Ayahuasca Foundation

What a wonderful experience of the sacredness of all of life. The relationship between the plant world and humans cannot be more appreciated than here. I found a lovely community of seekers being helped by a caring and careful staff. This was indeed a healing experience for the ages. I am so grateful for these ten days with other wonderful women.

It’s been over a year since I completed my initiation course and I’ve been reflecting on how much I’ve grown since this amazing experience, so it seems fitting to finally write my review.
The course itself was everything I expected it to be after reading the write up. It was like Jedi training boot camp.
Early mornings, late nights, so much to absorb and learn.
I definitely found some of my edges and expanded through them.
We were challenged and tested and pushed past our comfort zones.
Some handled it better than others and there was a bit of stuffy energy in the group towards the end but I didn’t let that ruin my experience.

I personally loved most of every moment I got to spend in the jungle, although with the amount of learning there was I would’ve loved a bit more down time to really drop in to my diets.
This was my first experience with plant dietas, and I can definitely say it’s not going to be my last.
When I look back at who I was when I started the course and how much I’ve grown in the past year it’s mind blowing.
I really found my voice in the jungle, before I could barely sing in front of people and judged myself so harshly and now I can confidently sing for hours, in Shipibo and I love what I’m hearing, and so does anyone who gets to witness me in ceremony.

I set the intention before the course to understand the energetics of ceremony and now I am blessed to understand the energetics of everything at a whole new level.

Receiving Enrique’s transmission has changed so much for me, I can feel him with me whenever I’m in ceremony, working with me, still teaching me things a year later. What an amazing gift.

The level of awareness that I have these days exceeds my wildest dreams, I feel like I’m in a beautiful calm ocean at all times, even with all the craziness of life that’s happening all around.

Some things I would suggest for peeps considering this course.
Get ready to grow and leave your comfort zone behind
Push through the learnings, the Icaros are challenging to learns but so magical when you get to use them.
Go in with an open mind and an open heart and remember when things get tough, you get to choose your attitude in handling them.
Always light a mosquito coil before sunset. They actually work, but when I left it too late they reminded me quickly that I’d forgotten.
And bring extra cash. There are so many beautiful things that you may want to buy.

Hey,

Although I’m super happy with the retreat, I do believe there’s room for improvement—of course, at the end of the day, it’s entirely up to you whether you’d like to consider these suggestions.

1. I only found out in Peru that other participants had 1-on-1 calls with Carlos, but I never received such an invitation.

2. There was a misunderstanding regarding the taxi from the hotel to the airport. I thought it was included, but it turned out I had to pay for it. I eventually sorted this out and transferred the fee to Brian—but it might be helpful to mention on the website that the airport transfer is not included. This was totally my fault, but it did create some inconvenience for Brian.

3. It might also be useful to share approximate food prices near the hotel, so those planning to stay in Iquitos a few extra days can better estimate their budget for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

4. On the second day, after the 1-on-1 consultation with Maestra, I was prescribed a fairly long list of plant-based medicines that was written on the board. However, I received only part of the medicine, and only for two days. If this isn’t included as a consistent part of the program, it may be worth clarifying that, as I assumed I would be taking the prescribed medicine throughout the retreat.

5. I found it difficult to regulate the ayahuasca dosage. I understand it’s a personal choice for each participant, but perhaps after each ceremony, the topic of dosage could be discussed with the facilitators to help determine the appropriate amount for the next session. This could increase participants’ confidence, set clearer expectations, and help them feel better prepared for the following ceremony. In my case, due to uncertainty about how much to take, I had only one great and one decent experience. It took me a while to figure out the right amount, even though Brian did provide guidance.

