Videos

Ayahuasca preparation:

Ayahuasca preparation (#1) with Maestro Don Juan Tangoa Paima (Yacupuma.com)

Watch this video on YouTube.

los Vegetales Icaro :

Ayahuasca Ceremony Icaro – los Vegetales

Watch this video on YouTube.

Ayahuasca Ceremony:

Ayahuasca Ceremony

Watch this video on YouTube.

A movie about 4 people who came to Don Juan for healing by CM Films:

Ayahuasca Diary

Watch this video on YouTube.

Jolane Abrams interview – Don Juan’s apprenticeship:

Yacu-Puma Center, apprenticeship interview

Watch this video on YouTube.

Jolane Abrams – Think Before You Drink: on Vimeo

Testimonials

Troy Williams – Reviewed on 2018

Before I had found Don Juan I had been living in Iquitos for almost 2 years looking for a way to truly heal and find the right teacher to learn from. I had worked with over 12 different local curanderos from around the area and had fully immersed myself into the culture. I learned the hard way that not all use this medicine with pure intentions. For one year I had been working with an esteemed curandero who was loved by many from abroad but after time I had began to gather a different view from him. When I began challenging him on things that I could not morally accept, I was intentionally led astray and left seriously ill with no help.
A trusted friend who had been cured of a serious cancer by Don Juan had urged me to visit him, referring to him as one of the only “true” healers she knew. I stumbled wearily into Don Juan’s home and was given a thorough consultation about his teaching and the next day participated in ceremony. It was discovered that practicing methods of my previous teacher had left my body in pretty bad shape, worse than it had ever been. Everything from my kidneys, liver, intestines, and my stomach was damaged. The cause being the incorrect diet and use of various plants prescribed to me by my previous teacher.
I had been in a lot of pain and was literally fearing for my life. Don Juan assured me that he would be able to cure my illness if I could follow his strict guidance and that my poor financial situation wasn’t a concern. I was generously taken under his wing and felt welcomed by him and his family. My complicated issues did require some time to fully treat though was an incredible success. Throughout all of the chaos going in my personal life at the time on top of the severity of my situation I was provided safe asylum under his care.
I can certainly say that Don Juan and his dedication to this practice has saved my life and feel that encountering him was destined to be. I learned more in the 6 months working with him than I had in the previous 18 months all together. I had become part of the family. Don Juan proved to be dedicated to true healing and showed extraordinary morals not only surrounding his methods of practice but through his views of family, love and the purpose of life. My life has forever changed through my time with him and I will be sure to return to continue learning. Finding the right teacher or healer can be difficult though you can be assured you are working with one of the very best when coming to Yacu Puma.

After Years Of Searching, I Have Finally Found The Right Teacher

I came to Juan’s center with expectations and preconceived ideas on spirituality and what I might be doing there.
I came there with some background on many things concerning his work just to find out it’s not quite what I have expected, it was much more real than anything I have ever experienced.

From the beginning, before we even started the process of the ceremonies, the feeling I got from just living in the authentic environment and being deeply intimate with the spirit of the jungle, already put me in a very good state of mind.
It is really life expressing itself beautifully and so I really felt the shamanic experience surrounding me all the time taking care and keeping an eye on me.
The diet and the ceremonies were tremendously powerful yet, I never felt I was getting lost, thanks to the true traditional shamanic guidance of Juan.

Juan is truly the real deal when it comes to spirituality and its synthesis with the everyday reality.
Words cannot describe the amazing environment Juan created for people to retreat and experience a true healing and merging with nature. It simply is everywhere. I have learned so much and was able to finally overcome some of my greatest fears, but it was necessary for me to trust the medicine and the process.
Today I really recommend it to anyone who would like to experience real spirituality and heal things which are deep and even deeper then we are usually conscious of, because that’s the power of the truth I have encountered over there. It stripped me up, penetrated my blocks and it hit me exactly on the spot.

Juan is really an amazing person. I haven’t met anyone of his kind and sure am planning to come back to Yacu Puma again.

Elad Experience In the Yacu Puma center

Michael G. – Reviewed on September 23 2016

My time at Yaca Puma was powerful, pivotal, and deeply inspiring. Even though it has been months since I’ve returned home, I am still digesting and integrating the insights I gained during my stay there. Thank you, Don Juan, for being such a kind-hearted man and powerful healer. With your decades of experience, refined skillset, and pure intentions, you have created a beautiful, safe center for the medicine to work it’s healing within. I cannot thank you enough for doing so.

