iquitos, Peru (IQT)
- Sacred Valley – Cusco, Peru (CUZ)
- Yucatán – Cancún International Airport (CUN)
- Valle de Bravo – Mexico City (MEX) or Toluca (TLC)
- ✈️Ground Transportation: Complimentary group shuttles are provided between designated pre-arranged hotels and the retreat centers
- ✈️Approximate Travel Time: The Amazon center is approximately a two-hour bus ride followed by a 1.5-hour boat journey from Iquitos; the Sacred Valley retreat is about 1.5 hours from Cusco; the Yucatán centre is roughly a 2.5-hour drive from Cancún; and Valle de Bravo is around two hours from Mexico City.
- ✈️Arrival & Departure Windows Guests are asked to arrive one day prior to the retreat start (typically Saturday) and depart one day after the program concludes (Sunday). Booking additional nights in the nearest city is recommended to allow for smooth travel and rest.
- 📍Safety, Screening & Support:
- Arkana places the highest priority on guest safety and wellbeing. All prospective participants complete a detailed medical intake form and undergo a pre-screening consultation prior to acceptance.
- Preparation guidelines include abstaining from recreational drugs for at least three weeks, pausing contraindicated medications under medical supervision, following a plant-based dieta, avoiding pork, caffeine, and sexual activity, and engaging in reflective practices such as journaling, meditation, and time in nature.
During the retreat, high staff-to-guest ratios ensure attentive care and immediate support when needed. On-site medical assistance is available, and integration specialists lead group sharing circles and individual sessions to help participants process their experiences and support healthy reintegration after the retreat.
LEADERSHIP & FACILITATORS
Founders & Leadership
Jose – Chief Dharma Officer
Jose is an entrepreneur, father of five, and the driving force behind Arkana’s vision and growth. Originally from Mexico, his journey led him from Wall Street investment banking and Harvard Business School to the Amazon, where a profound healing experience with plant medicine reshaped his life’s purpose. Since 2012, Jose has deepened his work through traditional plant dietas and initiation as a Bwiti practitioner in Gabon. Today, he lives in service to others, guiding Arkana with a values-driven approach centred on love, faith, and conscious leadership.
Billy – Dharma Officer
Billy’s journey with Arkana began as a guest seeking personal healing, an experience that inspired him to leave his life in England and commit fully to Arkana’s mission. Now overseeing all Arkana centres, he focuses on cultivating strong culture, operational excellence, and continual refinement. A qualified Himalayan Kriya Yoga teacher, CBT and NLP practitioner, Billy is deeply committed to integration as the bridge between plant-medicine experiences and lasting transformation. He leads with integrity, humility, compassion, and a heartfelt dedication to healing the world—one heart at a time.
Maestra Justina – Amazon
With over 45 years of experience, Maestra Justina is one of the most respected Shipibo healers of her generation. A direct descendant of a long lineage of Merayas—the highest-ranked Shipibo shamans—she carries profound ancestral knowledge rooted in the upper Ucayali region of the Amazon. Trained from a young age through extensive plant dietas, including a rare two-year dieta with Camalonga, she is renowned for her mastery of traditional healing and shamanic surgeries. As a generous teacher and Amazonian matriarch, Maestra Justina leads Arkana’s shamanic team with wisdom, compassion, and powerful icaros that guide deep healing and transformation.
Liliana – Head of Guest Services
Liliana Aguilar leads Guest Services at Arkana, bringing warmth, care, and operational excellence to every aspect of the guest experience. Known for her attentiveness and efficiency, she ensures each visitor feels welcomed, supported, and at ease throughout their journey. With a genuine passion for service and people, Liliana helps create a safe, nurturing environment where guests can fully engage in their healing and transformation.
Valeria – Head of Integration Support
Valeria is an integrative wellness coach with a foundation in movement, yoga, and spiritual practice. Her journey began as a professional dancer and evolved into teaching Himalayan Kriya Yoga, Hatha-Vinyasa Yoga, breath-work, meditation, and cold therapy. Drawing from her own healing path, Valeria supports guests through a holistic integration approach that honours the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of well-being. With compassion and presence, she empowers individuals to transform insight into lasting harmony and meaningful change.
THE FINE DETAILS
Include:
- ✅ Comfortable lodging
- ✅ Farm-to-table meals, unlimited fruit, purified water, and herbal teas
- ✅ All scheduled ceremonies as outlined in the programme
- ✅ Yoga, breathwork, sound healing, and integration workshops
- ✅ Guided jungle, cultural, or nature excursions
- ✅ Individual consultations with shamans and healers
- ✅ Shuttle transfers to and from the nearest city
- ✅ Wi-Fi access in communal areas
- ✅ Post-retreat integration support and a lifetime return guest discount
What’s NOT Included:
- ❌ International or domestic airfare
- ❌ Travel insurance
- ❌ Accommodation in the nearest city before and after the retreat
- ❌ Optional extras such as spa treatments or private transfers
- ❌ Personal expenses and gratuities
REVIEWS & FEEDBACK
Arkana is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading plant-medicine retreat centres, with over 1,000 five-star reviews across platforms including AyaAdvisors, TripAdvisor, and Google. Guests consistently highlight the professionalism, compassion, and experience of the shamans and facilitation team, as well as the thorough screening, preparation, and safety protocols. Reviews often note the depth of healing achieved through the integration of ayahuasca with supportive practices such as yoga and breathwork. The strong sense of community and the pristine natural settings are frequently praised, with many participants returning for extended programmes and forming lasting connections.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQs
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Q: Do I need prior experience with psychedelics?
A: No prior experience is required. The retreat team offers thorough pre-ceremony preparation and ongoing guidance to ensure first-time participants feel safe, informed, and supported throughout their stay.
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Q: Who should not attend?
A: Individuals with schizophrenia, severe heart disease, or chronic high blood pressure are not eligible to participate. Guests taking SSRIs, MAOIs, CNS depressants, or certain heart medications must discontinue them under medical supervision before attending. Those with other medical or mental health conditions should consult Arkana’s medical team for individual clearance.
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Q: What languages are spoken?
A: Ceremonies are conducted in Spanish and English, with translators available to support understanding during instructions, prayers, and integration sessions.
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Q: Is there Wi-Fi?
A: Yes, high-speed Wi-Fi is available in communal areas. Guests are encouraged to disconnect during ceremonies and integration periods to support a deeper retreat experience.
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Q: Can I choose which medicines to work with?
A: Yes. While ayahuasca is the primary focus, guests may choose to participate in additional modalities such as San Pedro, hapé, bufo, psilocybin, or temazcal ceremonies, depending on the programme. Optional ceremonies and therapies may involve additional fees.
PRICING
| Retreat Location & Program | Duration | Price Range (USD) |
| Amazon – Ayahuasca | 7 days | $2,520 – $4,500 |
| 14 days | $4,680 – $8,320 | |
| 21 days | $6,800 – $12,000 | |
| Sacred Valley – Ayahuasca | 7 days | $3,000 – $4,020 |
| 14 days | $5,525 – $7,410 | |
| 21 days | $8,000 – $10,700 | |
| Mexico – Psilocybin, Bufo & Peyote | 4 days | $1,980 – $2,480 |
| 7 days | $3,960 – $4,960 |