8-Day Traditional Ayahuasca, Tabaco, Kambo Retreat with Peruvian Maestro Sanango

Words cannot express the depth of my gratitude to everyone at Sinchi Runa.
My Ayahuasca retreat at the end of May was nothing short of life-changing. My experience was so profound and beautiful that even now, I find it difficult to put into words. I always felt held with kindness and compassion. The space is sacred, in both structure and energy. I felt seen, supported, and safe to journey inward in ways I never imagined possible. While my integration continues, I carry a renewed sense of clarity, purpose, and peace within me. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the incredible work you do. The dedication, love, and integrity you pour into this path are truly a gift to the world. Highly Recommend!
-Michela, Ireland-

This was my third time attending the retreat, and each visit deepens my appreciation for what makes this place so special. The focus on personal responsibility and self-learning creates an environment where growth comes naturally and effortlessly. It truly feels like my other home now.
What sets this retreat apart is the genuine care and kindness of the people. Everyone is supportive, making it easy to open up and connect. The experience always leaves me with a renewed sense of optimism about the world outside.
As I reflect on my time there, I realize how much I value these moments of connection and self-discovery. I find myself wanting to find those anchors that would tie me there, so I can carry this sense of belonging and positivity with me wherever I go.
If you’re seeking a place to grow, connect, and feel truly welcomed, I can’t recommend this retreat enough.

I highly recommend doing Ayuhasca at Sinchi Runa if you want an authentic experience with an experienced team of curanderos and curanderas, especially if you’re doing Ayuhasca for the first time and want a safe environment with an experienced honest shaman and not a commercialised experience. From the first night I started feeling the healing effects of the plants starting with the tobacco ceremony, moving to the kambo and finally Ayuhasca. Before joining the retreat I used to suffer from frequent sleeping problems and frequent sleeping paralysis. After the retreat, I sleep peacefully during the whole night and I never had sleep paralysis again. The retreat has a silence rule which I believe helped me immensely in connecting with the plants and the environment around me. I sincerely appreciate master Sanango and his wisdom, he spent every night with us clearing all doubts we had before it was time for the ceremony. His guidance and knowledge helped me alot in navigating my first visit to the Ayuhasca realm. The silence method, the no electronics, the daily talks and exercises combined made my experience memorable and truly beneficial and I am visiting them again soon!

My stay at Sinchi Runa was a magical experience. I was sceptical at first since it was silent and completely cut out from the world. It was giving me anxiety especially not being able to check in on my family. I did feel guilt for doing this, but after speaking to Andrea she said I could share her number and if there was an emergency they could reach me through her. When arriving at Sinchi Runa I was taken aback at how beautiful and peaceful it was. All the guys seemed really nice and on their own journey, so I respected the silence and embraced it myself. The tobacco purge followed by the kambo built me up to my first ceremony to which I had many emotions, but a clear intention to go in with.

The scene of the first setting was perfect, and my first encounter was more overwhelming than I could have ever imagined. By taking advice to sit still and embrace the pain whilst crossed legged and sitting up, at times really helped guide me through tricky times during the ceremony; knowing the only thing real was my breath helped so much.

My visions I got from the 1st ceremony gave me clarity and some form of self-control which wasn’t what I was expecting. I think in life I have obsessed over certain things that were really not worth obsessing about. The things I have done in my life that I have let others down really came out. Feeling other people's pain and seeing it through their eyes really got to me and showed me so much clarity. After the sunrise and the ceremony inside came to an end we had to go back to our tents which seemed impossible to walk with the rain and through the mud and grass. When I got outside, I felt compelled to take off my socks and feel the land on my feet. I walked around for hours with my thoughts, whilst looking at the birds and the beautiful nature trying to figure everything out.

