Icaro ceremony
A night ceremony in the maloca, guided by the songs of the plants and the shacapa, as Don Antonio taught.
Ancestral Medicine · 4 days · Iquitos
Ayahuasca Retreat in Iquitos, Peru
Shamanic Healing & Ancestral Wisdom Retreat
A four-day inner journey in an indigenous community of the Peruvian Amazon, guided by Masters Gilmer Montero and Antonio Montero Jr. with the medicine they learned from their father.
Duration4 days / 3 nights
PlaceIndigenous community, Iquitos
GroupMaximum 8 people
Investment$670 USD
Our legacy
A tradition passed from father to sons
Don Antonio Montero Pisco, known as “the Man of Light,” devoted more than five decades to healing and teaching. His grandparents initiated him in Lamas at age nine, with a month-long diet at the foot of a giant lupuna tree. He shared his knowledge with scientists, doctors and travelers from all over the world, and ACEER honored him with its Legacy Award for a life devoted to the rainforest and medicinal plants.
He passed away on March 24, 2020. Today his sons, Gilmer Montero and Antonio Montero Jr., guide this retreat just as he taught them: with his icaros, his shacapa and the same respect for every person who arrives.
Read his full storyA space to heal and reconnect
Plant and mud baths
The tranquility bath with aromatic plants and flowers, and healing mud on the banks of the Amazon.
Meditation and diet
Guided meditation and a special diet prepared by healers throughout the retreat.
Personal support
A one-to-one interview with the masters, plus a translator and personal assistant at all times.
Itinerary
Four days, step by step
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Day 01 · Arrival
Opening the path
Pick-up at your hotel or the airport and arrival at the healing sanctuary. One-to-one interview with Masters Gilmer and Antonio about your intention and a first bath of aromatic plants: the tranquility bath.
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Day 02 · Cleansing
Mud and river
Healing clay-mud session on the banks of the Amazon River to detox the skin and renew your energy. Cleansing with the shacapa.
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Day 03 · Ceremony
Icaros in the maloca
A day of rest and diet to prepare.
Night: ceremony with a circle of icaros and deep guided meditation in the ancestral maloca.
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Day 04 · Return
Integrate and go home
Special integration breakfast and closing of the diet. You receive your protective amulet and advice for the days ahead. Return to Iquitos.
How we care for every person
Respect for tradition
We work with the medicine just as Don Antonio taught: with his icaros, the shacapa and the diet, without mixing it with unrelated practices.
Your safety first
Before confirming your place we review your health form and talk with you. If it is not safe for you, we will tell you honestly.
Confidentiality
What you share in your form and in ceremony stays between you and the Montero family.
Care for the rainforest
We respect the community that welcomes us and the plants that heal us: we take only what is needed.
Track record
A recognized path
Legacy Award
ACEER (Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research) honored Don Antonio for a life devoted to the rainforest and medicinal plants.
Dr. James A. Duke
Since 1991, decades of friendship and work with the renowned American ethnobotanist.
Explorama Lodges
Don Antonio worked with Explorama and created ethnobotanical gardens such as ReNuPeRu, on the Napo River.
4.9 on TripAdvisor
“Increíble experiencia en la medicina de la selva” · Sally B, August 2024.
Your safety comes first
1. Health form
Before confirming your place we ask you to fill in a form. We review it with you, and in some cases participating is not advisable. We need to know about:
- Medications you take, especially antidepressants, anti-anxiety or blood-pressure medication
- Heart conditions or high blood pressure
- Mental health history (for example bipolar disorder or psychosis)
- Pregnancy
Some medications are not compatible with the medicine. Never stop a treatment on your own: always talk to your doctor first.
2. Preparation and diet
During the 2 weeks before, avoid:
- Alcohol, drugs and other substances
- Pork and red meat
- Spicy food, excess salt and refined sugar
- Cured meats, aged cheeses and fermented foods
- Coffee and energy drinks (cut down gradually)
- Sexual activity
After the retreat, keep the diet for one more week to better integrate the experience.
3. What to bring
Comfortable light-colored clothes, a flashlight, insect repellent and a notebook to write about your process.
Participation request
Book your place
Fill in your request in 3 steps. We review it personally and contact you to arrange your date. Maximum 8 people per group.
Request sent!
Thank you for your trust. We will review your request carefully and contact you to arrange your date.
Let us know on WhatsAppWould you rather talk first? Message us on WhatsApp
Moments from the retreat
Frequently asked questions
How much does an ayahuasca retreat in Iquitos cost?
Our 4-day, 3-night ayahuasca retreat costs $670 USD per person and includes pick-up in Iquitos, lodging, diet, the ceremony, plant and healing-mud baths, translator and personal assistant.
Is ayahuasca legal in Peru?
Yes. In Peru, the traditional knowledge and uses of ayahuasca were declared National Cultural Heritage in 2008. Our ceremonies follow the Amazonian tradition Don Antonio taught us.
Do I need previous experience?
No. Before the retreat we talk with you, answer your questions and review your health form.
What does the investment include?
Pick-up at your hotel or Iquitos airport and transfers, private rustic lodging, special diet prepared by healers, the ceremony, meditation sessions, plant and healing-mud baths, translator and personal assistant. Flights and personal expenses are not included.
How do I get to the retreat?
We pick you up at your hotel or Iquitos airport and take you to the community. Travel time may vary with the river level.
Can I combine it with a jungle tour?
Yes. Message us and we will plan your trip with one of our private tours before or after the retreat.
