5 Night San Pedro & Yoga Retreat with a Peruvian Curandero - Portugal
5 Night San Pedro & Yoga Retreat with a Peruvian Curandero - Portugal
Portugal
Up to 14 in group
September 5 - 10, 2025
A preparation course valued at $109 is included with the retreat at no extra cost
Retreat Highlights
- Shamanic Space | 25 Years of Service | Authentic Andean Healing Retreats, Workshops and Sessions held with care and dedication since 2000
- Discover the sacred cactus of Peru with the guidance of a Peruvian curandero and psychotherapist with a combined 80+ years experience
- Questions? We'd love to connect via a complimentary zoom call prior to booking to answer any questions you may have
- Preparation: Group Intention Setting circles prior to each ceremony to discuss, discover and define your Intention in addition to individual time with highly experienced medicine woman and psychotherapist, Michele Costa Lukis.
- Ceremony: 3 supported Wachuma ceremonies held in the Andean tradition and brewed by renowned Peruvian Curandero and Maestro of San Pedro, Dr Rubén Orellana who has held ceremonies since 1976 with an unblemished record. Optional Rapé (Peruvian sacred tobacco) offerings.
- Integration: Group processing circles after each ceremony in addition to one individual 30-minute session with Michele following the retreat to further integrate the teachings of San Pedro following your journey home.
- Yoga: Daily Yoga sessions to compliment your journey with San Pedro
- Sound Healing & Gong Bath to calm and restore
- Rest: 5 nights accommodation in our beautiful retreat centre in the hills of Central Portugal surrounded by nature, the ideal backdrop for your exploration of working with San Pedro. Includes airport transfers.
- Community: Limited to small groups of up to 14 to allow for individual attention. All rooms are shared between 2 - 3 people.
- Nourish: Delicious Vegetarian meals to in keeping with the deita for San Pedro made with fresh, local ingredients, many from the retreat’s own orchard and veggie garden! Unlimited herbal teas.
- Transfers: Complimentary transfers to and from Lisbon airport
- £1900 per person
About this Retreat
“What I have discovered through archaeology and anthropology has supported what I know as a healer and both paths have led me into what you call shamanism. My training also helps me to translate the Andean traditions so they can be understood by Western society and in this way to preserve the wisdom of my land.”
Dr Rubén Orellana PHD is a Peruvian born and trained shaman who has made significant anthropological and archaeological contributions to the study and understanding of the Andean way of living. As the Director of the Institute of Inka Research (Inika), he is dedicated to researching and valuing Andean culture.
Born in Cusco, Rubén has been following the shamanic path since the age of nine. His career as an archaeologist culminated with being named Head of Archaeology at Machu Picchu where he discovered forty-four new sites surrounding the Crystal City, including the North Inca Trail. For these discoveries, he was on the cover of Time Magazine in South America. Rubén has lead extensive research into the mystical aspects of many significant sites and uncovered the true use of many temples in the empire.
Rubén has held ceremonial tours of Peru since 1976 and has brewed for many psychonauts including Terence McKenna who referred to him as ‘the Indiana Jones of Peru’. He has been interviewed in Ross Heaven’s books Cactus of Mystery and The Hummingbird’s Journey to God in which he is described as the ‘Maestro of San Pedro’ and has been featured on Medicine Woman among other documentaries for the Discovery Channel and Gaia TV's 'The Wise Men of Peru'.
Rubén feels that his role as a scientist and a Shaman is to bridge between the indigenous Ayahuasqueros and Curanderos (Shamans) and the modern world. He continues to combine his experience with his excitement for the work and his deep love for all people into a vision of subtlety and divine power.
Michele Costa Lukis is a Transpersonal-Psychotherapist, shamanic practitioner, Maestra of San Pedro, Reiki Master and spiritual healer based in London. She has spent over forty years studying spiritual and psychological healing, including the study of Shamanic traditions from around the world. For the past twenty-five years, Michele has run a psychotherapy and shamanic practice in London, in addition to teaching workshops in meditation and Shamanic studies. She holds a monthly spiritual and healing circle and regularly leads plant medicine and shamanic workshops throughout Europe and Peru.
