"I have been on the Spiritual journey for over 10 years. Throughout these years I have used Ayahuasca twice. Both times it’s been at kawsay. The amount of support and effort that is given by all the staff at Kawsay is absolutely incredible.
I am grateful and appreciative of the respect and dedication that is given to each individual person ,tailoring specific work that meets their needs.
There are no gimmicks here, only the best interests for each and every soul that seeks healing and connection to the Great Devine.
For a true, trustworthy, safe and authentic ayahuasca experience look no further then Kawsay. The shamans are experts in the medicine, the facility is amazing, the food is absolutely delicious and the location is magical.
I experienced true healing for my body, mind and spirit.
I will be back🙏💛💛💛
"
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"My journey with Kawsay Retreat has been nothing short of miraculous. Writing this review, my heart is full of love and appreciation for the incredible work done at Kawsay. Having visited thrice since my first encounter in January 2022, I’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation in myself, thanks to the compassionate care of William, Viviane, and the shamans (father and son).
My first visit was a desperate search for direction, at a time when life seemed bleak and hopeless. It felt like fate led me to Kawsay, a place centered around unconditional love. There, I found trustworthy people who guided me towards healing. In just one week, I experienced profound healing, akin to years of therapy. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, along with dependencies on substances and unhealthy behaviors, began to fade away.
Months later, facing challenges with depression and romantic relationships, I was suggested a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The prospect of lifelong medication was daunting. Reaching out to Kawsay again, I spoke with William, whose insights prompted an invitation back, at no extra cost. This gesture of generosity and care affirmed my trust in Kawsay’s healing process.
The retreat’s philosophy is not about profit, but genuine healing and love. Each visit reaffirmed this belief. When I faced difficulties in accepting love in a healthy relationship, I knew Kawsay was the place to find answers. The healing and insights during my third visit came more naturally, solidifying my belief in this process.
To anyone seeking a genuine, authentic ayahuasca experience, Kawsay Retreat is the place to be. This retreat has become a second home to me, filled with love and healing. My gratitude towards Kawsay and everyone involved is immense. Kawsay isn’t just a retreat; it’s a life-changing experience where one can find hope, direction, and a deep sense of belonging "
"When we arrived in Iquitos (from London) 4 days before start of retreat we were told that there is “no retreat for the week we had booked” (19/1/24) because lack of clients and they didn’t have our booking in their system due to internal error. To save holiday we booked other open retreat fairly quickly. Unbelievable but true, Kawsay refuse refund, instead offering us credits to be used over 2 years ! … after we have already travelled to Peru! Human errors can happen, but the handling of it tells a lot about William Menech and Kawsay and their priorities. Despite the inconvenience we actually believe it happened for a reason and we are glad we didn’t end up doing ayahuasca at Kawsay. We spent a day in Iquitos with lawyers and notary to start legal proceedings against Kawsay, which are ongoing. Avoid!
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Response from Retreat Center:
Dear Jurgen,
We would like to address all of your concerns on the events leading up to your scheduled retreat with Kawsay Ayahuasca Retreat. Our recognition of your individual struggles, especially in light of the Covid travel situations of your initial scheduled booking, and your repeated requests for rescheduling demonstrate our dedication to supporting you in the face of these extraordinary circumstances.
Notably, from the beginning of our interactions, we have kindly granted your requests for many reschedulings. After your last cancellation, there was a crucial period during which you were unsure of the retreat's new date. In December 2023, when you chose to reschedule, communication was unfortunately directed to an ex-employee rather than Kawsay directly. This misdirection resulted in your not being scheduled for the retreat date you preferred.
Upon your unexpected arrival in Iquitos, almost a week before the retreat, we were made aware through a message forwarded by our ex-employee from you to her at that time. We contacted you right away, and you were scheduled for your desired retreat immediately. We truly regret the current legal situation, especially in light of our ethical principles of spiritual growth and healing, but despite our best efforts, your unhappiness resulted in legal proceedings.
In our more than 11 years of conducting business with the utmost integrity and providing excellent service and healing, this is the first time we have encountered this type of scenario. We've learned so much from it, and it has inspired us to improve our procedural and communication standards. We are still working toward a solution that serves the interests of both yourself and Kawsay, moving empathetically and rationally in the direction of a correct resolution.
