"Fuimos un grupo de mujeres. Todas con la sensación de que esta experiencia nos cambiaría, pero no a este nivel y no con esta profundidad.
Apenas tengo palabras, pues Mai Niti es muchas cosas: es Luci, es su maravilloso equipo de almas luminosas: profunda y bellísima Mara, sabia y fuente inagotable Silvia y gran Peter, con su eterna paciencia. También los ícaros de su padre Leonardo, y de sus hermanos, y también es Laidy con su increíble comida, y también Juan con sus saunas y su sonrisa perpetua.
Este lugar me ha regalado claridad, amor, y un latir renacido; me ha regalado el impulso para seguir creando.
Gracias a la abuelita, a las plantitas que dietamos, a cada sauna.
Volveré.
C.
"
Highly Rated Retreats in Ollantaytambo Cusco Peru
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Experiences on Retreat
"That is what I feel when I experience Maestro Leonardo and his Icaros. It feels like pure, strong heart medicine. Which sometimes brings me to tears and other times fills me with power. "
"When Luci sees, she really sees. There is no other way to describe it. The prescriptions she gives mahi like nothing I’ve ever experienced. She prescribed a Corteza for me for my energy and by the end of it i was so energetic I had the energy of a 15 yr old girl according to Luci and I agreed that’s exactly how I felt. Not once did I ever feel unsafe with Luci. Her icaros are also the most beautiful songs to experience. "
"I had complete trust and surrender that my month here would give me whatever it was my soul needed. At times it was hard but all the staff were there for whatever was needed at whatever time it was needed. My entire experience opened me in a way I could never have dreamed of asking for. I feel so much love and clarity as I leave Mai Niti. Excited to return home with the new space within my heart and soul. "
"From the moment I arrived at Mai Niti I felt the special spirit in which this place is run. The staff is extremely friendly and there’s always someone to talk to or ask questions. The level of commitment from Lucia and Leonardo is amazing. Every step in the process was well founded and explained. Their knowledge of the medicines they work with is based in a tradition that goes back many centuries and you can sense that. Here it’s not about a couple of spectacular journeys. The introduction to Ayahuasca is done carefully so no one is overwhelmed. The intuition and sensibility for everyone in the center is unmatched.
Accommodation is basic but much better than shown on the website. The toilets have running water and the showers are clean and refreshingly cold.
The premises are taking care of with love too. Everything is kept clean and during my stay new plants were planted on multiple occasions.
I was planning to stay for two or three weeks but after a couple of days I decided to stay for four weeks and I didn’t regret that decision at any time. By entering Mai Niti I started a process of spiritual development that hopefully will go on for a long time after I left. If not I know there is a place where a welcoming staff is happy to see me again. "
"My partner and I had been thinking about attending one of these retreats for a while but did not know how to select one. We ended up looking at Mai Niti based on the recommendation of a friend we met while traveling (they had recently spent 3 months there) and ultimately chose to attend after a series of very satisfying conversations with the organizers. These conversations addressed our questions, concerns, and anxiety. Once there, it was immediately obvious how special it was. Many of the people in attendance had been there before and returned to do more work. The vibe was welcoming, friendly, and healing. We really felt their knowledge and depth of understanding of both plant medicine and people."
"Hello world,
I was lucky enough to choose Mai Niti! I’ll keep it short
The energy of the place is a 10
The staff are there for you
Lucy’s familia is beautiful loving and caring
The food is clean and easy to eat
Lucy is the most incredible, powerful, caring and beautiful human on the planet
If you ever get a chance to or thinking of a place to do a dieta or ayahuasca this is the place
This place will always have a special place in my heart.
Peace and love
Aurie "
"My stay at Mai Niti was absolutely fantastic and an incredibly beautiful experience. I had a stay of one month, which I think was absolutely perfect for someone who has not sat with mother aya before (it can take some time to calm down and to be able to work well during the ceremonys). So after a month I got answers to exactly what I came for. Everyone who works at this retreat is so kind-hearted and clearly wants everyone's best. They see every single person and are a good reassurance to have during such a vulnerable time. Luci and Leonardo are absolutely incredible, Luci's gift of seeing what each individual needs is truly a reassuring factor that you are in the right hands. This medicine is powerful and important to take in a safe environment, and there Mai Niti is definitely a place to consider. The area is quiet, very primitive, but exactly what you need during such a vulnerable process. I am truly so grateful for this experience, all the knowledge I have brought with me and all the wonderful people I have met. I highly recommend Mai Niti if you consider working with mother Aya🥰"
"The voice of this man is like a warm and soothing balm. It really makes the difference during difficult ceremonies."
