The Healing Tree Center Peru

The Healing Tree Center runs ayahuasca and San Pedro retreats in the Sacred Valley outside Cusco, Peru, at a retreat house in the Calca district. Formats range from a single ceremony to seven days, and Andean rituals such as a coca leaf reading and an offering to Pachamama are part of every retreat.

Approach

Shipibo-Konibo healers lead the ayahuasca ceremonies, while masters from the Q’ero community lead San Pedro and the Andean rituals. The ayahuasca is brewed by Shipibo healers in the Pucallpa region of the Amazon. Ceremonies begin at 7pm, a facilitator who speaks English translates from Quechua and Spanish, and the group shares its experiences the next morning. Italo Ponce founded the centre.

Who it is for

The centre names anxiety, depression and PTSD among its areas of focus, and presents its retreats as a route to personal development and healing. Groups hold no more than 12 guests.

Practical details

The website lists a three-day ayahuasca retreat with two ceremonies at US$655, the seven-day retreat with a visit to Machu Picchu at US$1,560 and a full San Pedro day at US$320. A 50% deposit secures a place. Transport between Cusco and the retreat house is included, as are vegetarian meals suited to the plant diet and shared rooms for up to three people. Returning guests receive a 10% discount.

Care and safety

Guests follow a preparation diet for a week beforehand and stop medication and supplements on their own doctor’s advice, after sending the centre a full list for review. A health certificate no more than 30 days old is required, which can also be obtained in Cusco, together with an EKG. The day before the first ceremony a doctor examines each guest. A nurse checks vital signs again 30 minutes before the medicine is served and stays for every ceremony.