Refugio Altiplano is a shamanic healing retreat in the Peruvian Amazon that specializes in ayahuasca ceremonies. [1] Founded in 1996, it is one of the first ayahuasca retreats in Latin America to focus mainly on international clients. [1] The retreat center is set on a 700-acre rainforest reserve adjacent to the Tamshiyacu River, a tributary of the Amazon River, and is reachable only by boat from Iquitos, Peru. [1] [2]
Refugio Altiplano was founded by Scott Peterson, an American who completed a six-year apprenticeship with a Shipibo shaman near Pucallpa, Peru. [1] The retreat was opened in 1996 with the goal of making ayahuasca healing available to more individuals outside of Peru. [1] Peterson led the retreat until his death in 2013, when it continued to operate under new management. [1]
The retreat habitually has Shipibo shamans on its staff, due to the tribe's centuries-old cultural and spiritual connection with ayahuasca. [2] It has drawn travelers from several nations over the years and has been highlighted in books, documentaries, and media reports on ayahuasca tourism and traditional Amazonian plant medicine. [3] [4]
Refugio Altiplano provides residential programs of ayahuasca ceremonies, which are always conducted by skilled shamans. [1] The programs cover accommodation, meals, and supervised attendance of the ceremonies. [3] The retreat also offers space for guests to explore other Amazonian plant medicine practices, subject to availability and practitioner proficiency. [3]
Refugio Altiplano has been covered in media and cultural productions, such as the non-fiction book, The Ayahuasca Diaries by Caspar Greeff, which took place mostly at the retreat. [5] [6] The retreat was featured in video productions by YouTube Originals, such as a documentary that gained several million views online. [7]
The center was visited by psychedelic researcher Robin Carhart-Harris, who gave a talk about ayahuasca and shamanic practices during his visit. [4] The retreat was also profiled in The Lost Executive [1] , The Daily Telegraph [2] , and News.com.au in the context of ayahuasca tourism and alternative medicine. [3]