MASTER-PLANT
DIETAS IN PERU

We kindly ask all participants to arrive in Pucallpa on August 19 to ensure a grounded and timely start on Day 1.
Accommodation for the night of arrival is not included and should be arranged individually.
The official retreat program runs from August 20 to September 2, and these are the days covered by your payment.

Day 0 – Arrival in Pucallpa (August 19)
Participants arrive in Pucallpa.

Recommended hotels:

Manish Hotel Ecológico – Cozy jungle-style cabins in a peaceful natural setting.
Costa del Sol Wyndham Pucallpa – Comfortable city-center hotel with modern amenities.
Group pick-up on Day 1 will be from Costa del Sol Wyndham only.
If staying at Manish or another location, we can assist in arranging a motocarro (tuk-tuk) transfer to the pick-up point.
Cost: 15 soles (approx. $4 USD), paid directly to the driver.

Day 1 – Welcome & Orientation (August 20)
7:00 AM – Group pick-up from Costa del Sol Wyndham
12:00 PM – Arrival at the APL Center, welcome, and camp tour
1:00 PM – Lunch
4:00 PM – Group meeting: introduction to the Sama process, protocols, and Q&A
7:00 PM – Dinner

Day 2 – Opening the Sama (August 21)
8:00 AM – Flower bath
9:00 AM – Official opening of the Sama
12:00 PM – Meal for participants
7:00 PM – Ayahuasca Ceremony – Opening the connection with the plant

Day 3 – Deepening the Sama (August 22)
6:00 AM – Morning plant drink
12:00 PM – Meal
6:00–7:00 PM – Individual energetic protection with the Onanya

Day 4 – Deepening the Sama (August 23)
6:00 AM – Morning plant drink
12:00 PM – Meal
6:00–7:00 PM – Individual energetic protection with the Onanya

Day 5 – Deepening the Sama (August 24)
6:00 AM – Morning plant drink
12:00 PM – Meal
6:00–7:00 PM – Individual energetic protection with the Onanya

Day 6 – Deepening the Sama (August 25)
6:00 AM – Morning plant drink
12:00 PM – Meal
6:00–7:00 PM – Individual energetic protection with the Onanya

Day 7 – Second Ayahuasca Ceremony (August 26)
6:00 AM – Morning plant drink
12:00 PM – Meal
7:00 PM – Ayahuasca Ceremony – Realignment and deepening your process

Day 8 – Deepening the Sama (August 27)
6:00 AM – Morning plant drink
12:00 PM – Meal
6:00–7:00 PM – Individual energetic protection with the Onanya

Day 9 – Deepening the Sama (August 28)
6:00 AM – Morning plant drink
12:00 PM – Meal
6:00–7:00 PM – Individual energetic protection with the Onanya

Day 10 – Deepening the Sama (August 29)
6:00 AM – Morning plant drink
12:00 PM – Meal
6:00–7:00 PM – Individual energetic protection with the Onanya

Day 11 – Deepening the Sama (August 30)
6:00 AM – Morning plant drink
12:00 PM – Meal
6:00–7:00 PM – Individual energetic protection with the Onanya

Day 12 – Final Ayahuasca Ceremony (August 31)
6:00 AM – Final plant drink
12:00 PM – Meal
7:00 PM – Ayahuasca Ceremony – Closing the Sama and placing Pana (energetic protection)

Day 13 – Integration Day (September 1)
8:00 AM – Flower bath
9:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00 AM - Group photo with the Onanya and fellow participants
1:00 PM – Lunch
2:00 PM – Group integration circle
4:00 PM – Shipibo traditional handicrafts activity
6:00 PM – Dinner

