ABOUT US
AMA
/ˌɑː.mə/
in many different languages around the globe, Ama translates as mother or grandmother
KAYA
/ˈkaɪ.ə/
our favourite word in the Shipibo language,
translated as soul, shadow or reflection. It can also mean
“that which makes us exist”
We have seen ayahuasca and master plants transform our own lives and the lives of countless others. We have witnessed how difficult it is to find the right environment and the right people to guide you for this powerful process. This is why we created Amakaya.
Coming to Amakaya isn’t about being pampered or treated like a guest at a luxury resort. This is an opportunity to step away from the world of marketing and hype and into a world of subtlety, nuance, and hard work. We blend timeless indigenous wisdom with modern, scientifically-grounded understanding. We treat learning, growing, and healing as parts of the same whole. Our retreats and dietas are designed to connect you with plant medicines and the Shipibo wisdom in a safe, encouraging, and dogma–free environment.
You may experience bliss and love like never before, but you will likely experience something far less pleasant first. You may find answers and guidance beyond your wildest expectations, but you may also be required to ask deeply uncomfortable questions or let go of something you thought was precious. You may leave feeling like you’ve been reborn ― but you may also feel as though a part of you has died.
This is the work we continue to cherish for ourselves ― and the work we encourage you to do.
With love,
The Amakaya Team
NETE BESÓ - RICHARD
His Shipibo name, Nete Beso, means 'the one who awakens the universe', but he prefers to just be called Richi or brother or maestro.
He had his first drink of ayahuasca 34 years ago in a world that looked and felt much different than the world around us today. Over the years, he has worked at some of the very large, well-known ayahuasca centers (which is where we first met him), but he strongly prefers small, intimate ceremonial settings. Not only is he always calm and positive, but he has an innocence and simplicity at his core that we think makes him one of a kind.
He enjoys working with foreigners, often commenting how interesting and different their minds and struggles are from his own indigenous community. He loves his family, his culture, his farmland, and above all, his work as a maestro. He often smiles while reminding people, “Let go of the past and focus on where you want to go.”
METSA MANÓ - JULIO
His Shipibo name, Metsa Mano, means 'beautiful land'.
His story is similar to that of his younger brother, Richi. He grew up deep in the jungle, where he still lives today. He learned the Shipibo craft from his grandfather and other elders in his village and is now dedicated to passing it on to his own son and others. After having worked at large, well-known ayahuasca centers he now prefers the intimate, no-frills work we do at Amakaya. His essence can be seen clearly in his work ethic and the way he cares for his family and neighbors.
When he is not running ceremonies or dietas, he is likely to be found repairing engines, cutting lumber, hauling plantains, or baking bread for his family to sell in the village. During the day, he grabs your heart with his infectious smile and lively storytelling. At night in ceremony, he sings with a steady flow that carries you like a river to exactly where you need to go.
KAJSA LISA
Thirty something years later, Kajsa finds herself living in that far away world, an apprentice of the Shipibo ayahuasca craft, student of the language, and a virtuoso of the Shipibo embroidery tradition. The story sounds too good to be true, but it is. Kajsa radiates joy and strength. She is an artist at heart and an inspiration to everyone who comes in contact with her.
JONATHAN
23 years ago, Jonathan had his first encounter with Psilocybin, an experience that initiated a process of learning and seeking that would lead him to Brazil and ayahuasca a decade later. Since 2016, Jonathan has been living in Peru studying the effects and indigenous traditions of both ayahuasca and huachuma.
A scientist at heart, he was once a staunch Shipibo skeptic — but now considers himself a defender and apprentice of the Shipibo tradition. He loves to tell the story of how this change occurred — the evidence and experiences that he could not ignore, the synchronicities that helped him
open his mind, and his ongoing quest to understand how people, plants, and nature are connected underneath the surface. He loves to work, identifies first and foremost as a student, and holds gratitude and humility to be of the highest value.