Michele is a native Californian who studied at the University of California. At twenty-two, Michele turned to the Berkeley Psychic Institute to begin her training in higher awareness and went on to earn a diploma in Psychotherapy from The Psychosynthesis and Educational Trust. She has studied and continues to work with spiritual teachers both indigenous and in core Shamanism. Her spiritual journey has taken her through North America, South America, Hawaii, Europe, Australia, Fiji and to The Sacred Trust in England. Michele’s most influential mentors include Nan Beecher-Moore with whom she studied for twenty years, Dr Rodger Woolger, Simon Buxton, Piero Ferrucci, Dr Gabor Maté M.D and Dr Rubén Orellana PHD of Peru. Michele is deeply indebted to her indigenous teachers of the Amazon and Andes.
Michele’s work reflects her diverse background and her commitment to helping others on their journey to healing and empowerment. With the help of Ruben, Michele works to bridge her clients with the indigenous wisdom keepers of Peru. She is a member of the Society for Shamanic Practitioners and is committed to living and practicing the Principles of Integrity as described by the society. Michele is actively involved in providing Ayahuasca and other medicine plant aftercare and is committed to helping people to integrate and process their experience of the medicines.
“What an exceptional healer and individual. Working with Michele has been one of the best decisions I have made in my life. Ever since, my perspective on life and my own purpose have been profoundly altered as I am beginning to tread territory I have always wanted to explore but was too fearful to venture into.”
“Thank you, Michele, for lighting my way. Thank you for your kind care and inspiration and for sharing your enthusiasm and sheer life force!”
Anna Lukis is a dedicated wellness practitioner, breathwork instructor and yoga teacher who has spent the last decade exploring healing practices and holistic philosophies from around the world.
Her journey has led her into the world of sacred plants, from the warm embrace of the Amazon jungle in ceremony with Ayahuasca, to working with Wachuma in the Andes and onwards to the Dutch countryside working with psilocybin. Following her profound experiences with these sacred plant medicines, Anna continues to expand her understanding of their traditions and heritage, learning to brew the medicine under the guidance of Peruvian Curandero, Dr Rubén Orellana. She is passionate about facilitating safe and supported space for others to explore the profound healing benefits of the practices that have deeply impacted her own life and it is her honour to be of service.
Anna has completed 200-hour yoga teacher trainings in Forrest Yoga with founder Ana Forrest in Bali and in Hatha Raga Yoga with Ambra Vallo at the renowned Indaba Studio in London. Her yoga practice enhances the plant medicine experience, providing space for deeper connection and integration.
Recently, Anna trained as a breathwork teacher in the mountains of Australia with Johannes Egberts, who studied under Wim Hof. She has found breakthrough breathwork to be a powerful tool for releasing blocked energy, trauma, and anxiety and it is now a key component of her life and her offerings.
Anna continues to explore the union of mind, body and spirit through shamanic practice, yoga and breathwork and hopes to help clients release blocked energy, trauma and anxiety stored in the body, bringing forth a renewed sense of creativity and well-being. It is her honour to share space with our group members and to help them on their healing journey.
Details of this retreat
Shamanic Space | Celebrating 25 Years of Service | Authentic Andean Healing Retreats, Workshops and Sessions held with care and dedication since 2000
Whilst this is our first time on Retreat Guru, we have been holding retreats for the past 25 years and you can find further testimonials on www.shamanicspace.com
Nestled within the tranquil hills of Central Portugal, we invite you on a journey of personal growth, healing and spiritual awakening with Wachuma, the sacred Cactus of Peru.
"My experience working with wachuma under the guidance of Michele, Ruben and Anna was a beautiful, magical, transformative experience in so many ways. It was my first time working with plant medicines in this way and I felt fully supported throughout the whole experience. The whole team work to put you completely at ease, to answer any questions you might have going into the ceremony and to make the journey a beautiful one. Working with the medicine has transformed me in ways I don’t fully feel and understand yet. Each of the three ceremonies was so different and I feel like I changed utterly, fully landing into myself. Full acceptance of self. The stillness, peace and deep quiet I felt within myself during the ceremonies continued into the days. And spending the days on retreat in the beautiful gardens and grounds of the venue was so magic - integrating under the trees was pure bliss. Michele offers 1-2-1 integration sessions after each ceremony, to help you deeply feel and understand your experience, these are so beautiful and fundamental to the experience. I’m still feeling the deep peace and stillness in myself, back in my everyday life in the big city and that feels truly magic. The shifts in my patterns were truly transformational - this retreat and medicine has changed me forever and that is incredible. Thank you all, it was a beautiful, expansive experience.” - Sally, 2004
Our ceremonies are held in the traditional Andean manner by Peruvian Curandero, anthropologist and archaeologist, Dr Rubén Orellana and psychotherapist and medicine woman, Michele Costa Lukis. Together, they have dedicated a combined 80+ years to preserving the ceremonial use of the sacred cactus and it is our joy to share this lineage with you in our fully supported and authentic ceremonies. We will be with you on each step of your journey, from ancient traditions, preparing with intention, offering support throughout ceremony and individual and group integration sessions to process your experiences. We welcome those new to the work and those who have previously sat with plant medicine.
