About The Temple

We are well known as the safest and most highly respected plant-spirit healing center in the Amazon

Temple of the Way of Light

The Temple is a pioneering healing center in the Peruvian Amazon that has facilitated ayahuasca healing retreats for approximately 12,000 guests from more than 33 countries since 2007

“The most positive, caring, love filled place I have ever been...”

Luke Szabo

Safe Ayahuasca Retreats & Plant Spirit Healing in the Amazon

All of our ayahuasca healing retreats feature a balance of highly experienced female and male healers (Onanya) from the indigenous Shipibo-Konibo tribe. Our incredible team of healers together carry hundreds of years of experience practicing the ancient art of ayahuasca shamanism. They are supported by our highly trained and knowledgeable Western facilitators, who act as a critical cultural bridge between the healers and our guests.

With meticulous attention to detail and unparalleled experience working with many thousands of guests, the Temple has developed and refined various ayahuasca healing programs in our beautiful jungle setting, about two hours by boat and track from the Peruvian city of Iquitos.

We consider our ayahuasca healing retreats as sacred work and are dedicated to providing the ultimate conditions for our guests to experience profound long-term healing and self-transformation.

The Temple has become recognized, by the thousands of participants we have supported over the years, as a ‘rebirthing’ center. Our healing work often catalyses a process of awakening, followed by many years of deep process that inspires and informs your ongoing spiritual evolution.

Located in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, we offer the opportunity for our guests to truly unplug from the modern world and experience an immersion into the rhythms and energies of the Amazon Rainforest - connecting to the source and birthplace of Ayahuasca. There is simply no better place to work with the Medicine!

The Shipibo system of plant-spirit healing (curanderismo) has the potential to shift you into right relationship with your self – your true nature, your loved ones, and ultimately, an intimate and primordial (re)connection with the natural kingdom.

By addressing the psycho-emotional patterns, energetic imbalances and personal & ancestral traumas that are at the source of suffering, ayahuasca and the Temple’s team of Shipibo healers can help you to honour and author your life, working towards a consistent experience of balance, centeredness, and a sense of deep purpose and fulfilment.

All Temple retreats include:

  • Exceptionally high ratio of healers and staff to guests
  • A high number of ayahuasca ceremonies (six on every retreat)
  • A series of six different floral baths
  • Plant vapor baths
  • Plant remedies – subject to individual needs
  • Energetic massages from the healers
  • A nutritional, balanced and tasty ayahuasca dieta friendly meals
  • Individual consultations and ongoing guidance from the healers and facilitators
  • A strong focus on how to process and integrate ayahuasca healing, both during and after retreat

“You can’t be so loved and well cared for and remain the same...”

Fulvia Giannunzio

Safety and Support

The Temple’s ayahuasca healing retreats are held with an unwavering focus on compassion and safety. We are constantly striving to offer the safest possible container and expert guidance to comprehensively support you through your healing experience; before, during and after retreat.

Before: We apply the most stringent health and safety protocols in the Amazon, including in-depth medical screening. We typically are able to accept approximately 70% of applications for our retreats. Once approved, guests receive detailed guidance on how to prepare for healing with ayahuasca and the initiation of a long term journey of self-transformation.

During: Put simply, we care deeply about our guests. This approach is embedded in the fabric of the Temple and shared by our entire team – Shipibo healers, Western facilitators and yoga teachers, and our extensive crew of 50 local workers. We are well known for the exceptional level of service and individual attention we provide on every retreat.

After: Plant-spirit medicine catalyzes a long-term process of awareness rising in your life which can often bring challenges during the process of integration. We ensure you have the support to safely navigate the ongoing process of integration once you return home. This includes pre and post retreat group sessions, access to a private FB group for the Temple guest community, a team of specialist integration guides, and a tool-kit of materials and practices to support you post-retreat.

More about Setting & Safety

“It’s hard to put into words how incredible this place is.”

Sam McClain

The Temple, Permaculture, and Being Regenerative

The Temple follows a model of health long practiced by traditional and native peoples, who understand that the health of the individual is intimately connected to the health of the whole.