We deeply apologize for the confusion and inconvenience caused by the miscommunication and oversight. We are committed to maintaining our internal procedures and learning from this experience, therefore, your opinion has been very important to us. Ensuring that our decisions and actions completely reflect the principles we uphold.
We are willing to continue the conversation as this issue develops in order to find a solution that benefits all sides in terms of mutual understanding and resolution. We appreciate your choices and the path you have chosen, and we offer our best wishes for your journey forward and well-being.
This message also serves as a commitment to our community and prospective guests, reaffirming our commitment to openness, growth, and the utmost regard for every person's experience working with us. Our mission is to keep Kawsay Ayahuasca Retreat a center for learning and healing, and we remain steadfast in our dedication.
Jurgen, we apologize for not living up to your expectations, but we are thankful for the chance to have had this experience with you. We wish you contentment and peace of mind going forward.
Warmly,
William Menech,
Director Kawsay Ayahuasca Retreat"
"William is a beacon of light, full of genuine absolute love for each and everyone who attends Kawsay. His dedication to a person's healing is beyond compare. His laugh is infectious, and his stories and reflections are incredibly helpful when working through and processing the experience of the ceremonies. He is a genuine brother to me now and opens his compassionate heart to all equally. What he has created here is a gift to those who receive the call of Ayahuasca. My heart is full of LOVE AND LIGHT."
"I am beyond grateful to Don Winister for his work with me. I felt so incredibly safe and taken care of. His dedication and purity of work to Ayahuasca is absolutely tangible. This is really challenging work and his insights and icaros and focus on us made me feel momumental shifts. I am so lucky to have sat with him for this Ayahuasca experience. Words can't express. "
"This was my first time working with Ayahuasca and Huachuma plant medicine. I had done a lot of research after hearing many scary stories about the experience. I was recommended Kawsay by a friend who had attended years before. I cannot begin to describe how grateful I am to have selected this retreat as the place to do this deep healing work. The retreat itself is utterly incredible. Pictures don't do justice to how stunning the set up is. Also the staff are truly fantastic. William and Ana are absolutely 150% committed to your healing journey. Warm, open hearted, genuine, loving humans. When working with the plant medicine, it is vital to have absolute trust in your Shamans holding the ceremonies. Winnister and Junior are beyond compare when it comes to this. They are pure, safe and good and utterly dedicated to your healing. I cannot imagine working with anyone else, through such powerful ceremonies. The off retreat excursions are one of a kind. The monkey sanctuary being an absolute highlight. I am eternally grateful to William and his care of me and my small cohort of participants. I have lifelong friends now with these humans. "
"This was my first experience with any type of spiritual healing ceremony and I am so grateful to have been able to experience it here. William was so helpful with my many questions and has truly created a sacred space at Kawsay. I felt that being embedded in the rain forest and the beautiful design of the retreat center itself created an atmosphere so conducive to reconnecting with my spiritual nature. All of the staff were so kind and intentional, their presence and support added to the loving energy felt in this space. The shamans, Don Caesar and Don Israel, are true healers and their energy during the ceremonies helped ease anxieties regarding this new experience. I did have a hard time physically with the medicine, would become very nauseous early on but I found that when I surrendered into it rather than trying to suppress or purge too soon that when it did release I felt much relief thereafter and was better able to then have an experience with the medicine. The shamans and William were attentive to how each participant responded and would titrate subsequent doses, starting small and increasing as needed. I liked how the group sizes are kept small, there were 8 of us total, allowing both for intimacy among the group and enough diversity to learn from each others experiences. I came with a broad intention of wanting healing from all things blocking me from living fully from a place of love, and I felt throughout the ceremonies and sharing sessions that I was able to reconnect with my inner self or soul much more than I had before in my adult life. It's been 4 months now since the retreat and I've continued to notice positive changes in my overall perspective on life leading to much less anxiety, stress at work, frustration when life does not go as expected, and feeling an overall abundance of gratitude for life each day. I would definitely recommend this retreat for anyone who feels in any way stuck in life or is seeking to grow spiritually and better understand themselves."
"I can’t thank Kawsay enough for the beautiful week I had. The place is amazing from the architecture, to the staff and of course William and his son Dominic. The Shaman really do incredible work with the medicine as well. The rooms are comfortable and all very well done. My only suggestion would be better wifi during the times that it is available. I was unable to make contact even on wifi sometimes. "
"The place is a paradise on earth, you will have opportunity to get Ayahuasca with best Shamans in regions. William and Doriana are great people and they will accompany you during all retreat. I would recommend to anyone this place."