If you've been seeking a safe space to nurture your body and spirit, to explore your inner landscape and to embrace the wisdom of Andean healing, we invite you to take this journey with us.
“To work in such a beautiful setting with such beautiful people opened my heart to what can be possible in life…”
The Traditions of Andean Healing:
We are fortunate to be guided through the ancient traditions of San Pedro by Peruvian anthropologist, archaeologist and Curandero Dr Rubén Orellana PhD who has spent a lifetime exploring the healing practices of his native Peru and is an expert on the customs of Andean Healing that have survived. For more than 3,500 years San Pedro, known indigenously as Wachuma, has been used by many different civilizations within the Andes Mountains of South America for its profound healing and visionary properties. For the Curanderos (shamans) of these communities, the cactus was a portal to the spiritual realm, earning the nickname punku, meaning ‘doorway’. It was revered as a means to communicate with ancestors, deities and nature spirits, playing a central role in their understanding of the world. The Curandros became the custodians of the San Pedro tradition, passing down the mysteries of this powerful brew from healer to healer, preserving the healing rites at the core of their communities.
"When people ask me how many hours they will be affected by San Pedro after they drink it, I tell them it will not be hours but the rest of their lives. The energy will always stay with you, as will the wisdom of the plant and through San Pedro you continue to learn and grow." - Ruben Orellana
Dr Rubén Orellana:
At the age of seven, Rubén began his apprenticeship with the healers or Paqo (Shaman) of the Andes, immersing himself in the traditions that have survived. Rubén’s knowledge of how to prepare the seventy-nine varieties of San Pedro has been passed down to him through generations of Andean Curanderos and from the plant itself. Today, he is considered a Maestro of San Pedro and will be travelling from his home in Peru to hold this unique retreat for you, showcasing the art of Andean healing.
The Brew:
Rubén works on an esoteric level with the plant; as he brews, he connects to the energy of Wachuma within a relationship spanning many years and is shown how to brew the medicine according to the needs of the group. He places his intention into the medicine and in this way the plant can also learn from the healer. When Michele once asked Rubén how many times he had conducted San Pedro ceremonies, he paused and said “over eight hundred”. Our San Pedro is brewed from fresh cactus by our team on-site in the days leading up to the start of the retreat.
“I felt really safe, relaxed and watched over. I also appreciate that there was a close, careful and extremely sensitive and experienced eye on my use of San Pedro.”
In working with Rubén’s visionary brew, our intention is never to ‘trip’ as with many modern recreational drugs as this distracts from the healing benefits of the plant and takes us away from our needs. These powerful plant medicines can provide great personal insight and raising of consciousness when they are met with respect, care and a personal intention. Our intention is to help you to work with San Pedro in this manner.
“In the most beautiful setting, total peace and quiet…the perfect space to be able to quiet your mind and open your heart. I felt very supported through the whole journey and extremely safe."
Whilst this is our first time on Retreat Guru, we have been holding retreats for the past 25 years and you can find further testimonials on www.shamanicspace.com
Nestled within the tranquil hills of Central Portugal, we invite you on a journey of personal growth, healing and spiritual awakening with Wachuma, the sacred Cactus of Peru.