As a community of over 70 foreign, local and indigenous people, caring for the health of our guests and staff takes place in the context of attending to Earth Care / Permaculture principles.

Since 2007, we have been working passionately to preserve / regenerate the local environment , generating much positive social and environmental impact in our neighbouring communities. We have significantly extended this intention through the founding and funding of our sister nonprofit organization, The Chaikuni Institute.

The Temple is located on a spectacularly beautiful 250 hectares plot of well protected, second degree rainforest land, that has been lovingly stewarded and preserved since 2007, as well as guided by a permaculture vision and masterplan created in 2012.

The Temple infrastructure sits across approximately 21 hectares consisting of 3 separate centers, each of which is self-contained. Our second center hosts the Chaikuni Institute’s permaculture & regenerative agriculture program. And our third center also focuses on permaculture, and hosts specialist retreats.

Here are some of our main areas of focus:

  • Sustainable buildings
  • Staple food & horticulture production
  • Medicinal gardens
  • Plant nursery
  • Regenerative ayahuasca production
  • Reforestation & food forests (Amazonian and tropical tree varieties)
  • Nine fish farms (Paiche for guests and numerous other Amazonian fish for locals)
  • Five chicken sheds (organic, free range meat and eggs)
  • Solar energy system for staff and kitchen
  • Natural, clean spring-water systems with carbon filters
  • Three bio-digesters and comprehensive recycling / waste management system
  • Co-creating and supporting 50 hectares of community based regeneration projects across an extensive network of local communities (through the Chaikuni Instiute).
More about Permaculture at the Temple

Video Reviews

“After coming to the Peruvian Amazon for close to thirty years, I have never really seen a project or center quite like this!”

“For those called to work with the plant, this is the place to do it, right at the source. No secondary reflection of it elsewhere can possibly match the authentic nature of the experience offered here at the Temple.”

Bruce Parry, award winning documentarian, filmmaker, and indigenous rights activist, talks about his experience at the Temple of the Way of Light after attending a 12-Day Ayahuasca Retreat in April, 2014.

Medicine hunter, author and educator Chris Kilham talks about his experience at the Temple of the Way of Light after visiting us in July 2014 and his perspectives on traditional healthcare and issues in conventional western healthcare.

“I came to the Temple a scientific materialist. I realised here that consciousness and spirit have always existed. It’s hard to put into words the profound change I have experienced.”

Amélie discusses her experience at the Temple focusing on healing self-hatred on one of our 12 day ayahuasca and plant spirit healing retreats.

Dr Dan Engle, Integrative Psychiatrist, shares a review of his experience at the Temple of the Way of Light. In this short interview, he shares his reflections on the work of the Temple – the healers, the facilitators, the set and setting, and his perspectives on the importance of respecting traditional healing practices of the Amazon when working with ayahuasca.

Written Reviews

My experience at the Temple went above and beyond anything I could have ever dreamt up.
Rory Freedman
The experience at the Temple has been a profoundly life-changing experience.
Daria Prysiaznisk
Words cannot describe the shift in energy that’s taken place in my body since I have been here. Peace – finally!
Dana Baggiani
The Temple is truly magical, safe, loving, and caring.
Angelo Sante
I have never felt so alive, aligned and myself.
Jacqueline O’Neill
This place is a true gift to anyone seeking healing, wisdom and a deeper connection to themselves, others and nature.
Sam W
The most transformative and magical experience of my life.
Sarah Stoll
The most competent care and healing I could ever have imagined. It’s transformed my life and opened extraordinary doors of inspiration.
Louise Mazanti
It changed the way I see the world, the way I see myself. My heart feels again what it had forgotten.
Imad Salloum
The Temple is such an eye opening, inspiring place. It is organized with great love and care.
Serena Scaglioni
I highly recommend the Temple to anyone seeking a life changing, transformative and ultimately healing spiritual experience.
Luke Williams
I am truly grateful for the way in which the Temple, the jungle, the staff and the plants are transforming the world of consciousness and awakening of mankind, one workshop at a time.
Erin Lonahan
Temple of the Way of Light has far outdone any expectations I could have imagine. This place is the real deal!
Travis Brown
The Temple is amazing, fantastic, life-changing, phenomenal, all-loving, non-judgmental, peaceful, humbling and friendly.
Demitri Kondogeorgis
I came out of the experience feeling whole and full of insights into the blind spots that have held me back in life.
David Jang
I benefitted profoundly from the ancient healing wisdom and practice of the Shipibo Shamans, unadulterated, pure and directly from the source.
Richard Graziani
The maestras/os are incredible with vast healing experience and knowledge, so loving, nurturing and truly invested in the wellbeing of all participants.
Darshan
The center is led by an extraordinary group of people who are able to support participants at any level of experience on their journey of self development.
Alissia Quaintance
The Temple is a safe and supportive retreat center with a deep respect for the Shipibo way and a genuine commitment to provide the best.
Frank Sorensen
Every aspect of the Temple has been considered as a support to the healing process. The Temple has succeeded in proving to be a very safe and supportive environment.
Frederick J.  Osterhagen
Although I tried to come without expectations, the Temple far exceeded those I did have. I truly could not imagine taking ayahuasca in any other setting, as I don’t believe the experience could get any better than this!
Kate Carman

