Retreat review - Arkana Sacred Valley 

Thanks and wishing you a good retreat 🙏

Howd it go?

How did it go?

Thanks Daniel, glad you found it helpful

Sounds like a perfect way to start the year 😀

Do they do mushrooms too? Only nushroom?

Awesome! Thank you!

Thanks! I try to separate out the medicine experience from the bricks and mortar experience, because an "amazing" ayahuasca ceremony doesn't tell anyone if the place is a palace or a shithole - and that's what I would want to know.

How was it

i'am going there in a month. Hope everything went well

Wishing you a productive retreat 😉

Glad you found it useful!

Glad you found it useful! Its a great center and definitely not a scam :) Good luck for your retreat!

Hey William :) We might puke our demons together 😄. I am there for 2 weeks early November :) Pierre

@@etpourtantelletourne9811Oh awesome! Can't wait to meet you :) I'm so anxious but excited at the same time!

@@FootyFrenzyHD Hey William :) When are you coming :) ?

So how did it go?

Glad you found it useful!

I would like to offer my sister and brother a deep healing retreat. They are scared to death in the idea to jump in an aéroplane.. They both live in South of France ( but they do not eat frogs or toads 🙃) Would you recommend a center close by France , in Europe ? Sincerely, Pierre.

Et pourtant Elle tourne Hi Pierre, I would reccomend this center which is based in Europe. They mostly do retreats in Spain but also a few other European countries ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-prGy8feFaak.html France itself is probably a no go as ayahuasca is considered a schedule 1 substance there, so legally its the same as heroin or cocaine.

Possibly next year! I’m actually heading back to Arkana in the jungle at the end of August, but for sure the Mexico center is on my list 🙂

Yeah the phrase that I heard a few times about this center was "its like ayahuasca with training wheels" I don't mean that in any kind of derogatory way, its just that this center is so much more comfortable than the jungle, and as you say the food is SO MUCH better :). I had a similar experience to you which I alluded to in the video. For unforseen personal reasons i had to miss one of the ayahuasca cermeonies, and I was gutted, so they arranged a fourth private ceremony just three of us - now that is some impressive customer service! I will take a look at Shamanic Vida, thanks for the tip!

Do they offer mushrooms too? Like mushroom only?

I'm actually heading to Pucallpa myself sometime next year, most likely going to Ayahuasca Spirit Healing Center. Enjoy your retreat in the Sacred Valley!

Adeptus Psychonautica , Thank you so much again! I highly recommend the Nimea Kaya Healing Center in Pucallpa. Truly a magical place with wonderful people, facilitators and shamans. The food is amazing. Totally worth the visit, for first timers and veteran warriors of Mother Ayahuasca.

Freethinker, how did your ceremony in Arkana go? How do Arkana and Nimea Kaya compare? Which one would you recommend for a first timer?

@@aleksal9132 , no comparison, Nimea Kaya the far superior retreat. Not even close. The ceremonies and the ceremony temple in Arkana Sacred Valley leave a lot to be desired. I’ll be going back to Nimea Kaya in Pucallpa sometime in the near future.

@@FREETHINKER-05 thanks for responding. What is the toilet situation in Nimea Kaya? Are there any rooms with toilets? If not, how is it organised from a hygenic view point?

Leon S. Average group size is about 15 people, with max at 20 I think. There is plenty of room for each person so its not one of these places were you are shoulder to shoulder.

I can't really comment on the altitude sickness medication, I think you would be best emailing Arkana with the name of the medication and ask them to advise you on it as they have someone who handles medical queries like this. In regard to the Machu Pichu trip then I personally would recommend putting a few days aside either before or after your retreat, and doing Machu Pichu as a separate event. The reason being is that it takes about 4 hours to travel there (and back), it gets very busy, you want as much time there as possible, and you will be very tired afterwards. So option 1 is to try and fit all of this into one day, the night after drinking ayahuasca. You will have a 5am start, you will have a long morning of travel, you will arrive at Machu Pichu at its busiest time, you will have limited time there, you will have a fixed deadline of when you must leave, and then you have a long trip back where you will arrive late at night, absolutely tired beyond belief, and then you will be drinking ayahuasca the next night. I think this is not very optimal for getting the best out of the experience. Option 2 is to finish your retreat, then travel to Aguas Calientes (the town where Machu Pichu is). Stay overnight, get the chance to explore and have a good meal, get a good nights sleep in one of the hotels. Wake up around 7am the next day, take the 10 minute bus up to Machu Pichu, be one of the first people there before all the crowds arrive, have all day to explore. Once you are done you can go get a meal and a massage, stay overnight again, and then catch the train back to Cusco the next day. I'll let you decide which one of those sounds like a better fit for you 🙂

