La Luna del Amazonas will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Description

I spent one week at La Luna del Amazonas in May 2022. I had been traveling around Peru with my partner and felt a deep urge to visit the Amazon and learn more about the healing properties of Ayahuasca. While researching for a place (by reading various online reviews) to experience the Ayahuasca traditions, a criterion that felt essential was safety. I was grateful to learn that those who had previously visited and reviewed La Luna had felt comfortable and secure in their experiences. In addition, I relied on the reviews of past guests who spoke highly of La Luna for its community, incredible access to the forests, and compassion from the program operators (Henrik/Enrique) and the remarkable Shaman (Don Guido). Now, almost a year later, it feels necessary that I share my experiences so that I may inspire future guests to visit La Luna. What allowed me to feel safe immediately at La Luna (and thus contributed to me having trusting experiences with Ayahuasca as medicine asap) was witnessing the diversity in the participants at our first ceremony. Enrique's teenage son was attending, as was a three-generation Colombian family, and a few participants from the U.S. and Canada ages 20-40. We had the chance to meet with the Shaman (Don Guido) and Enrique before our first ceremony to discuss intentions, and I felt heard, seen, and loved throughout the preparations. I must review and comment on the level of safety because my ability to trust the Ayahuasca medicine and have a profound experience relied so deeply on initial feelings of safety and trust. From the first moment of arrival and continued one year later, I have felt held by the talented healers. This past year especially (about six months after I left the retreat), I began to notice I had developed an aversion to alcohol. Enrique was so patient and kind, taking the time to write to me about the ways of integration after Ayahuasca and some examples of how that might manifest. That is extreme care. I continue to feel held by this lovely family. I have broken this review into simple categories (things that mattered to me when deciding). I hope this helps you too! Location: Getting to La Luna was very simple. We met at a cafe in Iquitos and were guided to the docks and aboard the boat that brought us to its remote location. La Luna is a private secluded space deep in the jungle on a tributary of the Amazon River, which hosts opportunities for comfortable swimming, exploring by canoe, and wandering in the woods. There is a small village nearby and some activity on the river as locals pass by in canoes. Space: There is a central screened-in structure where we ate meals and lounged. There are multiple hammocks, a small library with great Ayahuasca-related reading material, and places to rest and relax. Stilted wooden platforms connect this building to the private rooms and the Maloka. The rooms provide everything you need and are well-kept, clean, and spacious. I cannot describe the beauty of the Maloka, with its circular design and surrounded by the jungle (see photos attached/experience yourself). There is also one extra cabin across from the main structure offering another place for resting and quiet. Finally, plenty of lush greenspace surrounds for stretching, yoga, meditation, walking, playing, etc. Food: On arrival, I was surprised to learn that I had been pre-dieting with pretty wild limitations I had read from people online. I would adhere to the dieta that Enrique shares with you when registering and not worry so much about the advice of strangers from other platforms online. The meals prepared at La Luna were delicious, and there was always plenty to go around. Activity: I was hoping for a place with less scheduled activity as I was preparing to spend much of my time in contemplation, meditation, sleep recovery, etc. At La Luna, this relaxed pace is the vibe. Aside from the ceremonies and flower baths, there is no activity schedule you have to be present for. I think this element is so important and often missed at other retreats. Your body will need time to relax, your mind time to wander, and your soul time to be. This zero-pressure, schedule-less agenda was so lovely. That said, for busier types, there was always lots to do. If you like to participate in activities, there were incredible adventures on non-ceremony days. We went on an informative forest walk with Don Guido, visited Monkey Island, borrowed canoes to explore the area, and did yoga together as a group (led by a participant). Ceremonies: This part is altogether much harder to review. I had transformative experiences that I will forever be grateful for, but I feel uncomfortable writing a review as this certainly is not guaranteed. I have learned that Ayahuasca will hold you/ or challenge you the way you need her. I feel comfortable commenting on the level of security, the intimacy of the small group size, and the wisdom of Don Guido and Enrique. You are eased into Ayahuasca medicine, starting with a small quantity on day one and adjusting as the healing experts (and yourself) see fit based on your personal experiences. The follow-up share circles the day after were enjoyable and helped foster a community among group members and provided one-on-one communication with the Shaman. As for the Ayahuasca experience itself, that magic is yours to discover. I trusted the process and had great revelations after just four ceremonies. Healers: Enrique, Don Guido, Leonardo, and all staff members, exceeded my expectations as program facilitators and Shamans. They were born to be healers. I speak Spanish at an intermediate level, so I felt comfortable talking to Don Guido. That said, I experienced deep gratitude for Enrique’s advanced translations with the many feelings I struggled to communicate in a second language. His phenomenal translation abilities helped me understand the Shamans' reflections and offered eased communication overall. The community at La Luna welcomed me with arms wide open. The place will forever hold a special place in my heart. I am already looking forward to when I will be able to return. Thank you, La Luna,