Ayahuasca Experience with camping on the Huallaga River.

This trip was accepted by Peru´s tourism promotion agency, PromPeru, to be included in their AL TUR 2000 catalog of innovative tours that combine local participation and respect for environment.

This trip is operated by Yacumaman E.I.R.L. and Chancas Expeditions. Yacumaman is a company devoted to therapy with amazon medicinal plants and the study of traditional amazon Shamanism.Chamanismo tradicional amazónico. Itīs founder, Dionisio Santos, was a co-founder of TAKIWASI (Centro de Rehabilitación de Toxicómanos y de Investigación de Medicinas Tradicionales) where he participated in developing a program for drug dependancy using diets, Ayahuasca and other medicinal plants. Presently he gives lectures and workshops in South America and Europe on traditional medicine and use of medicinal plants. Dionisio speaks French, English and Spanish.

Beginning in the High Jungle City of Tarapoto in N.E. Peru, you will travel by land 45 km. to the jungle river village of Chazuta where you will begin your trip downstream by oar or paddle powered rafts camping on beaches of the Huallaga River. Follow the route taken by Lope de Aguirre in 1562 (See: "Aguirre, Wrath of God"; a movie by Werner Hertzog filmed along the same route). You will camp in the Pongo (Gate) of Aguirre, the last area of High Jungle before the Huallaga begins winding it's way though the Low Jungle of the Amazon Basin. You will have time for fishing and can bathe in the adjacent hot springs. This trip provides an opportunity to participate in Ayahuasca sessions, held on first and third evenings. These ceremonies are led by an experienced shaman expert in the use of Ayahuasca and other healing and medicinal plants. During daytime field trips the shaman will point out medicinal plants growing in jungle and explain their uses and preparation. A unique opportunity to realize the Ayahuasca experience in a jungle setting accompanied by the sounds of forest. After 4 days and 3 nights on the river trip group will return by motorized boat. This trip requires a minimum of 4.

Schedule of trips for 2002

January		Sat. 26 - Thurs. 31
February		Sat. 23 - Thurs. 28
May		Sat. 25 - Thurs. 30
June		Sun. 16 - Fri. 21
July		Mon. 1 - Sat. 6 / Sun. 14 - Fri. 19
August		Sun. 4 - Fri. 9 / Sun. 18 - Fri 23
September		Sun. 22 - Fri. 27
October		Sat. 26 - Thurs 31
November		Sun. 24 - Fri. 29
December		Sun. 15 - Fri. 20

The cost of this trip covers meals, hotel two nights in Tarapoto, camping equipment (except for sleeping bags), all transportation from and to the airport in Tarapoto, transportation to and back from the river, the participation of a shaman in 2 Ayahuasca sessions and an English/French/Spanish speaking guide.

Not included are airfares, alcoholic and soft drinks, extra meals, tips, airport taxes or other personal expenditures.

Price each: $ 850.00 USD

For information about intensive seminaries on
traditional Amazon medicine contact Dionisio Santos.