​Ayahuasca Retreat Information
This Retreat can be booked through Travel & Healing (please contact Karen)

  • Your retreat will be overseen by 2 to 4 shamans Andean Qeros and Amazonian Shipibo.
  • Purgative medicinal volcanic water (Physical and psychological preparation before taking ayahuasca)
  • Coca leaves ceremony (unification of group energy)
  • Cleansing and floral ceremony (spiritual purification works with Forgiveness)
  • Two Ayahuasca Ceremonies
  • Offering of gratitude to Pachamama or Mother Earth
  • Experienced assistant / translator to guide guests thought the retreat with processing and integrating the healing experiences.
  • A nurse will be present during the Ayahuasca ceremony
  • Individual consultation  to ensure your suitability for the Ayahuasca ceremony
  • Individual consultations with the shamans to discuss your experiences and healing process
  • Group meetings to share your experiences
  • Five different healings (Inca shamanic healing technique)
  • One Yoga class for relaxation
  • All food and drinks is a delicious simple vegetarian diet suitable for working with medicinal plants/ Ayahuasca
  • Translation from Quechua/Spanish to English
  • All transport to and from the retreat center
  • Accommodation – within our facilities you may find the basic life necessities such as shared bedrooms with a capacity of three people as well as shared bathrooms.
  • All retreat facilitated in English
It is good for you to know that different parties of people may overlap at the retreat, but they will never be more than 14 participants for any giving Ayahuasca ceremony.
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Pachamama ceremony!

Pre Retreat Restrictions

Dietary: Do not consume drugs, alcohol, coffee or chocolate for two days prior to your Ayahuasca ceremony. Avoid canned food, red meat and pork, cold cuts, spicy food and excessive salt and sugar. Do not take any medical prescription (natural or otherwise), drugs, antibiotics, injections, pills, supplement, vitamins or others. No food or beverages that have artificial colors flavors or preservatives. During your stay with at the Retreat we remind you that it is not permitted to smoke, drink alcohol or to take any type of prescription or non-prescription drugs without consulting us.  

Food: Eat well. Good organic food is recommended. In terms of meat you can consume chicken or fish. To strengthen the brain we recommend eating ceviche (Peruvian food) and ask for tiger’s milk/leche de tigre (both without spicy_ sin aji) this is a concentrate juice of the ceviche.

Other: It is recommended that you refrain from have sex or masturbating a day before the retreat as can reduce physical energy levels making it harder to cope with the effects of ayahuasca. It is suggested that the women who are menstruating or pregnant abstain from participating. Period pain and discomfort may result in a negative experience while journeying with Ayahuasca. However, if you do not experience severe pain or discomfort then it is ok for you partake. We recommend waiting till the second or third day of a period to allow you to gauge the intensity of the pain.

​Recommendation for spiritual and mental preparation

For spiritual and mental preparation before your retreat, we recommend to you meditate, pray, do yoga or practice any disciplines familiar to you from your own religion or faith more than usually. If you do not have a religious practice, try an honesty prayer in the morning and at night, it can be very helpful! As the founder of Etnikas says, you can have the best shamans of the Universe (Christ, Buddha, Krishna,) conducting ceremonies for you, but if your heart does not want to change nothing will happen. No one but you can change your destiny, not even God, he is father not boss. Only you have the power to change your destiny. Your ‘heart’ is in fact the best shaman in the universe. The best attitude to approach the retreat with is to be as positive as you can. The right attitude should include honesty, love, patience, humility, respect, courage and a strong mental / spiritual determination. Approaching with this values will result in a much fruitful experience. When you pray do not ask for miracles to mysteriously occur. Instead ask for opportunities to create miracles with your own hands.

Recommended items that you should bring to the retreat centre

  • ​Extra clothes
  • warm and comfortable clothes
  • Sun block, sun glasses and hat for days when you go for a walk.
  • Comfortable shoes or hiking boots for walking
  • Camera
  • Flash light if you have one.
  • Toiletries​

Also to get while in Cusco...
  • 1 x 2lt bottle of water for each Ayahuasca ceremony
  • 1 x roll of toilet paper for each ayahuasca ceremony 
  • 2 Electrolytes

​Noble silence

All retreats are held in what is referred to as ‘Noble Silence’. We work in ‘Noble Silence’ to allow for a greater degree of concentration allowing internal work to be addressed without distraction. You will only be able to speak during the times of group discussion, however, you are welcome to talk to the shaman on an individual level when you feel it necessary. You are also welcome to talk to the assistance at any stage should you need help with any matter. We ask that you respect the noble silence for the sake of others. Many people come to our clinic with a serious intention to work toward their healing.