"Warm hearted, very skilled in a huge number of plants and with a magnificent singing voice during ceremonies. Highly recommended!"
"I did a lot of research before choosing Mai Niti, and despite all the hype, I was not disappointed. That is not a given for a rationalist like myself. I have always questioned authority, especially the religiously based.
While the regime of maestra Lucila and maestro Leonardo is rather strict at times (personalised diet, isolation treatment, sauna etc), it is The Real Deal. Also, it is more like a strong recommendation than a strict command.
Also:
- Peter, the Australian who operates the retreat is a really chill guy that you can talk about anything with. He also runs the place professionally, taking care of the needs of the guests.
- The ayahuasca is as far as I can tell strong and of high quality.
- Their "swiss army knife" of treatments seems bigger than anywhere else. Saunas, plant baths, diets, kambo, countless plant extracts, vomitivos (!), isolation, massage etc.
- You can hang out with some great native people of the shipibo tribe.
- Really nice and interesting guests from all parts of the world. Friendships are formed at 10x speed here, and everyone has their own story and path.
- While you may see a spider or a bat, it seems like a really safe place. Much rather this than a potentially predatory ceremony around the big cities.
- Formalities (short paperwork) and practicalities (1h flight from Lima + 40m taxi) are fully surmountable.
I could write pages on pages about my personal experience, but I'll just say that I had some of the best, most fascinating, relaxing and fun weeks of my life. The harsh trips strengthened me and prepared me for the birth of my first child, while the blissful final trip healed my view of a troubled world. This spiritual kindergarten picked me apart, cleaned all the components and put me together again in a healthier, prouder (in the good sense) and stronger configuration.
You won't regret booking a stay here. Have fun!"
"Flawless personality and healer 🙏🏽
Probably the only one that cares 101% in there "
"Lucila wants to help you! "
"*If you skip the fact that one sibling of them stole my ear buds
*If you skip the fact that they stole my incense stick base
*If you skip the fact that the taxi drivers that Mai Niti cooperating with ask from you as much money as they need and not as it is
*If you skip the fact that I’m the community,the crew sold us natural soaps for 15 soles each that they had bought from the city of pucallpa but I found them only by entering to the first store that the crew told me (the same people that sold it to me from the community),I found the soap for 10 soles each
*If you skip the fact that the workshops that they accept every now and then in the community,from their community,are !extremely! expensive
*If you skip the fact that there’s a human being,part of the Mai Niti crew called Peter and he’s getting paid to project his traumas where we pay to heal our traumas
*If you skip the fact that they wanted to throw me out of the community because I just projected my trauma,yes a mistake that I admit it here and I did there but this is my trauma,I asked to hold hand with another woman after the consuming of Ayahuasca and next to her that we were laying in the ceremony.
The same happened with another sister and we were holding and stroking hands.
They just wanted to throw me out of the community without any discussion,sorry but we pay you for these kind of traumas and I don’t mean that I will start asking to hold hands with every human being in there
When I discussed this with another sister in the community told me that she had done the same and the crew saw that but there was no problem.
After I apologised and asked for a chance to go on with my healing they isolated me but really,after that most of the work was on me and I didn’t feel any great help.
Lucy’s Papa,Lucy,her brothers and her husband can help into the Ayahuasca procedure but if you fall at similar mistakes like mine then probably you’re in trouble.
My big question is and was to them “if someone from the Shippibo community makes a mistake even if it’s big or small then you kick him out of the community no matter what,like u wanted to kick me ?”
Peter was insisting of throwing me out of the community without any chance and that’s where I saw his traumas coming out and with other behaviours towards me later,but for gods shake,as I said before,we pay for our traumas and he’s getting paid to be who he is,still part of the procedure,but should he be there?