Powerful, pivotal, and deeply inspiring

Zach – Reviewed on September 18 2016

I visited Yacu Puma for the first time in January 2016. I came here because I was curious and I thought there must be more to life then what we experience daily. I was also looking for direction in my life. I had over 10 ceremonies at Yacu Puma. The ceremonies were sometimes pretty intense and difficult. Nevertheless I gained so much from it: It gave me a path, a direction in life. But most importantly I value life immensely. Before Ayahuasca, I took it for granted that I have food, that I can breathe and walk. I am much more happier on a daily basis than I was before. I could escape the prison of thoughts and live in the moment. I also learned how to handle extreme difficult times. This is really important as we all will experience some hardships in our lives. Ayahuasca and the system of the Shaman Don Juan learned me many useful tools and they make me more skilled to deal and solve any problems in life. Don Juan had always an ear for my questions and concerns and did an excellent job. His apprentice Ohad gave me valuable advice which helped me immensely during ceremonies. I love the delicious, fresh and healthy food the family always prepared. I recommend Don Juan to my friends because he is an extraordinary healer who works with good intentions and his only objective is healing and protecting people. It wasn’t easy to find a skilled shaman who works with the light. I’m going to visit Yacu Puma again.

I recommend Don Juan to my friends

Penelope Atkinson- Reviewed on September 17 2016
My boyfriend and I arrived in Iquitos knowing that we wanted to take part in Ayahuasca ceremonies but had no idea where to look, and were a little overwhelmed with the options of retreats online. We seemed to find Yacu Puma almost by chance, and mainly chose to partake in ceremonies there as we weren’t restricted to having to stay or commit for a certain amount of time. The house was a little tricky to find, and at first we weren’t even sure we were at the right place (I guess the maloka in the garden should have been a clue!) as there were no signs to advertise it, but we were so glad we persevered. The experience felt very ‘authentic’ and without pretension, and our first ceremony was just 3 foreigners and several locals. Importantly, we also felt as though we were in a safe place and were in good hands with Don Juan and his apprentice, Jolane. Don Juan has such a wealth of experience as a cuandero, and a very interesting life story. It may have been a little trickier were Jolane not there as she was able to explain everything to us (neither of us speak Spanish very well), and I believe it was our good luck she was there when we first arrived. However Don Juan has a reassuring presence, and I’m sure we would have somehow found a way through the language barrier. Also, our emails were swiftly answered whenever we had questions which was another reassurance. After the ceremonies, we were invited to stay for the night and join in with a late breakfast of delicious fish and vegetables prepared at the house by Don Juan’s family, according to la dieta. It was also a good opportunity to reflect upon our experience in peaceful surroundings. Unfortunately we only had enough time in Iquitos to attend 2 ceremonies, however I fully intend to return to take Ayahuasca and to continue the journey with Don Juan and Jolane.

‘authentic’ and without pretension

Anna Mason – Reviewed on September 2016

I had a calling to go the Amazon for healing, after struggling with Lyme disease and after seeing the Documentary “Ayahuasca Diaries”. I was very apprehensive to drink Ayahuasca, and my body and system had become very weak due to malabsorption and chronic infection. However, seeing as I was there had to put my faith in the process. Don Juan kept saying “Ayahuasca and God will clean your body and clean your spirit”. During my four months with the Maestro, we had a ceremony twice per week and the diet was very clean and strict. He recommended I drink special medicinal teas from his garden also, to help clean my blood, and support my organs and liver. The medicine was beyond words. I had the opportunity to explore repressed subconscious memories, I went through processes of grief, forgiveness, as well “downloads” of cosmic wisdom. I left Peru with a feeling of peace in my heart that I had never really had before. I stayed with the Maestro and his large extended family who live in simple conditions, however the thing that really struck me about Juan and his wife Leonor was the love and beautiful energy they emanate at all times. I highly recommend Yacu Puma as a place to stay and drink, particularly for psychological and spiritual issues and/ or trauma because you are in safe hands. You are with a true master curandero, with a pure heart and intention toward you.

Yacu Puma for 4 months

Elad Ed – Reviewed on September 2016

I have come to peru in search of a traditional Curandero to learn from because of my fascination with

perennial philosophy and primal wisdom. Meeting Juan was really an experience that has helped me

to acquire knowledge and virtues in the traditional way of the Curanderos. I cannot stress enough how important, when dealing with sacred plants (or as they are referred to , spirit master plants/teachers) to have a good, experienced and reliable teacher. These plants are no game to play, and further more they have what seems like an infinite depth and spectrum of experience. Note that the stronger the Curandero, the deeper one can enter into the experience, and the deeper one goes and is able to come back by help of the shaman, the more one gains.

I have to say, I absolutely got what i was seeking for, and more than that, Juan showed me how to diet and work with the plants, especially Ayahuasca, gaining intuition followed by visions and how to under stand them. I see and know how easy it is to use these plants in a manipulative way, and how inexperience or poor guidance can make one very confused about his experience, with don Juan I only felt the utmost confidence of his tradition carrying us safely in a very quivering and profound journey.

