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Good preparation helps you arrive safe, rested, and ready. Here is everything you need to know before you travel: what to eat, what to bring, how to get to Cusco, and how we support you before you arrive.
Book your flight to Cusco (CUZ). We handle everything from there.
Send us your flight details and our team will meet you on arrival.
Two preparation calls are included with every retreat.
A preparation PDF is included in your booking process.
Step by Step
Preparation begins with your first conversation. Here is how the weeks before your retreat unfold.
We talk through your intentions, your health, and any medications you take, usually by video call. Nothing is rushed, and no one is accepted without first being heard.
After your consultation, a 50% deposit secures your space. The remainder is due on arrival.
You’ll receive a preparation PDF by email. Begin your diet, speak with your physician about any medication, and use your preparation calls to get clear on your intentions.
A few weeks before your retreat, send us your flight or hotel information so we can be sure to pick you up at the correct location.
Food & Diet
Each medicine asks something different of you. Huachuma has no strict diet, Ayahuasca requires dietary restrictions, and Kambo requires a short fast. Your preparation PDF has the full guidance, and we’re happy to answer questions on a call.
Huachuma is not a strict teacher and has no strict diet. We still suggest eating lightly and avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs in the days before.
Ayahuasca does require dietary restrictions. For our Ayahuasca retreats we recommend a minimum of 3 days before your first ceremony. Your PDF will list foods to avoid.
Kambo requires fasting from food and caffeine for at least 8 hours beforehand.
Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs before any ceremony. Tell us about every medication you take, and never stop or change a medication without speaking to your physician first.
On Huachuma days, a very light breakfast is offered, and papaya is all that is recommended. A fruit bowl is served in the early afternoon, and many guests say it is their favorite meal. Dinner is usually soup and bread, followed by something sweet. On a morning Ayahuasca ceremony day, lunch is available for those who wish to eat, or you can wait until you are ready.
Meals during the program are prepared for you by experienced cooks and are included in the retreat price. Lunch and dinner on your departure day are available but not included, since guests leave at different times.
Your Safety
Some conditions and medications make Huachuma, Ayahuasca, or Kambo unsafe. That’s why every participant has a personal onboarding interview before booking, and why we tell you honestly if a medicine isn’t right for you.
Packing
Pack in layers. The Andes are cool and the jungle is warm and humid, with temperatures of roughly 32 to 75°F (0 to 24°C) in the mountains and 45 to 85°F (7 to 29°C) in the jungle. Your preparation PDF includes a full list.
On The Serpent & The Condor, you’ll store items at the mountain house before the journey to the jungle. This way you can separate what you need for the jungle to bring with you and pick up the rest on return to the mountain house.
Altitude
Our mountain house sits high in the Andes. A mild headache and fatigue are common at altitude, and a little preparation makes your first days much easier.
Arrive early so your body has time to acclimatize
Drink plenty of water
Eat lightly and rest
Avoid alcohol for your first days
Consult your Doctor for medical advice specific to you.
At the mountain house we have oxygen, coca tea, over-the-counter medications, and natural supplements, and our staff has decades of experience helping guests acclimatize. We have welcomed guests in their eighties and others in varying degrees of health. In extreme cases we follow NOLS WFR best practices and can descend in altitude, then slowly return.
Travel Details
Fly into Cusco, and we’ll take care of the rest. You arrange your own flight and travel documents, and our team handles your transport from the moment you land.
Book your flight to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) in Cusco. Most international travelers connect through Lima (LIM).
We recommend arriving at least 12 hours before your retreat begins. Closer arrival times are fine, but you’ll need to coordinate closely with us so we can bring you directly to our meeting point.
A few weeks before your retreat, send us your flight or hotel information so we can pick you up at the correct location.
Our team meets you on arrival and brings you to the retreat. Pickup is recommended.
Entry and passport requirements depend on your nationality. Please check them with the Peruvian authorities or your own government well before you travel.
Your journey begins at the mountain house in the morning: transport is arranged and we meet at 8:00 am, then depart at 9:00 am for the Manu Reserve. Plan to arrive in Cusco the day before.
After your airport transfer, you’ll rest and acclimatize with coca tea and oxygen available, then join an opening circle and orientation, followed by dinner.
Guests depart according to their flight or are dropped at another hotel or hostel. You’re welcome to extend your stay at the mountain house, where our staff can care for you until you’re ready to leave. Please ask us before booking your return flight.
Before You Travel
Requirements vary, so consult a travel-medicine clinic well before you travel. Yellow fever vaccination is commonly recommended for Amazon regions of Peru. In Manu we are still in the high jungle, where mosquitoes are rare compared to lower Manu or the Amazon basin. Malaria prophylactics and yellow fever vaccinations are often used when an abundance of caution helps a guest feel more secure, but please consult a travel physician for expert advice.
Choose a policy that covers medical care, emergency evacuation from remote areas, and trip cancellation or interruption. Check that it covers high altitude and does not exclude participation in plant medicine ceremonies. We suggest travel insurance for every guest.
Integration Support
Integration begins the moment you decide to attend. Two preparation calls are included with every retreat, to help you understand your motivation and set your intention, so you arrive grounded and ready.
Your Retreat Price
Inclusions vary slightly by retreat. See your retreat page for the full list.
Answers to the most common questions about preparing for your retreat.
Fly into Cusco (CUZ) and send us your flight or hotel details a few weeks before your retreat. We recommend arriving at least 12 hours before your retreat begins. Closer arrival times are fine, but we need you to coordinate closely with us so we can pick you up and bring you directly to our meeting point.
Once we have your flight details, our team arranges to meet you on arrival and takes you directly to the retreat or your hotel. Pickup is recommended.
Huachuma has no strict diet. Ayahuasca does require dietary restrictions, and Kambo requires fasting from food and caffeine for at least 8 hours beforehand. Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs before any ceremony. A preparation PDF is available on request or after your booking process.
Pack layers: a warm jacket, thermal base layers, hat and gloves, rain gear, sun protection, sturdy shoes, a water bottle, insect repellent, a flashlight, and comfortable loose clothing for ceremonies. A packing PDF is included in your booking process. If you have not received it, please contact us and we will respond quickly.
Arrive early to acclimatize, drink plenty of water, eat lightly, rest, and avoid alcohol for your first days. Mild headache and fatigue are common at altitude. Ask your doctor about altitude medication before you travel, especially if you have heart, lung, or blood pressure conditions.
Requirements vary, so consult a travel-medicine clinic well before you travel. Yellow fever vaccination is commonly recommended for Amazon regions of Peru, though in Manu we are still in the high jungle and mosquitoes are rare. Consult a travel physician for expert advice.
Choose a policy that covers medical care, emergency evacuation from remote areas, and trip cancellation or interruption. Check that it covers high altitude and does not exclude participation in plant medicine ceremonies.
Tell us about every medication during your consultation. Some conditions and medications make Huachuma, Ayahuasca, or Kambo unsafe, and if a medicine isn’t right for you, we’ll tell you honestly. Please don’t stop or change any medication without speaking to your physician first.
The deposit is 50% of the retreat price, and the remainder is due on arrival. Our partners prefer cash in US dollars if at all possible. Coordinate with us if you prefer another payment method.
Questions Before You Travel?
Whether you’re choosing a retreat or counting down the days, reach out. We listen first, prepare carefully, and stay with you from your first conversation to your return home.
Small-group Huachuma, Ayahuasca, and Kambo retreats in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Manu.
Preparation and aftercare from certified integration coaches, open to guests of any center.
Answers about booking, payments, safety, and custom retreats.
