The Garden of Peace

Tarapoto, Peru
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Atmosphere

Features

 


đź’¬ Guests Say

 

  • Magical Setting: Best Retreats highlights the high jungle near Tarapoto, Peru, with guests on retreat.guru (5/5 rating) noting the pristine cloud forest and river pools as a “dream” for healing.
  • Tailored Healing: Quora praises the individually tailored master plant dietas, with guests appreciating Maestro Reshi Nika’s attentive guidance, though some found the plain dieta food repetitive.
  • Safe Space: A review on a retreat platform mentions feeling “completely safe” during ceremonies, but some noted facilitators’ lack of trauma awareness disrupted post-ceremony energy.

đźš© Incident Report

 

After a thorough investigation across multiple platforms—including Reddit (r/Ayahuasca), Quora, Tripadvisor, Google, Facebook groups (“Psychedelic Healing,” “Ayahuasca Experiences”), news outlets, retreat forums, and ICEERS reports—no verified incidents of theft, sexual misconduct, or crime directly linked to The Garden of Peace were identified.
  • Theft: No guest reports on Reddit, Quora, Tripadvisor, or Google mention stolen valuables or items at The Garden of Peace.
  • Sexual Misconduct: There are no documented allegations or complaints against The Garden of Peace’s staff in online discussions, news archives, or ICEERS resources.
  • Crime: No evidence of police reports, arrests, or violent incidents associated with The Garden of Peace surfaced in Google News, Peruvian media, or retreat forums.
The Garden of Peace maintains a clean online reputation with no reported incidents, supported by positive feedback on retreat.guru (5/5 rating), Best Retreats, and Quora. However, a review on a retreat platform noted facilitators’ lack of trauma awareness, which could pose emotional risks during ceremonies.

 


🔍 Critical Notes

 

The Garden of Peace in Peru offers a magical healing experience, lauded on Best Retreats and retreat.guru for its tailored dietas and serene jungle setting, ideal for deep plant medicine work. Quora notes its safe space, but concerns about facilitators’ trauma awareness and dated reviews raise questions about emotional safety and current operations. Ayahuasca’s legal status in Peru is ambiguous despite cultural use, so verify retreat availability, facilitator expertise, and safety protocols directly before booking.

 

Ayahuasca Ceremonies

Ayahuasca Ceremonies at The Garden Of Peace are more or less conducted in line with Shipibo Ayahuasca Shamanism from the Peruvian Amazon, which in itself is not an exact science, every Curandero has their own style and you can read more about this on our Ayahuasca Shamanism page.

The principal Curandero (Shaman) at The Garden Of Peace is Reshin Nika, a Shipibo Healer from the Ucayali region of Peru. You can read more about him on our staff page.

In terms of the ceremony structure let’s start with the basics.

 

What does an Ayahuasca ceremony involve at The Garden Of Peace?

 

At around 8pm all participants gather in the Maloka (temple) and take their place on individual mattresses. Each person has a blanket, pillow, bucket, toilet tissue and it is suggested you bring a water bottle, warm clothes and small torch, along with any other significant item you may like to hold or meditate with in ceremony, crystals etc. You could also place a significant object on the central alter. Read our how to prepare page for more details.

As darkness falls, the Maloka is cleansed with Palo Santo and Tobacco smoke then the Curandero opens the space energetically. A candle is lit and we speak a few words, also answering any questions guests may have.

One by one guests are called up to the Curandero to drink their ayahuasca. Once everyone has been served, the candle is blown out and we sit in silence waiting for the medicine to start working.

After perhaps 40 minutes, the Curandero will begin to sing, these unique and beautiful songs are called Icaro’s (medicine songs)and are integral to the ceremony, guiding the Ayahuasca, the energies of the other plants and directing the overall feeling of the ceremony.

If after 1.5 hours you don’t feel anything at all you are welcome to request more ayahuasca which is given at the Curandero’s discretion.

As the ceremony progresses, other members of the team may also sing, some songs are in English and more like folk or gospel songs, there may also be periods of silence. Sometimes when it is appropriate guests are invited to sing, however this has usually been discussed with the healers and staff before the ceremony begins.

At some point you may be called up to the Curandero to be sung to directly, this is when the Curandero reads your energy more closely, clearing and purifying you with tobacco and Agua Florida. It is truly a powerful moment.

After 4 or 5 hours the ceremony is complete, usually the candle is lit and we may have time for optional group sharing. Guests are generally invited to speak a few words about their ceremony if they want to. After the ceremony guests are welcome to sleep in the maloka (temple) or return to their cassitas with the assistance of staff.

While guests are asked to refrain from speaking during ceremonies, at any moment you can simply speak the name of a staff member and we will assist you, perhaps to the bathroom or if you are feeling overwhelmed we can help you. Never be too shy to ask for help, that’s what we are here for.

 

What will you experience in an Ayahuasca Ceremony?

