East West Lodge
Indiana, Peru
Atmosphere
Features
đź’¬ Guests Say
- Authentic Healing: Guests call it an “incredible journey,” with one on ayaadvisors.org praising the shaman’s expertise and medicine for a safe first-time ayahuasca experience.
- Clean Facilities: Many highlight the “brand-new” setup, per ayaadvisors.org, noting clean rooms and a nice dining area, though small rooms were a minor drawback.
- Safety Concerns: Tina T’s 2018 Tripadvisor review warns solo female travelers, alleging the manager’s predatory behavior (e.g., harassing calls, disturbing comments about another guest), creating an unsafe environment.
đźš© Incident Report
After a thorough investigation across multiple platforms—including Reddit (r/Ayahuasca, r/Psychonaut), Quora, Facebook groups (“Psychedelic Healing,” “Ayahuasca Experiences”), news outlets, retreat forums, ICEERS reports, and official records—one unverified report of financial misconduct and one unverified report of predatory behavior linked to East West Lodge were identified, but no verified incidents of theft, sexual misconduct, or crime were found.
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Theft/Financial Misconduct: A 2018 Tripadvisor review alleges fraud—guests were promised a lodge but taken to a “substandard hostel,” charged S/800 (~$240 USD) extra, and denied refunds. This remains unverified without legal action or corroboration.
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Sexual Misconduct/Predatory Behavior: Tina T’s 2018 Tripadvisor review warns of predatory behavior by the manager, who made harassing calls and disturbing comments about a prior female guest (“next girl f*** ceremony will be the queen”), creating an unsafe environment for solo women. No legal action or further reports confirm this, making it unverified.
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Crime: No evidence of police reports, arrests, or violent incidents associated with East West Lodge surfaced in Google News, Peruvian media, retreat forums, or ICEERS findings.
East West Lodge has a mixed online reputation due to the unverified fraud and safety concerns on Tripadvisor (1/5 rating). Positive testimonials on ayaadvisors.org highlight its healing impact and facilities, but the serious allegations raise significant red flags.
🔍 Critical Notes
East West Lodge’s $880, 6-day ayahuasca retreat near Iquitos offers an authentic experience, praised for clean facilities and shamanic expertise, but Tripadvisor’s 1/5 rating reveals serious issues: a 2018 fraud allegation (misleading accommodations, no refunds) and Tina T’s warning of predatory behavior toward solo female travelers. Ayahuasca’s legal status in Peru is ambiguous, and dated reviews with safety concerns suggest caution—verify current operations, staff conduct, and safety protocols directly, especially for women traveling alone.