@@AdeptusPsychonautica Thank you for the nice and time put reply! I think Arakana shifted their Machu Picchu expedition after the end of the retreat on Saturday! We go there on Saturday morning and come back on Saturday night, though staying there sounds fun; I booked tickets back to Lima on Sunday night, so thought would have some time to visit a few Cathedrals in Cusco on Sunday! It's probably gonna be packed, but it is what it is! Appreciate your help!

I have heard mixed reviews about them, again with most of the negatives focusing on the large group size. It definitely sounds like much too big of a group which would put me off, but that's more because of my personal tastes rather than it being inherently wrong to have such a big group. So yeah... I'm not sure. If that is your only option then I would say its worth exploring, but if you have the chance for doing a retreat in South America then I would choose that.

It depends what you are looking for mate. Watch this video where me and the mrs breakdown the differences between the locations - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F1EsWT5co8I.html

this purely comes down to personal preference, but to try and sandwich Machu Pichu into one day is too much in my opinion. You will be spending about 6-7 hours travelling, you will be there at the busiest time of day, and you will be on tight deadlines. By the time you get back you will be absolutely shattered, and thats not what I want on a retreat. Much better to go after the retreat, take an extra couple of days to wind down, stay overnight at Aguas Calientes, visit the hot springs, do it all on your own schedule, and get the chance to see the sunrise over Machu Pichu BEFORE all the big tourist groups appear.

Hi Mauro. Both centers are great and I would recommend either for a first time, it just comes down to your preference of do you want the wide open lush jungles or the epic mountain views. For me personally, my preference is for the jungle - there was something about it that i just loved. The Sacred Valley is definitely more comfortable, and less of a culture shock. If you can afford it then Arkana offer the option to do 1 week in each center back to back - that way you get the best of both worlds.

@@AdeptusPsychonautica thanks for the quick response! The place where I was supposed to go in October was in the jungle, and I think I'm more inclined to go to the Amazon, do both back to back is a little too expensive and probably too much for the first time, thanks again!

My personal preference is for the jungle, but in terms of comfort there is no comparison, so if that is your priority - definitely go to the Sacred Valley. Either place is completely spectacular so wherever you go you will have an amazing trip, but for me the experience of the jungle is something else.

@@AdeptusPsychonautica jeah i can imagine, I'm also leaning towards the jungle experiance, cause in my mind this is the perfect setting for such an adventure. i guess i have to do both some time, cause there is no way I'm getting my GF to sleep in the jungle:) thanks for the reply. and thanks for the informative videos. best rewievs i've seen so far. thx a lot and cheers man.

@@AdeptusPsychonautica also...if you ever go to thailand and need some recommendations for trippy places or good food, or a place to stay, just pm me;)

I've never really considered doing a retreat in the US so I cant say I've really looked into it i'm afraid.

I would always advise that if possible do it at a traditional center in Peru. Firstly because then you are getting the true cultural experience, and secondly because seeing the Amazon or the Sacred Valley is the trip of a lifetime - its incredible, and you just arent going to get that in Kentucky. Apart from clothes there isnt much else you need to bring. You might need a couple of jabs from your doctor depending on what you have already had. The best thing is to go with a center like Arkana, because they will pretty much do everything for you. All you have to di is get to a meeting point in Peru and then they will transport you, feed you, do all the translations for you, show you all the awesome stuff, heal you, and get you back to the airport - easy peasy 🙂

So did you ever go to Kentucky?