Day 14 – Departure (September 2)
7:00 AM – Breakfast

• 8:00 AM – Transfer back to Costa del Sol Wyndham Pucallpa

Chirik Sanango (Brunfelsia grandiflora) is a shrub native to the Western Amazon, widely recognized in Shipibo and other indigenous traditions as a principal “teacher plant” (rao). Its role extends beyond pharmacological use, embedding it deeply within the cosmological and therapeutic systems of the region.
Ethnobotanical context: Within Shipibo-Konibo practice, Chirik Sanango is incorporated into Sama (plant dieta) as part of long-term apprenticeship. It is approached not merely as a botanical specimen but as an interlocutor - a plant with which the apprentice develops a relationship of learning, discipline, and reciprocity.
Pharmacological/physical effects: Local specialists attribute to it properties that affect circulation, body temperature regulation, and vitality. Reported effects during dietas include sensations of bodily heat, trembling, and shifts in energy levels, which are interpreted as signs of the plant’s activity within the body.
Role in confronting fears: Among its most distinctive functions, Chirik Sanango is regarded as a plant that works directly with fear. The intense bodily effects it provokes are understood to surface latent anxieties and vulnerabilities. In Shipibo tradition, this is valued not as pathology but as pedagogy: the plant obliges the apprentice to face fear, cultivating resilience, patience, and the ability to remain present under pressure. Rather than eliminating fear, Chirik Sanango transforms the relationship to it, teaching how to endure, integrate, and ultimately draw strength from the encounter. From an anthropological perspective, this may be described as a pedagogical ordeal in which the plant functions as an active agent of knowledge transmission within Shipibo ontology.

Bobinsana (Calliandra angustifolia) is a shrub native to the Western Amazon, recognized in Shipibo and other indigenous traditions as a significant rao (teacher plant). Its striking pink blossoms have made it emblematic not only in ecological but also in cultural contexts, where it is often associated with vitality, sensitivity, and relationality.
Ethnobotanical context: Within Shipibo-Konibo practice, Bobinsana is incorporated into Sama (plant dieta) as part of apprenticeship. It is especially valued for its association with the cultivation of empathy, openness, and the capacity to establish harmonious connections. In local discourse, Bobinsana is frequently described as a “plant of the heart,” guiding apprentices toward greater sensitivity in both personal and social relations.
Pharmacological/physical effects: Bobinsana is noted in ethnomedicine for its use as a tonic, with local specialists attributing to it effects on circulation, immunity, and inflammatory processes. Decoctions of its bark and roots are sometimes employed in traditional medicine for rheumatism, joint pain, and general strengthening of the body.
Pedagogical and emotional dimension: Beyond its somatic applications, Bobinsana is understood to act as a teacher in the emotional and relational sphere. Through dietas, apprentices describe experiences of heightened compassion, emotional release, and the ability to engage with others from a position of openness. Rather than being framed in psychological terms, these processes are interpreted in Shipibo ontology as direct transmissions of knowledge from the plant, shaping the apprentice’s character and capacity to work with others.
Anthropological significance: Bobinsana illustrates the way Amazonian medical systems integrate physiological, emotional, and epistemological dimensions. It occupies a place where the body, the emotions, and the broader cosmological order are interwoven, offering insight into how Shipibo understand plants not as passive remedies but as active agents in processes of learning and transformation.

Ajo Sacha (Mansoa alliacea) is a woody vine native to the Amazon, widely recognized in Shipibo and other indigenous traditions as both a medicinal and a teacher plant.
Clearing saladera: In local ethnomedical systems, Ajo Sacha is frequently used to counter saladera — a state of misfortune, stagnation, or blocked energy. It is considered to cleanse these accumulations, restoring balance and opening the way for new opportunities.
Creating inner space: Beyond its cleansing role, Ajo Sacha is understood to create inner spaciousness. It helps to release melancholy, heaviness, and the residue of past emotional experiences. In Shipibo practice, this is not framed as symbolic but as an active teaching: the plant enables the apprentice to “digest” unresolved emotions, transforming them into clarity and resilience. This process generates the internal space necessary for growth, renewal, and purposeful action.
Anthropological perspective: Ajo Sacha exemplifies how Amazonian plant knowledge integrates bodily, emotional, and cosmological dimensions. It is approached not merely as a remedy but as an active agent that supports emotional digestion, liberation from saladera, and the cultivation of inner equilibrium.

