Ayahuasca Retreats in the Amazon Rainforest

Ayahuasca Retreatme and the result was surprising. From then on I
We are pleased to present a dedicatedwas never without my guitar at ceremonies and
programme in the Amazon rainforest, which isover the years many songs came to me, set to
focussed on an inner and deep self-explorationdifferent rhythms for ceremonies and
and encounter with the power of the rainforest.incorporating teachings and revelations from the
This is an adventure into the magical world of themedicine itself." He has published three CDs to
rainforest, and a transformative experience ofdate. Alonso lives in the sacred valley of Cusco
the ancient mystical rituals of the plant spiritwhere he runs a healing centre and a primary
medicines.school for local children.
Our accommodation is in comfortable traditional
The uses of powerful hallucinogenic plants such ascabins or tambos (dieting huts), a leaf roof
Ayahuasca and San Pedro have been developedsupported by poles and with open sides (the most
by indigenous peoples and early civilizations overintimate way to sleep in the jungle). The beds
thousands of years, and their effects are highlybenefit from a comfortable mattress and fly nets
dependent upon the context of the ceremony,when necessary. The tambos are spread out to
the chants and the essential personality of theassure privacy and minimum disturbance from
shaman, all of which can vary with surprisingothers. Participants have a choice of using either
results.the cabins in the 'Casa Grande' annex or tambos
Diverse urban uses have emerged recently and afor their retreat.
few of these are spreading, while some traditionalDuring the day when there are no activities, there
shamans travel the world, thus Ayahuasca iswill be hammocks to relax in, and you can read,
gaining recognition in Western civilization. But whator wander into the forest, or swim in the river
really is the potential of these ancestral plants, and(there is a small sandy beach). Our ceremonies
how can we get the most out of them?and meeting will be held in either the Casa Grande
In this special workshop - shamanism retreat, thewith an open platform on stilts directly on the
Peruvian maestro ayahuasquero Alonso del Rio willriver with a magnificent view of the rainforest
be with us for 10 days and hold ceremonies withand star filled sky. or our maloca (ceremonial
both Ayahuasca and San Pedro. Alonso will opentemple), a large circular tambo made of natural
us to a different dimension from working with amaterials and shaped like a womb. We will eat our
traditional shaman. He has both an Amazonian andmeals in the lodge, the traditional meeting place,
Western background and is therefore well placedwhere food is cooked on a wood fire.
to understand the problems of modern people<b>Single Accommodation</b>
and help them to greater self knowledge.One of the unique characteristics of this
He will share his wealth of insight into Amazonianprogramme is that we offer single
and Andean cosmology in a series of meetingsaccommodation throughout both in the hotels in
with time for discussion and questions. Apart fromLima, Iquitos, and at our Centre in Mishana. This
the ceremonies, he will be offering a choice ofensures that participants can obtain the maximum
two plants to diet: tobacco and guayusa. Both ofbenefit from their encounter with the plants. The
these work with your dreams, making themDiet really needs to be taken in solitude and
more conscious and 'real', in order to rest thepersonal retreat without distractions. This is a
rational mind and explore more deeply inwards.defining characteristic of this programme. Typically
<b>About the maestro</b>other programmes do not offer this and
Alonso is a powerful maestro who interweavesdormitory / shared accommodation is usually the
Shipibo and other icaros with sacred music of hisrule. Our Tambos (individual accommodation huts)
own to lead you on your journey; he is both aare all different and are spread out, some with
talented musician and an inspiring communicator ofmore isolation than others and we also have
the Amazonian shamanic world. He first came intoindividual accommodation rooms in the wing of our
contact with ayahuasca in 1979 after spendingCasa Grande for those who would prefer being
three years working with huachuma (San Pedro).close to the main facilities. There are photos on
This was when he met Don Benito Arevalo, athe web or I can send pictures on request.
grand Shipibo shaman with whom he developed a<b>Excursions</b>
long relationship, and who gave him his firstThere will be opportunities to make night time
teachings in ayahuasca and other medicinal plants.dugout canoe fishing trips with Pedro our hunting
Later, taking ayahuasca alone as part of hisguide and power boat trips along the river. There
traditional teaching, he says: "I didn't feelwill also be a resident craftswoman to
comfortable reproducing the chants that I'ddemonstrate and teach us to make the unique
learned with my maestro, so one night I pickedAmazonian crafts and textiles.
up my guitar and began to play what came to