Centro Holístico YANKUAM

Macas, Ecuador

Millenary Traditions of the Shuar Nation. Welcome.


Centro dedicado al desarrollo del bienestar a través de practicas terapéuticas multidisciplinarias, ancestrales e integrativas, desde el conocimiento y la cosmovision shuar.







Yankuam Family welcomes you: 

Uwishin Hilario Chiriap
Uwishin Nase Chiriap
Mama Rosa Jimpikit
Kintianua Chiriap

Natemamu 2026

Waterfall & Ayahuasca Purification Ritual
Guided by Shuar maestro Uwishin Hilario Chiriap
Jan. 7-18 2025 Macas, Ecuador

Uwishin Tíí Arutam Tuntiak Hilario Chiriap:

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Uwishin Tíí Arutam Tuntiak Hilario Chiriap (Taita Hilario) is our host, guide, and teacher at Yankuam. A Shuar medicineman and doctor h.c., he comes from an old lineage of uwishin shamans. The uwishin are traditional healers of the Shuar people in the upper-Amazon of Ecuador. It is a millenary knowledge of medicine, of health and science, of spirit and arts, language ana wisdom passed down from generations preserving what has become a very rich and precise healing tradition. Working with sacred plants, taita Hilario aims to keep the origin and essence of the Shuar medicine alive, through preservation, practice, and dissemination. In wise prayers he shares knowledge about a path of remembering, to recall our place as family of the Earth and the Great Spirit.

Centro Holístico Yankuam

Macas, Ecuador




Gallery of Yankuam Retreats

 

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Casa Ayamtai & Centro Holístico Yankuam
Ancestral Culture and Traditional Medicine

 

Natemamu & TunaKaramtai 2026

About this Retreat

 


This retreat invites you to a deepening of your relationship with plantmedicine, the jungle and your higher self. An ancestral rite of the Shuar people, seeking way to the waterfall while fasting; receiving a spiritual name and the powerful purification of the descending water, seeking strength and vision for a four day quest, a cleansing ceremony drinking large amounts of tea from the natem (Caapi) vine. As much as the inner journey is full of gifts, one is seeking perseverance. Additionally there’s several nighttime medicine ceremonies, sweatlodges, hikes, a Shuar cultural event, workshop and ecological activity: harvesting, planting and cooking medicine.

Where? From main location Centro Holístico Yankuam, in Macas, in the province of Morona de Santiago, we'll be moving to several locations. It is about 8hrs by bus from Quito or Guayaquil. There’s basic shared accommodation, some private rooms at a near hostel, shower and warm water and Wifi in case needed, but it is suggested to disconnect as much possible from devices. There are limited beds in the shared cabin, camping with your own tent is also possible. Food is mostly vegetarian, but may include chicken or fish, depending on the program and related medicine work.. Do let us know if you have any specific dietary requirements.The weather is usually warm, humid and rainy, and commonly chilly at night. Parts of the program take place at locations within the jungle and communities where we’ll be hiking and camping in any weather conditions, so be prepared! We will guide you in what to bring and how to prepare.


You must be in reasonable physical condition and fit enough for the hiking. This journey and plant medicine is not suitable for those who are on some (psychiatric) medication, have psychological disorders or serious health issues. These can be treated in a personalized retreat and diet. Participation may be confirmed after a personal (health-) assessment, a signed form and payment. Please contact us if you have doubts about this retreat or your condition. Because of the expenses preparing the event, there's a cancelation agreement, read it here. By paying you agree with this. It also helps you to fully decide to be at this retreat. 


You can register and pay 50% after the personal assessment, and pay fully before December 2025 (EarlyBird).|
A longer stay after the retreat is beneficial and can be arranged at USD $35 per day for lodging and all meals.
Individual healings, ceremonies and treatments can also be planned.

 

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Mano Churuwia

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Mano is a guide, therapist and medicineman in the spiritual traditions of the Shuar and Mexican medicine and herbalism, nearly 2 decades walking this path with Taita Hilario and Tata Juvenal. Through his mixed European and Mexican descent, he bridges between the ancient traditions and modern life. Mano is a massage therapist, medicine singer and artist.

Working with Yankuam organizing Shuar traditional events with the Chiriap family, he is available to guide you in preparing for your diets and ceremonies, and help you integrate your experience. 

 

Casa Ayamtai

Tepoztlán, Mexico

 

 

Costs: 10 days program.
does not include your travel costs, travel insurance, or optional room at closeby hostel.
1 person

$2250 us

Deposit to secure reservation: $1000,- 
Single bed in shared cabin: limited availability. Camping is possible. Your travel costs to/from Macas are not included.

1 person (book 3 months before) 

$2150 us

Pay in full. Single bed in shared cabin: limited availability. Camping is possible. Your travel costs to Macas are not included.

Additional stay (per day)

$40 us

Price per person, per day / with bed in shared room, including meals

Individual Healing or massage

$70-120 us

Price per person, depending on treatment.

