We believe in the need to embrace the emotional, energetic, and spiritual aspects of holistic healing. Our mission is to empower each participant to rebuild the bridge between spirit, body and mind to become a sincronized unity. We believe in expanding the definition of what healing can look like. Working with the plant medicine ayahuasca under the guidance of our Kukama healers who have extensive plant medicine experience to support a uniquely integrative approach to shamanic healing.
Amazonian plant medicines such as ayahuasca as part of an holistic therapy, request us to reconnect to all parts of ourselves, and if there are deteriorated parts, to confront them directly to renew and restore our harmony: they want to teach us the path. By enlightning shadowed corners of our psyche, we become aware, so we can learn from, and release the suffering attached to them. Our proficient healers and facilitators will help guide you through this process of self-discovery through plant medicine healing and supportive holistic modalities.
12:00 Arrival & check in
13:00 Lunch
15:00 Orientation meeting
19:00 Dinner
07:00 Vomitivo
08:30 Breakfast
10:00 Ayahuasca talk
12:30 Health check
13:00 Lunch
17:30 Flower Baths
19:00 Ceremony 1
08:00 Breakfast
09:30 Consultation with Healers
13:00 Lunch
15:00 Steam Baths
19:30vCeremony 2
08:00 Breakfast
10:00 Group Share
13:00 Lunch
17:00 Botanical Walk
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Night Walk
08:00 Breakfast
10:00 Healing and reuniting your physical and spiritual world speech
13:00 Lunch
18:30 Flower Bath
19:30 Ceremony 3
08:30 Breakfast
10:00 San Pedro Ritual
13:00 Lunch
14:30 River Excursion
19:00 Dinner
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 Pilpintuwasi and Kukama Maloca Visit
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Departure
Working with plant medicines for healing purposes requires appropriate preparation and understanding, to have a safe fulfilling healing experience.
Please take note that it is important to discuss with your doctor and let us know any medications you are taking upon registration to ensure your complete safety and well-being.
We encourage you to start adjusting your diet at least two weeks in advance. The sooner the better. This will clean and prepare your body to enable you to have a deeper and more profound experience with Ayahuasca.
Pork and red meat must be fully eliminated two weeks before and after the retreat. Consuming fish and chicken is fine and it is better to find organic/free-range meats.
Alcohol must be fully eliminated two weeks before and after the retreat. The earlier you eliminate alcohol before the retreat will be additionally beneficial as it will allow your body to detox further.
Any of all recreational drugs need to be eliminated fully at least 3 weeks before and after the retreat. One may run the risk of psychological or energetic damage as these pose a serious contraindication with Ayahuasca.
It is best to eliminate or heavily cut back on coffee/caffeinated drinks, white flour products, dairy products, fermented products, spicy foods, highly salted & fried foods, processed foods, and refined sugars, two weeks before and after the retreat.
Consuming some small amounts of healthy natural salt is good to keep in the diet.
It is fine to keep some healthy oils and fats in your daily diet such as seeds, nuts, avocado, virgin olive oil, etc.
Recreational cannabis should be eliminated for 2 weeks before and after the retreat to make an energetic space for Ayahuasca to work with you.
Sexual activity of any kind should be eliminated for one week before and after the retreat.
Please avoid watching or reading anything that may contain violence or trauma.
We encourage our participants to take advantage of the time leading up to the retreat to develop deeper into the ayahuasca retreat preparation by engaging in any/all of the following: exercise, meditation, yoga, intention setting, spending time in nature, expression through art, inspirational reading, organic vegetable juicing, cleansing and detoxing, etc.
The Ayahuasca brew contains two plants: the Ayahuasca vine, which contains a Mono-Amine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI), and Chakruna leaf, which contains DMT. The vine, among other things, acts to prolong the effects of the DMT found in the leaf and to allow it to pass into your system. This medicine is in the DMT family.
Ayahuasca acts on the serotonin system and thus any substance which acts on serotonin systems must be discontinued at least 4-6 weeks before a retreat. This particularly includes SSRIs and SNRIs (which are both types of common anti-depressants), and any MAOIs.
These are potentially fatal in combination with Ayahuasca. Please read about Seratonin Syndrome. Do a google search and you will see why it is so important to discontinue these kinds of medications before participating in an Ayahuasca retreat.
If you have a heart or blood condition we may start you with a lower dose of medicine to see how your body responds. Please continue taking your heart or blood pressure medicines.
Ayahuasca will worsen symptoms of schizophrenia and psychosis. If you’re taking anti-psychotic types of medications, Ayahuasca will not help with these conditions. However, depression, bipolar or anxiety conditions do respond well to the medicine.
If you are taking any medication for a long-term condition or have been taking it for a long time, please consult with your doctor before stopping it. Some medications require tapering, which means taking a lower dose in increments until stopping altogether.
In some cases, your medication may be necessary for your health and should NOT be stopped. For instance, please CONTINUE medication for these conditions: diabetes, blood pressure, heart, thyroid, or any other condition that your physical well-being and health depend on.
