At Onikano, the Shamanic Dieta & Training does not follow a rigid or standardised program. The mastery of ancestral Shipibo healing techniques is vast and cannot be reduced to a fixed structure. Each apprentice walks a unique path, personally guided by the Maestro, in a process that requires commitment, discipline and extended stays at the centre.

Previous experience with Ayahuasca or master plant dietas may be helpful, but it does not determine a person’s true readiness for this training. Beyond accumulated experience, what matters most is the willingness to open the mind and heart, to listen and learn with humility, setting aside expectations, comparisons and preconceived ideas.

This path is not merely a technical apprenticeship. Above all, it is a process of inner transformation that requires maturity, emotional stability and a genuine call to service. Before learning to heal others, one must first learn to heal oneself.

In line with the teachings of the ancient Meraya masters, the training is organised in levels.

The first level lasts approximately 12 weeks. However, if you cannot commit to a continuous three-month stay in the jungle, you may split your training into blocks of 4 or 8 weeks based on your availability. This way, you may learn gradually, at your own pace.

It is not simply a matter of accumulating time and medicine, but of truly integrating the work that has been done. Each block represents a stage of deepening and consolidation. The journey begins by building a strong foundation — like the base of a house upon which the entire structure will rise. From this foundation, the apprentice progresses step by step, under the attentive guidance of the Maestro and in accordance with their individual evolution.

Previous experience with Ayahuasca and earlier dietas is valuable, but it does not exempt anyone from the preparatory week, and it does not shorten the path. Each person arrives with a different history, and the Maestro needs to know it before beginning the work.

For this reason, even those who have already walked part of the way must begin with a preparatory week, during which the Maestro assesses the state of those previous dietas and adapts the training to the apprentice’s present reality.

For those approaching Ayahuasca for the first time, the preparation may require more time, depending on their physical, emotional and spiritual state. No two processes are alike, and no rules apply equally to everyone. What each apprentice needs is determined by the Maestro, once they arrive at the centre.

The Shamanic Dieta & Training is a serious commitment, and for this reason it is best approached without haste. Throughout the different dietas, the apprentice develops sensitivity, clarity and a deeper understanding of the spiritual world, always at the pace of their own process and under the direct guidance of the Maestro.

This path offers an extraordinary opportunity for personal growth and inner transformation. Each dieta strengthens the apprentice’s capacity for self-healing and deepens their vocation of service. Those who choose to walk this path do not merely acquire tools — they transform their consciousness. From that personal transformation, the work of healing becomes a genuine act of service.

If you feel that this is your path, complete the Retreat Application Form indicating your preferred dates. Every application is read personally and answered within 48 hours, with the steps to follow to confirm your reservation.