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Casa de la Madre Ayahuasca Retreats: An In-Depth Review for Sessions in Peru

Casa de la Madre is an ayahuasca retreat center operating since late 2009 that offers customized retreats with authentic Shipibo shamans near Pucallpa in Peru. The retreat’s founder Cielo Tierra passed away in late 2023, with operations now continuing under Los Cielos Perú Earth Hospital. The center sits near a beautiful lake in the village of Yarinacocha, Peru, operating as a small guesthouse on the front of the lake that works authentically with ayahuasca and medicinal plants from the Amazon jungle.

🎯 At a Glance

• Locations: Casa de la Madre is located on the edge of Lake Yarinacocha near Pucallpa, Peru, positioned as a small lakefront guesthouse in a village setting an hour’s flight from Lima.
• Approach: The retreat provides ayahuasca ceremonies for a maximum of six people per ceremony and works with no more than 10 people total, ensuring personal attention and flexible dates to allow each person to heal at their own pace.
• Suitable For: Suitable for those seeking intimate, individualized healing work with strong, safe ayahuasca ceremonies and master plant dietas catered to each person’s specific needs.
• Costs: Unable to verify current pricing as the main website is inaccessible, though accommodation options appear to start around $120 per night based on rental listings.
• Overall Assessment: Directory evaluation: B- (notable for experienced Shipibo tradition and intimate setting, flag for leadership transition and limited online transparency).

💬 What Guests Are Saying

Guests on Retreat.guru consistently report experiencing the strongest healing of all their ayahuasca ceremonies, with reviewers unable to recommend Cielo and Casa de la Madre more highly. Participants describe always feeling very safe with Cielo’s care and compassion in the medicine, praising her ability to create a non-judgmental healing space for guests. The setting receives high praise, with guests loving the treehouse atmosphere surrounded by Lake Ucayali with dolphins and Amazonian sunsets, plus the presence of monkeys creating a lovely place to heal and learn.

Recent reviews on Aya Advisors express gratitude for time spent at the center, with guests finding Maestra Estela and her brother Roldan to be humble, caring, and focused on healing and light. Reviewers consistently highlight Cielo’s extensive knowledge not only about ayahuasca but other medicinal plants and jungle healing methods, combined with the beautiful natural setting. However, the recent passing of founder Cielo and transition to new management creates uncertainty about whether the same quality of care and personal attention will continue under the new Los Cielos Perú Earth Hospital structure.

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🚩 Incident Report

Following a thorough review of online sources including Reddit subreddits like r/Ayahuasca, Quora threads, Facebook groups such as Psychedelic Healing and Ayahuasca Experiences, news outlets, retreat discussion boards, ICEERS safety reports, and public records, no verified incidents of theft or crime were found associated with Casa de la Madre.

• Theft: No guest reports or public posts on forums, social media, ICEERS data, or news sources mention stolen valuables or items at Casa de la Madre.
• Sexual Misconduct: No incidents of sexual misconduct were found linked to Casa de la Madre specifically. Note: Casa de la Madre appears to be distinct from Aya Madre Healing Center, which has faced unverified allegations.
• Crime: No evidence of police reports, arrests, or violent incidents associated with Casa de la Madre surfaced in Google News, Peruvian media, retreat forums, or ICEERS findings.

A 2014 DMT-Nexus forum post titled “A cautionary tale about Casa de la Madre, Pucallpa, Peru” was found but the original post content has been deleted, preventing verification of any historical concerns.

New update as of March 2026: No additional safety incidents or concerns have been reported.

🔍 Critical Notes

Casa de la Madre has operated since 2009 under founder Cielo, who previously managed The Temple of the Way of Light in Iquitos before deciding that smaller, more intimate groups were better for the medicine work. Cielo spent years studying and working with ayahuasca and Amazonian healing plants, training with indigenous healers throughout the Amazon to develop her approach. The retreat earned consistent praise for its authentic Shipibo traditions and personalized care.

