About Us
Our Mission
At Nii Rao Nete, we honor the sacred teachings of the medicine. Guided by the wisdom of the plants, we offer a space rooted in Shipibo tradition—where healing, ceremony, and culture are shared with care.
This is a place to remember what the forest teaches: to live simply, to feel deeply, and to return to what is true. Through our songs, our plants, and our way of life, we welcome those who come with an open heart.
We are an indigenous run center, which aims to promote sustainable tourism within the community in order to stay away from harmful monocultures or other extractive activities. As indigenous peoples, we are trying to change the economical landscape of our community, providing local jobs, and investing in more facilities, so that the sustainable and ethical tourism initiatives can grow in Nueva Betania. All your money will go directly to shipibo community members and investments which are creating alternative livelihoods for us. This is only the beginning and we appreciate that you choose to stay with us.
The Shipibo-Konibo
The Shipibo-Konibo are Indigenous people of the Peruvian Amazon, traditionally living along the rivers and forest. Once three separate groups—Shipibo, Konibo, and Xetebo—they now share one collective identity and language from the Pano family.
Their knowledge of plants, healing, and art has been passed down for generations. Much of this wisdom lives with the elders and traditional healers today, though many young Shipibo are working to reconnect and carry it forward.
At Nii Rao Nete, we honor these roots—protecting the forest, sharing the medicine, and keeping our culture alive. Below is a short film made by youth in Nueva Betania, offering a glimpse into our way of life and the healing traditions we carry.
Meet Our Maestros
LUIS (RONIN RAWA) TANGOA OCHAVANO
Shipibo Healer, Artist, and Cultural Guide
Luis, known by his Shipibo name Ronin Rawa — meaning “the power of the anaconda” — is a traditional healer from Nueva Betania in the Peruvian Amazon.
With nearly 20 years of experience working with ayahuasca and other sacred plants, Luis comes from a long ancestral line of Shipibo onayas (healers) and began his path at just 15 years old under the guidance of his uncles and grandparents.
Alongside his healing practice, he is a self-taught painter whose visionary art is inspired by ayahuasca ceremonies, a musician who plays sacred melodies on the quena, and a guide who leads visitors into the jungle with warmth, insight, and care.
JOSEFA OCHAVANO MORI
Shipibo Healer, Artisan, and Elder of Nii Rao Nete
Affectionately known as Mamá Josefa, she is a beloved elder at Nii Rao Nete and the mother of healer Ronin Rawa (Luis). A member of the respected Ochavano family, she carries a strong lineage of Shipibo healers and herbalists.
Taught by her parents and grandparents, she began learning plant medicine and traditional Shipibo crafts from a young age.
Today, Mamá Josefa serves as a cook, herbalist, and teacher of ancestral arts — sharing healing not only through remedies and food, but through the stories, songs, and traditions she keeps alive with care.
When You Support,
You Sustain
We’re grateful for those who choose to support Indigenous-led spaces like ours. When you do, you’re not only joining a retreat — you’re helping sustain a way of life. Your presence supports our community, our culture, and the traditions we hope to carry forward for the next generation.