Pawkar Raymi; The Festival of Flowering. Join us for a powerful adventure to help you open your heart while experiencing the culture of the Andes in Cusco, Peru
Held in the fall (March equinox), this Raymi celebrates the garden and all the abundance it has provided to the ancient Quechua-speaking peoples. Our Pawkar Raymi ceremony follows this tradition by celebrating our own inner garden and giving thanks for all that nature has provided, while creating space for something new to grow.
This Pawkar Raymi retreat will focus on connecting you with nature and the cycles of the seasons we all live by. The retreat runs nine days and eight nights, from March 16 to 24, 2027. You are invited to join us for this expansive experience!
Everything is already taken care of from arrival to departure. We can pick you up at your hotel or airport and drop you off anywhere in Cusco. All you have to bring is willing spirit, we will handle the rest.
The only things not covered are personal items, souvenirs and restaurant visits.
We will pick you up from your hotel or the Cusco airport and bring you to the mountain house. There we will have an evening to acclimate to the altitude before we begin. Every day is filled with activities and exploration of the local culture. Our huachuma ceremonies will be held in a comfortable world class center that provides everything we need. The tours to Cusco, Pisac, and are guided by experienced locals that know every nook and cranny of these sites. After the retreat is finished Mountain Wind will provide transportation anywhere in Cusco, and follow up with you for integration when you need it.
Welcome.
When you wish or arrive, transportation is arranged and we meet at the mountain house. The altitude there is nearly 3800m (12,400ft) adjacent to the Temple of the Moon. So there will need to be time to acclimate. The staff has decades of combined experience acclimating guests to altitude and may advise use of oxygen, natural medicines, coca tea, and in some cases over the counter medications. Dinner will be served at 8pm and lunch is available on request before 1pm.
A very light breakfast will be available for those who request it. Some papaya is all that is recommended.
Huachuma ceremony begins at 10am. The medicine will last all day. A cleansing ritual will be performed by a Q’ero shaman at some point during the ceremony. In the early afternoon an amazing fruit bowl will be served. Often guests say this is their favorite meal, and we can thank the medicine for that.
In the late afternoon there will be a walking tour of the Temple of the Moon. The temple is close by and the walk is easy, and with Huachuma by our side it is a profound experience. Shortly after we return dinner will be available, often soup and bread with butter, followed by a piece of sweet bread or cake. Huachuma will still be with us as we sit around a fire. There we will discuss our experiences. We will share, laugh, and enjoy the company of our fellow travelers. We will go to our rooms when ready, though the medicine often stays with us until late.
Breakfast will be served when you are ready. After everyone has prepared in the late morning we will leave for Pisac. We stop at various lookouts and scenic viewpoints on the way. We will reach the animal sanctuary first. There are many rescued animals there including huacamayo, spectical bears, pumas, vicuna, alpaca, and more. The star of the show are the rescued condor! These condor are being retrained to fly again, and they even fly over the heads of the guests. All of these animals will one day be returned to nature when they are able to once again take care of themselves.
After the animal sanctuary we will go to Pisac. There will be a restaurant visit for lunch, shopping, and walking around the markets of this sleepy local village.
We will then return to the mountain house where a dinner will be available in the evening and guests can spend time as they wish.
Breakfast will be available in the morning. We will decide as a group when to leave and visit the city of Cusco. Often guests prefer to visit the San Pedro market, partake in the amazing local food, or visit some of the scenic viewpoints in Cusco.
The centerpiece of this visit will be the festival parade in the evening. This parade features local customs of culture, dancing, and clothing. Often these parades last for hours, and we can stay as long as you wish. After the parade we return back to the mountain house and prepare for the following equinox ceremony.
The ceremony held on this day will have a similar format to the ceremony on day 2. However this ceremony is special because of the equinox that occurs on this day at 3:25pm. On this day for those that wish we will go out to the Temple of the Moon a little earlier so that we can experience the ruins during the equinox.
Our guests often report a feeling of blooming into a new version of themselves. That is what this festival is all about!
Again breakfast will be served as you wish before 10am. We typically visit Q’oricancha (Temple of the Sun) on this day. After there is an amazing textile museum near the city center. As well as a lovely chocolate laboratory all within walking distance of each other. Guests typically decide what they would like to visit. All entry fees, and transportation is included. Sometimes guests want to visit a restaurant for a big Sunday meal. Often there is something unexpected that happens in the plaza to celebrate this unique festival.
