The Plant Medicine Experience

Plant Medicine Retreat in Peru

Why Plant Based Medicine?

Ayahuasca Ceremony

Learn More About Plant Dietas

Trusting an Ancient Way of Healing

  • Why Plant Medicine?

    Many people reach a point where the usual approaches to growth and healing- therapy, reflection, healthy routines- no longer feel sufficient. Old patterns of stress, anxiety, or emotional heaviness may linger, leaving a sense that something deeper is needed. For those seeking renewal, Indigenous plant medicine traditions offer a profound and time-tested path.

    “We had done all the ‘right’ things—yet something still felt missing.”

    If you are interested in learning more about how Western-based approaches to healing can be informed by traditional Indigenous uses of plant medicines, refer to Dr. Cirillo’s published paper in the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, HERE.

    Picture above: One of the many Joshua Trees in the Cashibococha Lagoon that borders Ronin Jointi.

  • First Openings: Finding New Space Through Ketamine

    For Mike and Bertha-Elena, attending a few ketamine retreats in the U.S. opened a door. We found ourselves communicating more deeply and feeling freer inside. When the chance arose to travel to the Amazon for a plant medicine retreat, we felt ready for something deeper.

    “Sometimes healing starts with a crack in the wall—just enough light to enter.”

    Picture above: Maestra Sylvia and Bertha-Elena, taking in the Peruvian Amazon jungle and the wisdom of the Machinga Master Tree

  • Into the Jungle: The Retreat Experience

    In the Peruvian Amazon near Pucallpa, participants can take part in Ayahuasca ceremonies and master plant dietas guided by Shipibo curanderos. These ceremonies unfold in near-total darkness, led by the icaros - healing songs sung in Shipibo. Unlike Western talk-based healing, this process relies on direct, embodied experience. The curanderos work intuitively with the plants, creating conditions where emotional blocks can dissolve, deeper connections can emerge, and transformation can unfold.

    “In near-total darkness, the songs carried the healing.”

    Picture above: The hammocks tambo (cabin) at Ronin Jointi, where we relaxed, read, rested, meditated, gathered, and worked on our embroideries

  • Trusting an Ancient Way of Healing

    Shipibo traditions reflect centuries of knowledge about the mind, body and spirit. Peru has catalogued over 400 medicinal plants with more than half used to support emotional and mental health. Their sophisticated system of healing continues to guide individuals into profound experiences of release, clarity, and reconnection.

    “We didn’t need to understand everything. We just needed to trust.”

    Picture above: Maestra Sylvia sharing her traditional mud painting and embroidery artisanal heritage with Mike

  • Our Experience: What Shifted for Us

    In the Summer of 2025, Mike and Bertha-Elena spent 17 days near Pucallpa, Peru and participated in five Ayahuasca ceremonies and a plant dieta with Renaquilla, a heart-opening master plant. What struck us in our own retreat was how powerfully this work operates beyond words. Over two weeks, we felt long-held emotional patterns loosen and old burdens lift, leaving us lighter, freer, and more deeply connected to ourselves, each other, and the natural world. It reminded us that vitality and renewal are possible at any stage of life.

    “It felt like knots inside us were finally untying.”

    Picture above: From left to right: Bertha-Elena, Maestra Sylvia and Justin another guest who became our friend, during a boat tour around the beautiful Cashibococha Lagoon, near Pucallpa.

  • Honoring the Maestros: The Heart of the Anaconda

    The maestros who guided us, Sylvia and Noe, carry this work forward at their own retreat center—Ronin Jointi, “The Heart of the Anaconda.” With limited internet and no English, communication can be difficult. We are helping bridge that gap, so others can find their way to this path of healing.

    “Their work isn’t translated into English—but it speaks straight to the heart.”

    Picture above: From left to right - Dr. Cirillo, Maestra Sylvia, Emily, Angie, and Manuela (Sylvia’s relatives) and Dr. Rojas

More about your experience

The Plant Medicine Experience Information Session

Email us to get on the list for our next session

If you feel called to explore this work, we will be returning to Ronin Jointi in April of 2026 with a small group. We are happy to share our experience. We will provide orientation, preparation and Spanish interpretation to support a safe and meaningful journey.

“If you feel the call, trust it. That’s how our journey began.”

  • *All of these activities are led by the Shipibo Maestra with support from Dr. Cirillo and Dr. Rojas as needed.