However, a significant concern is that founder Cielo Tierra passed away in late 2023, with operations transitioning to Los Cielos Perú Earth Hospital. The retreat’s main website is currently inaccessible, showing “We cannot provide a description for this page right now,” which raises questions about current operational status. This leadership transition and lack of transparent online presence creates uncertainty about whether the retreat maintains its previous standards of care and safety protocols. Ayahuasca retreats operate in a legal gray area in Peru, with varying degrees of regulation and oversight.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

Unable to verify current mental health screening procedures due to the inaccessible website and recent organizational changes following the founder’s passing. Historically, the retreat was described as offering individualized healing work with personal attention to each guest’s needs. Given the intimate setting and small group sizes, prospective guests should verify current intake procedures directly with the new management. Individuals with serious mental health conditions, those taking psychiatric medications, or anyone with a history of psychosis should consult with qualified healthcare providers before considering ayahuasca ceremonies, especially during this transition period.

🧪 Brew Substance

Casa de la Madre prepares ayahuasca on-site using a master Shipibo cook and only sustainably grown plants. The retreat offers traditional ayahuasca ceremonies alongside master plant dietas and daily flower baths as part of their healing treatments. They work with resident curandero William Llerena Murayari, a 54-year-old maestro born in Iquitos who has 25 years of experience and was formerly an arts teacher before becoming a healer. Additional ceremonial elements include icaros, floral waters, and mapacho tobacco. The traditional preparation methods and use of authentic Shipibo practices suggest proper ayahuasca containing Banisteriopsis caapi vine and chacruna leaves.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Peru: The Ucayali region of Peru offers a gateway to the Amazon Basin, with Pucallpa serving as a major riverport city along the Ucayali River. The area is known for its indigenous Shipibo culture, traditional plant medicine practices, and pristine jungle environments.
• Setting: Casa de la Madre operates as a small guesthouse positioned on the edge of Lake Yarinacocha in the village of Yarinacocha, just outside Pucallpa. The property features treehouse-style accommodation surrounded by Lake Ucayali, where guests can observe dolphins and enjoy Amazonian sunsets, with monkeys adding to the natural jungle atmosphere.
• Style: Daily activities include ayahuasca ceremonies, flower baths, and the option for private or small group dietas with shamans deep in the jungle for extended medicine work. Meals feature fresh food from the market or their garden, and the retreat engages with the local community using only local workers.

Practical guidance: Located an hour’s flight from Lima to Pucallpa, the retreat can assist with flight arrangements and transportation. Airport transfers are included in retreat packages. Given the recent leadership changes and inaccessible website, prospective guests should contact the retreat directly to verify current booking procedures and operational status.

Should You Book?

Casa de la Madre traditionally offered an authentic, intimate ayahuasca experience with genuine Shipibo traditions and personalized attention from experienced facilitators. However, the recent passing of founder Cielo Tierra and transition to new management under Los Cielos Perú Earth Hospital, combined with an inaccessible main website, creates significant uncertainty about current operations. While historical reviews are overwhelmingly positive, prospective guests should thoroughly verify the retreat’s current status, safety protocols, and facilitator qualifications before booking. Those seeking established centers with transparent online presence and verified operations may want to consider other options until Casa de la Madre demonstrates stability under its new management structure.

The Team & Story

Casa de la Madre was founded by Cielo, an Australian woman who moved to Peru and spent over a decade studying with indigenous healers throughout the Amazon, including managing The Temple of the Way of Light in Iquitos in 2009. After working with large groups of up to 30 people, Cielo realized smaller, more intimate settings were better for the medicine work and established her own guesthouse working with maximum 10 people. The resident curandero William Llerena Murayari is a 54-year-old master from Iquitos with 25 years of healing experience, previously an arts teacher of music and painting who became an accomplished healer and maestro. Following Cielo’s passing in late 2023, operations have transitioned to Los Cielos Perú Earth Hospital, though details about new leadership and continuity of the original vision remain unclear.

Prep & Integration Tips

Retreat packages traditionally included accommodation, meals, airport transfer, ayahuasca ceremonies, and daily flower baths. Extended dieta work with shamans in the jungle was available for those wanting to deepen their medicine work. Current preparation requirements, dietary restrictions, and integration support protocols cannot be verified due to the inaccessible website and recent management transition. Prospective guests should contact Los Cielos Perú Earth Hospital directly to confirm current procedures for preparation and aftercare support.

Pros & Cons

Book Your Ceremony

Booking information cannot be verified due to the inaccessible main website following the founder’s passing and transition to Los Cielos Perú Earth Hospital. Contact information shows cieloinperu@gmail.com and location at La Restinga, Yarinacocha, Pucallpa, Peru.