"My experience working with wachuma under the guidance of Michele, Ruben and Anna was a beautiful, magical, transformative experience in so many ways. It was my first time working with plant medicines in this way and I felt fully supported throughout the whole experience. The whole team work to put you completely at ease, to answer any questions you might have going into the ceremony and to make the journey a beautiful one. Working with the medicine has transformed me in ways I don’t fully feel and understand yet. Each of the three ceremonies was so different and I feel like I changed utterly, fully landing into myself. Full acceptance of self. The stillness, peace and deep quiet I felt within myself during the ceremonies continued into the days. And spending the days on retreat in the beautiful gardens and grounds of the venue was so magic - integrating under the trees was pure bliss. Michele offers 1-2-1 integration sessions after each ceremony, to help you deeply feel and understand your experience, these are so beautiful and fundamental to the experience. I’m still feeling the deep peace and stillness in myself, back in my everyday life in the big city and that feels truly magic. The shifts in my patterns were truly transformational - this retreat and medicine has changed me forever and that is incredible. Thank you all, it was a beautiful, expansive experience.” - Sally, 2004
Our ceremonies are held in the traditional Andean manner by Peruvian Curandero, anthropologist and archaeologist, Dr Rubén Orellana and psychotherapist and medicine woman, Michele Costa Lukis. Together, they have dedicated a combined 80+ years to preserving the ceremonial use of the sacred cactus and it is our joy to share this lineage with you in our fully supported and authentic ceremonies. We will be with you on each step of your journey, from ancient traditions, preparing with intention, offering support throughout ceremony and individual and group integration sessions to process your experiences. We welcome those new to the work and those who have previously sat with plant medicine.
If you've been seeking a safe space to nurture your body and spirit, to explore your inner landscape and to embrace the wisdom of Andean healing, we invite you to take this journey with us.
“To work in such a beautiful setting with such beautiful people opened my heart to what can be possible in life…”
The Traditions of Andean Healing:
We are fortunate to be guided through the ancient traditions of San Pedro by Peruvian anthropologist, archaeologist and Curandero Dr Rubén Orellana PhD who has spent a lifetime exploring the healing practices of his native Peru and is an expert on the customs of Andean Healing that have survived. For more than 3,500 years San Pedro, known indigenously as Wachuma, has been used by many different civilizations within the Andes Mountains of South America for its profound healing and visionary properties. For the Curanderos (shamans) of these communities, the cactus was a portal to the spiritual realm, earning the nickname punku, meaning ‘doorway’. It was revered as a means to communicate with ancestors, deities and nature spirits, playing a central role in their understanding of the world. The Curandros became the custodians of the San Pedro tradition, passing down the mysteries of this powerful brew from healer to healer, preserving the healing rites at the core of their communities.
"When people ask me how many hours they will be affected by San Pedro after they drink it, I tell them it will not be hours but the rest of their lives. The energy will always stay with you, as will the wisdom of the plant and through San Pedro you continue to learn and grow." - Ruben Orellana
Dr Rubén Orellana:
At the age of seven, Rubén began his apprenticeship with the healers or Paqo (Shaman) of the Andes, immersing himself in the traditions that have survived. Rubén’s knowledge of how to prepare the seventy-nine varieties of San Pedro has been passed down to him through generations of Andean Curanderos and from the plant itself. Today, he is considered a Maestro of San Pedro and will be travelling from his home in Peru to hold this unique retreat for you, showcasing the art of Andean healing.
The Brew:
Rubén works on an esoteric level with the plant; as he brews, he connects to the energy of Wachuma within a relationship spanning many years and is shown how to brew the medicine according to the needs of the group. He places his intention into the medicine and in this way the plant can also learn from the healer. When Michele once asked Rubén how many times he had conducted San Pedro ceremonies, he paused and said “over eight hundred”. Our San Pedro is brewed from fresh cactus by our team on-site in the days leading up to the start of the retreat.
“I felt really safe, relaxed and watched over. I also appreciate that there was a close, careful and extremely sensitive and experienced eye on my use of San Pedro.”
In working with Rubén’s visionary brew, our intention is never to ‘trip’ as with many modern recreational drugs as this distracts from the healing benefits of the plant and takes us away from our needs. These powerful plant medicines can provide great personal insight and raising of consciousness when they are met with respect, care and a personal intention. Our intention is to help you to work with San Pedro in this manner.
“In the most beautiful setting, total peace and quiet…the perfect space to be able to quiet your mind and open your heart. I felt very supported through the whole journey and extremely safe."
