Jochipapanete

Jochipapanete is a Shipibo-owned ayahuasca retreat centre in the jungle near Contamana, in Peru’s Ucayali region, at kilometre 17 of the Aguas Calientes road. Its 11-day retreats include four ayahuasca ceremonies, and master plant dietas can be booked all year.

Approach

The founders, Maestra Rosenda Melendez Flores and Maestro Deodemero Matios Maynas, come from families of healers, have worked with ayahuasca for more than 20 years and previously served at centres in Iquitos and Pucallpa. Deodemero apprenticed under his father, Xawan Mane, and opened the centre in 2021. The brew is made on site from only the vine and chacruna leaves, boiled for 12 hours. A retreat starts with a purge using Piñon Colorado; each ceremony has a vapour steam before it, then a floral bath and an integration circle with an ICEERS-trained facilitator. Breathwork, yoga, workshops on icaros and Shipibo weaving, and a trip to the thermal waters of Aguas Calientes fill the other days.

Practical details

The standard retreat costs $1,400 for 11 days and 10 nights in a private room, with meals that follow the ayahuasca diet and laundry included, and the centre invites guests in financial difficulty to get in touch. An art retreat in October 2026 costs $2,222, including the flight to Contamana. Groups are capped at 12, and the centre has electricity around the clock but no neighbours.

Care and safety

Every guest is screened before attending and must disclose current medication, and antidepressants must be stopped three to six weeks beforehand. Preparation starts at least two weeks out with a diet free of red meat, alcohol and fried or fermented food, and guests are asked to avoid recreational drugs for three weeks and sex and cannabis for two weeks before and after. A trauma-informed facilitator offers counselling, and translation support is provided.