SACRED JOURNEY TO PERU 1 – 17 NOVEMBER 2010

THE ANDES – Cusco

Rainbow in the Andes above the Urubamba Valley, IVQ tour 2009

We begin our journey in the archaeological wonderland of Cusco, previous capital of the Incan Empire and the oldest continuously inhabited city of the Americas. As Cusco is situated at an elevation of 3326 metres it is desirable to rest and eat lightly when you first arrive to soften the affects of the high altitude.

November 1st

As people will be arriving at different times our first get-together will be at the hotel followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

San Pedro Garden, Cusco area

The Quero

The Quero shamans will share with us their profound connection to the land, the Apus (mountain spirits or gods) and their beautiful hearts. During our time together we will experience their unique despacho and fire ceremonies and their perspective on Andean cosmology.

Following breakfast at the hotel, we leave at 8am for our first day with the Quero’s to visit the Saqsayhuaman complex. This name means satisfied falcon in Quechua.

Our first Quero ceremony will be on a platform overlooking Cusco among the Ausangate and Salkantay mountains. In the afternoon we will be visiting the Inca’s bath and Princess Bath, otherwise known as the youth or fertility fountains.

BLD

November 3 – 5 Huasao – Tipon

Q'ero group, IVQ tour 2009

November 3^rd

After breakfast at the hotel, the morning is free to rest or go out and explore the city. There are many colourful markets and shopping areas to purchase local alpaca and wool clothing for the chilly nights in the mountains.

Early afternoon we will travel to Los Niño’s Hotel Hacienda, a beautiful hotel located outside of Cusco.

We meet our Plant Shaman, Javier Regueiro, who works with both San Pedro and Ayahuasca plant medicines. He will give an introductory talk on working with these medicines and how to best benefit from them. Javier’s unique understanding of these powerful plants and his ability to translate the symbols and information from the ceremonies facilitate the healing, transformation and integration of the ceremonial work.

November 4^th

Q'ero group, IVQ tour 2009

We travel from Los Niño’s to the Archaeological site of Tipon which is famous for its irrigation system for the San Pedro ceremony. San Pedro (or Huachuma) is an Andean plant medicine made from the San Pedro cactus and has been used in Peru for over 3000 years. San Pedro is known as a heart opening medicine and will help us deepening our connection to this land.

Return to Los Niño’s for dinner.

After breakfast there will be a group meeting with Javier where the focus will be on sharing, understanding and integration of the previous day’s ceremony. After working with plant medicines you may desire to spend the day resting or walking in the local area. The hotel also does horseback riding, walking tours and mountain biking.

We will be visited by Puma, a local shaman who will be giving coco leaf readings, another unique experience to this part of the world.

BLD

November 6^th

Camping

Following breakfast we again travel will the Quero Shamans into the Andes for three days to an area with majestic mountain scenery few visitors to Peru get to see.

Pachatusan is at an altitude of 3,800m.

Following breakfast at the hotel we travel by bus through the beautiful landscape of the Cusco Valley to reach our base camp at Pampa Pachatusan.

Lunch will be held at our camp site, followed by a walk of around 40 minutes to the Quelloqocha (yellow lake) where will have our first ceremony.

We then return to the camp site for dinner.

The Quero Shamans will be available for personal healing sessions (optional).

BLD (Camping)

Pachatusan – trip to the holy mountain

Following breakfast at the campsite we will walk or ride horses for about four hours to the Pucaqocha moon lake which is known in Andean mythology as “The Support of the World” (latitude 4,500 metres).

We will have a unique ceremony to this area of the Andes where the shaman receives the unique gift of shamanism or of being a healer.

The Quero Shamans will be available for personal healing sessions (optional).

BLD (Camping)

November 8^th

QuelloQocha – Cusco

Following breakfast at the campsite we will walk to the fertility (Waka) ceremonial stone (Waka) where there will be personal ceremonies.

Gifting ceremony at base camp (this is an opportunity to give back to the local people). Clothing, books, pencils, food etc. are all greatly appreciated.

We leave our camp site for the pre Incan archaeological complex of Piquillacta which is south of Cusco.

Tour of Piquillacta and despacho ceremony.

Lunch

Return to Cusco and our hotel and a nice hot shower.

November 9^th

This is a free day in Cusco. You may wish to explore more of the city, go shopping or just rest.

November 10^th – November 17^th

San Pedro Garden, Cusco area

Following breakfast we will take our morning flight into the Amazon – Puerto Maldonado.

Our jungle lodge is 30kms along the Madre de Dios River, in a 6000 hectare ecological reserve in the Amazon jungle.

Accommodation is in bungalows made of natural local material complete with indoor hammocks and private bathroom.

We will once again have the opportunity to work with Plant Shaman Javier Regueiro this time with master plant medicine Ayahuasca which is also known as the “Vine of the Soul”. Ayahuasca is a powerful medicine from the Amazon Jungle used for purification, healing, growth and the transformation of consciousness. We have the opportunity to experience three of these ceremonies.

BLD

November 10^th

Monkey Island

Upon arrival we will have lunch and then visit Monkey Island just five minutes by boat from the lodge, where a variety of monkey species, birds and other animals reside.

November 11^th – 15^th

During this time we will be in a retreat space to support the deep inner work available when working with Ayahuasca. There will be three ceremonies beginning on our second evening with a day in between to rest and integrate.

November 16^th

After breakfast we have our last group meeting. In the afternoon we will have an excursion into the jungle.

November 17^th

After breakfast on 17^thNovember we return to Puerto Maldonado where the trip ends. You may wish to return to Cusco for further time in this amazing area or return to Lima.

The Journey will be led by Suzanne Lewarne who has extensive experience in Peru. She presently lives in the Sacred Valley one hour from Cusco. Suzanne is professionally trained in transpersonal counseling, energetic healing and soul-care facilitation.

