Frequently Asked Questions

Estación Kapitari is located near the village of Manacamiri, approximately 5 miles from the city of Iquitos, across the Nanay River. Guests are always met in Iquitos and transported to the center as part of the retreat.

Iquitos is located in the Amazon rainforest and cannot be reached by road. The easiest and most reliable way to arrive is by flying from Lima. LATAM is generally the most reliable airline for this route.

We recommend arriving in Iquitos at least one day before your retreat begins. This allows time to rest, adjust to travel, and prepare. We can recommend suitable hotels and provide pickup instructions once your booking is confirmed.

Our 6-night / 7-day ayahuasca retreat costs $850 USD per person.

The price includes:

• Three ayahuasca ceremonies guided by Don Lucho

• Accommodation in simple jungle tambos

• All meals following a traditional dieta

• Plant baths and cleansing practices

• Transport between Iquitos and Kapitari

• Drinking water throughout your stay

Flights and accommodation in Iquitos are not included.

Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian plant preparation that has been used for generations in ceremonial contexts. It is made from the ayahuasca vine and chacruna leaves and is traditionally consumed under the guidance of an experienced ayahuascero. Experiences vary widely from person to person.

In Peru, ayahuasca is legal when used in traditional and ceremonial contexts. It has been part of indigenous Amazonian culture for generations and is legally practiced at established centers such as Kapitari.

Guests participate in ceremonies while in Peru, where this traditional use is permitted.

The retreat lasts 6 nights / 7 days and includes three evening ceremonies guided by Don Lucho. Time between ceremonies is intentionally kept simple, allowing space for rest, reflection, and integration. In addition to ceremonies, guests take part in traditional cleansing practices and follow a simple dieta. For a full overview, please see the retreat page.

Our retreats typically last for 6 nights/7 days, giving participants enough time to immerse themselves in the healing process through multiple Ayahuasca ceremonies and plant treatments.

Yes. Many guests attend Kapitari for their first ayahuasca experience. The retreat is run at a measured pace, with experienced guidance and support throughout. All participants are screened before acceptance.

The shamanic diet is a simple, mostly plant-based diet designed to prepare your body and mind for Ayahuasca. It typically avoids salt, sugar, alcohol, caffeine, red meat, pork, and processed foods. The diet helps to purify your system and enhance the effectiveness of the medicine.

We are happy to accommodate dietary preferences such as vegetarian or vegan. Please let us know about any specific dietary requirements before your retreat so we can make the necessary arrangements.

Most participants take part in three ceremonies during the 7-day retreat. In certain cases, an additional ceremony may be offered if appropriate.

Yes, certain health conditions such as severe heart conditions, epilepsy, or mental illnesses like schizophrenia may be contraindications for Ayahuasca. If you are unsure, please consult with us or a medical professional before booking.

Once your reservation is approved, you will receive payment instructions. A 50% deposit is required to secure your place, with the remaining balance due 30 days before the retreat.

We accept credit and debit card payments via IziPay, as well as Remitly, Western Union, and international bank transfer.

No, all of our retreats take place exclusively at our center in the Amazon, as we believe the healing process is most effective when held in nature, close to the source of the medicine.

We recommend packing light, comfortable clothing suitable for the jungle, along with sturdy footwear for walking. A lightweight waterproof jacket or poncho is strongly recommended, as rain can be heavy at times. Insect repellent, personal toiletries, and a refillable water bottle are also useful.

After booking, you’ll receive a detailed packing list with everything you need to know before traveling.

No. Many people attend Kapitari for their first ayahuasca experience. The retreat is structured in a way that allows people to approach the process gradually, with guidance and support throughout the week.

Ayahuasca ceremonies themselves involve very little talking. The ceremonies are guided primarily through icaros (traditional healing songs) sung by Don Lucho and Wagner.

There is always an English-speaking facilitator present during ceremonies, so if you need help or support, there is someone you can communicate with clearly.

Kapitari is not connected to the main electricity grid. Power is supplied by a generator, which is usually turned on for a few hours each evening (and sometimes longer on non-ceremony days).

There is no Wi-Fi at the center. Mobile signal from one or two Peruvian carriers can usually be reached, but it is intermittent and not 100% reliable. If you have international roaming, it may be possible to connect occasionally.

We strongly recommend treating your time at Kapitari as a digital detox and limiting phone and internet use as much as possible.

Yes. Most people who attend Kapitari come on their own. It’s very common for guests to arrive solo and feel comfortable and supported throughout the retreat.

You are free to leave the retreat at any time if you feel it isn’t right for you. We do not force anyone to stay.

That said, it’s very common for the first ceremony to feel challenging or uncomfortable. For many people, the first ceremony involves more physical purging and fewer insights, and it’s not unusual to feel unsure afterward. In these cases, we usually encourage guests to stay for additional ceremonies, as the experience often changes significantly over the course of the retreat.

While you are free to leave during the day if you choose, retreats are non-refundable once they have begun.

We recommend packing light, comfortable clothing suitable for the jungle, along with sturdy footwear for walking. A lightweight waterproof jacket or poncho is strongly recommended, as rain can be heavy at times. Insect repellent, personal toiletries, and a refillable water bottle are also useful.

After booking, you’ll receive a detailed packing list with everything you need to know before traveling.

The retreat is not physically demanding in a fitness sense, but guests should be reasonably mobile. At the beginning and end of the retreat, you need to walk for up to 45 minutes, sometimes in muddy conditions.

Aside from this, the retreat is gentle and unstructured, with plenty of time for rest and personal reflection.

Age itself is not usually a limiting factor. Kapitari has welcomed many guests in their 50s, 60s, and even 70s. What matters most is general mobility and the ability to walk moderate distances in jungle conditions.

If you’re unsure whether the retreat is suitable for you, we recommend getting in touch before booking.

Yes. Kapitari has basic toilet and shower facilities. Showers are cold, which is typical in the jungle and often refreshing given the warm climate. Facilities are simple but clean and functional.

There is no single “correct” number of ceremonies, as it varies from person to person. Some people benefit from more extended work, especially when dealing with long-standing trauma or addiction.

In our experience, three ceremonies is sufficient for most people to move beyond initial cleansing and begin working more deeply with the medicine. At Kapitari, there is often the option to take part in a fourth ceremony if a guest feels it would be beneficial. For many people, this range provides a balanced and complete experience without becoming overwhelming.

While ayahuasca can be very powerful, the process usually unfolds over time rather than all at once. The first ceremony is often more physical and cleansing, and many people experience purging or discomfort with fewer insights.

As the body and nervous system adjust, later ceremonies tend to become clearer and more reflective. This is often when people report deeper understanding, emotional processing, or meaningful insights. For this reason, multiple ceremonies allow the process to develop gradually rather than placing everything on a single night.