So that’s my review and if you skip all those that I typed then:
As I also said,Lucy works great with the medicine,her Papa,siblings and her husband.
The crew is dedicating their selves to make you feel comfortable and nice.
But there’s a thing with money,losing our stuff,honesty,transparency and if you get those instincts then Trust is shaking.
Good luck with your choice.
I stayed for a month,15 days in the community and 15 isolated
"
"Leonardo is a very special and deeply experienced Shaman, this showed from the way he would sing his Icarus during ceremonies, I remember having a ceremony where his song literally pulled the vomit out my stomach, I felt his energy very strongly in ceremonies and always knew he was looking out for me. Outside of ceremonies, he is a very simple, quiet man, he doesn't say much but he always has a smile on his face, spends his time sitting with the ayahuasca while it brews or just sitting in nature, watching something that we can't see. I have massive respect for him, I feel honoured to experience such a person in my life. I hope to meet him again one day."
"Lucy is a beautiful human, even though she is only in her 30's she embodies motherhood and divine femininity. She made me feel safe and protected throughout my 3 month journey, I feel her energy to this day, 2 years later. I know she is doing big things for humanity and I respect and love her so much for that. "
"I spent 3 months staying with Lucilla and Leonardo in 2021. It was one of the most surreal experiences of my life, 2 years later I am waiting for a chance to go back. I learnt a lot about myself and uncovered my confidence at this place, It wasn't always easy, there were times where I wanted to leave, or eat something unhealthy, there were times in isolation where my emotions were at an all time high.. and then a low, but I am so glad I stuck it out, I am so thankful to all the people that make Mai Niti work, from the Shamans to the cleaners and cooks, to the volunteers and handymen. Lucilla put me at ease about having the ayahuasca, over the 3 months i felt like i built a special bond with her spirit, that i still feel to this day. When you remove the fear, the love on the other side of that fear is so unconditional, it makes everything worth it, its all about perspective <3
much love to all of you at Mai Niti, I met my second family over there, made so many connections, we are bonded for all our lifetimes."
"The staff did an excellent job to facilitate a safe and comfortable environment. 10/10 experience. I lost weight as a bonus."
"It is difficult to put into words the vast amount of healing that was provided by Mai Niti for everyone that visits. From top down and bottom up, everything that is being done there is sacred and life changing. If we are able to open up ourselves and our hearts to the wonderful service that all the people there (including the other participants) is willing to offer, the certainly will not be a better environment to grow and nurture ourselves. The amount of care, consideration and compassion that everyone in Mai Niti cheerfully provides is immense. With or without the medicine, one will very soon realize that Mai Niti is as close to the perfect milieu as can be, to help us rediscover our true selves. Our true being. Genuinely speaking, I will certainly return again because I know that's my family. I will miss them while I'm away, but I know the calling will come again. If you happen to be reading this, the process has already began. Let go of the irrational doubts and fears, because they do not exist outside of our own minds. I sincerely wish you a beautiful journey, and I hope our paths will cross in Mai Niti. I look forward to the moment that happens. Much love to everyone from the depths of my being."
"I will not go into my personal experiences at the retreat, but I will say that since I've returned home, I've been in a perpetual state of happiness. Nothing gets me down. The best way to describe is that all things seem to take place beneath me. Having no effect on me.
The ceremonies were "eventually" liberating.
IF you are considering drinking the potion (Ayahuasca), be sure that you are destined to experience the utter fullness of discomfort. This may mean nothing now, BUT if you drink, everything will be shaken up on all levels within you. When things settle you will be much better off, but it may not feel like it 40 minutes after you drank the potion.
The Maestro's and the Maerstra are true masters when it comes to this medicine. When you are on your journey, Lucy, Grover and El Viejo are right there with you. On every level, not just physically. They love people and will cater to your needs, because once they meet you your need are apparent. They are dedicated to your freedom. I love them!"
"If you are reading this review, then you already know that it’s time to face your pain, fears, trauma, anger, feel lack of love and EVERYTHING in between. It’s no mistake that you found Mai Niti. If you are a person carrying around trauma that’s getting in the way of living your BEST and most freest life (like most of US, in the world), then make the commitment and INVEST in you. You already know what your life looks and feels like NOW. Do the “heart/HARD” work. You deserve to have peace, heal, and feel/be loved. I stayed a month at Mai Niti and anything short of that (for me) would have left me needing more time to heal and see clearly of the work/invisible pain I was carrying around. The work IS hard, but if you have just a little mustard seed of hope, you will heal your mind, body, soul, and spirit and I deserved that. I am truly grateful and blessed that I was in a community that I have been searching for my whole life.
