Are you comparing several ayahuasca retreat centers and don’t know which one to pick? In this post, I’ll cover what you should look for when embarking on your ayahuasca journey and how to recognize the most authentic healers. I’ll also explain why I think Blue Morpho is the best ayahuasca retreat in Peru!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. When you purchase through links on my site, I may make a small commission (at no extra cost to you!).
What is ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is a powerful psychoactive brew that has been traditionally used by indigenous people in the Amazon Rainforest for spiritual and healing purposes.
A shaman, or curandero, makes the sacred plant medicine by boiling the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and the leaves of the chacruna plant (Psychotria viridis) together with water. Once the brew has reduced, the mixture is strained and the liquid is drunk as a tea.
Drinking the brew during an ayahuasca ceremony can induce altered states of consciousness, psychedelic effects, and a spiritual awakening. It’s also infamous for causing nausea, vomiting, and other forms of purging.
Ayahuasca is known for its ability to lead to profound insights, inner peace, and emotional healing, especially from any type of trauma. Lately, ayahuasca tourism has gained popularity among Westerners who come to Peru seeking alternative forms of therapy and self-discovery.
It’s important to note that ayahuasca is not a recreational drug — it’s a traditional medicine that has been used by indigenous healers in the Amazon Jungle for thousands of years. It should only be taken under the guidance of experienced practitioners in a safe and comfortable environment.
A note on legality
Because it contains DMT, the possession, sale, and cultivation of ayahuasca is illegal in the United States. Throughout Peru (and several other countries in Central and South America like Costa Rica and Brazil), ayahuasca is fully legal and culturally accepted.
If you’ll be traveling to attend an ayahuasca retreat, make sure that you’re aware of any potential legal issues before you get there!
What to look for in an ayahuasca retreat
Experienced shaman
An experienced shaman is the biggest difference between having a wonderful, life changing experience and having a horrible one. Unfortunately, not all facilitators are equipped to manage a larger group’s energies or handle the post-ceremony integration process.
You’ll want to look for a retreat that emphasizes their staff’s training and years of experience with medicinal plants. The best ayahuasca retreat programs will have a low ratio of staff members to retreat participants in order to provide a more individualized healing journey.
Safe environment
Creating a safe and comfortable environment should be an ayahuasca retreat’s highest priority. The use of ayahuasca, especially for the first time, can be nerve-wracking — it’s important that you feel safe enough to enter an altered state of consciousness and heal emotional trauma.
Make sure that whichever retreat you pick feels right both energetically and spiritually. You should be able to put your full trust into the ceremony helpers, the shaman, and the retreat center itself.
The best ayahuasca retreats will have medical staff and other support personnel on hand to deal with any unexpected reactions as well. While the ayahuasca plant is generally considered safe, it’s still a good idea to make sure your retreat has taken precautions.
Good reviews
Good reviews from others are a great way to find the best ayahuasca retreat center in Peru. If other people have had positive results, you know that a retreat is reputable and legitimate.
If you know anyone in real life that’s traveled abroad to attend an ayahuasca retreat, ask them what they thought about it. Word of mouth can be a really powerful way to recommend anything, especially an experience as unique and personal as this one!
Why Blue Morpho is the best ayahuasca retreat in Peru
Hamilton Souther
Our shaman Hamilton Souther was one of the main reasons that I had such an amazing experience at Blue Morpho. He’s extremely skilled at guiding ayahuasca ceremonies and holding the space for everyone in the room to undergo spiritual healing.
It’s difficult to describe how important a good shaman is unless you’ve gone through the experience yourself. Hamilton has everyone’s best interests at heart and knows how to change the mood or energy in the room using icaro. Somehow, he knows exactly what to do and say at all times.
If you’re interested in learning more about Hamilton’s journey to becoming a shaman, I’d recommend listening to the episode of the Aubrey Marcus podcast below!
Ayahuasca ceremonies
Blue Morpho offers the opportunity to participate in 4 separate ayahuasca ceremonies. They’re held in the ceremony house, a large, circular room with screened windows into the jungle. Each participant gets their own mat, pillow, blanket, and bucket.
The mood in the room is incredibly peaceful — picture dim lights, warm air, and the calming chirps of native birds. All of the people in the room have a great respect for the sacred ceremonies that take place.
The ayahuasca brew itself is surprisingly neutral tasting. Blue Morpho brews its own recipe that’s been developed over 7 generations.
After each ceremony, the group comes together to talk about their experiences and to help integrate the lessons they’ve learned. There’s no pressure to attend or participate in anything, which can be really comforting for those that are uncertain about the whole process.
Heliconia Amazon River Lodge
The 6-day ayahuasca retreat was held at Heliconia Amazon River Lodge, 80 km (50 mi) from the city of Iquitos. To get there, we took a 90-minute boat ride down the Amazon River — Heliconia has no road access.
The entire lodge is elevated off of the ground with covered boardwalks that connect each area. Our room had two large and comfortable beds, a modern bathroom, and a screened-in porch with a hammock. There was no internet access while we were there, but Heliconia has recently installed Starlink!
On ceremony days, we were served two meals a day at Heliconia (breakfast and lunch). The food was healthy, fresh, and insanely delicious. It also meets all specifications to be “ayahuasca safe,” meaning no negative side effects during the ceremonies.
Besides being the setting for Blue Morpho’s retreats, Heliconia also hosts its own multi-day Amazon getaways.
Daily excursions
Every day, the staff members at Heliconia led a few different excursions to get to know the area’s wildlife and local communities.
Some of the activities include pink dolphin watching, jungle walks, trips to see giant water lilies, and visits to the native Yaguas tribe. During one visit to a local Amazonian village, I got to hold a sloth, which was probably the highlight of my entire life.
The daily excursions were one of my favorite parts of staying at Heliconia Lodge. Like everything during the Blue Morpho retreat, they were optional, but I’d highly recommend participating if you have the energy!
Iquitos, Peru
About Iquitos
Iquitos is a city in Peru’s Loreto Region. It’s considered the gateway to the Amazon Rainforest and all of the tribal villages on the Amazon River. Many Peruvian ayahuasca and San Pedro retreats will start and end in Iquitos as well.
Iquitos is known for its remote jungle setting, epic wildlife viewing, and strong indigenous culture. As a travel destination, it’s a bit off-the-beaten-path and awesome for those looking for a unique and authentic experience.
How to get to Iquitos
Iquitos is the largest city in the world without road access. The only ways to get there are by plane or by boat!
By plane
There are multiple daily nonstop flights from the capital city Lima (LIM) to Iquitos (IQT). Round-trip tickets generally cost between $60 and $110 USD. You can also connect through to Iquitos from most other cities in Peru and South America, like Cusco or Buenos Aires.
By boat
If you’ve got time and are down for an unforgettable adventure, traveling to Iquitos by cargo boat could be the way to go! Boats leave from the ports in Yurimaguas and Pucallpa and take between 3 and 4 days to reach Iquitos. You can either choose to sleep in a hammock on the deck (~$40 USD) or a cabin with a bunk bed (~$53 USD).
Things to do in Iquitos, Peru
- Visit La Isla De Los Monos, a cage-free monkey sanctuary and rescue center
- Visit the Centro de Rescate Amazónico, an animal rehabilitation and conservation center
- Explore Barrio de Belén, a local neighborhood with markets and floating houses
- Take a guided Amazon Jungle tour
- Check out Plaza de Armas de Iquitos, the main square
Recommended tours in Iquitos
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Thanks for reading this post on finding the best ayahuasca retreat in Peru! If you have any questions about Blue Morpho or my experience in particular, leave them in the comments below.
xoxo Niki