Schedule
Each day will be slightly different however here is an example of your day with Shamanic Space:
- Morning Yoga Practice
- Breakfast
- Morning circle (Discussion on the traditions, working with San Pedro for healing, intention for ceremony, group check-in)
- 1-1 time with psychotherapist Michele to discuss your intention for ceremony
- Delicious Veggie Lunch
- Free time - pool, garden, journaling, walking trails
- Ceremony: San Pedro (Huachuma) - 2 ceremonies will be held in the evening and 1 in the day, to understand the different qualities
- Sound Healing / gong bath to rest before dinner
- Light Dinner following ceremony to
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change with the weather / energy of the group
- Morning Yoga Practice
- Breakfast
- Morning circle (Discussion on the traditions, working with San Pedro for healing, intention for ceremony, group check-in)
- 1-1 time with psychotherapist Michele to discuss your intention for ceremony
- Delicious Veggie Lunch
- Free time - pool, garden, journaling, walking trails
- Ceremony: San Pedro (Huachuma) - 2 ceremonies will be held in the evening and 1 in the day, to understand the different qualities
- Sound Healing / gong bath to rest before dinner
- Light Dinner following ceremony to
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change with the weather / energy of the group
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Shamanic Space, Portugal
Directions
We offer a complimentary transfer to and from Lisbon airport. It is around a 1.5-2 hour journey to our retreat centre in the tranquil hills of Central Portugal.
Accommodation
All rooms are shared between 2-3 persons. In your free time, we hope you will enjoy the stunning views or relax by the pool. We also recommend taking a stroll through the stunning local forests towards the ‘Castelo de Bode’ lake (3km) to connect with nature. Fear not, there is WIFI available however we encourage switching your phone to silent (or even off!) and immersing yourself in the natural beauty of your new surroundings and your experience with Wachuma.
Program Price
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Surrounded by eucalyptus & pine, our home is a lovingly restored hundred-year-old manor house with wonderful views of the valley. The space offers the perfect, relaxed setting to unwind and focus on the journey of working with wachuma. The farmhouse includes a beautiful ceremonial space/yoga shala, an organic orchard and a saltwater pool. Walking trails nearby offer beautiful connection with nature
“The food was amazing and the accommodation was beautiful. We were all really well looked after.”
“The food was amazing and the accommodation was beautiful. We were all really well looked after.”
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
We offer delicious vegetarian meals with fresh ingredients lovingly prepared by our facilitators in keeping with the dieta (diet) for San Pedro. We do our best to cater to all dietary requirements.
What's Included
- - 3 guided and supported ceremonies with San Pedro brewed by Maestro of Wachuma/Huachuma, Dr Rubén Orellana
- - Daily Yoga Sessions with our highly experienced teacher
- - Rapé and traditional Andean sound ceremonies
- - Sound healing sessions and gong bath
- - 5 nights accommodation in our beautiful retreat centre in the tranquil hills of Central Portugal
- - Guidance of highly experienced facilitators including a psychotherapist with 40+ years experience and a Peruvian Curandero of 50+ years
- - Daily Individual and Group Intention Setting and Integration Circles
- - 30 minute private integration session following the retreat with psychotherapist, Michele
- - Nutritious vegetarian meals in keeping with the dieta made with fresh, local ingredients from the retreat's own garden
- - Transfers to and from Lisbon airport
What's Not Included
- International Flights
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal spending money
Similar retreats
Kerilyn 's Staff Pick
Plant Medicine
5-Day Bufo Retreat in Portugal: Deep Healing with Non-Dual Coaching & Trauma Release
Last Chance
From €1,250
/ 7 days
5.00
Plant Medicine
5-Day Bufo Retreat in Portugal: Deep Healing with Non-Dual Coaching & Trauma Release
July 1 - 7, 2025
From €1,250
/ 7 days
5.00
Top Rated
Plant Medicine
7 Day Ayahusaca & Breathwork Retreat Portugal
June 30 - July 6, 2025
From €2,355
/ 7 days
5.00
Plant Medicine
4 ceremonies with Ayahuasca, Magic Mushrooms and/or San Pedro
5 Days Package
€1,520
5.00
Plant Medicine
5 Days Ayahuasca, Psilocybin & San Pedro Healing Retreat
June 12 - 16, 2025
From €1,520
/ 5 days
5.00
Plant Medicine
5 Days Ayahuasca, Psilocybin & San Pedro Healing Retreat
June 5 - 9, 2025
From €1,520
/ 5 days
5.00
/
