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Psychonauta is a word play, based on proximity of our home base to town called Nauta. It is older than Iquitos, first port in the region marked on naval maps. Word “nauta” itself is rooted in Latin and means navigator. So “psychonauta” is voyager into infinite depths of own soul, that mystics of humankind recognize as reflection of universe. They have known a great many of techniques and tools for undertaking this journey. In our case we are drawing from indigenous traditions of use of master plants. Teachers and healers from wider circle of life than our limited human world. We are based in Amazon, so our work is based on use of local plants, including most famous of them, ayahuasca. But we also do projects in the Andes and beyond South America, always guided by principle of intentions and right tools to achieve it.
Second part of our name, Foundation, does not only refer to legal or organizational structure, but suggests that to succesfully embark on the journey mentioned above, and most of all, return from it with rich bounty, we should be properly prepared, to avoid getting lost or drowned. To use metaphor from plant kingdom surrounding us, to grow in a stable way, to reach ever higher, stable foundation – deep roots, strong trunk, a network of connections – is simply a must. Plants show us there is no rush, that things should be done step by step, with patience. In current explosion of interest in psychedelics, including therapeutical use of psychoactive plants, this issue will be increasingly important, and we are doing our part by focusing of serious training of future psychonauts, as well as potential captains of their ships – psychedelic guides and healers.
Maestro Miguel, a seasoned healer with over four decades of experience, began his unique path at 24 in the Amazon, learning from the forest and its plants. He became deeply knowledgeable in traditional healing methods and the creation of icaros. Miguel has formed special bonds with 42 plants, including Camalonga and Ayahuama, which he uses to aid those seeking healing. At 69, his expertise and icaros are a testament to his deep connection with nature and his unwavering commitment to helping others. Miguel's presence brings a rare and precious wisdom to all he meets, embodying the essence of true healing. Maturity, focus, sensitivity and commitment, these are the best words to describe him. You will be in good hands !
Virginia is a skilled Shipibo shaman with over 20 years of experience, working closely with her husband, Miguel, to form a powerful healing couple. Her energy is soft and caring, and during ceremonies, she creates a warm space where deep healing can happen. Her melodic icaros are bringing calm and peace. She gives herself fully to the work, sharing her soul in every ceremony. Virginia is also a talented artisan, creating traditional Shipibo crafts. She continues to diet master plants, deepening her connection with them and strengthening her healing abilities. Her kind presence makes everyone feel comfortable and at ease. Working with her offers not just healing but a sense of being truly cared for.
Family with maestro Eber, originally from Pucallpa, female Shipibo gem in our tribe, running ceremonies, dietas and responsible for physical treatment of female guests. 40 years of experience with plant medicine and healing, she brings in maturity combined with softness, kindness and patience. Trance inducing icaros, weaving their way between the masculine energy of the shamans she works with.
20 years on a long and twisted path of exploration of magic, primordial beliefs, traditional cultures, shamanism and spirituality of the world. From Rastafarian camps in Jamaica, voodoo in Haiti and Africa, desert traditions of healing with trance, in Maghreb, Ethiopia, Pakistan, shamanism of Mongolia, Africa, Pakistan, mysticism of Indian subcontinent, transformative Sufi rites on three continents, Bwiti initiation in Cameroon, finally culminating in Amazon and Andes, years of learning its traditional medicine, sampling various sources of knowledge of the world and inspiration, understanding of self and bringing others safely through paths scouted before. Worked with shamans in Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, gringos, mestizos and tribes : Shipibo, Siona, Cofan, Tsachilas, Kamsa, Achuar, Kichwa, Witoto.
Traveler, photographer, writer, guide, practitioner. Founder of headquarters of Psychonauta Foundation, medicinal camp in the jungle of northern Peru and a growing collective focused on therapeutic use of psychoactive plants.
Working on fringe area where medicine and art meet, thus reconnecting to primal, ancient shamanism reinterpreted through body, breath and own, unique experience for the moment of NOW, improvisation, techniques of trance, syncretism, song woven continually, rooted in ancient past and in various cultures with fruits here and for each case individually.
More on his blog : http://blog.swiatoslaw.com/
Powerful, raw, unstoppable, this is a rock you lean against, his icaros will blow you away. Dedication to work as no one we sat with before. Strong ride, no prisoners taken, great sense of humor, with Eber healing is an adventure. Maestro with 20 years of experience, but still young enough not be burnt out and jaded as many older shamans who fall into routine after years of work. He is one of the rare we have worked with with such passion, dedication and curiosity, showing that he is truly interested in people's processes, well being and healing. His icaros bring the medicine to completely new levels, many times people reported that they were not feeling much until he came to sing in front of them, to perform his shamanic surgery and open the journey wide and deep.
Maestro Cesar from Pucallpa, ex director of photography for Canon Peru, rare among Shipibo bridging of awareness of western, modern world and wisdom of the plants, with decades of experience in the latter. Melodic, energetic icaros and accessible personality, combined with serene Buddhist monk vibe. Working together and complemented by maestra Claudia.
Blez is a psychologist and traveler on Earth and in the inner worlds. He co-founded the Psychonauta Foundation and has made his home in the Amazon jungle with his partner and two children. Since 2016, he has been leading retreats that facilitate contact with psychedelic plants, helping hundreds of individuals expand their consciousness. His favorite plants for these experiences are Ayahuasca and San Pedro.