To be in community when you are messy (in EVERY way) and always receive love/support without judgement, IS unconditional love. That is something I have never had, until now. The more open you are to your process, the more you WILL get out of it. AYA, is part of that, but not the only way to heal. ALL the the plant medicine, the diet/food, the grounds, the animals, the people, the rattling/drumming, the Maestro’s, IS the healing medicine. Don’t short change yourself. You deserve to be released from what is not serving you. I owe Mai Niti my life. I am finally FREE and for the first time in my entire life, I not only feel unconditional love from Spirit, I love myself unconditionally and love the person I am. Whew…..!
Thank YOU to EVERYONE who was apart of that! I love you guys sooo freakin much!
To my family at Mai Niti, cheers!"
"Pure medicine, pure love, no ego.
A real focus on healing through hard work.
If you are looking for a place that can heal you, you can trust the team with your eyes closed.
They know what you need and will not give you what you want but way more than that. "
"This was a transformational experience for me as it gave me exactly what I needed. I’m privileged to have found Mai Niti as the centre is full of love, compassion, care, peace and can transform your entire being.
I’m grateful for the beautiful souls at Mai niti."
"This was my second time visiting Mai Niti and I felt that the center had grown organically over the past 2 years. Some of my favorite things had stayed the same such as many familiar faces, volleyball, and personalized plant dietas. However, there were also pleasant surprises like cacao ceremonies, upgraded showers, a beautiful new Maloca, and more ceremonies with Lucy’s brothers who are also Maestros. Those at the center continue to grow and provide their own specialty and extensive plant knowledge to the healing process. Little by little, I can feel myself moving towards a life with more light, autonomy, and clarity. This time in particular, there were parts of me stuck in a fearful child state and I felt a major shift towards courage and self confidence. I feel very fortunate to have found this place. Thank you everyone at Mai Niti!"
"I have been waiting to find the right words for my experience at Mai Niti as I truly wanted to do my experience justice. Yet I’m just not sure there are even words that can describe what I experienced in my short 8 day stay.
I was held in ways I’ve never experienced before. I let go and surrendered so deeply unlike any other experience before and the knowing and trust I had led me to deeper experiences and letting go than I could even have imagined.
The staff at Mai Niti truly were a big part of my experience too. From arrival to departure all needs were taken care of and always checked in on yet also given the space to just be.
When you have experienced other places and then come to this one, it feels unlike any other experience. I am grateful for my other experiences so that I could truly feel how deeply healing and respectful Mai Niti is.
Thank you so much to the entire Mai Niti family. For your connections with the plants that we were able to experience and for the inner soul experience I never expected."
"This is the only retreat centre I will be going to from now on, forever… My experience was beyond words, incredible. The professionalism in all aspects was impeccable. The safety in ceremonies was rock solid. I felt supported and very well provided for the whole time I was there.
World class healers & staff.
Thankyou Mai Niti family, you have changed my life for the better in ways indescribable. Much love ❤️ "
"Three weeks getting to know a bit of the tradition in the Shipibo community. customs, dances, Handicrafts, and of course the work that master plants do with ancestral medicine. A journey into our psyche that takes us through our darkest parts, through other planes and feel our senses in many ways. A magical place full of people from different countries and who in this experience stop being strangers to become very good friends. Lucy, and her entire family and lovely staff are always accompanying and guiding each one in their process, having an important diet without salt, sugar and oil. Each ceremony is different and everyone has their own process. Having the experience of knowing ancestral medicine is priceless, at the same time it allowed me to raise my awareness to better understand the function of our world. I am wholeheartedly grateful to Mai Niti."
"My 10 week stay at Mai Niti has been life changing in the best possible way. This is the second time I have stayed here. Mai Niti has way exceeded my expectations in every possible way.