Stop medication 4-6 weeks before and 2 weeks after Ayahuasca Retreat: You may need to taper medication, which means you need to start earlier than 4-6 weeks in order to be free of the medication completely for at least a month before the retreat. This means taking a lower dose in increments before stopping altogether. A doctor can advise you on how to do this best: Anti-Depressants – which interact with the serotonin system, MAOIs, SSRIs, and SNRIs, anti-Anxiety drugs, recreational drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines (including Adderall and Ritalin), MDMA (ecstasy), and similar substances.
Stop for at least 2 weeks before and 1 week after the Ayahuasca retreat: Cold/cough medicine, sleeping pills, sedatives, tranquilizers, diet pills, barbiturates, opiates, antihistamines. Please do not use herbal mixtures of any kind unless provided by our shaman.
We can accommodate diabetics in our retreats: Tell us in advance the care you require, let our staff know about your regular protocol, bring all your usual items and medications with you, bring your medicine and kits to ceremonies in case needed.
Please don’t take Ayahuasca when you are pregnant or lactating. If you are not sure if you’re pregnant, please wait until you know for sure.
At Sumaq Kawsay we work with Kukama healers. Kukama healers are known to have a profound knowledge of Amazonian Shamanistic traditions. There is an underlying principle in our Universe: Everything is connected toward harmony and wholeness and this principle applies to all kinds of life too.
Health recovery must work from micro to macro levels. Our cells should repair themselves imitating the perfect planetary and galactic movement. This is the main principle that rules our Universe and to help achieve is the tradition of our Kukama healers. All we do is assisting the process by facilitating the optimal environment for the healing to take place.
The Kukama work to achieve this through the use of a wide variety of plant medicines, including ayahuasca, to assist the natural healing that strives to regain balance and harmony.
Our Eco Lodge is located in the Kukama Communal Reserve, next to the Momón River. Our place provides a high level of comfort in a beautiful location in the rainforest. Next to our lodge is located Padrecocha, a friendly town where most of the staff are members of the community.
We accommodate our guests in single, double, triple cabins depending on their booking request. Our healing retreats take a maximum of twelve participants and unless a room is shared with a friend, family member, or partner, each guest has a private room. The bathrooms are equipped with sinks, toilets, and showers. Each room is fully screened in and has electrical outlets, fans, and bed lights. Our Eco Lodge is designed to provide comfort so everyone can focus on their healing process. Beds, linens, towels, mosquito nets, shelves for clothing, table & chairs, fan, filtered water, and a comfortable hammock outside. All cabins have electricity with 220V.
It is recommended to bring only safe, eco-friendly, biodegradable soaps, shampoos, and conditioners. Due to the delicate ecosystem and terrain of the land, composting toilets are provided in place of flush toilets. Each guest cabin has a private composting toilet.
The Peruvian Government has taken the following measures to fight COVID-19: Travelers entering the country must show before boarding the plane a negative PCR test issued up to 72 hours before boarding or a negative antigen test issued up to 24 hours before boarding. The entry of non-resident passengers from South Africa, Brazil, and/or India or anyone who has made a stopover in those countries in the last 14 days is suspended until August 8. Quarantine is canceled for travelers entering the country except for Peruvians and foreigners residing from South Africa, Brazil, and/or India or anyone who made a stopover in those countries, who must carry out a mandatory quarantine at their home, accommodation, or another temporary isolation center for 14 days from arrival in Peru.
The use of a mask is mandatory throughout the country, as well as the use of double masks in closed places, such as airports, shopping centers, banks, supermarkets, among others. The population is reminded of constant hand washing, avoiding crowds, and maintaining social distance.
For your international flight you will arrive in Lima, Peru. From Lima, you will take a 1:30 hour flight to the city of Iquitos. We recommend flying with Latam Airlines, arriving the first day the retreat begins. We will pick you up at the airport exit. Transportation back to the airport is included on the departure day. After we have confirmed your reservation with us we will send you a copy of the specific flight itinerary that we suggest for your Peru in-country flight. If you are flying to Peru from a country outside of the USA and your flight has a layover in the USA, you may need to acquire an ESTA Visa to be able to travel through the USA without issues.
A Passport is required for your international travel. You will receive a visa upon entering the country as you pass through customs. You can receive up to 90 days of entry per year. According to Peruvian Immigration Law, it is necessary that your departure date from Peru be no less than three months from your passport expiration date.
Our Eco Lodge is located in the Kukama Communal Reserve, next to the Momón River. Our place provides a high level of comfort in a beautiful location in the rainforest. Next to our lodge is located Padrecocha, a friendly town where most of the staff are members of the community.
We accommodate our guests in single, double, triple cabins depending on their booking request. Our healing retreats take a maximum of twelve participants and unless a room is shared with a friend, family member, or partner, each guest has a private room. The bathrooms are equipped with sinks, toilets, and showers. Each room is fully screened in and has electrical outlets, fans, and bed lights. Our Eco Lodge is designed to provide comfort so everyone can focus on their healing process. Beds, linens, towels, mosquito nets, shelves for clothing, table & chairs, fan, filtered water, and a comfortable hammock outside. All cabins have electricity with 220V.
It is recommended to bring only safe, eco-friendly, biodegradable soaps, shampoos, and conditioners. Due to the delicate ecosystem and terrain of the land, composting toilets are provided in place of flush toilets. Each guest cabin has a private composting toilet.