Purgative Medicinal Water

 You are required to arrive a day before your retreat so that you are able to detoxify your system with medicinal volcanic spring water. This water is from the Quisach’ata Volcano, located in the highlands of Cusco and has a strong laxative effect removing all toxins from your system. By completing this therapy your body will be physically prepared for your ayahuasca ceremony reducing the chance of ayahuasca interacting with any substances (medication, alcohol, drugs, supplements etc) that may be in your system. This purge process can also help to purify your system of harmful substances that have accumulated in your body over the years. The process takes approximately 3 hours and we will meet at Plaza San Francisco by the fountain at 10am to take you to drink the purgative water. You are required to be nil by mouth for 3-4 hours before this process begins. After the purge you are able to eat and reconvene your regular activities under the restrictions listed in the categories below. You will need to arrange you own accommodation for the evening following the purge. Ask our staff as we can recommend some places to stay. The day the medicinal water is taken allows guests time to acclimatize to the high altitude of Cusco. As part of the preparations a nurse will conduct a basic medical examination to assess your suitability to Ayahuasca. The nurse measures heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, breath frequency, as well as a general physical examination. ​

​Altitude sickness

Cusco is 3500m above sea level and people sometimes get sick from spending time at this altitude. However, prior to your retreat we recommend that you do not take any kind of medication for altitude sickness as its interaction with Ayahuasca can be dangerous.Instead, we suggest you to look to relieve symptoms of altitude sickness by drinking coca leaves tea that is commonly available in guest houses and hotels. If altitude sickness symptoms become sever please you must let us know. ​

Direction and Method for consuming the Medicinal Water

  1. Those who have been operated on within a 6 month period in the abdominal area should consult a doctor or visit a medical centre to be examined prior to consuming the water.
  2. Nil by mouth for at least 4 hours before drinking.
  3. You should dress warmly or bring an extra sweater as one’s blood pressure normally lowers and you may feel cold.
  4. After drinking the first glass wait 3 to 5 minutes before drinking the next glass. Stay in constant movement by either pacing back and forth or jumping to help water pass into and through your digestive system.
  5. Make a strong effort to get a large quantity of the water into your system. It may be difficult but  try to push yourself through it to get as much as you can into your stomach.
  6. The cleansing process takes between 40 minutes and 2 hours depending on one’s system.
  7. For a complete purge or cleansing of the system it is necessary to ingest 18 to 30 glasses.
  8. When going to the toilet, do not force yourself to avoid undue strain to the rectum.
  9. Drink the water until the liquid from your rectum is clear.  At this point you should stop drinking the water.
  10. Do not drink excessive quantities of this water as it can debilitate your intestinal flora.
  11. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom.
  12. ​After purging you should lightly massage your stomach to try to evacuate all of the water.  

Effects ​

Normally, the first effects can be felt approximately 15 minutes after consumption. Those who purge for the first time will normally require approximately 15 cups to be able to feel the effects.   Some people, or who have previously purged, will feel the effect after approximately 7 cups.

Properties of the Water ​

 TASTE.  Is strong and lightly salty due to the mineral content.

SMELL.  The mineral water does not have a strong or unpleasant smell that would cause you to abstain from drinking it.  On the contrary, it invites you to drink it as you would normal water.

COLOUR.  The water, in its natural state has a yellowish tint due to the mineral content whose chemical  Chemical Analysis is
  • Total hardness (general mineral content) (mg/L) 2240
  • Total Alkalinity (mg/L) 260
  • Total Acidity (mg/L) CO₂ 25
  • Chlorides (mg/L) CI 551 Sulfates (mg/L) CaSO₄ 2690
  • Phosphates (mg/L) HPO₄ 1
  • pH 7.6
  • Conductivity ( μS/Cm) 6500
  • Turbidity (Ftu) 1 
  • Calcium (mg/L) 592
  • Magnesium (mg/L) 182
  • Sodium (mg/L) 238
  • Potassium (mg/L) 45
  • Iron (mg/L) 3
  • Fluorine (mg/L) 1.5
  • Dissolved Solids (mg/L) 6600

The following symptoms may be experienced during this process.
  • Headaches
  • Stomach aches
  • Vomiting
  • High / low blood pressure
  • Nausea or fainting
  • Shivering or goose-bumps

If you suffer from any of these effects, do not worry, they are normal and temporary in nature. The water passes through your mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine until it leaves your system as faeces. It also passes through your kidneys, bladder, ureters and prostate (for men) until it is ex-pulsed as urine.

Ailments the water is traditionally used to treat

  • Stomach ailments
  • Hepatitis
  • Kidney stones
  • Ulcers
  • Gastritis and oral hygiene
  • Hangovers, amongst others

Warnings

  • ​You should not breastfeed during the purge.
  • Children under 9 years of age can drink 2 or 3 glasses to try the water.
  • Those who have been operated on within the last six months, especially if it was a gastrointestinal operation should not purge.
  • Those suffering from serious illness cannot purge.
  • ​It is recommended that pregnant women should not purge.