Where Plant, Spirit and Being connect
Welcome to Ayahuma.
We are so happy you have found your way here.
We are a small family in the Peruvian Amazon, practicing plant medicine the way it has been done for hundreds of years.
The plants are the teachers here.
You are the one doing the brave work.
We are ready to welcome you home.
The Story of Ayahuma
Maestro Elvis was born with polio.
At the age of 10 he was cured of it by his grandfather, a renowned shaman. Since then, Elvis knew that plant medicine was going to be life’s work.
He spent the next twenty years apprenticing with Shipibo masters, learning the songs, the diets and the sacred protocols passed down through generations.
Then plant medicine went global and Maestro Elvis watched retreat centers scale up, forty, fifty people in ceremonies at once. Plant medicine became fast tourism.
Middlemen profited while local communities got nothing. The sacred got lost in the push for more bookings, more growth and more money.
Maestro Elvis dreamed of something different.
Meet the Family
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![Man standing in a lush green jungle, smiling, wearing a light blue striped shirt over a gray t-shirt and beige shorts.]()
Elvis
HEAD SHAMAN & FOUNDER
Head Shaman, Founder, Governor are some of the hats Maestro Elvis wears. He's spent twenty years carrying his medicine throughout the Americas. At Ayahuma, he holds sacred space for your transformation. -
![A man wearing a pink and purple sports jersey with the number 11 standing outdoors in a forested area with trees and greenery.]()
Erick
CO-FOUNDER
Born in Puerto Miguel, Erick has spent sixteen years as a jungle guide and medicine practitioner. He trained with Matsés tribe elders in Brazil, learning to work with the powerful frog medicine that cleanses and protects. Erick knows every plank and pole at Ayahuma, the bird calls, and when kambo can help. -
![A woman standing on a dirt path in a lush tropical forest, smiling, wearing a white tank top, black wide-leg pants, and a blue denim jacket.]()
Mathilde
MAMA DE COCINA
Matilde has been cooking in jungle lodges for twenty-seven years. She was sixteen when she discovered that food is her art. She cooks the way her grandmother taught her, from scratch, from the heart and from whatever the river provides that day. At Ayahuma, her kitchen is part of the healing. Nourishing, comforting and always made with love. -
![A man standing outdoors in a jungle or forest setting, wearing a gray t-shirt with a mountain and palm tree design, and dark cargo shorts.]()
Daniel
JUNGLE GUIDE & PROPERTY MANAGER
When Daniel is not in the jungle or on the river, he ensures that Ayahyma functions perfectly. Daniel has been involved in the construction of Ayahuma since day one and knows all her curves and edges.
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![A man with black hair wearing a black long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans standing outdoors in a forested area with green trees and plants.]()
Isac
JUNGLE GUIDE
Born and raised in Puerto Miguel, Isac has spent his entire life in this jungle. As a professional guide, he's walked these trails daily, learning not just where wildlife hides, but how the forest moves. The river's moods. The macaws' schedules. The smell before rain. He will keep you safe and help you see what others miss here.
Ceremonies, Retreats and Overnight Stays
Something deeper than logic brought you here.
You're searching for healing that reaches the root of patterns that won't break, pain that won't move and questions you can't answer alone.
The plants will teach, Maestro Elvis will protect and assist.
We'll make sure you're held through all of it.
Plant Medicine Ceremonies
If ceremonies are conversations with the plants, dietas are becoming family.
Under Maestro's guidance, you'll diet Bobinsana to open your heart, Ajo Sacha for protection, or Ayahuma itself, the ancient tree that gives our center its name.
This isn't for everyone.
But if you feel the calling, there's no other path this deep.
Traditional Plant Dietas
Not all medicine comes from ceremony.
Sometimes healing is as simple as leaving everything behind and remembering you're part of something vast and alive.
Learn which plants heal what, fish for piranhas, swim in the Amazonian waters.
Come exhausted, leave rejuvenated.
Jungle Stays Without Ceremonies
The leaf cutter ants in our jungle know one thing very well: some work can better be done together.
We are not isolated stands but interconnected facets of vibrant life.
Ayahuma shall hold you and inspire you to forge stronger bonds and remind you that each note of kindness, each chord of support and the melodies of celebration create a harmonious existence.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Group Retreats
Frequently Asked Questions
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When conducted properly, with an experienced shaman, small groups, proper screening, ayahuasca is remarkably safe. Elvis has twenty years of experience and has never had a medical emergency.
If you are taking antidepressants (SSRIs, MAOIs) or psychiatric medications, have heart conditions, high blood pressure, or seizure history, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or strong family history of psychosis, please reach out to us directly and we will set up a free consultation with maestro, who will give you tailored advice to your specific situation.
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We're family, not a factory.
You will likely prepare your ayahuasca yourself, under maestro’s guidance using traditional methods, putting in your intentions. This integration of sacred work and everyday life is the Shipibo tradition.
Supporting Puerto Miguel: Every staff member is from this community. Your retreat fees support local families, cooks, groundskeepers and farmers. We're building economic opportunity here and we're also supporting the local school's education programs.
You're entering our life, not only booking a service. You'll know our rhythms, meet our neighbors and hear why we started this. That vulnerability creates the trust deep healing requires.
