7-Day Ayahuasca Retreat with Peruvian Maestro Sanango (Faro, Portugal)

I loved the retreat and its concept. The importance given to preparation, the way of eating, silence and introspection set the Sinchi Runa retreat apart from all the others I've been to. I recommend this unique experience to everyone.

Two years ago I did my first dieta (with Ajo Sacha) and in May of last year I joined the Vedic immersion retreat at Sinchi Runa, dieting with Bobinsana. For the Vedic retreat Daru Krishna was also present to give information about each person's astrological chart and he gave great insights about Ayurveda.

I am deeply grateful for Sanango's wisdom, sometimes harsh when needed :), and the rest of the team for always being there if any doubts or questions arise or if you just need a hug or a cry.

The food has always been great! Nourishing and you can feel the care that has been put in to make it.

The location in Lepe is away from any busy areas and is perfect for a silent retreat communicating with nature.

Grateful for the insights gained and all the teachings learned!

With love,
Sheela

Sinchi Runa is a tranquil, safe, loving environment. A space that just allowed me to just be during my retreats.
Greeted with warmest, welcoming smiles from the team, which instantly helped me feel cared for.
We were all introduced and given an overview of how everything runs, along with the importance of silence, and what silence actually is.
We were assured that the silence doesn't extend to the team if and when needed; I (the group) could talk to Maestro Sanango, Ananda, Madhava or Arjuna.
I found that questions were not only welcomed but encouraged, Maestro Sanango wanted everyone to have as much information as possible on the plants, the process, philosophies, how we're cared for, why the guidelines are there. Everything seems to have a place and a purpose. All this just added to my feeling of safety and care.

The meditations were really very helpful, learning to focus on the breath, everything just seems to be in order to help the participants truly get the most out of their experience and journey.
The ceremonies guided expertly and beautifully by Maestro Sanango, he sings and chants as well as playing solely instrumental music through a speaker, which was all beautiful and purposeful.

The team are professional, experienced, caring, loving and so welcoming.

The site is clean, hygienic and well looked after.
The food is season appropriate and so full of love (i've had retreats both in colder snd warmer months), and as I saw it happily caters to all.

I can't recommend Sinchi Runa more highly from my experience.

So much gratitude and love to all. Thank you so much 🤍

'Do something today that your future self will thank you for', sums up this life-affirming experience.

This is the something.

Intense, profound, transformational. If you are reading this, your soul has already chosen, and you must listen.

You will be changed in ways you cannot forsee or describe but your spirit will be eternally joyful for.

Thank you Sinchi Runa x

I stayed at Sinchi Runa a year ago for a 10 day retreat, and more recently left after a 3 month deep immersion stay. I don’t know how to sum up all that was learned, understood, let go of, and more, in writing, for fear it being too long and putting you all to sleep!

I would say that since I grew out of being a baby, and could eat and drink by my self, my time at Sinchi Runa was the most vulnerable I’ve been. I’m very thankful to them that it was their care I was vulnerable. I could give so many examples of where I’m thankful that Sanango was ‘taking’ or ‘leading’ (I’m not exactly sure the word for it) the ceremony, but one that springs to mind was in an Ayahuasca ceremony, I was panicking! I asked for help, and Ananda and Sanango came to my aid and helped me process what I was going through. I recall many challenging Kambo ceremonies (In fact I think they all were) but two in particular, in hindsight, I feel blessed that it was Arjuna by my side. Arjuna was a great teacher to me, being in his presence, watching how he interacts with others, and hearing him speak in group sharing taught me a lot, in particular about my pride.

Initially, in my consultations with Sanango and Ananda, I was apprehensive to be open because I was cautious around Ananda, and this is nothing against Ananda, it was a reaction I am learning to step out of. I started to trust Ananda, I tried to leave no stone unturned in these consultations, because it became apparent that it was a privilege to have these two know me, all of me. That they were offering help if I was reaching out for it. I don’t want to portray Sanango as a mythical figure, a guru, or something along those lines, partly because I know he doesn’t want that, but it also doesn’t feel right to me. He is the wisest person I’ve come across. Every time I had the chance to speak to him I felt excited. Through my eyes He is brilliant. It seems to me He knows a lot about Love. I can’t fully express what it meant for me to have Sanango as my teacher, or ‘curandaro’. He is upholding or maintaining great teachings, or spirits, forces, at Sinchi Runa.

Ananda (tough act to follow) was a great teacher to me and I think he had a great understanding of my ‘process’ and what I was going through. I felt loved by Ananda and he too took great care in protecting my process. We also had a few good laughs. I would say the moments of social interaction with everyone at SinchiRuna were lovely.

The food was top notch, Fiona was cooking most of the time whilst I was there, and she is an amazing cook. I noticed how much care was taken in the cooking of the food, and the prep. My portion sizes were always to my desire, and I think I overate most of the time. Fiona was also significant in my journey, she’s great, and so comforting and caring, she made so much effort to protect and care for my ‘Process’. I’m not sure if this is her intention but she really made me feel at home.

I felt the crux of my work was in my ‘Diets’ or ‘Dietas’. Up to now these Dietas have been the most challenging chapters of my life, and without a doubt the most rewarding, if the reward is ‘spiritual growth’ or knowledge of the unconscious, in my case. In the Dietas I developed an understanding around deep questions such as: what is pride, what is humility, what is compassion, what is gratitude, in what conditions do these arise. An understanding of who I am, and why I behave the way I behave. What am I doing in the human experience, and so on, and I really could go on. The diets were the most significant periods of learning in my life, and it was hard earned, it was also a learning of how to come out of suffering, my understanding arose from my coming out of my suffering. And so these diets were a rollercoaster of suffering, enlightenment, more boredom than I knew I could handle. It was very draining, very emotional and very rewarding.

I do not know of any other facility with the depth of wisdom, knowledge, and care as Sinchi Runa, I don’t think places such as Sinchi Runa are easy to come by, and for me it feels it’s a privilege and a great stroke of luck to have come by Sinchi Runa.