Affectionately known as Paparahua, Cesar is the husband of Maestra Justina and brings more than 50 years of experience working with medicinal plants. As a Shipibo shaman, he began his path with the medicine at just 14 years old. Now 66, with a lifetime devoted to plant diets and healing practice, he is widely respected as “the shaman’s shaman.”
Born into a lineage of Merayas, the Shipibo’s highest-ranked curanderos, Cesar was introduced to the healing path by his father, from whom he inherited his knowledge of the plants. His first plant diet lasted more than a year, and since then he has completed over 30 additional plant diets. By the age of 16, he was already leading healing ceremonies.
Today, he shares his wisdom and warm presence during the healing process. His icaros carry both strength and tenderness, offering a beautiful example of an old traditional shaman. The team at the center feels deeply honored to have Paparahua with them. When he is not at the center, Cesar returns to the village of Vencedor to care for Arkana’s Ayahuasca plantation.