Amaru Spirit
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Amaru Spirit is a holistic healing retreat center located in the jungle outside of Iquitos, Peru. We emphasize the creative element in life-- it is a place where you can explore questions of the spirit in a creative way. We use raw foods, superfoods, plant diets, liver/gall bladder flushes, and other methods for connecting people back to their true nature by providing time and space for our guests to harmonize with the nature around them.
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Property amenities
Free breakfast
Airport transportation
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HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Charming
Location
Rio Itaya, Iquitos 16000 Peru
Name/address in local language
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 52 out of 100
52
C.F. Secada Airport
7.2 km•
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Detailed Reviews
Words are not enough to describe Amaru.
The feelings this place made me experience, I haven't felt in a long time. If you wish to go back to your roots and rekindle your connection to your soul, to nature and to plants, you are in the right place. You don't know how much you need this until you remember and this place makes you remember away from the chaos of the world.
The attention given to each guest is truly personal to the work every person requires. The necessity for plants to work in sync with eachother and the individual truly made sense to me. I realised that some plants weren't working because I had blocks requiring the help of another plant. Tobacco was my greatest ally in this trip.
If you want a complete rather than single-sided experience for your personal needs with the help of Slocum and the amazing and caring staff, you are in the right place.
The place is charming and beautifully built with every guest having their own personal Tambo, cleaned daily.
The food, mostly vegetarian, is divine. This is a place that truly embraces the importance of proper nutrition.
I highly recommend this place, and I will be returning here.
Thank you Amaru!
The feelings this place made me experience, I haven't felt in a long time. If you wish to go back to your roots and rekindle your connection to your soul, to nature and to plants, you are in the right place. You don't know how much you need this until you remember and this place makes you remember away from the chaos of the world.
The attention given to each guest is truly personal to the work every person requires. The necessity for plants to work in sync with eachother and the individual truly made sense to me. I realised that some plants weren't working because I had blocks requiring the help of another plant. Tobacco was my greatest ally in this trip.
If you want a complete rather than single-sided experience for your personal needs with the help of Slocum and the amazing and caring staff, you are in the right place.
The place is charming and beautifully built with every guest having their own personal Tambo, cleaned daily.
The food, mostly vegetarian, is divine. This is a place that truly embraces the importance of proper nutrition.
I highly recommend this place, and I will be returning here.
Thank you Amaru!
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Date of stay: September 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were at Amaru Spirit in August 2021 for cleansing, plant medicine and nutrition. We had a very profound, significant and sustainable experience. We were accompanied from the moment we booked the journey, to our arrival in Iquitos and up to our departure. We were escorted by the center to do our COVID-19 test and all went very well. We always felt safe and protected. The Detox and the Plant Dieta were life changing. In fact, I am now in Canada and still feel the medicine. Slocum was extremely generous his is time and of his knowledge. Food is healthy & excellent and it is cooked by amazing staff! Our spacious & comfortable room was cleaned every day. A life learning! Life is beautiful. Thanks to Amaru Spirit. Sylvain & Jadson.
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Date of stay: August 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Know ourselves and Love life!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Loved the atmosphere. Loved the location, swimming in the river is medicine. Being close enough and far enough away from Iquitos felt comforting. The food served is spectacular. Everything flowed effortlessly. Solocum’s book recommendations in diet really got the juices flowing. The medicine in the space be powerful. Enjoyed sharing with everyone present. Grateful to have been lead to share experience with everyone present. Will be moving on through experience sharing what I have received in all my relations. Thanks
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you feel the call, this is it. this is the place.
You are well fed, protected and guided. You are held accountable. Expert advice. I would gladly refer this place to my loved ones. I would gladly contribute to the maintenance and needs of this place if it were in my power.
Come, for a truly human experience. :)
Louis
PS: Joe has big roommate energy
PPS: For Alexandra's sake, ask for chicken soup
You are well fed, protected and guided. You are held accountable. Expert advice. I would gladly refer this place to my loved ones. I would gladly contribute to the maintenance and needs of this place if it were in my power.
