Has anyone here been to Peru and partaken of the cactus? I feel drawn to Chavin De Huantar as it seems to have the oldest references to sacred trichocereus use. Sounds like there is camping available there. I can hardly imagine how incredible it would be to take the cactus in a place like this.

Just curious if any other folks here have gone that far with their "obsession"

i know a huachuma shaman in a small village near cusco in peru , i can pm you the details if your interesed hes a very nice guy and has a beautiful place you can stay at...

Thanks for the reply. I would love to have his information. When I go to Peru, I'm not sure where I will end up, but if I end up in Cusco, it would be great to have contact info.

Curious what kind of ceremonies he leads. There seem to be different approaches to the ceremonies based on the little information I've been able to gather. Some very strict and regimented, some more open.

i sadly didnt have time when i was there to partake in one of his ceremonys i wanted to go and learn to cook huachama with him. i will go back there again in the next year or 2 and learn. i just spent the day with him as that was all the time i had left.. i did however do some wonderful ayahuasca ceremonys around iquitos, id be happy to share these contacts also if you'd like..

ipuma will be staying in cusco in just a few short months, hed greatly appreciate the information regarding the huachuma practicioner

Are you planning to go to Chavin De Huantar?

yes, also if possible going to bolivia to see puma punku

If I was you, and I ended up anywhere near Cusco..I would try to get in a ceremony with La Gringa. I heard she is one of the best huachumeras around.

I had a lot of plans to go to peru back when I was studying anthropology.. and I still want to go but I am most interested in the seeing the sacred sites at this point. I sort of lost my desire to run off to the jungle and try to apprentice myself to a currandero haha..I can drink at home any times I want to, and do. What I cant do at home is walk around Puma Punku on a dose of san pedro or visit Amaru Muru..

If you go, take pictures

I have a bit of an obsession with that whole area..especially lake titicaca.

Cool. Hadn't heard of that one before. I can't wait to learn more about it.

I'll be expecting a full report on Chavin De Huantar.

It could be neat to organize a group of folks who share similar interests

oh..another place I really want to go at some point in the next 5-10 years is Vilcabamba, the sacred valley in Equador..it is in the foothills of the andes..not amazon but not really arid deserty climate either..its like nice lush mountain valley right in the andes..

..and it's named after vilca..and I hear there is amazing huachuma ceremonies there..and ayahuasca ceremonies..and everyone that goes there says it really is the embodyment of paradise.

i may be going to ecuador after my stay in peru, ill be sure to check this out

Been in Peru and Bolivia, took Aya but no Wachuma.
La Gringa is a good ref. google : La casa de la gringa hostel (Cusco). She's australian, I think.But remember she is a gringa and its for gringos.

http://psypressuk.com/20...-pedro-a-miracle-healer/

Google Huancabamba region in north Peru, Its famous for its Huachumeros.

I can also recommend a book i am reading now :
"Cactus Of Mystery" by Ross Heaven, its a good study about ceremonies in Peru and mentions (names,etc) several good Shamans and their healing methods.

Im going to Peru and Ecuador this year, but my main interest is bringing some cacti back, not too fond of someone spiting in my face some agua florida, or blowing chewed tobacco through my nostrils...

I've got Cactus of Mystery on order now. Re reading The Hummingbird's Journey to God in the meantime.

ive sent la gringa a message and am awaiting a reply she seems to have impacted many people profoundly

It seems she is genuine.But if in the search for the cultural aspects of this activity it might be interesting to visit others also.
I am one that believes that the plant itself is the healer , and never been a "church" person.I like my contact with nature free of intermediaries.
But feel that for Aya its different in that aspect, personally.

agreed. the intent is not to subscribe to a doctrine but to observe veteran practicioners so that i might develope a more complete understanding of how to facilitate a cathartic experience for others. La gringa stood out because of her frequent mentioning from friends/online communities and the fact she is fluent in my primary language, thus alowing me a deeper dialogue in regards to her practice.

great thread, enjoyed the reads! I am dedicated now to growing and using the primal entheogen that is san pedro. I have also found bridgesii to be my personal favorite but have yet to try a good peruvian torch so if anyone knows of a place to obtain good torch cuttings, pm me!

I would love to visit the mountains of peru, even seeing this cactus in the wild would be reason enough alone for me to go!

Cheers fellow cactus lovers.

Cac-tus-fever dun nah nah cac-tus-fever du nah nah bal bo boom

La Gringa's healing center is 4 doors down from my house in Tambillo Peru. It looks like a nice place from the outside gates. I haven't met her but have had a few good chats with her 2 sons that work with here and run their hostel in Cusco.

have you ever been up north to Kuelap? It sounds pretty remarkable!