@@theosager2891 No, but it looked like fun. I was also told of some possibilities in Sedona, Arizona but never heard back from my contact there.

I think there were two toilets off the main ceremony room which was fine for the number of people. I don't recall there ever being a queue or anything. Each bedroom also had its own bathroom & toilet.

That’s great thank you for your reply. I like my home comforts & not pooping in front of people.

My wife has asthma, she was fine.

thanks. That was my biggest worry

I would say that if ayahuasca is the main reason you are going on retreat then go to the jungle. If you are looking for more of an Inca adventure with sightseeing and other medicines like San Pedro then go for the Sacred Valley. Hope that helps!

@@AdeptusPsychonautica helps a lot!! My primary focus is Aya so sounds like the jungle is calling. Thanks for your thoughts!! 🙏❤️

Not really. You will see the occasional alpaca, and some interesting birds flying overhead, but there isn't much interaction. In the jungle the wildlife is all around you with parrots, monkeys, snakes, tarantulas, dolphins in the river... its nuts 😀

Its just under 3000 meters. My wife is also very sensitive to altitude and she struggled for the first few days.

@@AdeptusPsychonautica Noted, thanks for the reply and thanks for making these videos! As a woman traveling alone, this really helps to ensure safety!

All international flights go through Lima. Yes Probably It depends, its a big place Ollantaytambo is 20 minutes by taxi from this center Its not walking distance Cost of what?

@@AdeptusPsychonautica Thank you for your response. I meant to say what is the cost of travel to that place by taxi? thank you

Thanks! The main benefit for me was learning how to manage my stress levels, which sounds incredibly basic but it was something that was dominating my life. Stress was giving me anxiety attacks, anxiety attacks would trigger my epilepsy, fear of epilepsy increased my stress - and so I was stuck in a vicious circle. In addition its helped me come to terms with my mothers suicide which was something I had never really faced. And then there are things such as that I feel more creative, my diet is better, and Ive lost a shitload of weight, so its been good for me. I cover some of this in this video which you might like - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rpACKFkwy9I.html

Adeptus Psychonautica -Not basic at all. I can relate. I’m terribly sorry for the loss of your mother. That in itself could cause Ptsd. Ever heard of Iboga? Thanks for the link... going to watch now.

My go to place in Europe is Ayahuasca Spirit. I review their retreat here - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-prGy8feFaak.html Since i did that review they have lowered their prices too

​@@AdeptusPsychonauticaDo you still recommend the centre? There have been some 'funny' cooment about the shaman in the Internet. Also, the link to the video doesn't seem to be working.

Shane Hill you book it through their website - arkanasacredvalley.com/

@@AdeptusPsychonautica thank you 🧘‍♂️🌌

I haven’t been to Etnikas so I can’t really say much about it im afraid.

Adeptus Psychonautica Also how much did it cost for ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu (if doing Machu Picchu separate) and if you only had time for one which would you recommend ? And for the rooms, what time did you guys get there to make sure you had your own room? The website says $250 per person but it’s first come first serve and if no rooms are available by time we get there they will not refund you for the room. If we do get there and all the private rooms are taken, how many people would u have to stay with in the shared rooms?

Victoria its 2 people per room. I was traveling with my wife so it was just the two of us together without having to pay any additional costs. If you want a private room you pay for it in advance when you make the booking, and its “first come first served” in that there are only X amount of private rooms, its not that you have to hustle for them on the day you arrive. Ollantaytambo is a 20 minute taxi ride (approx $10) from Arkana and costs about $25 to get in. You can easily fit it into any of the downtime you get during the retreat, particularly the Wednesday. Machu Pichu is a much more expensive affair. Its possible to fit it into one day, and Arkana offer it as an add-on, but I think doing it in one day is too rushed. So if budget and time is an issue then go to ollantaytambo, if you have an extra day or two at the end of your retreat before you fly home then do machu pichu. Costs are train tickets to get there($110), hotel if you are staying over($50), bus ticket to get to the actual citadel ($10), and then entrance costs to get in ($70), plus whatever money for food. If possible I would do both. They are both “trip of a lifetime” experiences so either one is great, but its not like you get this opportunity every day so its worth pushing the boat out a little.