Our closing ceremony will be structured like all the rest. Some papaya is all that is recommended.
Huachuma ceremony begins at 10am. The medicine will last all day. A cleansing ritual will be performed by a Q’ero shaman at some point during the ceremony. In the early afternoon an amazing fruit bowl will be served. Often guests say this is their favorite meal, and we can thank the medicine for that.
In the late afternoon there will be a walking tour of the Temple of the Moon. The temple is close by and the walk is easy, and with Huachuma by our side it is a profound experience. Shortly after we return dinner will be available, often soup and bread with butter, followed by a piece of sweet bread or cake. Huachuma will still be with us as we sit around a fire. There we will discuss our experiences. We will share, laugh, and enjoy the company of our fellow travelers. We will go to our rooms when ready, though the medicine often stays with us until late.
For those that wish to participate Kambo will be served in the morning. For those guests there will be no breakfast. Everyone has a different reaction to the cleansing medicine of the jungle frog. Some are energized,some are tired and sleep. For this reason we leave this day open for exploration as well.
Guests a can choose a local attraction to visit, or hike the ruins of Sacksayhuaman 15 minutes away. All meals on this day are included for those that wish to partake. Let us know what you would like to do and we will make it happen!
Breakfast available when you wish. After, we will discuss integration and how our integration support program works after retreat. Many spend this day sharing, laughing, and enjoying stories from the previous days’ adventures.
Guests depart according to their flight, or will be dropped off at another hotel or hostel. You are also welcome to extend your stay at the mountain house, where the staff can care for you until you are ready to leave. Lunch and dinner are available but not included due to varying departure times.
Cusco, Peru (CUZ)
Day of arrival or prior to the start of the retreat.
Book your flight after 12pm on the last day of the retreat
Transportation for Pick-up and Drop-off is included in the retreat. Coordinate with us to arrange this.
Not required, however many guests have used this to cover unexpected medical and family emergencies, or lost luggage. Highly recoomended.
We highly recommend staying at Casa de la Gringa if you need a hotel or lodgings before or after your retreat.
A current passport valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the arrival date. No visa is required for passport holders in North America, South America, and many European countries. Please verify with the following link.
Mountain Wind and our partners highly recommend you bring spending money for during your retreat. If at all possible exchange money in Cusco based on the current exchange rate.
We advise our guests to not change money in airports. Exchange rates can be predatory in the airports.
We know you may not be able to attend on our set schedule, or maybe you want something special. With our custom retreat offerings, you can add Machu Picchu, a visit to the hot springs, and many other options. Or build something completely your own, on your own schedule, with privacy and confidence.
With more than a decade of living in the jungle, we have gathered firsthand knowledge of what makes a dieta or longer-term plant medicine experience worthwhile. We use that experience, along with our trusted partnerships, to guide you to the right center for what you are looking for, saving you money along the way.
We know our retreats are not perfect for everyone, and there are services we do not offer, such as master plant dietas. If you are looking for the right place to dieta, a center in a different location, or a way to dieta without traveling, reach out to us. We are happy to help.
Proper integration support is essential to getting the most out of your experience. If you are attending a retreat with us, integration support is included. If you have attended, or plan to attend, a retreat at another center that does not offer integration support, we are here for you too. Our professional, certified integration services help you carry what you have learned into everyday life. Contact us through one of the links below to find out more.
Below you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about Huachuma. We’ve compiled the most important information to help you prepare.
Huachuma is also known as San Pedro, or also commonly spelled Washuma. The latin name is Echinopsis pachanoi, it is a succulent or cactus that grows natively in the Andes mountains of South America. Often this cactus is sold as an ornamental plant all over the world and grows in moist, arid climates.
Other names include The Grandfather Medicine, or The Cactus of the Four Winds.
Huachuma is a heart opening, healing, and expansive experience. The themes often include addressing past traumas, connection nature, and finding your path forward to inner growth. There are many more benefits and the teachings of this master plant can be varied greatly from person to person.
We typically begin a ceremony at 10am, explaining for new guests what to expect during the ceremony. We set our personal intentions, and then drink the medicine. Perhaps we will draw an oracle card, or introduce ourselves, and after 30-45 minutes we move into the garden to our own private areas that we choose. Guests can sit together or separate, guests can hike the very close Temple of the Moon ruins, or simply be at peace anywhere they choose.
