Naturalia retreat center | Ayahuasca Retreat in Peru — Hotel in Iquitos

The beauty and magic this place holds is indescribable, but here I will provide just a little something to go off of.

I'm a 35 year old male that heard about ayahuasca over a decade ago, learned a lot about the plants and process but maybe just never got the call. Well this time it was loud and clear, so this was my first time joining an ayahuasca retreat. To find the right place, I did an absurd amount of research on all fronts but primarily focusing on these two priorities:

Authenticity - If you know the recipe, probably anyone can make the drink, but I did not want to feel like a tourist in Willy Wonka's Jungle, being fit into a cookie cutter roleplay led by charlatans.

You're really out in the jungle, they bought this land and built this place from the ground up. Manuel(Shaman) is the real deal, I felt something strong and impressive and comforting from him. His voice is beautiful and powerful when he sings, especially directly to you, the range and frequency he can access is stunning. Yoga, flower baths, meditation, mapacho(tobacco) ceremony, ayahuasca, Icaros(songs), the structure through every day, each moment all does something very real inside of you. It all felt very genuine and connected.

Intimate and Productive - Many retreats have far too many guests so as to maximize profit. I wanted to have adequate time and means to sort through and share my intentions, concerns, and receive constructive feedback. I wanted to know I was being looked after when it mattered most, and I did not want my experience to be diminished by an excess of other guests.

Naturalia has a limit of 5 guests per week, this alone shows their commitment to the amount of focus and attention each person will receive. The Shaman sang several of the Icaros to each one of us at length during every ceremony. I was given ample time at every avenue to vent, process, explore, peel back the layers and uncover all that I could muster. I never felt rushed or pressed for time. I felt heard and seen and unjudged.

As a related aside, and as many other reviews have stated, every person here fulfilled there position beautifully. I personally feel the need to again highlight Paula(owner), an exceptional and stunning person whom I hold deep admiration and appreciation for. She has held such a pivotal role in this part of my journey. Hours and HOURS of conversation, wisdom, alternate perspectives, patience, rebuttals, advice, laughter; I'm truly in awe of this woman. Just amazing.

Naturalia met and exceeded my expectations where it mattered most, but also every other category. It definitely won't for everyone. There were almost no mosquitos when I went, but they're out there, and worse in other seasons. The showers are cold, but refreshing; challenge yourself to breathe and relax into the cold instead of tensing up and fighting it. The food adheres to the diet, so maybe you'll think the lentils or something are bland, but there is flavor everywhere and the dishes are delicious and thoughtfully combined. Most potential negatives are just a mindset.

Initially, I came for the ayahuasca experience, but I had no idea how profound my time outside of ceremony would be as well. Every moment in this place was special, every interaction with these people was endearing. I'm eternally grateful that this was the place I chose, and that I had the experience I did. I cannot possibly recommend Naturalia highly enough. Do yourself the favor and make this place your home for a week. It just might change your life like...

In short the retreat is absolutely amazing, I thoroughly recommend it and would encourage anyone deciding to book to go ahead, it's definitely worth it, you will have a fantastic experience.

For those (like me🤗) that enjoy throurough reviews with a bit more detail here goes:

The setting is extraordinarily beautiful (of course it's the jungle!!) accommodations and facilities thoughtfully laid out, true to the location but with enough luxury you feel very looked after.

The accomodation is brilliant, personal ,secluded bungalows , still close enough to everything you need and other people if you wish. Enough space to be private and spend time alone (the hammocks are wonderful to spend time reading and reflecting ) beds are very comfortable and there is a private toilet.

The restaurant area is very practical and a nice space to relax alone or socialise and there are many spaces to sit and have a minute. There is beautiful scenery and natural wildlife (including mosquitos and ants , but definitely part of the whole experience 😂) and of course the 5 amazing dogs and 2 cats ,they aren't imposing if you are afraid of animals , but our group absolutely loved fussing them and enjoyed spending time amongst them.