FAQ

There's a few steps, involving a personal interview and health assessment before you can be admitted. There you will be informed of basic preparation such as diets and health requirements. Based on experience and without any discrimination what so ever, the facilitators maintain the right to accept/deny any application. Once accepted, a deposit of 50% is required to confirm reservation, and a full payment is due 21 days before the event. You will receive a payment link. A document relating to the preparation, rules and health assessment should be signed and sent through email at latest 2 weeks before the event.

We aim to have between 8 and max. 15 participants. Most of the program will take place in Spanish with English translation. Most food will be vegetarian or fish/chicken, freshly and deliciously prepared meals by the local indigenous family. If you have any dietary needs or intolerance for certain foods you let us know.

Due to the significant financial liabilities of retreats, a set of cancellation and refund policies will apply as follows. We understand that life happens and things do not always go according to plan, however, this refund policy will be enforced regardless of the reason for the cancellation including those that deserve our sincerest sympathies.

Payment of the total program fee should be completed at latest 21 days before start of the retreat. 21 days before the start of the program, the cost will go up with $50 USD. If you need an arrangement please let us know.

If you cancel up to 42 days before the Retreat, you may receive a 95% refund. If you cancel up to 21 days before the Retreat you will forfeit your 50% deposit, the remainder will be transferrable to any other event organized by Ayamtai. If you cancel 14 days or less before of the start of the Retreat, you will forfeit your 75% payment, the remaining 25% will be transferable. If you cancel 5 days before the Retreat begins the program fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

On the improbable occasion that we would need to cancel the Retreat due to an unlikely event of extreme weather conditions, natural disaster, illness, pandemic lockdown or any serious contingency, a refund will be provided: if we would need to cancel 21 days or longer before the event you will receive a 75% refund, the remainder will be transferrable. For cancelation on our behalf within 21 days before the event, you will receive a 50% refund on the amount paid, the remainder will be transferrable.

It is your responsibility to purchase travel insurance to protect yourself from any loss due to program cancellations, changes, weather delays, or health contingencies. We (your host, Ayamtai) are not responsible for any costs incurred for travel arrangements or other costs you may have made and will not, under any circumstance, reimburse you for expenses other than (partial) amounts paid out to us.

It will be possible to register up to 1 week before the beginning of the retreat. This is necessary to be able to prepare for it with care and responsibility, and to have everything prepared for the amount of participants.

The retreat's locations are in and around the Amazon town of Macas. We’ll mostly be at the Yankuam healing centre, 15 min. from Macas, in the province of Morona de Santiago. There’s Wifi in case needed but we encourage to disconnect as much possible. Food may include chicken and fish, but do let us know if you have any specific dietary requirements. The weather is usually warm, humid and often rainy, and commonly chilly at night.

The currency in Ecuador is USD. In Macas Internet café’s can be found, there are also hotels, cashpoints, Western Union, launderettes, restaurants, a market and handcrafts. In case of contingency, there's a clinic/hospital, dental care, etc.

We have never had an emergency during our years of retreats, but it is your responsibility to purchase a travel insurance to protect yourself from any loss, health contingencies, program cancellations or changes, weather delays, etc. We (your host, Ayamtai & Yankuam) are not responsible for any costs incurred for travel arrangements or other costs you may have made and will not, under any circumstance, reimburse you for expenses other than (partial) amounts paid out to us.

We recommended you to travel lightly, but bring at least:
a sleeping bag and a small mat to lay on, bathing suit, soap and towel, a reusable water bottle, warm clothing, a rain-suit or poncho,  hiking boots that can get very wet and muddy or rubber boots (better protection, available to buy in Macas), a pair of flip-flops or comfortable (water-)sandals, a knife, a LED flashlight, some waterproof band-aid (for blisters), mosquito repellent (preferably non-toxic), and a strong medicinal ointment to cure the skin of mosquito and insect bites.

If you wish, you may also bring a traveler’s first-aid kit, a hammock and/or a tent, a piece of plastic to cover your backpack, a mosquito net. We highly
recommend you to get a travel insurance.

Program 

* program may have minor adjustments.    

  1.  Day 1      Temazcal (sweatlodge), Opening Ceremony 
  2.  Day 2     Visit to Shuar community, Shuar dances and traditional teachings, ceremony 
  3.  Day 3     Harvest and planting of medicine plants
  4.  Day 4     TunaKaramtai: fasting, hike to waterfall, tobacco and waterfall ritual, ceremony
  5. Day 5      TunaKaramtai waterfall bath, return to Yankuam, rest
  6. Day 6      Day 1 of Natemamu ritual: Early rise, preparation of Natem medicine, Ritual
  7. Day 7     Day 2 of Natemamu ritual: Early rise, preparation of Natem medicine, Ritual
  8. Day 8      # Day 3 of Natemamu ritual: Early rise, preparation of Natem medicine, Ritual
  9. Day 9     # Day 4 of Natemamu ritual: Early rise, preparation of Natem medicine, Ritual  
  10. Day 10     Temazcal and Closure of Natemamu, Night: San Pedro medicine ceremony
  11. Day 11      Closure of the retreat, Departures or additional stay

Write to us: Questions and Registrations


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Ayamtai - eSPAcio Cultural, Espiritual & Terapéutico
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