After a few hours, we ask if anyone would like a second glass of medicine. Typically the first part of the ceremony is spent in silent reflection, after the second glass there may be music, laughing, talking, or sharing. We often build and deepen our connections with each other during ceremony, as well as with our inner selves.
The Huachuma experience is one that flows freely, and every ceremony is different. You may purge, but many do not. When we drink, the Grandfather medicine guides us and nothing happens by chance. In truth we can not say exactly what a ceremony is like because the Grandfather teaches us each in their own way.
Huachuma is like a gentle Grandfather. He is open and accepting of nearly everyone. However, there are a few medications and medical conditions that can preclude someone from partaking in the medicine.
Medical Conditions:
Medications that are Counter-Indicative:
When considering partaking of the medicine, please contact us with any questions. The above information is for reference only, and if you feel drinking Huachuma may be a risk we can inform you of that risk. We will ask the questions necessary to assess your ability to drink the medicine safely, please be honest with us and we will find a solution.
To begin first you must have a willing spirit, everything that follows are logistical challenges that in most cases can be overcome. A list of these logistical challenges follows:
Contact us to begin your journey with The Grandfather medicine Huachuma.
Below you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about Ayahuasca. We’ve compiled the most important information to help you prepare.
Ayahuasca is a potent Amazonian psychoactive brew made by boiling Banisteriopsis caapi vines and DMT-containing plants, traditionally used for spiritual, shamanic, and medicinal purposes. It acts as a powerful hallucinogen, with its name meaning “vine of the soul” in Quechua. It is often used to facilitate profound emotional and psychological experiences.
During the Ceremony Participants usually remain seated or lying down. The space may be held in silence at times, and may include music or traditional songs. Skilled facilitators focus on safety, containment, and respectful guidance. Effects can be emotional, somatic, introspective, or sensory.
A ceremony may last 4 hours or longer. Participants are asked to stay in the ceremony space for the entirety of the ceremony, even if they feel no effects. This is non-negotiable and for the participants safety. After the ceremony is over guests may sleep in the ceremony space, or return to their private space.
To begin first you must have a willing spirit, everything that follows are logistical challenges that in most cases can be overcome. A list of these logistical challenges follows:
Contact us to begin your journey with The Grandfather medicine Huachuma.
Below you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about Kambo. We’ve compiled the most important information to help you prepare.
Kambo, Acate, or “Sapo,” is a substance derived from the skin secretions of the giant leaf frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor), a species native to the Amazon basin. Traditionally used by indigenous cultures for hunting, spiritual cleansing, and as a natural medicine, it is applied topically to small, intentionally lightly burned skin.
During a ceremony, a small amount of Kambo secretion is applied to the skin via superficial burns. The medicine is immediately absorbed by the lymphatic system. This can cause physical reactions such as sweating, vomiting, or an increased heart rate. These cleansing reactions help release toxins and restore balance to the body. Our ceremonies are always led by experienced practitioners who guide you through the process.
Kambo is known for its physical detoxification, immune system strengthening, and support for emotional and spiritual healing. Kambo is known for a wide range of benefits, including:
Although effects vary from person to person, many people experience a deep sense of renewal and strength after a ceremony.
Kambo is safe when performed by experienced and well-trained practitioners. At Spirit of Kambo, we follow strict safety protocols and each ceremony is tailored to the individual needs and health of the participant. Before a ceremony, we always ask about your medical history and provide clear instructions to ensure your safety
Good preparation is essential for a safe and effective experience. Here are some tips:
Fasting before the ceremony and avoiding alcohol and heavy foods is recommended, as well as mental and emotional preparation
During the ceremony you will usually experience a short, intense physical reaction, such as nausea or sweating, followed by a feeling of cleansing.
During the ceremony you can expect physical reactions such as:
A Kambo session usually lasts between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on the body’s response.
Temporary side effects may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or weakness. These effects usually disappear within a few hours.
This varies from person to person. Some do it monthly, while others have multiple sessions in a short period for deeper cleansing.
The frequency depends on your intention and goals. Some people choose a cleansing protocol of three sessions within a month, while others use Kambo occasionally. We’re happy to advise you on what’s best for your situation.
While Kambo is safe for many people, there are certain contraindications where we advise against participation, such as:
We always first discuss your health condition in an intake interview to determine whether Kambo is suitable for you.
Kambo is not recommended for people with certain health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, low blood pressure, or pregnancy.