"I went to Kawsay to heal mentally, emotionally and spiritually and this place changed my life. Don Romulo, Don Winister and William are all amazing healers in the truest sense of the word. They are all humble and compassionate.
The retreat center is a paradise. Deep in the Amazon rainforest, there is a sense of peace and restoration to the site. The place is immaculately kept. The rooms are open to nature, screened in but feels like you are part of the jungle. The staff are friendly and helpful. The food was phenomenal (on the non-ceremony days:)).
I would highly recommend Kawsay to anyone who is looking for authentic, deep, real healing. "
"
I was very impressed with Williams integrity and expertise. I want to thank you William, Don Winchester, Don Romulo, your work is rare and unique. I see so much value in working with the medicine. With deep gratitude and how your putting your self out there to help others.Deeply touched and moved.
I’m so grateful to have learned from William.He is a great teacher, healer beyond any words. With a open heart and mind one can feel it. The 15 day retreat has been like an immersive process of learning, looking inside. I appreciate having this time working with three great medicine men, to really expand our hearts, knowledge, and our understanding safely. I’m really grateful for everything that I’ve learnt.
Everyone is very loving and beautiful,which allows one to integrate well with the medicine. It’s a very heart opening process, I received exactly what I needed. A lot has shifted in my physical and emotional body. William has always been a inspiration for me with his skills. It was amazing to be here as part of this very profound and transformational journey. I learnt a lot.
Williams experience, level of skills and gifts are just beyond words. I’m so happy to have chosen Kawsay Ayahuasca and San Pedro retreat. William, Don Romulo, Don Winchester’s humility touches the deepest core of ones heart.Thank you so much everyone. I had a great time,lot of fun dancing with the Indians, playing with the monkeys. I highly recommend Kawsay retreat to everyone for your betterment, expansion and growth.
Two weeks here really helped me connect, be more in tune with nature, my heart and body, regardless of what the outer circumstances are. By surrendering to the process I felt much more at ease,lighter,free and releasing a lot during each ceremony. I’m super grateful!
A big heart warming thank you to all the cooks, workers.It has been a very enriching experience. William is a awesome teacher very patient,humble, loving and kind. We all love you William, Don Romulo, Don Winchester! William just knows, understands how to work with people, it’s a very beautiful gift.
Love Radha 💕🙏💕
"
"My time in Kawsay can hardly be described in words.
I had googled a lot beforehand, because I wanted to be sure to choose the right retreat for me, as there are many in Central and South America.
When I almost wanted to stop looking because of many negative reports about other retreats, I came across Kawsay. The descriptions on the website and the many positive reviews convinced me immediately and I booked a 14 day stay the same day. The first meeting with William and Coco in Iquitos was already the confirmation that I had arrived at the right people. So warm and caring, informative and helpful....
I also met a wonderful group who had also chosen Kawsay. There were participants from Scotland, USA, Cameroon, respectively now living in France, Denmark and many more among them. I was the only German. I must say that I like to travel internationally and do not need German travelers around me.
Nevertheless, it surprised me, because in the conversation it turned out that in general very few people from Germany participate in Ayahuasca retreats and shamanic healing practices. No wonder! If one googles for alternative healing methods in Germany, they are mostly scorned as "deadly" or at least health-ruining, in order not to harm the pharmaceutical industry. Because one thing is clear! Natural healing methods are far stronger and healthier than the pharmaceutical industry would like! Is of course not wanted.
My experiences in Kawsay in a place that is so beautiful and radiates so much energy.... with people like William and his wonderful family. Coco, who is always in a good mood and ready to help anyone. The shamans Don Romulo and Don Winister, who I will never forget in my life and whose chants I can still hear every day... was so powerful and so intense that I will be eternally grateful.
Grandmother Ayahuasca showed me things I never thought possible. You must know: I was a realist. I was hard to convince of things I could not grasp .... After my stay and my experiences, I can say today: How blind was I? Everything is so clear and so fulfilling when the realizations light up the room at breakneck speed during the ceremonies. Important: Of course, it's not just all super! I was in situations where my ego wanted to resist strongly and I had to learn to let go. It was a process that was very fierce and exhausting! Nevertheless: I would do it again and again, because even if it was often not easy, I am now at home and have new insights every day that bring me further and lead me on the right path for me.