Lucy, the principal Maestra, is absolutely amazing - by far the most powerful shaman out of a number of great ones that I have worked with. She has a connection with the medicine on a completely different level. And is very kind generous and compassionate.
Her father, Leonardo, is hugely powerful and his presence and protection gave the retreat centre a lot of safety and wisdom. I was also blessed to have ceremonies with all 4 of her brothers who are also amazing. So a lot of very powerful guidance with the medicine.
The staff here are totally amazing. Peter, the centre manager, is one of the kindest, most supportive, and generous people I have ever met. He went out of his way to accommodate me and support me.
The assistant team is fantastic. They are so supportive, kind, and pretty much constantly available for support. And Fidel and Alex working with the centre from afar are also amazing people.
I really feel part of the family here and I will remain friends with all of them. That is the vibe here that is transmitted to all the participants. We have all become very close and mutual support has been an important part of my healing journey. And I have made lasting friends.
The food is also worth mentioning- surprisingly good for and Aya centre and they’ve made a massive effort to make it varied and interesting.
The healing I’ve received from the medicine - Ayahuasca, the master points, the community , and the team has changed me. And Ayahuasca here is the only thing that could have reached what I needed to heal. And I have also witnessed profound and miraculous healing in others here too.
The retreat is worth way more than what they charge and is in fact priceless. If you choose to stay here, and of course a highly recommend it, I recommend staying for as long as you are able. The master plants make a huge difference and requires more time here to make the most of them. Of course, if you can only stay for 1-2 weeks then still come and you’ll get a lot out of it and it’s totally worth it. And if you can invest 4-6 weeks then you will not regret it.
Wishing you a fruitful and healing retreat 🤍🙏"
"I stayed for 2 weeks at Mai Niti and I learned a lot. The medicine they serve is strong. I had bunch of super intense experiences that allowed me to learn a lot about myself and more specifically about my ego.
The people that work at Mai Niti are super friendly and warm people and I already miss them haha! They understand aya can produce conciousness-changing experiences. Thus they don't force anything on you. If you feel like being alone; great! If you feel like having a chat; great! If you are losing your mind integrating an experience; not great but they will be there with warmth and great advice! :)
Lucy, Leonardo and they're whole family it seems, are amazing shamans. They all bring something different to the ceremonies and in my experience they all respresent a different kind of archetypal presence. They are super connected to the plant and spirit world which i never even thought was possible to this degree. They really opened up my eyes to the vastness of possibilities within conciousness. I am quite a rational/skeptical person but they really opened up my (third?) eyes haha. At my third ceremony i got in a non dualistic state. I was everything and nothing at the same time. This was the most crazy experience of my short 25 year life and I get teared up even writing it down. It was so beautiful, but scary. Letting go isn't as easy as it sounds when you're there, I'll tell you that haha!
I feel like i opened many closed doors within my psyche which helped me to better understand myself and how i relate within the universe. But I do realize theres so many doors that still have to be opened. For now these 2 weeks were good because it is quite intense learning so much in such a short time. I do wonder what lessons mother aya wouldve showed me if i stayed longer. But I am forever grateful and if my personal funds allow it I will be back.
Gracias Lucy, Leonardo, Peter, Flor, Selva, Lu, the family and many more. "
"Words can’t really describe our experience at Mai Niti. From the moment we arrived, our anxieties and nerves were settled both by the heartwarming and welcoming community of people there and through the powerful and grounding energies of Peter, Maestra Lucila and Maestro Leonardo. Throughout the whole week, we felt safe, secure and held.
It’s been such a profound and life enriching experience. Supported in conscious community with such beautiful and heartwarming souls; loving, creative and passionate, all with their unique forms of expression. We couldn’t of asked for a better medicine family.
We have learnt, shared and grown so much in our week here, and are eternally grateful for every single part of it. We leave feeling grounded, and with a sense of clarity, reconnected to our truest selves and to Mother Nature.
Thanks to everyone who played a part in our medicine journey, in particular to Peter, for his wisdom and uplifting spirit, to Mara, Amanda and Silvia who were just amazing, tending to all of our needs and lending a keen ear, listening whenever we needed. And of course, to Maestra Lucila, for her guidance and insights with the medicine.
Lots of love to our medicine family
Rory and Liz, UK
"