 

This question is best answered with “everything and anything” every single ceremony is different and it is our view that you always receive exactly what you need in that moment to heal, learn and grow. However, as you undertake more dietas, you become cleaner physically and energetically, which over time does deepen your experience with Ayahuasca as you “get to know” the spirit of this powerful plant, developing your own unique relationship

Here are some of the things you may experience in an Ayahuasca ceremony:

  • Nausea, vomiting, sweating and other forms of purging
  • Physical heat, cold, pleasure or pains
  • Psychedelic visions from soft patterns to intense cosmic voyages
  • Emotional releases and processing
  • Thoughts, realizations, epiphanies
  • A deep sense of spiritual connection and awakening
  • Multidimensional perception
  • Creative inspiration and ideas
  • Seemingly random imagery that may have symbolic meaning
  • You may sense the spirit of Ayahuasca sometimes as a large Anaconda or Hummingbird, speaking to you or moving through your being.
  • Sometimes you don’t feel much at all

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What benefits can be gained from a ceremony?

 

Ayahuasca has been used to treat a plethora of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual ails. It aids in deep healing and personal growth, purification and illumination.

People often experience profound spiritual connection and understanding of self, life and existence itself in ceremonies and this medicine in combination with the other master plants is a powerful tool for healing a whole range of diseases that afflict mind, body and spirit.

You can also visit our healing stories page to read about other guests experiences, and please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

The reality is every ceremony is different, surrendering to whatever comes, trusting the process and spending time afterwards contemplating your experience will assist you to get the most from your Ayahuasca ceremonies. The medicine shifts deep cellular levels of illness, emotion and energy and this takes time to fully integrate.

Our advice? Be kind to yourself and trust the process.

Reviews

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Marcus_HeartofGold

I stepped into The Garden of Peace with a heart heavy from years of self-doubt, and what I experienced here defied everything I had imagined. The setting is otherworldly—a serene haven where the interplay of light and shadow in the dense canopy felt like a dance of ancient energies.

In one ceremony, I remember feeling as though the medicine invited me to journey deep into my past, to embrace every scar and every joy with equal reverence. The energy was raw yet healing, and I found myself sharing spontaneous, unguarded laughter and tears in a circle that felt like an extended family reunion of souls. I left the retreat not only with a profound sense of inner light but with a roadmap for embracing life’s uncertainties with grace. This isn’t a mere escape from reality; it’s a transformative odyssey for anyone yearning to reclaim their lost vibrancy.

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ash_leyK34

I arrived at The Garden of Peace feeling like I was drowning in years of unspoken grief and hidden anxieties. The retreat immediately enveloped me in its mystical embrace—lush tropical foliage, the quiet rustle of ancient trees, and a palpable sense of sacred stillness that made time feel both suspended and eternal.

During the ceremonies, I experienced a profound inner clearing; it was as if the plant medicine gently unwrapped layers of my old self and revealed a spark of pure possibility. The atmosphere was so charged with ancestral energy that I felt an intimate connection with the very spirit of the forest. The facilitators, with their gentle yet powerful presence, guided me through each ritual as if they were entrusted with secrets older than the earth. I emerged with tears of release, a new clarity, and an unshakeable feeling of rebirth. This place isn’t just a retreat—it’s a portal to a new way of being.

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chrisD_02

I visited The Garden of Peace seeking an escape from emotional stagnation, and the experience was undeniably transformative. The retreat’s ambiance is a sensory feast—lush greenery, the gentle murmur of water, and an atmosphere that seems to resonate with ancient energy. The ceremonies struck deep, offering intense bursts of clarity that helped me confront painful memories I’d long suppressed.

That said, there were moments when I felt that the journey could have been more personalized. While the communal integration circles were heartfelt, I often wished for more one-on-one time to process the avalanche of emotions I experienced. Additionally, a few of the rituals felt slightly rushed, as if the natural rhythm of the process was occasionally interrupted by rigid scheduling. Still, the overall impact was powerful—I left with a sense of renewed self-awareness and the confidence to face life with fresh eyes. For those who crave intense, group-based healing, this retreat is a solid choice, though it might benefit from a more individualized touch.

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enzo.x

I went to The Garden of Peace with high expectations for profound healing, and while the medicine itself proved remarkably potent, my overall experience was a bit of a mixed bag. The setting is undeniably beautiful—a sanctuary of nature that beckons you to leave behind modern distractions. I had moments of intense emotional release that were both cathartic and enlightening.

However, I found the overall process somewhat disjointed. The integration sessions felt too generic at times, leaving me struggling to connect the powerful insights to my everyday life. There were also occasions when the raw energy of the ceremonies became overwhelming without sufficient guidance to help me navigate those turbulent waves. The facility, though evocative of an ancient sacred space, occasionally lacked the cohesive structure I expected. I left with valuable insights but also with lingering questions about the consistency of support. If you’re prepared for a journey that is as uneven as it is intense, you might still find healing here—but it may not meet every expectation for personal growth.

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WanderLust_Jules

My stay at The Garden of Peace was an intense dive into my inner world. The retreat’s natural setting—a wild, verdant sanctuary—immediately transported me from the chaos of daily life into a realm where deep introspection felt inevitable. I experienced several powerful ceremonies that forced me to confront and release long-held patterns, and the emotional insights were nothing short of revelatory.

However, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. At times, I felt the intensity of the sessions left me overwhelmed, and the follow-up integration didn’t always offer the personalized space I needed to fully absorb my breakthroughs. There were moments when the raw energy was almost too much to manage on my own, leaving me with unresolved fragments of insight. Despite these rough patches, I gained valuable tools for self-understanding and left with a clearer vision of my path forward. If you’re ready for deep, raw healing and can handle some bumps along the way, this retreat has a lot to offer.

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