Chuchuhuasi (Maytenus krukovii / Maytenus macrocarpa)
Chuchuhuasi is a towering Amazonian tree recognized in indigenous traditions for its strength, resilience, and grounding presence. With its deep roots anchored firmly in the earth and its trunk rising straight toward the sky, it symbolizes stability, continuity, and the bridge between the material and the spiritual.
Cultural context: The bark and roots are traditionally prepared as decoctions or tinctures in contexts where vitality, stamina, and recovery are needed. Chuchuhuasi is valued as a fortifying plant, supporting mobility, circulation, and overall vigor, especially during periods of strain or fatigue.
Phytochemistry and physical effects: Modern analyses have identified triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and antioxidant compounds in Chuchuhuasi, which are associated in pharmacological literature with anti-inflammatory and strengthening properties. These findings resonate with its long-standing role as a tonic for energy and endurance.

Chuchuhuasi is known for its ability to support structure and strength, both physically and symbolically.
As a great Amazonian tree with deep roots anchored firmly in the earth and a tall trunk rising straight toward the sky, it embodies resilience and balance. For those in dieta, it represents the connection between the material and the spiritual, helping them remain grounded throughout their experience.
Additionally, Chuchuhuasi is associated with healing across generations and with reproductive balance, linking personal renewal to continuity and vitality.

Toe (Brugmansia spp.)
Intense power:
Toe is recognized across the Amazon as one of the most potent and dangerous plants. Within Shipibo and other indigenous traditions, it is regarded with great caution and respect. Its effects are considered profoundly transformative but also highly unpredictable, which is why it is never approached casually. Only experienced Onanya (Shipibo healers) may work with it, and always within strict ritual frameworks.
Cultural and ritual context:
In traditional practice, Toe is not part of ordinary dietas. It is reserved exclusively for advanced healers, who may use it in controlled contexts to expand perception, communicate with spirit allies, and access knowledge that is otherwise inaccessible. Its visions are described as intense and overwhelming, demanding great mastery and discipline to navigate safely.
Anthropological perspective:
Anthropological accounts consistently emphasize that Toe functions as a plant of exceptional power but also exceptional risk. It is conceptualized as a conduit to other realms of existence, but in Shipibo ontology it can only be engaged responsibly by trained healers who possess the knowledge to open, guide, and close such encounters. For apprentices or participants, the use of Toe is strictly prohibited.

Uchu Sanango (Tabernaemontana sananho)
Origins and attributes:
Uchu Sanango is a shrub native to the Western Amazon and regarded in Shipibo and other indigenous traditions as a powerful rao (teacher plant). It is considered one of the more demanding plants within the dieta system, reserved for those with prior experience and not recommended for beginners.
Ethnobotanical context:
In dieta, Uchu Sanango is associated with processes of release and transformation. It is said to bring unresolved memories, emotional burdens, and latent fears to the surface, requiring the dietero to confront and let go of them. The challenges it presents are considered part of its pedagogy: Uchu Sanango teaches through intensity, obliging the apprentice to cultivate discipline, courage, and endurance.
Experiential and symbolic dimension:
Apprentices describe the plant as creating conditions for profound renewal. By loosening the grip of past burdens, it opens the way for clarity and presence, though this process is often physically and emotionally demanding. Its lessons are understood to strip away layers of resistance, allowing the practitioner to emerge more grounded and resilient.
Anthropological perspective:
Uchu Sanango illustrates how teacher plants are conceptualized as active interlocutors in Amazonian knowledge systems. It is not approached for visions but for its ability to restructure the apprentice through ordeal, making it a plant reserved for advanced stages of apprenticeship rather than an entry point for newcomers.