    • Multiple Ayahuasca ceremonies (between four and six, depending on the length of your stay)

    • Plant dieta with Bobinsana or Renaquilla (minimum of ten-day stay required)

    • Herbal Saunas and Herbal Baths

    • Artisanal workshop to learn traditional Shipibo embroidery

    • Jungle walk and Tour of the Cashibococha Lagoon

    • Day trip to Pucallpa’s markets (weather and time permitting)

    • Mike and Bertha-Elena offer mentoring and support to all participants. Before your journey, they provide virtual orientation and readiness meetings, along with a detailed informational guide for registered guests. During the retreat, they are on site to offer guidance and support throughout the experience. See the dates below for upcoming orientation sessions.

    • Mike and Bertha-Elena provide ongoing facilitation and integration support to help you receive the greatest benefit from your experience. This support is offered in both individual and group formats.

    • Bertha-Elena, as a native Spanish speaker, will support all interpretation needed throughout your experience.

  • *Important: Fees do not include airfare to and from Peru.

    • The fees for the experience are $3000 per person. The fees include accommodations, all food and essentials of the experience (see above), support to prepare for the experience (via virtual meetings), facilitation, integration, mentoring and interpretation throughout participants’ stay at Ronin Jointi, and travel to and from Pucallpa’s airport.

    • It is recommended to bring additional cash, if interested in purchasing original Shipibo artisanal goods, tapestries and tunics. Small tapestries range from $100 to $150 and medium to large ones range from $250 to $500. These funds support Ronin Jointi and the members from the surrounding community who assist the maestra with the experiences.

    • Setting
      Ronin Jointi is located in a remote area of the Peruvian Amazon. Accommodations are simple and rustic, designed to support a deep connection with nature. Guests stay in tambos (wooden cabins) for individuals or couples, with shared bathrooms and showers located nearby.

    Meals & Common Areas
    Meals are served in a shared kitchen space, with additional common areas nearby for connection and relaxation. A dedicated hammock cabin offers another place for rest and retreat. Walking paths also weave through the retreat center, inviting time in nature.

    • Dietary Guidance
      All meals are included as part of the retreat. Because ayahuasca and plant dietas require specific dietary guidelines, we ask participants not to bring outside food or snacks. Introducing other foods may interfere with the plant work and can cause rashes or other uncomfortable side effects.

    • Jungle Life
      We recommend bringing insect repellent—mosquitoes are part of the Amazon experience. Many participants have found deet-free, natural-based repellents effective, and we’re happy to share suggestions. Even so, mosquito bites are to be expected.

    • Our group experience is scheduled for a ten-day stay at Ronin Jointi. Participants arrive to Ronin Jointi on Wednesday April 22nd depart on Saturday May 2nd, 2026

    • The stay includes participating in 4 to 6 Ayahuasca ceremonies and completing a plant dieta with a master plant for those interested.

    • Travel time to Pucallpa Peru adds to the trip. We strongly recommend that you add one to two days to your trip before and after the above dates for travel time from your home location.

    • Pick-up and drop-off at the Pucallpa Airport are included in Ronin Jointi’s fees. Travel from the Pucallpa Airport to Ronin Jointi includes a 30-minute car-ride to the Cashibococha Lagoon port and a 20-minute boat ride to the Ronin Jointi retreat site.

    • The Ronin Jointi Plant Medicine Experience this year is scheduled for April 22nd through May 2nd, 2026.

    • Information sessions are scheduled upon request by emailing us at welcome@aracarihealing.com.

    • Registration & Payment

      Deposit: $750 to reserve your spot. Non-refundable but may be applied to a future retreat.

      Balance: $2,250 due by February 14, 2026. Registration is complete once deposit and balance are paid.

      Deadline: All registrations must be completed by February 14, 2026. Late registrations may be allowed with full payment immediately.

    • Cancellation & Refunds

      Cancel by February 14: Full refund of balance ($2,250).

      Cancel by February 15 – March 15: 50% refund of balance ($1,125).

      Cancel after March 15: No refunds.

    • Orientation Session

      Preparation sessions (via zoom) will be provided prior to the trip. These sessions are for registered participants only. A comprehensive informational guide will be provided after the session. The session will be scheduled at a time convenient to the registrants.

    • If you have any questions, please email Mike or Bertha-Elena at michael.cirillo@aracarihealing.com or be.rojas@aracarihealing.com