Getting Here

The Temple of the Way of Light is located in the Amazon basin, in the Loreto region of Peru, a few hours journey by bus, boat, and hike from the city of Iquitos.
In order to come to the Temple you would need to fly into Iquitos International Airport in Iquitos, Peru. All flights to Iquitos are via Lima, Peru. We recommend booking your flights for one day before and after the start and end date of your retreat to first allow yourself time to acclimatize to the environment and then allow yourself ample travel time and time to reintegrate into the “mainstream” world once the retreat has ended.

**Please do not book flights or make any travel arrangements until your registration and medical information has been reviewed and you have been approved to attend a retreat.**

Each retreat group will be picked up on the first morning of the retreat at a designated pickup location in central Iquitos by one of our staff members and then travel to the Temple together from there. The group will be brought back into Iquitos after breakfast on the last morning of the retreat and will arrive in town by early afternoon (usually 2pm at the latest).

The price of a Temple retreat includes transportation from the group pickup place in Iquitos to the Temple on the first morning of the retreat and transportation back to Iquitos on the last morning of the retreat. The price does not include any flights, hotel costs, or transportation to the group pickup on the first morning
By Dates
By Program
  • 12 Days
    6 Ceremonies
    |
    $ 3,900

    Living in Alignment: Ayahuasca Healing Retreat

    The backbone of our work and regular retreat offering, providing an immersion in traditional Shipibo plant-spirit healing complemented with yoga classes, individual and group support, and powerful methods of self-inquiry.
  • 12 Days + 5 Days
    6 Ceremonies
    |
    $ 5,100

    Ayahuasca Healing Retreat + 5-Day Integration Retreat

    NEW OFFERING – a 12-Day ‘Living in Alignment’ Ayahuasca Healing Retreat with the opportunity to stay on at the Temple for a 5-day Integration Extension Retreat. Available in April, July, and October 2024.
  • 12 Days
    6 Ceremonies
    |
    $ 3,900

    Women’s Ayahuasca Healing Retreat

    For this retreat we will be working exclusively with female facilitators and female support staff. There is something very special that happens when a group of women come together to heal! To be held from April 16th to 27th, 2024 and November 26th to December 7th, 2024.
  • 12 Days
    6 Ceremonies
    |
    $ 3,900

    Queer Ayahuasca Retreat

    This special queer retreat will provide a safe, welcoming, and caring environment where participants can feel comfortable being who they are. Shipibo healing will be complemented with Compassionate Inquiry sessions. To be held from October 25th to November 5th, 2024.
  • 14 Days
    5 Ceremonies
    |
    $ 2,000

    Traditional Plant Dietas at Shipibo Rao

    We are honored to support Maestro Jose Lopez Sanchez and his healing center, Shipibo Rao. Maestro Jose runs 14-day dietas working in the Shipibo tradition.
    Visit Shipiborao's website to book
    Go to website