OUR LOCATION
Casa Del Maestro is located outside of Genaro Herrera, Peru, a small river village with an estimated population of 5,000 people.
The village sits on the banks of the Ucayali River, one of the main tributaries that forms the Amazon. The Ucayali region, including Herrera, is home to well-established traditions of plant medicine. Maestro Alberto was born in Genaro Herrera and maintains a respected reputation in the region as a premiere ayahuasca healer.
ABOUT GENARO HERRERA
The village was founded in the early 1950’s and named after Peruvian literary figure, Ernesto Genaro Herrera Torres, who was a respected voice and documenter of local Amazonian culture. Much of the surrounding countryside is utilized for cattle ranching and making buffalo cheese. Maestro Alberto and his family keep a buffalo herd, as do many of his neighbors.
There’s a nearby I.I.A.P outpost (Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana), a government organization that focuses on scientific research, sustainable development, and natural resource management. Herrera is not far from Peru’s largest Amazonian reserve, Pacaya Samira.
THE LAND AT CASA DEL MAESTRO
We are one of the last establishments along the roadway before reaching the frontier with Brazil.
When you come here, you are coming to ancestral lands where ayahuasca has been utilized for generations. There is deep jungle in all directions . . .
The property is a multi-use space that includes the main ayahuasca camp, pasture, cultivated plots, several ponds, and a parcel of jungle. There are trails, medicinal and horticultural plants, domesticated animals, and ample space for nature, solitude, and reflection.
RETREAT CENTER FEATURES
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Accommodations: Simple, spacious, and clean. Guests enjoy private rooms in shared bungalows with shared bathroom facilities.
Bathrooms: Modern toilets, showers, and sinks supplied by our onsite well and supported by a septic field.
Electricity: Solar panels provide power for recharging devices, lights throughout the buildings, a small refrigerator, and kitchen appliances.
Cell Service: Mobile service reaches the center for both Bitel and Claro carriers. There is no WiFi, so we suggest getting an international data plan or purchasing a local SIM.
Drinking Water: Fresh drinking water dispensers are available throughout the property. Bottled water can be purchased for 3 Soles (less than $1).
Laundry & Linen Service: Laundry service is provided. Hand-washed and line-dried. Rooms will be serviced daily.
Hammock Lounges: Comfy hammocks are available in the main guest building as well as the maloca.
Library: A selection of books with spiritual, non-fiction, and fiction titles, many of which have been left by former guests for the next traveler.
THE JOURNEY TO GET HERE
Our trip begins in Iquitos, where we meet on the first day. After introductions, we’ll take a 90-minute bus ride to Nauta, a port town located south along the highway.
From Nauta, we transfer to a speed boat and are on the water around 1:30 pm. Lunch is served, and for the remainder of the journey, relax into the scenery as we follow the Ucayali upriver.
Upon arrival to Herrera, the Casa Del Maestro family will be waiting to greet us, help with luggage, and take us to the medicine center for the journey ahead . . .