Her focus will be on support, transformation and integration during the journey.

JOURNEY INFORMATION

The Sacred Journey is to Peru, the country where the majestic Andes meet the mighty Amazon Jungle. You will have the opportunity to experience traditional shamanic practices from both of these areas. Accommodation ranges from Cusco, the former capital of the Incan empire, camping at Pachatusan, for a unique experience of the high Andes, a beautiful Hacienda outside of Cusco and our jungle lodge out of Puerto Maldonado.

We will be gifted by time spent the Quero shamans considered to be “The Keepers of Incan Wisdom” and who hold a profound and sacred connection to their home, the Andes. Puma a shaman from Chinchero will visit to offer each participant a coca leaf reading – one of the ways of divination from this region. There will be the opportunity to participate in four plant medicine ceremonies in the Andes and the Amazon Jungle with Javier who creates a safe and transformational environment to experience these sacred plants.

VISIONARY PLANT MEDICINES

Both Ayahuasca and San Pedro have long histories of traditional shamanic use in Peru. Both medicines are very powerful and wonderful – it all depends on your wishes and needs. They support us in our search for self and wholeness transforming our lives and our worlds. These powerful consciousness enhancing medicines are experienced with knowledgeable Shaman Javier who will create a safe space for this deep transformational work and offer support before, during and after the plant ceremony.

With both San Pedro and Ayahuasca the process is basically the same (although with differences): the healing and letting go of what no longer is helpful for our journey on this planet and the resulting clarity to see what is the next step ahead for us.

They require a little preparation:

For Ayahuasca: no fermented foods (anything that needs to stay in the fridge or else would spoil), no pork, alcohol or recreational drugs for at least 3 days, and no use of antidepressants for at least one month.

For San Pedro: no pork, alcohol or recreational drugs for at least 3 days before the ceremony.
For both medicines: no caffeine should be had the day before the ceremony, the day of, and the day afterwards.

What you are actually doing is already initiating the cleansing process and helping the medicine help you.

Ayahuasca ceremonies are held at night, whereas San Pedro ceremonies are held in the day.

AYAHUASCA – THE VINE OF THE SOUL

Ayahuasca is a plant medicine from the Amazon jungle and is considered a master teacher plant. Ayahuasca plays a pivotal role in Amazonian spiritual and cultural traditions and is worked with as a tool for transformation.

The brew is made from two Amazonian plants the Caapi Vine and the leaves of the Chacruna plant. It is common to purge during an Ayahuasca ceremony. Ayahuasca is known in the Amazon jungle as “la purga” (the purge) and is essentially a medicine that cleanses one on all levels – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. The process is one of healing and letting go of what no longer is helpful for our journey on this planet and the resulting clarity that allows us to see what the next step is ahead for us. The energy of the medicine supports this process and helps one reconnect with one’s deepest truths and sense of purpose.

Ayahuasca is very powerful medicine, and when approached with respect and a pure intention, it is a most wonderful healer and teacher.

On the day of the ceremony participants stop eating at 9 AM and spend the rest of the day in quiet. The ceremony begins around 6 PM and lasts between 4 and 5 hours.

SAN PEDRO – HUACHUMA

San Pedro is a large columnar mescaline cactus that grows up to heights of twenty feet at high altitudes in the Andes of Peru. This powerful Andean plant medicine takes its name from Saint Peter who is said to hold the keys to the gates of heaven.

San Pedro (Huachuma) is a major heart centre opener and it will allow you to experience and connect with yourself and the whole cosmos from that place.

It will help you release emotional stuff you may need to let go of, and at the same time help you connect deeply with the energies of this land, which will greatly enhance the rest of your visit to Peru.

The ceremony starts at 8 AM, on an empty stomach, and lasts until sunset; there is the option of breaking your fast half way through the ceremony.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Original passport
Visa if necessary
Flight tickets
Copies of the above items
Cash (USD are the second currency of Peru) ATMS are available in the big towns
Backpack & daypack
Water bottle
Hiking boots or comfortable walking shoes
Thongs
Sun hat
Sun Glasses
Towel
Swimming costume and towel
Rain jacket or poncho
Camera, batteries and film (batteries don’t last as long in the cold)
Torch with extra batteries (head torches are useful)
A strong Deet based insect repellent
Sun block
Personal toiletries including medications & vitamins
Alarm clock
Any snacks you cannot do without (chocolate melts in the jungle)
Bag for dirty washing

For the jungle
The weather in the jungle is hot and humid so light natural fibers are most comfortable.
Light long sleeved tops
Sarong
Shorts
Lightweight long pants and long sleeved tops (good for keeping mosquitoes away)

For the mountains
The weather in the mountains can range from 0 during the night to low 20’s during the day so layers work well. The sun can be very strong at these elevations so lots of sun protection is recommended.
Warm clothing
Jeans or long pants
Jacket & jumper or fleece
Tee shirts for during the day
Thermals especially for sleeping when camping

We recommend that you travel light as most people find it difficult not to be tempted by the lovely products available here which include jumpers (both wool and alpaca), scarves, and ponchos. The sun is very strong in Peru so please bring enough sun protection. If using ATMS please inform your bank before you travel.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Meals as noted in the itinerary.
Entrance fees to Sacred Sites
Despacho offering ceremonies with Quero Shamans
Coca Leaf
All group work
Healing session with Suzanne during the Amazon Retreat

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

Passport and Visa fees
International and domestic air fares.
Airport taxes and surcharges
Meals not mentioned in itinerary
Items of a personal nature including souvenir shopping, laundry, personal phone calls
Optional tours
Tips for guides, drivers etc.
Optional healings with Quero Shamans

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