Come, for a truly human experience. :)
Louis
PS: Joe has big roommate energy
PPS: For Alexandra's sake, ask for chicken soup
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Date of stay: September 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It's impossible to do this place justice with words, and seems almost criminal to report it to death and ruin the experience for someone who has never been. The houses, people, food and medicine were all amazing. But seriously, THE FOOD.
I've been back for a few weeks and all I can think and dream about is Peru. I look forward to visiting again someday :)
I've been back for a few weeks and all I can think and dream about is Peru. I look forward to visiting again someday :)
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Date of stay: August 2021
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Came with no preperation. It was a spiritual extreme experience, one of a kind that I'll be happy to experience again.
Recommended for true seeker, since it is not just fun, not easy but also not heavy.
It is one of the best gifts I gave myself, and in retrospective of a a month, I am the same just better and happier.
May all being be happy, and thank you for all the love.
Love!
Amihai
Recommended for true seeker, since it is not just fun, not easy but also not heavy.
It is one of the best gifts I gave myself, and in retrospective of a a month, I am the same just better and happier.
May all being be happy, and thank you for all the love.
Love!
Amihai
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at amaru spirit in January...I was in such a bad place mentally and needed an holistic remedy for my spirit and soul,upon arriving it was quite pleasant but attacked by huge mosquitos before I even got to my hut!
I couldn't complete full course of ayahuasca due to medical reasons but felt isolated by most of the guests and staff almost immediately, I'm just not a tree hugging kinda person and felt pushed out because I do like my comforts in life( makeup,eating meat etc)...
Was told to complete a 7 day tabacco cleanse ( most horrific time of my life) and wasn't told about this prior to going there....suggested by shamen,now I would have been ok with this but then finding out every single person went through the same tabacco cleanse for 7+days...hmmmm
Ok after I returned I then questioned everything that happened....I felt it was a money making system,exploiting vulnerable individuals with mental problems..after I returned I felt no aftercare etc ( unless you revisited) I went downhill rapidly,when I wrote to slocum was told to visit again( more money)
In all honesty ..please think carefully about go here,.
would I go again....NEVER...even the thought of it makes me sick to my stomach...
I couldn't complete full course of ayahuasca due to medical reasons but felt isolated by most of the guests and staff almost immediately, I'm just not a tree hugging kinda person and felt pushed out because I do like my comforts in life( makeup,eating meat etc)...
Was told to complete a 7 day tabacco cleanse ( most horrific time of my life) and wasn't told about this prior to going there....suggested by shamen,now I would have been ok with this but then finding out every single person went through the same tabacco cleanse for 7+days...hmmmm
Ok after I returned I then questioned everything that happened....I felt it was a money making system,exploiting vulnerable individuals with mental problems..after I returned I felt no aftercare etc ( unless you revisited) I went downhill rapidly,when I wrote to slocum was told to visit again( more money)
In all honesty ..please think carefully about go here,.
would I go again....NEVER...even the thought of it makes me sick to my stomach...
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Date of stay: January 2016Trip type: Travelled solo
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from amaruspirit, Guest Relations Manager at Amaru Spirit
Responded Sep 10, 2016
Hi Meltem B, We are sorry to hear that you were less than satisfied with your stay. But we find your accusations highly offensive. We take great pride in the services we provide and there are a number of positive reviews that praise our high quality of care. Many guests return to us time and time again seeking our tobacco dieta among the rest of our modalities. We do not take advantage of anyone and we hardly make attempts to advertise or convince anyone into joining us. Plant medicine is a system in which you receive what you give to it. Surely it is not for everyone but we do our best to make it as comfortable a process as possible. We hope that you may find the path you seek. Namaste <3