6. Last but not least, please avoid recommending LATAM Airlines to your future guests. I found out from Brian—only after I had already arrived in Iquitos—that this airline frequently has issues. Unfortunately, I experienced this firsthand on my way back home: my flight to Lima was canceled due to a technical issue with the aircraft, which forced me to reschedule three connecting flights. As a result, I returned to my home country with a one-day delay. LATAM has also rejected my reasonable request to reimburse the costs of the rescheduled flights, even though the disruption was clearly their fault. Moreover, I’m aware that at least two other people from the May 25 retreat also had issues with LATAM. For these reasons, I strongly recommend either not suggesting this airline at all, or clearly warning participants that they fly with LATAM at their own risk.

I’d also like to express my gratitude to Brian, Mariella, and the entire AF staff. They are truly the best at what they do. Most importantly, I feel much better after the retreat. I was in a very dark place before traveling to Peru, and the results of the retreat exceeded my expectations. The sun is shining right on my face now, and I’m excited about what life has to offer. Thank you!

It was beyond my expectations. Brian and Mariella were amazing facilitators, they brought so much love and reverence for plant medicine. I learned so much from them. I had a very difficult first ceremony and everyone (Brian, Mariella, Maestra Anjela, and Pancho) handled it so well, it proved how safe we all were in their capable hands. The activities beyond the ceremonies were great, a walk through the jungle, swimming in the Amazon river, a cacao ceremony, breathwork, it was a nice broad mix of healthful activities. The food was great, I just loved the daily variety of juices. The facility was clean and wonderfully situated on the river. My only complaint was the pillows and bedding--they really need to be replaced/upgraded. Other than that, I would definitely go back.

I attended a retreat at the Ayahuasca Foundation and feel a responsibility to share what I experienced. During my time there, I witnessed serious concerns related to facilitator conduct, confidentiality, and how participant concerns were handled. These experiences left me feeling unsafe and deeply unsettled, especially given the vulnerable nature of the retreat environment.

Let me start with what stood out to me. First, participants were required to pay in cash. Carlos stated this was standard practice, but carrying several thousand dollars in physical cash through airports, across borders, and into rural Peru made me extremely uncomfortable. I felt exposed and anxious about what would happen if something went wrong. It added another layer of stress to the experience. Second, after arriving in Iquitos, we were informed that there had been recent break-ins at the retreat center. This was news to us and I felt strongly that this should have been disclosed earlier. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this information had been withheld on purpose, and it left me uneasy. Had I known beforehand, I would have packed differently or reconsidered attending.

Once the retreat began, I observed multiple situations that felt unprofessional. Several facilitators broke my confidentiality by repeating things I had shared in private sharing circles. Some later gossiped about me after I raised concerns about their behavior. I also personally experienced inappropriate flirtation from one facilitator and witnessed even more troubling boundary-crossing behavior from another.

That facilitator openly shared that he was struggling with mental health challenges, which, in this setting, gave me pause. I observed behavior that deeply concerned me, including what felt like inappropriate boundaries with women in the group. He repeatedly spent one-on-one time alone in a female participant’s hut and often gave disproportionate attention to younger, attractive women. In a power-imbalanced, emotionally vulnerable environment, this created a dynamic that did not feel safe.

After the retreat, I raised these concerns in a follow-up call. I was told that staff changes were being made, and an “Ethical Statement” was later published online. But soon after, I learned that the same facilitator was still actively leading retreats. That was deeply disheartening and left me with the impression that concerns were not being taken seriously.

There were also safety-related issues. The medical screening process felt minimal, and I questioned whether all participants had been adequately evaluated beforehand. I remember feeling that at least one participant was not psychologically prepared for the experience, which affected the retreat dynamic. The center is remote, and I did not see basic emergency equipment like epi-pens or defibrillators, nor was I made aware of any staff emergency training. Given how long the center has operated, I was surprised by the apparent lack of standard safety infrastructure.

I’ll end by saying that you don’t need to take my word for things. But if you speak with enough former participants, you may begin to hear similar stories. I truly wish I had read something like this before I signed up. I encourage anyone considering this retreat to do their own research, ask detailed questions, and make informed decisions from there.