Maestra Maricela Rios Inuma belongs to the Shipibo nation from the Pucallpa region of the Peruvian Amazon. Her work with plant medicine began early in life, when at just 13 she dieted the master plant Jaguar Caspi to recover from a serious illness. Through this process, she healed fully and took the first step on a lifelong journey of learning from plant spirits.
Now 50 years old, Maestra Maricela has spent the past 12 years working with her husband, Maestro Francisco, as a respected Onanya — a Shipibo term for an ayahuasca healer, or one who has wisdom. Her Shipibo name, Inkarina, means “fierce medicine woman princess.”
Together, Maestra Maricela and Maestro Francisco offer deep medicine work grounded in heart-centeredness and unconditional love. At Soltara, their warmth, joyful laughter, and the striking beauty of their icaros, or medicine songs, are deeply appreciated.