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Amaru Spirit is absolutely AMAZING! This place is the real deal. So I recently returned home after a couple weeks down in Iquitos. I made my first ayahuasca trip in the summer of 2013 to a larger ayahuasca retreat which has a larger online presence. Happy with the experience and wanting to dive down further, I booked a return trip this year. After having already made my non-refundable reservations, I was chatting with a friend I made from last year's retreat and he told me about Amaru. The way he explained the smaller, more personal ceremonies and the way they were ran, I was very intrigued. Having already booked my reservations at the first place for a hefty chunk of change, I figured I would just go and try Amaru next time. Well I arrived a couple days early and contacted the owner, David "Slocum" Hewson to see if maybe I could at least come and check out his place while I was in the area. To my surprise, he quickly emailed me back and said he would be in the city that day and maybe we could meet up for lunch. So we met up and right away I felt extremely comfortable with him. He was just as my friend Satyen had explained: down to earth, zero ego, extremely knowledgable, very welcoming! Overall he was just a very cool guy that was fun to talk to! So after hanging out at a local restaurant for awhile, he said I could come back with him to check the place out. As soon as we arrived at the property, it just felt like home. The first place I was at felt more like a resort, but this place felt more like you were at someone's house. The property is really big and there are tambos (cabins) all over. The tambos are well situated to give the guests more privacy if they want it. There is a central house where the kitchen is and where everyone generally hangs out. Again, hanging out in the main house really felt like you were on someone's big farmhouse. Very loving and welcoming energy there. So right away I knew I really wanted to stay there, but I already had my reservations elsewhere. I took the last boat back to town before sundown and proceeded with my original plans. Once I arrived at the other place, I informed them the first night that I would be cutting my 12 day, 7 ceremony visit short. So the day after our 5th ceremony, I packed my bag and headed for Amaru. I arrived and talked to David and once again felt very at home. Since I was coming off of 3 ceremonies in a row from the first place, I decided just to take a break that first night. This was a great decision because dinner was EXCELLENT!!! Every day and every night at Amaru, the food is amazing. I'm no vegetarian, but if I were even half that creative in the kitchen with vegetables and super-foods, I would be one!!! I cannot talk enough about the food quality! They have this huge table and everyone just gathers around the table and enjoys the daily/nightly FEAST! (unless, of course, you are doing a ceremony that night) So after a good night's rest and a day of relaxation, I was ready for a ceremony.....................................So after 12 ceremonies over 2 years at the original place, nothing even came close to the ONE ceremony I had at Amaru!!!! Wow!!! All I can say is Wow!!!! I will tell you that the highlight was the personal work done on me by the owner, David! He came by my mat late in the ceremony and asked if I would like an energy clearing. Trusting in him, I agreed. Let's just say that if there ever was a small percentage of my brain that didn't believe in any of this energy, mumbo jumbo, hippy BS, it was completely erased!!!! Wow!! The personal work he did on me was unbelievable! I could not even believe it was happening while it was happening. I cannot thank Slocum enough! He pulled stuff out of me that I didn't even realize was in there! I had planned on doing 2 ceremonies with the medicine, but that one ceremony was so powerful, I just decided to rest and try to process all that had just taken place. I felt so good and light the next day and I really just didn't want to take the chance in messing it up. Now I'm back in "the world" and I still feel great! Very, very profound experience! :-) Now something else to really love about Amaru Spirit is the flexibility! Most places have a set program and everyone arrives together and goes through a process together. Amaru is nothing like that. If you want to stay 3 days, you stay 3 days. If you want to stay 3 months, you stay 3 months! People are coming and going all the time and you really have the freedom to do what you like or feel comfortable with. Mostly, I was just amazed at the level of knowledge that David has! Yes, he administers ayahuasca, but it seems that his real passion lyes in super-foods and plant diets! He's all about using plants to clean the body out and provide it with clarity and direction. I've never met a guy so knowledgable about such a variety of things, yet so down to earth and approachable as Slocum. So in the end, I feel like I found a home in the Amazon. There was a bit of me that felt like I wasted my time and money at the other place, but I guess it's all part of the journey and I'm just grateful that I found Amaru Spirit! I have definitely found the place I will return to for my next retreat with the medicine and am currently recommending it to anyone who is thinking about a trip to Iquitos. Thank you David, Jan, and the whole Amaru Spirit staff! Keep doing what you are doing!
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Date of stay: June 2014Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My experiences at Amaru Spirit have changed my life. I arrived in June with two friends. They stayed for 10 days, and originally I booked for 14 days but extended to my stay to 21 days. (The flexibility of the centre to accommodate the individual is one of the advantages of this place). I returned to Amaru a month later for another three weeks (with a month of travel in between my two stays).