​@@AdeptusPsychonauticaWould a trip from Arkana jungle to Machu Pichu be ok for a female solo traveler from safety perspective? Can one team up with someone to go to MP?

I think its way overpriced for what it is. They don’t have a shaman for it, they just play some music on a speaker and light the pipe for you. So to charge $150 for that seems a bit obscene, and for that reason I do not add it on to my retreat. That aside 5MEO is an amazing experience so if money is no problem then go for it.

Adeptus Psychonautica ok thanks! I’m hoping to do my first retreat at Arkana soon!

ceeloc Its a great center so regardless of whether you decide to do the 5MEO or not im sure you will have an amazing time. Good luck for your retreat!

Adeptus Psychonautica one more question. Did you do the Machu Picchu option? I’m wondering if it’s enough time to explore. Otherwise I would do it on my own after the retreat.

ceeloc I did my own trip to Machu Pichu once the retreat finished. If you do the trip with Arkana then its a very early start, big train ride, bus ride to the citadel, hang around for a few hours and then all the way back again - thats too much for one day IMO. We spent 3 days there, loads of time for food & shopping, and got to really tak it all in

During ceremonies and at nights then sure, you stay within the compound, but during the day you can go out. In fact most days they have some kind of excursion to either an ancient site or one of the local villages, so its not like you are a prisoner forcthe duration. This is the same on all the retreats I have been on, during the day people go for walks or exploring. The only place that limits that is retreats in the Amazon where it would be dangerous to just walk off into the jungle.

Each week there are 3 ayahuasca and 1 san pedro ceremony. Also included is 1 rapé ceremony and 1 sweat lodge. Bufo is an optional add on.

TreDroidX Mobile im sure you can but you would be better to contact Arkana directly with such questions.

The 5 MEO DMT is an optional add-on, I think they charge about $200 for it.

Your review helped me a lot. Really well done, also thinking of getting the massage package. I heard also not to smoke the rape too much, is that true?

@@AdeptusPsychonautica also is the ayahuasca a good quality here? Same as the other Akrana retreat?

@@fatherkosh1631 I would say that the medicine in the jungle was stronger when I was there, but there is so much variation in these things between different batches that I wouldn't take that as an objective fact.

Can you bring your own and have a shaman conduct the ceremony?

I had no idea, that is quite the increase 😲 I mean its a great center but I am not sure I would pay that amount.

​@@AdeptusPsychonauticawould you be able to recommend an alternative centre considering the increase in price. Where else would you go?

Are you suggesting they run some kind of prison which prevents you from leaving? Lets not be silly. Of course you can leave, I know because I went there and did it.

@@AdeptusPsychonautica I was just there a week ago. I'm still in the area and friends with the peeps. They have a security guard. They lock it before and after we leave as a group.

@@AdeptusPsychonautica times change. And I stayed in the same room as you did.

I can send you pics if you want. I did the jungle and Sacred Valley 2wk package.

Lots of places have security guards and locked doors, that doesn't stop you from leaving if you want to. The function of such things is to stop unwanted people getting IN, not to stop paying guests getting OUT. I don't doubt for a moment that you were there, I just think you are confused about the situation with the security guard.

How dare you! Lancashire mate, originally from the Wigan area but spent most of my life around Manchester

ah I knew you were close, I can hear the manc in your accent now haha I'm from Leeds

Wow that's quite an increase - I don't think I would pay that much for it

@@AdeptusPsychonautica I definitely am. Once at least

Yes they are. I have been on several retreats there with people of various backgrounds, everyone gets treated equally.

There are places that cater to smaller groups or even private sessions, you just have to look for them.

Yeah it has gone up quite a lot since I was last there. Next time I go to Peru im probably gonna be heading to Ayahuasca Spirit in Pucalpa

God no... that list is Loooooong 🙂

Obviously ayahuasca grows in the jungle, but San Pedro grows in the highlands, so its more authentic in some ways and less in others.