THE ONIKANO TEAM

Onikano is one of the very few Ayahuasca retreat centres in the Peruvian Amazon fully owned and operated by a local Shipibo family and local staff. Guests connect directly with the original Shipibo tradition — with no intermediaries, no outside management and no external vision shaping the experience.

Participants are welcomed not only into a retreat, but into a living Shipibo space where care is part of the tradition itself — present in the daily rhythm of the centre, and in the way each person is received throughout their stay.

From the ceremonies to the meals, from airport pickup to the preparation of each bungalow, every aspect of a guest’s stay is held by a local team whose presence gives Onikano its warmth, authenticity and character.

“An important feature that differentiates Onikano from most other retreats is the close contact with the shaman. In many retreats, shamans are brought in just for ceremonies, and this is your only interaction.

At Onikano, the Maestro is on site six days a week. He takes a personal interest in the individual treatment of every single pasajero.”

— Geoffcito, Aya Advisors, June 2026

Maestro Niwen Koshi is usually accompanied by other shamans or shamankas who work under his guidance, each bringing their own experience and particular mastery to the ceremonies.

In the Amazonian tradition, different healers may specialise in different areas of work — such as mapacho, Ayahuasca, toé, San Pedro, cleansing practices or other forms of plant medicine. This diversity allows the healing process to be supported from different angles, according to the needs of each retreat and each participant.

The ceremonial team may vary from one retreat to another, so it is not presented as a fixed structure. What remains constant is that all ceremonial work is held under the direction of Maestro Niwen Koshi and within the traditional Shipibo framework of the centre.

For guests who do not speak Spanish, translation support is provided throughout the retreat: during consultations with the Maestro and whenever needed during the stay.

Onikano’s translators are volunteers who have previously attended a retreat at the centre as guests. Having gone through the process themselves, they understand the rhythm of the centre, the ceremonial context and the particular quality of presence this role requires. They are not interpreters in the classical sense — they are people who know this place, trust it and choose to return in service to others.

The role is demanding, but also extraordinary — translators work closely alongside Maestro Niwen Koshi throughout the retreat, which means continuous exposure to his diagnostic process, his way of reading each person and his knowledge of the tradition. For those with the right disposition, it can become one of the most formative experiences the centre can offer.

Translators play a fundamental role in the retreat experience, and Onikano is always open to meeting people who fit the right profile. Fluency in both English and Spanish is essential, but the role asks for more than language skills. A good translator at Onikano is humble, compassionate, mature, stable, communicative without being intrusive and able to hold space for others without placing themselves at the centre of the process.

If you have completed a retreat at Onikano and feel aligned with this role, you are welcome to get in touch by email after your retreat. The team will let you know if there is availability and if the timing feels right, both for your own personal process and for the needs of the centre.

Onikano is held by many hands — some visible, others working quietly behind the scenes: the kitchen team, the people who care for the bungalows and shared spaces, the drivers, the artisans, the volunteer translators and all those who help keep the retreat running with care, consistency and heart.

Each person brings something valuable to the retreat experience.

Iráque — thank you all.