Addition: I had physical difficulties that were completely gone after the 4th session. So did other participants. I never believed it before when I read about it in books.... Today there is no doubt about the strong healing power of plant medicine and the fascinating knowledge of the shamans.
I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. You will always be with me and I will tell everyone about how valuable the experience was with you.
With love
Sabi"
"Kawsay ayahuasca retrat is a truly magical place, a place where you can feel at home, William and his team are amazing people ready to help you and follow you in every step, I found so much love and healing in this place, I recommend it to everyone!"
"I do not suggest ayahuasca or this retreat as a vacation or a recreational experience. This retreat is wonderful and operated by wonderful caring people, but this is a working space. A space to irreversibly change yourself and it (the life changing work) isn't fun or easy but it was more helpful to the core of my being and spirit than I could ever have hoped for. They do everything they can, they go above and beyond at every opportunity to help you work through your path, and in so doing I faced the hardest journey of my life... into myself. I cannot emphasize enough how similar this was to me to an open-heart surgery. You need to want it bad enough to go through the roughest path of your life, before, during and after. It changed everything I thought I knew and was constantly very very challenging. HOWEVER nothing in my life has ever been more valuable to me than what I recieved by attending this retreat for two weeks. I am deeply grateful for Kawsay, the ROI was priceless for me."
"Don Winister (son of Don Rumolo) is an incredible healer, very experienced. A true medicine man. Ready to help you. Nothing but positive about him. "
"Don Romulo is a real traditional medicine man who takes care of your soul on many levels. You just feel his wisdom and healing power. Very respectable. "
"Incredible man, straight from heaven. He's like a friend, a brother, father. Couldn't wish for more. Happy that he guided me during my retreat!
Endless knowledge, just so lovely and experienced in all kinds of medicine plants. "
"William and his team are angels. His knowledge, wisdom, his smile, he carries an incredible positive energy. Together with his very experienced shamans, he really takes care of you, he's the perfect guide. The moment you arrive at his retreat deep in the amazon you know you landed in heaven. Together with his wife and daughters, you really become part of their family. Food is amazing, facilities are great and very importantly; it's safe. There is no doubt about that you will enjoy it out here and experience the best ayahuasca ceremonies. Highly recommended.
"
"I came without big hopes an total neutral state of mind and then i was blown away ..."
"While I’d previously experimented with marijuana, LSD, psylocibin, and MDMA, this was my first time participating in an Ayahuasca ceremony, let alone four of them in a week. It was one of the most profound experiences of my entire life, with William, his wife and four daughters, the shamans, and everyone who worked on the property exuding love. To be in such a gentle atmosphere was truly humbling, and it allowed me to put my guard down and mirror that gentle nature with myself. The environment and energy is — in my opinion — at least as important as the medicine, itself. I plan on trying to go down there once a year, or so. "
"In January 2020, I visited Kawsay for the second time to take part in the 7 day Ayahuasca retreat.
I have had the most remarkable, profound, transformative experiences at Kawsay, and I thoroughly recommend this retreat.
The location deep in the Amazon is amazing. William runs the retreat with the utmost care for guests, and incredible respect for the medicines. He has continued to invest in the facilities to provide a truly comfortable and memorable experience for retreat participants.
Don Romulo and Don Winister are wonderful to work with. I could not imagine more wise, experienced, caring and loving shamans anywhere else. Together with William, Coco and the rest of the team, they ensure that ceremonies are conducted with a palpable sense of sacredness, care and healing.
This is THE retreat to attend for an authentic, sacred plant medicine experience where you will be looked after like family, and indeed will become part of the Kawsay family."
"This was an excellent retreat in every respect. The accommodations are clean and comfortable. The people there are kind and genuine and qualified. The Shamans are truly amazing people and the entire experience was incredible. I was very unsure about going and what it would be like. I was truly lucky to have gone to a place like this. There are so many places out there and so many bad things that could happen. If you come here you can feel comfortable that you are safe and have a good experience."
"Everything taken care of. Modern living in the jungle. Excellent food. Incredible location. Very experienced ayahuasca practitioners. Very loving and comforting atmosphere. Small trips were included within the retreat which I was unaware of but was pleasantly surprised by. William (the American host and owner of Kawsay) and his ayahuasca shamans Don Romelo (86yrs old) and his son Winnester are an extremely experienced team which put your mind at rest. My travelling companion and I didn't put a huge amount of effort into looking for the "right" retreat but I can't imagine another even coming close to the safety and security of this one. Did I have some intensely emotional experiences and work through deep problems that I found hard to talk about? Yes. This experience will be a healing one and will open you if you allow it."