Prior to discovering Amaru Spirit I had drunk ayahuasca at another centre in Peru (which involved some ceremonies earlier this year, and also some ceremonies a few years ago). When I arrived at Amaru I knew that this place was on another level. The grounds at Amaru are beautiful. The maloka (where the ceremonies take place) is an incredible space. The food at Amaru is outstanding (mostly vegan or vegetarian, varied and plentiful, highly nutritious and satisfying).
At Amaru I faced some of the most challenging experiences of my life. But to help me through were the staff who are of utmost integrity, knowledge and experience. I owe so much to these people and will be grateful for the rest of my life. And by working through my process I was also able to experience some of the greatest, most powerful, most beautiful moments of my life.
I feel it necessary to mention that Amaru is not a place of Ayahuasca tourism: if you are interested in having a “one-off” experience with this medicine the Amaru might not be for you.
Amaru Spirit is an Healing Centre, with an array of plant diets, cleanses and plant medicines that are selected for the individual, based on a wealth of expertise and experience. There is an unique sense of community that has been cultivated, and while individuals go through deep personal work, there is always a sense that the community is with you. The individual is empowered to do the work they must on their own, but whenever someone needs help, there is a community that comes together to for them.
Prior to discovering Amaru Spirit I had drunk ayahuasca at another centre in Peru (which involved some ceremonies earlier this year, and also some ceremonies a few years ago). When I arrived at Amaru I knew that this place was on another level. The grounds at Amaru are beautiful. The maloka (where the ceremonies take place) is an incredible space. The food at Amaru is outstanding (mostly vegan or vegetarian, varied and plentiful, highly nutritious and satisfying).
At Amaru I faced some of the most challenging experiences of my life. But to help me through were the staff who are of utmost integrity, knowledge and experience. I owe so much to these people and will be grateful for the rest of my life. And by working through my process I was also able to experience some of the greatest, most powerful, most beautiful moments of my life.
I feel it necessary to mention that Amaru is not a place of Ayahuasca tourism: if you are interested in having a “one-off” experience with this medicine the Amaru might not be for you.
Amaru Spirit is an Healing Centre, with an array of plant diets, cleanses and plant medicines that are selected for the individual, based on a wealth of expertise and experience. There is an unique sense of community that has been cultivated, and while individuals go through deep personal work, there is always a sense that the community is with you. The individual is empowered to do the work they must on their own, but whenever someone needs help, there is a community that comes together to for them.
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Date of stay: September 2016Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arriving at Amaru spirit again I already felt a welcoming home by Slocum and Nikki who have become family of spirit and soul. Amaru is a haven of beauty and comfort and guidance and wisdom, it was indeed good to be back...
The journey has been long since the last time I was here and now back to somehow to meet Morpheus, and what I would later find, a reclamation of an inner wonder through a rebirth of every cell, of every breath, and the truer perception of life...
Meet Morpheus is an intense alchemy of ancient wisdom of plants and ancestors, guided by two masters of sincere heart and beautiful empathy. Nothing could have gotten me prepared for the journey that begins with a cleansing of your mind, emotions, body, and spirit, for only then may the wisdom of ages be revealed… Morpheus took me to the depths of nothingness, and when that was all that was left, and the emptiness my only salvation, only then does the light shine through, and what majesty and humility is it to witness. Every ceremony is like a lifetime of space and understanding. The Nemesis, Cave of Lost Souls, Death/Rebirth all aided by divinity of the master plants and wisdom of Nikki and Slocum.
The days granted for integration are of equal if not more importance as you reconnect with the essence of yourself once more. Integrate with yourself with every new breath and translucent thought, and only then the world awaits.
Every hour of everyday is a life lesson at Amaru. Allow the beauty, energy, and nurturing rhythm of nature heal and replenish your mind, your body and your spirit. The jungle is never intrusive but cautiously caring for you at every moment. Her animals, and flora and fauna all find their way into your heart.
It will always be home with the love of everyone there. Everyone at Amaru is pure from within. A special warmth to Gladys who took such good care of us with her heartfelt food and smile that was our sunshine in the jungle.
