"The benefit of transformative work is it allows us to be more truly and naturally ourselves,
whatever that is"
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about our ayahuasca retreat center and our 9-day and 12-day ayahuasca retreats. If you have additional questions, please email us at hummingbirdretreats@gmail.com.
We can grant access to wi-fi tethering to our cell phone under special circumstances, but it is not generally available. You should plan on being out of contact while at the ayahuasca retreat center. If you would like to let your family know that you have arrived safely, you can send an email through our cell phone. We will also gladly respond to any emails asking for confirmation of your safe arrival. If staying at the center for 3 weeks or more, you will have the opportunity to go into town to use the Internet.
The weather in Iquitos, Peru does not change much, but August is the driest and sunniest time of the year. It is also the hottest. The following website has charts of average weather conditions throughout the year and should help in your decision: Average Weather in Iquitos, Peru
No, and this policy is so you can concentrate on your journey without the lure of the outside world. Use of mobile phones is not prohibited, but we encourage you to take this time to disconnect from your normal life and be on 'retreat'. If you choose to make calls, please do so where others are not disturbed by your phone conversation. Learn more about what to bring on your retreat.
We have lights in all of the rooms and throughout the grounds, but they are powered by a generator. We have a charging station where you may charge batteries, phones, laptops etc. In the evenings without ceremony, the lights will available until 10 pm.
Mosquitoes are usually not a problem at our ayahuasca retreat center, but as we are in the jungle, they cannot be ruled out. The best natural defense is to begin taking lots of Vitamin B12 a few weeks before you travel. The richest natural source is goji berries. And, of course, consult your health advisor about precautions before you travel.
Malaria pills should not be taken when drinking ayahuasca, and are not needed at our retreat center. For more information about medicines and foods you'll want to avoid before and after your ayahuasca retreat, checkout how to prepare for healing with ayahuasca.
This is a matter of personal choice. Some people prefer homeopathy and go for a consultation before they travel and bring a homeopathic travel kit with them. If you choose to vaccinate, do so at least two weeks before your first ayahuasca ceremony.
Some countries (such as Australia) may require you to vaccinate for yellow fever and prove your vaccination as a condition of re-entry. In cases like these, ask your physician for a vaccination certificate and bring it with you, just in casee.
The Hummingbird ayahuasca retreat center has a no medication policy. For detailed information on this topic, please read our medical safety and advice.
Yes, you may take ayahuasca at the Hummingbird Center. While we respect those traditions that do not allow it, it seems excessive to exclude a woman for that reason when they have come so far for this work. We have never noticed any difference in a woman's experience with ayahuasca while menstruating, nor the experience of the ceremony as a whole that is outside of the normal variance of ayahuasca experience.
For the 12-day ayahuasca retreat you will be met at Fitzcaraldo restaurant at 10 am on the first day of your retreat. Fitzcaraldo restaurant is on the "Boulevard", a park fronting the river a block from the Plaza de Armas, near the hotels and very easy to find. Let us know in advance if you have any problems making this time and place, and we will try to accommodate your schedule. Those on personalized ayahuasca retreats are encouraged to begin with the 12 day program, as it works best. If that is not possible, we will work out pick up on an individual basis.
For hotel recommendations and website links, please see our information on Air Travel and Hotels.
Purified and bottled water is used at our ayahuasca retreat center so the water provided for drinking can be safely consumed.
We are a dedicated shamanic healing center with a proven track record of healing a variety of medical conditions. We also work with San Pedro, another powerful healer and teacher plant that complements ayahuasca.
We keep our retreat groups limited to no more than 12 people, so everyone receives the personal attention they need, and offer fair prices for our ayahuasca retreats, so as many people as possible have access to the healing they need. While most centers charge $180 per day or more, our prices are $140 per day or less, depending on the length of stay. To learn more, visit Why Choose Us?
Let us know before you book and we will let you know if we can accommodate them. The jungle presents special challenges, of course (for example, for wheelchair users) but the intention of our ayahuasca retreat center is to facilitate healing so we will do all that we can to assist if you have special needs.