Over the years, he has undergone many plant diets, including Ajo Sacha, Bobinsana, Chuchuhuasi, Marosa, Shinipampana, Renaquil, and Chiric Sanango. He earned the nickname "Captain" from a Shipibo healer, he likes it for its connotation of guiding a boat, a psychedelic boat beyond the mind's boundaries. However, he believes true leadership enables individuals to become captains of their own lives.
In his practice, Blez combines his skills as a psychologist with the profound lessons from plants. He is committed to creating a safe, judgment-free space for those seeking healing. His priority is to foster a supportive environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
Blez takes great care in preparing medicines, ensuring their highest quality. He finds immense satisfaction in witnessing the transformation towards a more conscious existence and improved well-being. He states that healing can be a fascinating journey.
Trailblazing in ayahuasca retreat world since 2011, 10 years of experience in facilitating and managing retreats, pre and post retreat care, dedicated to psychology, neurobiology and anthropology. Trauma survivor, gentle, empathic soul and a mother of 9 year old girl who lives with us in the jungle.
Dominika is an artist, yoga practitioner and seeker of spiritual wisdom. With a foundation in fine arts from the State General School of Fine Arts and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Warsaw, her journey into spirituality began with Tibetan Buddhism at the age of 17. Since then, she has traversed various spiritual paths, exploring different cultures and states of consciousness. While working at the Rehab Center for Adolescents in Poland, she gained knowledge of modern psychotherapy for drug addiction.
In 2004, Dominika embarked on a global adventure, living abroad between United Kingdom, India, Peru, Mexico, Bali, Costa Rica, Thailand and United States, and traveling across different parts of the world. Her quest for healing led her to immerse herself in Medicine Plant practices in 2013. This devotion led her to ceremonies in the Camino Rojo tradition and apprenticeships in working with kambo, a practice she continued for five years.
She had the privilege to sit with various medicine men, women, and tribes from different traditions (Camino Rojo, The Native American Church, Shipibo, Q'ero, Yawanawa, Huni Kuin) and participate in sacred gatherings like Lunar Retreat, Vision Quests, Sun Dance, and The Four Altars Retreats. She translated book "The Four Altars" by Alonso del Rio into Polish and published in Poland in November 2022.
She has undertaken numerous master plant dietas with various plants, holds the sacred Chanupa (Sacred Pipe), and permission to lead Sweat Lodge ceremonies. Dominika's spiritual journey also includes guiding others through yoga practices, having completed teacher training in Ashtanga and Yin Yoga. She supports and guides post-medicine integration workshops and sessions.
Between 2020 and 2022, Dominika supported Sweat Lodges, organise and guide ceremonies in Poland before continuing her work as a facilitator at retreat centres in Peru and the United States. She organised workshops for men and women, drawing on her experience in art therapy, sound healing, and body work, as well as ancient practices from indigenous tribes of South and North America.
Her multifaceted journey reflects a deep commitment to personal transformation, healing, and sharing the wisdom gleaned from diverse spiritual traditions. Additionally, she expresses her creativity as an ecstatic dance dj, singer, song writer, artist, and fashion designer.
Working together and serving as example of harmonious and mature relationship, something we consider a foundation of healthy life, caring and dedicated, fluent in Spanish, English and psychonautics. Alba is also a professional massage therapist offering her sessions during retreats when she is present. In their words :
"We are a couple of travelers, searchers of experiences in different cultures for our personal development and spiritual growth. Our first contact with plant medicine was in 2017, since then, we have been studying life by the hand of different ancient medicines, which brought us to Psychonauta Foundation, where we continue to learn and share our experience and full trust in the process, also help to make this experience above all positive and full of change originating from love."
Our headquarters is based in the jungle, 100 km and around 2 hours away from Iquitos in northern Peru. It is a quiet, off-grid settlement with permanent residents, including children, and private huts for guests coming to our retreats. The place is rustic, designed with intention of maximum immersion in nature, compromised with need for providing safety for humans.
We are based at around 30 ha of our private forest that we commited to keep as such forever. Beyond, thousands more hectares of pristine jungle stretch until the horizon. We realize our dream, living and working in the Amazon forest, near plants, close to nature, close to the local healers’ community.
We came to this piece of land in 2015, slowly and prudently built houses and infrastructure, so as to least interfere with the forest we found at the beginning. We designed the whole resort with the idea of deep work with plants during diets in the Shipibo tradition.
All buildings are fully screened from mosquitoes and other insects. Mosquitoes are not a big nuisance here and malaria risk very low ( no cases ever reported among our guests ), so we do not recommend malaria medication.
We always pick our guests from Iquitos airport, and from that moment you do not have to worry about any logistics.
We are about 30 minutes away from local clinic, in case of emergency, but it has never been needed in our history.
Some of our guests join our conservation efforts and decide to invest in buying more forest land to keep it in its natural state, and we can help in that process. Some have already settled with us for good.
There are small streams running through our property, and around 20 minutes walk away one of largest tributaries of Amazon called Maranon, where pink dolphins can be seen.
A few hours away on this river, Pacaya Samiria begins, second biggest protected natural area in Peru and one of the best spots for nature tourism lovers, so you may leave some days after your retreat for extra adventure.
