Not quite sure where to post this.

So I have a very good friend who I met about 6 months ago, she really gets it, more so than anyone I've ever met, she didn't simply want to drink aya, but suggested that what I've learned is very important to her, and vis a versa, so we've been sharing our knowledge for the past few months. Actually, ayahuasca brought us together.

Sometime in next 18 months, we'll be going to South America to experience ayahuasca with a shaman. I've drank many times, but never in the amazon, while she's drank aya once (it was pretty weak), but has quite a bit of experience with high dose mushrooms, which she collects wild, we've both had deep visionary experiences, and it would seem that we met because of these experiences, it's quite uncanny how similar we are.

We intend to seek a local healer, not go to a tourist retreat. We more than likely won't plan this either, as it will probably be spur of the moment due to both our scedules. Idk how long we'll have. I intend find a shaman who does what they do to heal and not primarily to make a profit off of gringo tourists. Perhaps a village shaman out in the jungle, perhaps a female shaman. I've read that there are quite a few female shipibo shamans around pucallpa.

This person I'm going with is extremely important to my path and special to me, I'd like for this experience to be just as special. So does anyone have advise on avoiding tourists and profit oriented operations, and/or alternative places to Iquitos? Please point us in the right direction, thanks

I thought village shamans sounded like the way to go.... I have since changed my mind. Biggest reason is because they live in loud dirty villages - so while you are dieting and reflecting on life you have to listen to radios, mototaxis and soccer games going on.... You get more culture which is cool, but I'd rather get the culture before and after my diet, and during just focus on myself and the plants. So one bonus about retreat centers is they have nice serene environment.

For a village shaman though I would try Pucallpa - Pucallpa is a little cheaper then Iquitos and I had a lot of fun there. I am not sure if we are allowed to recommend Ayahuasca centers here, but I do know a really cheap retreat center that is 100% family owned and run near Pucallpa - about 2 hours from the city and right next to a volcanic river which is super beautiful to sit by.... Husband and wife duo supported by the husbands brother and nephew. Some nights it was just my wife and I drinking with their family and one night they even had their 3 year old sit in ceremony with us!

My biggest recommendation - always always always get a objective referral before going somewhere. I have never had any issue and have only met the best people in Peru, but I have heard some first hand accounts of horror stories where travelers met someone nice with a big smile who then turned on them later.... I have also heard of people claiming to be shamans and really not knowing what they were doing in ceremony - so make sure you get recommendations from someone objective and not related or invested in the healer you are seeing.

Generally Peru is very safe, safer then where I live (less violent crime). Keep an eye on your packs and dont drink with the wrong people and you should be fine.

BTW - everywhere you go in Peru will have Ayahuasca available somewhere. Iquitos has lots of popular places and is a really fun spot, but everywhere else you go has healers as well. Even in Iquitos I didnt feel like the center I stayed at was all about profit - they just cost more because they take really good care of you and have a really large staff usually (interpreters, guards, assistants in ceremony, cooks, repair man for the huts and such, ect). Iquitos isnt very cheap for everyone to live - it is expensive to import anything and everything cost more in Iquitos (so it makes sense retreats would cost more).

Even with a village shaman - the ceremony costs less, but usually doesnt come with food and a room - so once you pay for your own room and food and maybe even transportation you spent just as much but had to work more. They are also more likely to try and scam you if they need money for their kids school or a doctor ect..... Also - village shamans dont speak English and sometimes dont even speak Spanish, so that can be a consideration.... I tried to connect with a lady shaman who only spoke Shipibo - was not easy!

Bring a journal to write your thoughts, and even though it is cheap - expect to pay more then you thought.... There is always something extra, and the people there make the coolest crafts - you will probably want to bring some cool stuff home for yourself or as gifts for friends...

Thank you so much. One reason we don't want to do a retreat is simply the cost. I think pucallpa and the shipibo sounds nice, in fact I see quite a bit of their patterns when I drink aya. I think we'd like a noisy village better, I enjoy spending time in such places, as time really passes slower than in the large city that I live in, and we don't really need a room and running water. Another factor is time. Idk how much we'll have and more than likely won't know when we're going until quite close to that time, so making reservations probably won't be possible. Once again, thanks

Follow your heart and natural instincts, it will lead you to it or not.

You dont need running water.... You can carry in all your water (many of the villages they dont drink water because it is too dirty - they drink boiled yuca or banana juice and drink chicha).... The place I stayed near Pucallpa you could drink out of the volcanic river - the heat kills any bacteria (hot enough to cook a baby - which has happened).

You will want a room though - a hut to keep you dry and keep out the worst of the bugs.

For me it was mostly about noise and distraction because I wanted to do a plant dieta which involves isolation and spending all day alone meditating.... Hard to do with a lot of people asking you for money or loud soccer games going next door.... In the village anyone with a sick kid is going to ask you for money. I really like the feel of being deep in the jungle with just the birds and monkeys....

The village is a unique experience though and you meet some cool people - especially if you can speak their language. You'll find lots of village shamans near Pucallpa real easy. I was going to stay with one to save money, but when I added up the cost of a room and my own food and those things I had to bring with me it ended up being the same price for more work.... So I ended up staying at a cheaper retreat place that is really small and it was the same cost but they supplied everything and it was a quiet serene environment.

You can always have flexible pans and move around though. Easy to change things up down there. If you dont like the place you start at you can just go to the next spot....

Great advise, this how I generally operate, by intuition.

This is what I was looking to hear I think, that one can switch things up easily, when I travel, I enjoy not making plans and playing everything by ear. Thanks again my friend

It's really easy to be flexible most places. At the busier centers they might fill up, but you wanted to avoid them anyways, so no worries there. Some village shamans may need to cook their Ayahuasca still if they dont know you are coming, so be prepared to be on jungle time, where "later tonight" can mean tomorrow, or next week, or never sometimes.... lol

Thanks again travsha

be carefulo drinking chicha, that is made of fermeted fruit and alcohol, while this is prepared people has not very good hygiene, the recioents where this is fermented ar usually full with flies and other insects, i put emphasis on chicha because this was recomended earlier but you need to be careful of everything you eat there, you could get intoxicated or something.

also dont accept drinks from unknown people, there is some nasty people who put pills like benzodiacepines or zolpidem or any kind of analogues on tourist beverages and steal from them when they fall asleep.

dont give money to poor people on streets, most of them are thieves addiected to cocaine, crack or other worse forms of it, others to toluene and solvents, if you give money to them you will never get rid of this people, if they seem intoxicated, anxious or very dangerous take your cautions.

i´ve been living on bolivia for several months and chile, im not trying to scare you but just pointing of the ugly stuff that may happen on this places.

take care and be safe.

Thanks for the heads up. That sounds a bit like the city I live in actually lol

I spent two weeks at Ron Wheelock's jungle camp. The setting is beautiful and he's a really genuine guy. I
He does group retreats three times a year, however if you contact him before hand it may be possible for you and your friend to meet up with him. Depending on his schedule.

Thanks