The food was delicious, very filling and a pleasant surprise whilst observing the diet. There was always fruit, water and herbal tea available. The staff who cook and help with maintenance /laundry etc around the retreat are brilliant, so friendly a massive thankyou to them for this week Sylvie, Jania , Rodi and Julian.

Yoga- absolutely fantastic , whether you practise regularly or have never tried, it was well catered to all levels. Extremely well thought out and complemented the ceremonies perfectly. Meditation was also perfect to relax before a ceremony. Also a big massive thankyou to the current instructor Mair, she made the week extra special, with the classes and also her general presence was reassuring and we had some amazing conversations and laughs. Mair is an absolute legend!

Ceremonies- this part of the retreat I was most nervous for (it being my first time ) everything was so well explained , planned out and executed. Just know that participating was a phenomenal experience , difficult to explain , but the whole thing is unforgettable. Manuel the shaman/curandero is very powerful and sings beautiful icaros to the group and individually. The flower baths before were also an interesting and special part of the ceremony. Overall I felt safe and comfortable with the staff before/during and after the ceremonies, it's not something I took lightly and having the integration sessions and talks before and after really helped with any nerves or worries. I didn't feel stupid asking any questions and everything felt well thought out. This part of the retreat was truly magical.

To Paula and Manu who own , facilitate and both do a million things, my heartfelt thanks and gratitude, you listened , made us laugh, put us at ease and delivered a fantastic experience .

I hope anyone reading this will feel inspired to book and visit Naturalia , it gets full marks from me , so much attention to detail you will be so glad you've...

Summary: It is 100% worth it. Choosing this place to do it is the most authentic way to do it. Let me explain why.

Manuel - the Shaman, has been training for over 30 years and has learnt from many masters. From personal experience, I can tell you, he is INCREDIBLE. I can't thank him enough or express my deepest gratitude for his help to transform, guide, and help with pure intention during the ceremony. He truly is gifted and has trained and continues to train to provide the best experience for you through his mastery of the plant medicines. They only allow 5 people to come per week as Manuel actually spends personal time with you during each ceremony. This is also a testament to the organizers who are there to truly benefit people who wish to come, not make money by having 30 people which would make it impossible to really immerse and have a personalised experience.

Manu and Paula - the organizers. They really help to make you feel at home and as though you are welcome. Going into the middle of the amazon jungle to have an authentic experience can be scary. I went with my wife, and it really is special to do ceremonies in a location that is conducive to the natural elements of where the ayahuasca stems. They help to facilitate everything and are genuine and kind people. Their objective in all of this is to help you make you feel comfortable and provide you with the most authentic experience. Without them, none of this world have been possible, and I'm thankful from the bottom of my heart for all the effort they put in to make it such a memorable experience.

The food: it is plain, simple, and a real form of dieting. Be prepared to respect the process in order to gain the benefits of the ceremonies. It is freshly made every day, but don't expect it to taste nice. It's not meant to, without salt and sugar during the week stay. However, on the last day you got coffee and great food which I really looked forward to.

The yoga/meditation tescher: Clari was amazing. She really personalised her sessions and really tried to help both physically and mentally prepare for the ceremonies. Kudos to Manu and Paula for finding her and providing an all-round positive experience.

The facilities: Manu has been building this place for years from scratch by buying the land. He has literally dedicated his life to providing this experience. You're going to be in the middle of the jungle and trek 40 mins to get there by foot after a 30 min boat ride. He's always making improvements, but as of Dec 2023, it has a common place to eat, a place to do yoga, meditation, and the ceremonies and a place to rest. Your bungalow does not have electricity or a sink. But does have a toilet, bed, netting for mosquitos, a bin, a rail to hang stuff, and a mini wardrobe. Showers are about a 3 min walk from your bungalows.

Conclusion: I'm super thankful to everyone who helps to make this happen, the Shaman, and for the hard work they put in to make this an enjoyable experience. It is not easy, nor is it meant to be. It is a place to heal, learn, grow, and face yourself. Could not recommend it more if I tried. Don't...