Ayahuasca and Yagé: Sacred Amazonian Medicines with Shared Roots
The sacred Amazonian brew known as ayahuasca—meaning “vine of the soul” in Quechua—is made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and has been used for spiritual and physical healing in the Amazon rainforest for thousands of years. While “ayahuasca” is the common name in Peru, in Colombia and Ecuador it is often called yagé, and in Brazil, caapi. Across the Amazon Basin, nearly a hundred Indigenous tribes have their own traditions and ceremonies with this powerful plant medicine.
Though both ayahuasca and yagé share the same sacred vine, the recipes and ceremonial practices differ slightly by region. The brew is combined with DMT-containing plants, such as chacruna (Psychotria viridis) or chaliponga (Diplopterys cabrerana). Colombian shamans often use chaliponga, while Peruvian shamans traditionally use chacruna. Some healers add other master plants for unique energetic and medicinal purposes.
Preparation also varies across traditions. In Peru, ayahuasca is often brewed with the bark left on the vine, creating a stronger, more purgative tea. In Ecuador, yagé is sometimes prepared using only the inner “bone” of the vine, producing a gentler brew. Colombian yagé is known for its deep cleansing and powerful visionary effects, often leading to profound emotional and energetic release.
Regardless of how it is prepared, both ayahuasca and yagé serve the same sacred purpose: to connect the body, mind, and spirit with nature’s intelligence, cleanse energetic blockages, and open the path to deep self-healing and transformation.
Experience Traditional Ayahuasca with Maestro Reshin Nika
With over 35 years of experience, Maestro Reshin Nika is a highly respected Shipibo shaman and healer who has guided countless guests through ayahuasca ceremonies and master plant dietas in the Peruvian Amazon. After five years of service at the Garden of Peace, he has opened his own Shipibo family–run center deep in the jungle, just an hour northwest of Pucallpa, Peru.
At his new ayahuasca retreat, guests experience intimate ceremonies in small groups of no more than five people, allowing for personal attention and deep spiritual guidance. The retreat is supported by a mostly female Shipibo family, creating a safe and nurturing environment. A dedicated facilitator and translator are on-site to assist guests throughout their stay.
From the moment you arrive, everything is taken care of—from airport pickup in Pucallpa to transportation to the retreat—so you can focus completely on your healing journey.
Join Maestro Reshin Nika in the heart of the Peruvian jungle to experience authentic Shipibo ayahuasca ceremonies and master plant dietas rooted in ancient Amazonian tradition. Discover a space of deep transformation, spiritual alignment, and profound connection to the medicine of the Earth.
