14-Day Ayahuasca and Plant Dieta Retreat
July 25th – August 7th 2025
14-DAY AYAHUASCA AND PLANT DIETA RETREAT
This retreat is led by our beloved teacher, Don Benigno, an 84-year-old master whose heartfelt mission is to share his wisdom with as many as possible. Studying plant medicines in the traditional way is essential for those seeking a profound understanding of Ayahuasca shamanism. In a time when many traditions are fading, it is a rare and profound honor to learn from a teacher who has been practicing long before Ayahuasca became a popularized tourist attraction.
During this two-week program, you will immerse yourself in the shamanic tradition of the mestizo ayahuasqueros, renowned for their icaros—chants blending Spanish and Quechua. This journey offers self-discovery, healing, and connection to plant and nature spirits through personalized plant dietas of your choice, deep inner work, and transformative Ayahuasca ceremonies.
If you cannot commit to the entire retreat, there are options to join specific portions:
The first part includes a 5-day introduction with two Ayahuasca ceremonies, concluding on the 6th day.
Alternatively, you can join the dieta portion, arriving on the 5th day and staying until the end of the retreat. This includes a plant dieta and three Ayahuasca ceremonies.
This retreat provides a profound exploration of the sacred path of Shamanic Master Plants or Teacher Plants Dieta—a time-honored, disciplined tradition that offers sacred wisdom, guidance, and healing. Whether you wish to deepen your role as a shamanic facilitator or are on a personal journey of spiritual growth and healing, this retreat promises an exceptional and transformative experience.
PLACE
Iquitos,Peru
It is recommended that all participants arrive at least one day prior to the dates of the retreat if possible. It is good to have some rest after the trip, overcoming the jet lag and getting ready for the jungle. We can help you to find the right accommodation in town.
COSTS
14 days complete program:
Inc. 6 Plant dietas, 20 Ayahuasca ceremonies, Ayahuasca preparation, Purgatives,
Plant baths
1400$
10 days dieta program:
Inc. 1 Plant dieta(8days), 3 Ayahuasca ceremonies, Plant bath
1000$
5 days introduction program:
Inc. 2 Ayahuasca ceremonies, Ayahuasca preparation, Purgatives, Plant bath
500$
Also inc. in price : Transportation from Iquitos to the center and back, Reach vegan meals / dieta food during the retreat, Private mosquito proof hut.
TRAINING SCHEDULE
During the first five days, you will participate in the preparation of the Ayahuasca brew and be introduced to various tools used in the ceremonies, such as icaros, mapacho, and perfumes. You will also engage in cleansing rituals involving the use of purgative plants and baths with aromatic plants to purify your body and mind, preparing you for the dieta.
The following eight days of the retreat will be dedicated to one of six plant dietas of your choice. The dieta, an essential part of this tradition and considered the highest rank of teaching practice, requires adherence to specific rules, including maintaining solitude and avoiding interaction with other participants except during Ayahuasca ceremonies.
We will depart around midday to our center. A minibus awaits to ferry us 44km from the city, leading on the primary road to Nauta. For the final kilometer, a dirt road emerges, accessible solely during the dry season and clear weather. Should these conditions align, our journey culminates at the center’s entrance. Alternatively, a brief 1km stroll beckons us if nature’s whims dictate otherwise.
Upon arrival at the center, you will be accommodated in your hut and given a brief walkthrough of the property. This will be followed by the process of washing and smashing the Ayahuasca vine in preparation for the next day’s cooking.
We will begin early in the morning with the preparation of the ayahuasca brew, which will take all day to cook. Afterward, there will be a period of rest leading up to the first ayahuasca ceremony at night.
You will be introduced to shamanic tools such as mapacho, perfumes, and icaros.
The day will include the preparation of plant purgatives to cleanse the body, and later, there will be a Q&A session with the teacher.
Additionally, plant baths will be prepared for the spiritual cleansing. In the evening, an ayahuasca ceremony will take place to mark the beginning of the dieta.
Following the ayahuasca ceremony the previous night, you will have begun adhering to the Dieta guidelines. In the morning, you will receive a plant remedy specific to your dieta. Depending on the plant, remedies may be taken daily or only in the initial days. This period focuses on deep introspection to allow the remedy to fully integrate. To support this process, Ayahuasca ceremonies will be held on the 4th and 8th nights of the dieta.
The morning after the last ceremony, your Dieta will be formally concluded, and you will transition into the post-Dieta phase, you may engage in social activities, follow a post-dieta-friendly diet, and focus on integrating the teachings. After lunch, you can either return to Iquitos or stay an additional night at the center.
PLANT DIETA
The dieta plants offered in this training are six master plants that Don Benigno has closely worked with over the years. They stand as pillars of protection, healing, and wisdom.
- Tabaco (Nicotiana rustica)
- Ajo Sacha (Mansoa alliacea)
- Bobinsana (Calliandra angustifolia)
- Chiric Sanango (Brunfelsia grandiflora)
- Huaira Caspi (Cedrelinga catenaeformis)
- Ayahuma (Couroupita guianensis)
Each plant, with its distinct essence and spirit, offers a path to profound transformation, healing, and learning. Creating a unique connection with the dietero that may be slightly different experienced by different individuals.