"William and the team at Kawsay provide a safe and recluse ecosystem for travelers looking for personal growth. I had never done Ayahuasca before, and I feel so lucky to have found them for my first experience. They prioritize safety before and after a ceremony to maximize integration learnings from the medicine. The shamans also provide valuable insight into post-ceremony meetings to help provide context and understanding of ceremonial insights. After doing Ayahuasca I now fully understand the dangers and responsibilities that come with the gift. Kawsay stresses this throughout the retreat and I couldn’t be happier with my stay. Anyone looking to try Ayahuasca for the first time but doesn’t know much about it should HIGHLY consider choosing Kawsay. There are some bad actors out there, and working with the wrong people can have devastating long term effects!! I hope to be back one day! Oh yeah, and the food was GREAT!!"
"Kawsay is truly a unique and beautiful place for healing and learning! Both because of the setting and care taken in the physical experience and the quality of the Shamans and related support and education that is needed to ensure that the experience creates lasting change. I cannot recommend this place more highly. I had the most transformative experience during my time there and since, hence my only writing this review now. I work in psychedelic research for one of the leading organizations in the field and so I have a lot of personal and professional experience with the healing potential of these ancient medicines. I have also been to 4 different Ayahuasca retreats over my 4 year journey. A lot of those experiences were very positive but I also had experiences that were less so and left me with difficulties that were not well supported. When I heard about Kawsay from a friend and spoke to the owner and San Pedro Shaman, William, I knew I had found a place that was really focused on healing and would support me through the difficulties I was experiencing. We spoke many times on the phone and experienced remote work that he did for me out of the kindness of his heart to support me, all long before I was able to come back to Peru and finish the work I had started. There are many retreats available for people to choose from, but what makes Kawsay different is that they are focused on the journey of the individual and ensuring they get all they need from that visit and not setting up a dynamic where repeat visits are required, which is something I have seen elsewhere. The spiritual, emotional and physical guidance I recieved from William and the rest of the team at Kawsay was invaluable and has continued to serve me as I have gone through the experiences and changes in my life that have followed since my visit last August. The integration following Ayahuasca is so key and was never taught to me correctly. It was at Kawsay and this is what I credit for the changes I have seen. My life has literally over time been purged of the experiences and influences that no longer serve me and although it has been tough at times, what has come out is lasting change. I am so thankful to William and all at Kawsay for that gift and would encourage anyone thinking of taking this trip to choose Kawsay."
"My journey to this retreat was more than I could ever ask for. It was my first Ayahuasca experience so I was slightly nervous on what to expect. William and everyone else involved at this retreat did everything to answer any and all concerns. Everybody in my group had many questions and he made sure they all got answered.
This place is the real deal, the Shamans are truly amazing with great abilities. I felt safe every step of the way.
From start to finish these people are caring, patient and most importantly genuine. I didn’t want to leave...a piece of my heart stayed out there because I know I’ll be back again soon! A huge thank you to everyone that works at Kawsay for a memorable stay and all the wonderful food too!!! Until we meet again ❤️"
"When I arrived William was there to meet me at the Dawn of the Amazon. We then took a beautiful one and half hour boat ride down the Amazon river to the center. The lodging is a half hour boat ride to the maloka for ceremonies, it’s such a beautiful piece of land, so quiet and peaceful.
The ceremonies are the best I’ve ever sat in, the healing you get here is amazing, I’ve never experienced anything like it, Romolo ,Winister and William are so full of love and compassion. I experienced my first San Pedro ceremony with William which was great to have someone knowledgeable to guide the ceremony, it was a unique experience and I’m looking forward to learning more about San Pedro in the future.
I was so impressed with the healing Romolo and Winister did on me that I can say there are not a lot of center in Peru doing what they do, and the experience they have. In this work, unfortunately, there are bad shamans out there, and I’ve experienced more than a few. I can only say that for now on I’ll just be going to Qhispikay I don’t need to explore any more centers, I found a place where it’s the healing that really matters through genuine good hearted people that care. If you want the true healing just this is the place"