I thank don Juan and sure many more do, since I see how he accompanies each patient in his own journey with lots of care and patience during the ceremonies. being with him was the first time I felt someone is able to clearly see my personal trappings, triggers, and possible pathways of change.

I absolutely got what I was seeking

Nikola, Macedonia. – Reviewed on September 2016

We was there in February 2016, me and Djurdjica. It was our first experience with Ayahuasca and we was a bit worried, but everything was fine. Ceremonies were held in a friendly atmosphere and everything was very safe and relaxing which was particularly important for us. We also had a journey in the jungle and it was beautiful. Thanks for everything to Don Juan, i hope to go back there again…

Experience with Ayahuasca

Ehud M. – Reviewed 5 August 2015

This place is for real, I found myself staying for a month and a half in the Yacu Puma center. The food was simple and natural but taste good and fresh every day. The ceremonies were beautiful, sacred, but without the tourist attraction, no dress code and no strange requests and gestures. Don Juan’s house is the place, I’ve been to some places in the area before and found myself going back to Yacu Puma and to Don Juan ceremonies, I fell in love with his amazing Icarus, still sing them to myself after a few months back home.

Great place, amazing experiances

Angel S. – Reviewed 16 October 2015

Al vivir mi experiencia como aventurero limeño me dí con la sorpresa que la amazonia esconde misterios del cual a traves de Yacu Puma Center pude conocer, Grande Yacu.

Testimonial on Tripadvisor

The best Logde

Jaakko L. – Reviewed 4 September 2015

Puedo recomendar la estancia en el Centro Yacu Puma del Maestro Don Juan con el y su familia. He quedado ahí en cinco oportunidades, cada una entre dos semanas y dos meses y medio, desde el año 2006. Don Juan es un gran curandero y persona. Sus ceremonias son realmente sanadoras y autenticas. Con su familia reciben a gente de todos los partes del mundo con mucho cariño. La comida servida es fresca y sana, incluso de la dieta es tradicional. La localización es accesible y se puede conocer la región con facilidad.

Una vivencia y experiencia cultural sanadora

Erick C. – Reviewed 28 August 2015

Muy buen lugar para disfrutar tus vacaciones, buen trato, buen clima, la atención es adecuada. la comida es excelente.

Testimonial on Tripadvisor

Excelente

Andrea G – Reviewed 24 May 2015

Un lugar tranquilo, desetresante, para sañir de la rutina, rodeado de animales y con vista a la naturaleza. Es un lugar hermoso.

Testimonial on Tripadvisor

Paraiso de la selva

Yarina R – Reviewed 21 May 2015

Si uno vive en la ciudad y está cansado del ritmo del trabajo y el estrés que la misma vida te genera, el Yacu Puma Center es el lugar indicado para que uno se tome un verdadero respiro en los mismos pulmones del mundo: la amazonia peruana. En este lugar uno se podrá desconectar al 100% de su vida cotidiana y vivir experiencias inolvidables. El paisaje que podrán ver es espectacular y lo dejará con la boca abierta. Es un lugar totalmente recomendable para las personas que les guste las experiencias con la naturaleza. Ojo, hay que entender que no habrá muchas comodidades, pues no es un hotel de 5 estrellas, es un lugar para vivir una experiencia directa con la selva.

Testimonial on Tripadvisor

Muy buen lugar

Gabriela R – Reviewed 21 May 2015

Yacu Puma Center es el lugar ideal para que las personas se puedan desestrezar, debido a que se encuentra ubicado en el medio de la naturaleza y rodeados de animales en cautiverio y que se encuentran en el alrededor del área, es muy bonito!

Testimonial on Tripadvisor

Naturaleza total!

Rodolfo B – Reviewed 29 April 2015

El luga es bueno para tener contacto con la anturaleza es ideal para olvidarse del ajetreo de la ciudad y tener o pasar un momento lindo con animales y la naturalexza a mis primos les encanto visitar el lugar.

Testimonial on Tripadvisor

amo la naturaleza

PICABAVA – Reviewed 10 April 2015

El Yacu Puma Center es el lugar idóneo para que las personas se puedan desestrezar, debido a que se encuentra ubicado en el medio de la naturaleza y rodeados de animales en cautiverio y que se encuentran en el alrededor del área.

Testimonial on Tripadvisor

Relajamiento

jaumevivent – Reviewed 7 May 2012

El paisaje es especatcular en esta area es como estar en la slocaciobnes donde se filmo avatar. El lugar muy espiritual y se siente buena vibracion al llegar te hacen sanaciones lavados espirituales y una onda espiritual muy amistosa , lo recomiendo mucho.

Testimonial on Tripadvisor

mucha cultura