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For details about our healing programs, ceremonies and stays, please see the ‘Retreats & Dietas’ page.
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7-Night Journey rhythm:
Day 0 (Arrival): Boat from Nauta, settle into cottage, Palo Santo cleansing, dinner with group (max 6-8 people), meet Elvis, early to bed.
Day 1: Optional Kambo ceremony, Breakfast, Ayahuasca foraging with Elvis, Preparing Ayahuasca,. Afternoon free—nap, journal, river, hammock. Sunset boat ride. Dinner, Intention sharing with Elvis, Early to bed.
Day 2: Bobinsana tea at 6.00 am, Breakfast, time to meditate, journal, Short jungle excursion, Light lunch 1pm (last meal). Quiet afternoon. Plant bath in the evening, Ceremony starts (~8:00pm), lasts 4-6 hours. Elvis serves medicine individually, sings icaros throughout. Facilitators present if you need help. Walk back to cottage after midnight.Day 3: Bobinsana tea at 6.00 am, Breakfast at 8.00 am, Integration circle 11am, Afternoon free, Evening swim/nature walk, Dinner at 7pm.
Day 4: Bobinsana tea at 6.00 am, Breakfast at 8.00 am, free time to draw, sketch, paint (supplies provided) Light lunch 1pm (last meal). Quiet afternoon. Plant bath in the evening, Ceremony starts (~8:00pm)
Day 6: Bobinsana tea at 6.00 am, Breakfast at 8.00 am, traditional basket weaving with local women in the morning, afternoon free to rest and integrate, medicinal plant walk in the evening
Day 7: Bobinsana tea at 6.00 am, Breakfast at 8.00 am, swimming/boating to see the pink dophins, final ceremony, (often most profound).
Day 8: Breakfast at 7.00 am Closing integration circle, non-ayahuasca closing ceremony, boat back to Nauta by 10-11am.
Between structure:
Meals: Breakfast/lunch/dinner family-style. Simple ayahuasca-diet food—rice, wild chicken/ riverfish, plantains, potatoes, fruit, vegetables.
Free time: Actually free. No mandatory activities. Go to the village, explore the jungle, meditate, yoga, art, sit by the river - your choice.
The jungle: Howler monkeys at dawn, parrots, rain on thatch, pink river dolphins from our dock. This soundscape is part of healing.
3-night retreat: Same structure compressed—arrive Night 0, orientation Day 1, ceremony Night 2, integration Day 3, depart Day 4.
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The Diet (start 2 weeks before):
Eliminate:
Red meat, pork
Alcohol (2-4 weeks before)
Recreational drugs (4-6 weeks before)
Fermented foods (aged cheese, soy sauce, miso)
Cured meats (high tyramine = dangerous interaction)
Very spicy foods, excessive salt
Sexual activity (3-4 days before)
Reduce: Coffee, sugar, processed foods, dairy, oil/fried foods
Eat more: Fresh fruits/vegetables, rice, fish (not shellfish), beans, water
Medications (address 4-6 weeks before):
Just let us know, if you need 1:1 consultation, we’ll set up free of cost to make sure you get the best advice, tailored to your case.When in doubt, ask.
Mental/Emotional:
Set intentions: Why are you coming? Be specific.
Let go of expectations: Medicine gives you what you need, not always what you ask for.
Journal: Write about your life, patterns, wounds. This primes you for deeper work.
Make peace with fear: You should be a little scared. Fear is appropriate. Trust that if you've made it this far, there's a reason.
What to pack:
Loose, comfortable clothing (white/light colors for ceremony)
Sandals, flip-flops
Headlamp/flashlight (essential)
Strong mosquito repellent (DEET-based)
Biodegradable toiletries
Journal, pens
Water bottle
Comfort items (photos, crystals)
Earplugs (optional — jungle is loud)
Don't pack: Expensive jewelry, expectations of luxury
Languages:
Elvis speaks fluent Shipibo, Spanish and English. English-only speakers are fine.
Mental prep for off-grid:
No wifi. No consistent electricity. No hot showers. You'll be sweaty, uncomfortable, disconnected. This isn't a bug, it's a feature. The discomfort breaks down defenses. That breakdown is where healing happens.
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Step 1: Fly to Lima
Jorge Chávez Airport (LIM)—Peru's main hub.
Step 2: Fly to Iquitos
Step 3: We pick you up
(Iquitos or Natuta as agreed with you)
Step 5: Return
We boat you back to Nauta or Iquitos on your departure day.
Questions about logistics? Email us—we've guided many international guests through this route. We'll give specific guidance based on where you're coming from.
The journey starts when you book the flight.
Community Partnerships
Education
We are contributing to building a new school in Puerto Miguel that is resistant to flooding every rainy season. Erik and Mathilde’s children attend this school.
Forest Defense
Elvis and other residents patrol weekly against illegal logging and theft. We contribute to the community protection fund for supplies and emergency support.
Anti-Venom
Snakes are common here and snake bites can happen. As the nearest anti-venom could be far by boat, Ayahuma purchases and provides supplies for Puerto Miguel residents (and of course for our guests and staff).