It was the most amazing experience of my life. I was the warrior of the land! The food was AMAZING, I thought I would miss meat, but I can honestly say it was the best food I have had in my life. The silence was bliss and the practice of meditation whilst sitting up following your breath when thoughts become too loud, is the key to peace and living life without the worry of technology or what other people think about you.

Everyone was so lovely, it felt like one big family, even the dog, cats and crazy (but very sweet and loving) chicken!

I would highly recommend anyone considering coming here to go, you will not be disappointed.

I will be back soon one day with friends and family ❤️

I entered the ayahuasca retreat with the weight of unresolved issues—family wounds, fears, regrets, and guilt. One of my core intentions was to explore my relationship with my son. I wanted to break the generational cycle of trauma passed down from my parents and theirs, and make sure I wasn’t repeating the same patterns.

Over the course of three ceremonies, the experience unfolded in three distinct phases: discovery, healing, and stillness.

Ceremony One: Discovery

The first ceremony was powerful. Almost immediately after the journey began, I felt something shift. Without any intention or prompting, I just knew—I no longer needed alcohol or recreational drugs. I realized this was the experience I’d been chasing all my life. That need for excess, the constant search for highs—it all fell away. Since that night, I haven’t touched a drink, nor felt the urge.

The experience was emotional in every sense. I moved through shame, joy, sorrow, fear, compassion—every feeling, every nuance. I relived moments with my son—times I could have responded with more love but chose frustration or anger instead. I cried deeply. I also experienced pure joy.

For the first time, I truly forgave my parents. I had been trying to do this for years. But in that moment, it finally released. What I learned was simple but life-changing: all I need is to create space—space to respond with compassion, space to be present. That is my truest self.

After the ceremony, walking back to my tent, I felt so light I was almost skipping. Then I burst into laughter—uncontrollable, hysterical laughter—at the absurdity of my old ways. I realized how exhausted I was from constantly leading, deciding, performing. I just wanted to be, to rest. And for the first time in a long while, that felt okay.

Ceremony Two: Healing

Going into the second ceremony, I was apprehensive. The first one had been so intense, and I didn’t know if I was ready for more. But what I received was very different—gentle, powerful healing.

As the medicine took hold, I saw something at the edge of my vision—geometric patterns, colors, dimensions. When I finally turned my attention to it, we locked eyes. It was her—Mother Ayahuasca, or maybe Mother Nature, or God—however you want to define it. She knew I needed healing. She wrapped herself around me, held me, protected me, and told me: Even if you can’t see me, I’m always here. And when you need me, return to nature.

Through that ceremony, I practiced going in and out of deep meditation. Every time I dropped back in, she returned with another message. At one point, I felt like a little boy again—laughing, crying, wanting to be taken care of. That’s what I needed. To just be loved. And that’s exactly what I received.

Ceremony Three: Stillness

My intention for the third ceremony was clear: stillness. I wanted to stay in deep meditation and silence.

And I did. For the first time in my life, my mind was quiet. Truly quiet. I was at peace—completely, effortlessly. No fear. No stress. No noise. Just pure stillness and an overwhelming sense of love emanating from within.

I was honestly shocked by how peaceful I could feel. That this kind of inner calm was even possible—especially considering how fast-paced and demanding my life is. And it came from within me. That was the most profound realization.

Integration: Carrying It Forward

Coming back into the real world, I felt fragile—open, vulnerable. I worried about slipping back into old patterns. But I’ve been using the tools I brought back: the music, the chants, daily meditation. Even if I’m stuck in traffic or standing in a queue, I’ll put on the playlist, breathe, and recenter.

One of the biggest lessons came from that second night—the experimentation. It showed me that staying in this state of peace takes work. Practice. Intention. Stillness. The truth is, all the answers are already within me. They always have been. But accessing them requires quieting the noise of the world, again and again.

Ayahuasca didn’t give me anything I didn’t already have. It just reminded me of who I am—and who I’ve always been beneath the noise. A man capable of love, of compassion, of peace. A man healing for himself, and for his son.