Known within the Shipibo community as Soy Metsa, Luis was born in the indigenous village of Vencedor. The youngest son of Maestra Justina and Maestro Cesar, he is regarded as one of the Amazon’s most promising young talents. He carries the deep heritage and healing knowledge of a pure Meraya Shipibo lineage, grounded in generations of traditional wisdom.
Luis began drinking Ayahuasca at the age of 7, with a dose then measured as small as a bottle cap. A year later, after seeing his mother become seriously ill, he made a lifelong commitment to the healing path. He and his brother had to take her on an 8-hour boat journey to receive care from a shaman in a neighboring village. When the boat’s motor failed along the way, they continued by rowing, adding 12 more hours to the trip. That experience left a lasting impression on him and confirmed his calling: how could he not become a healer as the son of a great shaman?
At just 10 years old, Luis began working as a Maestro after completing a two-year plant diet with Sapote Renaco, Nihue Rao, and Bobinzana under his mother’s guidance. Over the past 12 years, he has continued to deepen his knowledge of the plant world while working with his family at Arkana Spiritual Center, supporting visitors from around the world.
Today, Luis is proud to represent the new generation of Shipibo healers and hopes to inspire other Shipibo youth to follow in their own traditions. Though young in age, he carries the wisdom of his ancestors and offers a vibrant, powerful energy to those he works with. His mission is to help as many people as possible find healing on spiritual, physical, and mental levels.