13-day Sacred Plant Journey with Ayahuasca and San Pedro in the Amazon and Andes

Our upcoming Master Plant Retreat in Peru, scheduled for March 2025, offers a profound 13-day transformative journey with sacred plants. In the heart of the Amazon, we will engage deeply with Ayahuasca through three powerful ceremonies, allowing participants to connect with the ancient wisdom of the jungle. The second part of this spiritual odyssey takes us to the Sacred Valley of the Inka near Cusco, where we will integrate and share the insights gained from our Amazonian experience. As we explore the historic and mystical sites of the Andes, we will culminate this journey of personal transformation with a San Pedro ceremony, guided by a local medicine man, tapping into the sacred power of the land and its healing traditions.

The retreat is located in the Sacred Valley of the Inka, near Cusco, which is considered the Andean capital city. This region hosts a unique culture with a significantly different history than that of the Amazon basin or the coastal regions. It also has its own unique master plant tradition with the use of San Pedro cactus, or Wachuma, as it is known to the Quechua people.

During the 13 days, participants will take part in three Ayahuasca ceremonies in the Amazon. In the Andes, our ceremony experiences with San Pedro and Despacho will be dedicated to sharing and integration. During the remaining six days in the mountains, we will visit archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley, including Moray terraces, Maras salt mines, Ollantaytambo temple, and Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary. We will also travel to Cusco to see the magnificent Andean capital in person. In between the excursions, there will be plenty of time to spend in Pisac village, visit the local handicrafts market, and walk local mountain trails.

Ayahuasca Ceremonies
There are a total of three Ayahuasca sessions, starting in the evening at 6 PM. The rituals are accompanied by traditional chants and medicine songs from different traditions. Moments of silent prayer and contemplation also play an important role in working with Ayahuasca. During the night sessions, participants are free to leave for the bathroom at any time, though it is recommended to stay inside the session space most of the time until the ritual concludes around 3 AM. We use only traditional, high-quality Peruvian Ayahuasca brew (consisting of Banisteriopsis Caapi and Chacruna) for our rituals. Additionally, during the night sessions, there’s a dedicated moment to receive two other traditional Amazonian medicines—rapé and sananga. Rapé is a snuff made from medicinal plant ash and sometimes tobacco, allowing for deeper levels of connection and cleansing. Sananga is a drop applied to the eyes that provides clarity to perception.

San Pedro Ceremony
The concluding experience with San Pedro is a peaceful day by the river, beginning in the early morning with the sacred plant medicine. After a short walk from the village to a serene riverside spot, we will spend the day along the riverbanks, immersed in the soothing sounds of nature. San Pedro (Huachuma) gently reconnects the body and mind, offering clarity and a return to a primordial state of awareness. This final day is one of reflection and deep integration, guided by the mountain spirit and the grandfather energy of San Pedro. Under the care of Don Kucho and the retreat facilitators, this slow, mindful journey deepens the understanding and integration of the retreat’s transformative experiences.

Despacho Ritual
The Andean Despacho ritual is a sacred offering ceremony to honor Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apus (mountain spirits). It involves creating a bundle of symbolic offerings—such as flowers, coca leaves, and grains—arranged with prayers and intentions for balance, gratitude, and healing. Once completed, the bundle is either buried, burned, or offered to a river to send the prayers to the spirit world, symbolizing harmony between humans and nature. The ritual reflects the Andean principle of *ayni* (sacred reciprocity), fostering connection with the universe.

The Integration
Processes brought up in the ceremonies are essential elements of the retreat, serving as pointers on our map of inner healing. Another important part of the retreat is feedback from one’s experience, which may occur in group sharing the day after a ceremony and individually as well. Sharing is caring. Our ability to articulate what emerges provides a map for our inner journey.

Participants receive personal attention during group and individual interactions that ultimately help ground their ceremony experiences. The shared group experiences create a family-like environment for a safe and confidential personal process, with support and guidance.