Our Story
Kaya Rao began as a small project born from our shared experiences with plant medicine and our desire to create a retreat space that feels personal, respectful, and carefully held.
After working in different retreat and healing environments, we felt called to create something smaller and more intentional. Rather than hosting large groups or frequent retreats, our intention has always been to create spaces where people feel supported, safe, and able to move through their process at their own pace.
Over time, Kaya Rao has grown mainly through word of mouth and referrals from past guests. Our hope is to continue growing in this way slowly, personally, and with care.
Pao’s Path
Pao began working with plant medicine in 2012, spending time in the Amazon learning from Shipibo healers and participating in many ceremonies and plant dietas.
As a Peruvian woman, her approach to this work is grounded in deep cultural respect and responsibility. She has family roots in the Amazon and felt a connection to these traditions from a young age.
Over the years she has worked closely with Shipibo maestros and has also supported retreats in the Sacred Valley and Costa Rica as a facilitator.
Alongside her work with plant medicine, Pao has studied inner child work, trauma-informed therapy, psycho-spiritual integration, and compassionate inquiry. She also works with other traditional practices including temazcal, tobacco, and prayer.
In 2023 Pao became a mother to our son Ikal, and we are currently preparing to welcome our daughter in 2026. Motherhood has become one of her deepest teachers and continues to shape the way she approaches this work.
Jake’s Path
Jake came to this path after a period of pain, personal change, and deep self-inquiry. He is originally from Manchester and has lived in the United States, Australia, and Asia before eventually travelling to Central and South America.
Earlier in his life he spent many years building businesses and travelling. Although things looked successful from the outside, he eventually experienced severe burnout and began searching for a deeper connection with himself and with life.
Through meditation, yoga, and personal healing work he began reconnecting with his internal world. During this time he decided to step away from his businesses, sell everything he owned, and travel to Central America to work with ayahuasca.
This journey eventually led him to South America, where working with ayahuasca and plant dietas in the Amazon became an important part of his path.
These experiences shifted his relationship with himself and opened a new direction in his life.
Today Jake supports the retreats with facilitation and works privately with individuals as an integration coach, helping people bring insights from plant medicine and personal development work into everyday life.
Fatherhood has also become one of Jake’s most important teachers and continues to shape the way he approaches both life and this work.
How We Work
Our intention with Kaya Rao is to keep the retreats small, personal, and grounded.
We usually host between five and ten participants so that each person can receive the attention and support they need throughout the retreat.
We work closely with experienced Shipibo maestros and place strong emphasis on preparation before the retreat and integration afterwards.
Rather than running frequent retreats, we prefer to host a small number each year so that we can remain fully present and committed to the work.
Together we hold spaces of prayer, healing, and transformation.
Our long-term vision is to create a sanctuary in the Sacred Valley – a place where healing, community, and connection to the land can come together.
Our Values
Cultural respect
Safety
Integrity
Honesty
Personal attention