Tabaco, revered for its protective aura, cleanses the energetic field, fortifying the spirit against unseen adversities. It sharpens the mind, deepens meditative practices, and connects the seeker with the ancestral realm, serving as a guardian and guide.
Ajo Sacha, with its garlic-like aroma, acts as a shield, warding off negative energies while opening the mind to the luminous world of spirits and enhancing dreams. It aids in emotional release, detoxifies the body, and enhances one’s attunement with the natural world, fostering a deep sense of belonging and peace.
Bobinsana, is a heart-opening plant known for its pink flowers and spiritual healing properties. It fosters emotional healing, empathy, and connection to nature, enhancing spiritual insights. Bobinsana strengthens the immune system and promotes vitality, offering a journey to balance and compassion.
Chiric Sanango, known for its powerful energy that helps to increase mental clarity, libido and self-esteem. His healing properties are specifically great for the central nervous system and musculoskeletal and can alleviate pain associated with conditions like arthritis and rheumatism. He often confronts the dietero with physical and spiritual challenges that one has to overcome, and it is not unusual to experience chills and shivering during this dieta.
Huaira Caspi, the “air tree,” brings lightness and clarity to the mind, dissolving negative thought patterns and uplifting the spirit and the body. It embodies the pinnacle of spiritual healing as an aerial medicine, granting profound spiritual insights and remarkable healing capabilities. It balances the heart and mind, promoting a state of tranquility and heightened awareness that aligns the dieta with the rhythmic flow of nature.
Ayahuma, is notable for its grand size and unique, round fruits that mirror the appearance of cannonballs. This tree serves as a crucial master plant offering grounding strength and emotional healing. It assists in releasing past traumas, anchoring the spirit in the present moment where true healing and transformation can occur. Ayahuma’s teachings imbue the dietero and help guarding against malevolent spirits, and shielding from the ill effects of sorcery or witchcraft.
Preparation
In preparation for the dieta, it is advisable for participants to make certain dietary adjustments. This gradual adjustment should ideally commence one to two weeks before the retreat, allowing participants to adapt based on their personal lifestyles and needs. It is recommended to opt for a lighter diet, avoiding heavy foods such as pork, deep-fried dishes, excessively spicy, salty, or overly sweet foods. In addition, participants are encouraged to abstain from alcohol, marijuana use, and the consumption of other drugs.
For those individuals who have a daily coffee consumption habit, a gradual reduction in coffee intake is recommended prior to the dieta as no coffee consumption is allowed during the retreat.
Approach to the Retreat
It is advisable to approach the retreat and the dietas without specific expectations, as outcomes can vary greatly from person to person. However, you will gain valuable knowledge about the preparation of the medicine and have the opportunity to experience the traditional practices of Amazonian curanderismo. If the provided guidelines are followed, this retreat offers a unique chance to forge a profound connection with plant spirits and nature. This connection will guide you through a transformative journey of healing and growth, elevating your spirit and illuminating your path.
The retreat is supported by Deyan and Claudette, both of whom have worked closely with Don Benigno in the past. As his students, they bring a wealth of experience and are fluent in both Spanish and English, ensuring a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Claudette Deliann
Claudette is a graduate student in psychology and a certified cognitive behavioral psychotherapist. She is the founder of Among The Island Fungi, a psychedelic harm reduction community. Her teachings incorporate a somatic, trauma-informed approach and emphasize mindfulness, authentic relating, and holistic practices. Claudette began her journey in psychedelics nine years ago, exploring the self and the unconscious mind through various earth-based practices. She ventured into the Amazonian jungle to learn with Kambo Naturista and the Matsés Tribe, where she acquired the skills to safely facilitate kambo medicine. Claudette has apprenticed with different elder ayahuasqueros in Borikén (Puerto Rico) and with Don Benigno in the Amazon jungle. Through integrating holistic approaches and ancient technology, she has been able to navigate and dissolve generational traumas, addictions, depression, self-esteem issues, and childhood traumas.
Claudette is a Ceremonialist, Reiki Therapist, Song Carrier, and Moon Dancer. She holds a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) certification in the Andean Cosmovision. Thanks to her holistic and ancient practices, she has guided individuals through deep healing processes.
“Bridge to the reconnection and remembrance of the way of life in service of the ascension of the world.” — Boiciani
Claudette holds monthly women’s gatherings for the community and carries an altar for the little ones. Her teachings emphasize reprogramming the mind, connecting with one’s own self-healer, somatic practices, and earth-based shamanic healing.
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
- Older than 21 years
- Previous ayahuasca experience necessary
- Personal or a video chat with the orginzer
- Physically and mentally capable of undergoing such a retreat
- Free of antidepressants (SSRI) for over a month prior to the retreat
To ensure personalized attention and a more enriching experience, the retreat will be conducted in a small group setting.
For details regarding payment, please feel free to contact us.