I thank the world, not only for the experiences I have had, but for the people that my life has been blessed with, and I am indeed blessed to know Slocum and Nikki. They are rare caring masters in our world today. Shepard’s of truth, inner wisdom and seekers of purity of heart...
So much can be said about this journey and all its teachings, yet as Morpheus says, “I can only show you the truth, its up to you to decide what to do with it…”
The journey has been long since the last time I was here and now back to somehow to meet Morpheus, and what I would later find, a reclamation of an inner wonder through a rebirth of every cell, of every breath, and the truer perception of life...
Meet Morpheus is an intense alchemy of ancient wisdom of plants and ancestors, guided by two masters of sincere heart and beautiful empathy. Nothing could have gotten me prepared for the journey that begins with a cleansing of your mind, emotions, body, and spirit, for only then may the wisdom of ages be revealed… Morpheus took me to the depths of nothingness, and when that was all that was left, and the emptiness my only salvation, only then does the light shine through, and what majesty and humility is it to witness. Every ceremony is like a lifetime of space and understanding. The Nemesis, Cave of Lost Souls, Death/Rebirth all aided by divinity of the master plants and wisdom of Nikki and Slocum.
The days granted for integration are of equal if not more importance as you reconnect with the essence of yourself once more. Integrate with yourself with every new breath and translucent thought, and only then the world awaits.
Every hour of everyday is a life lesson at Amaru. Allow the beauty, energy, and nurturing rhythm of nature heal and replenish your mind, your body and your spirit. The jungle is never intrusive but cautiously caring for you at every moment. Her animals, and flora and fauna all find their way into your heart.
It will always be home with the love of everyone there. Everyone at Amaru is pure from within. A special warmth to Gladys who took such good care of us with her heartfelt food and smile that was our sunshine in the jungle.
I thank the world, not only for the experiences I have had, but for the people that my life has been blessed with, and I am indeed blessed to know Slocum and Nikki. They are rare caring masters in our world today. Shepard’s of truth, inner wisdom and seekers of purity of heart...
So much can be said about this journey and all its teachings, yet as Morpheus says, “I can only show you the truth, its up to you to decide what to do with it…”
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Date of stay: June 2017Trip type: Travelled solo
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Kate, thanks for getting in touch. The best thing to do is fill in our booking form from the Bookings page on the website amaruspirit com (or send us an email from the Contact page). Please give us as much detail as possible so we can look at everything as a whole. Then we can give you some complete feedback.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Yes, I really think it will help. If you never had ayahuasca ceremony before, I strongly suggest taking a tobaco diet for day and a half. It will clean your body and mind and will make ayahuasca experience so much better. In some cases ( me including) ayahuasca doesn't accept you, after tobaco diet it does. When you arrive Slocum will have a talk with you, he might even "read" you :), definitely tell him at that time the reason for your coming. Actually I also had an issue with anger, I only stayed for a week but it really helped me. Let me know if you have more questions. Cheers!
Hola Cecilia
Gracias por su mensage.
Hay informacion de nuestros retiro en el website en la pagina Retreats
Por mas informacion, por favor, manda un correo a
bookatamaru @ gmail . com
Gracias
"Bring: masking tape to grab tiny ants that get thru bed mosquito net; extra flashlights/batteries (humidity glitches); two big dry bags."Read full review
"Each guest gets their own house or their own floor in a 2 story house. No A/C or electricity but w/mosquito netting."Read full review
"I stayed in Casa de Suenos - second closest house to the Maloka, beautifully built with a hammock inside and out."Read full review
"House will be chosen by Slocun, all houses are spread around the property, far enough from each other so you feel completely isolated."Read full review
LOCATION
PeruLoreto RegionIquitos
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
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Frequently Asked Questions about Amaru Spirit
Which popular attractions are close to Amaru Spirit?
Nearby attractions include Tapiche Jungle Reserve (1.1 km), Belen (0.4 km), and Malecon Tarapaca (1.2 km).
What food & drink options are available at Amaru Spirit?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Amaru Spirit?
Conveniently located restaurants include Restaurante Blanquita, La Mishquina, and Don Andres Cebicheria Restaurant.
Does Amaru Spirit have airport transportation?
Yes, Amaru Spirit offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.