The focus of the work at the Hummingbird Center is on insight and healing, a term which, in the Amazon, has a wider meaning than its Western usage and refers to an ultimately beneficial outcome brought about by the restoration of balance and positivity to the mind, emotions and spirit as well as the physical self.
We offer a pioneering yet ancient path towards these outcomes by blending shamanism, medicine ceremonies and the therapeutic arts with the expertise of indigenous healers who embody a compassionate, sincere and heartfelt desire to assist your personal transformation.
Our philosophy is simple:
We work with the best healers
Having done nearly 500 ceremonies with over 20 different shamans of Peru and Ecuador, we recognise authenticity and true healing and their opposites when we see them, so we are rigorous about the ayahuasqueros we partner with. We also know good medicine from run-of-the-mill ayahuasca and use only the best.
All our healers have huge wisdom and an encyclopaedic knowledge of medicine plants as well as proven shamanic power. They practice their arts in a traditional, authentic way to provide safe and harmonious ceremonies, potent ayahuasca and an environment focused on positive energy, healing and love.
We use the finest ayahuasca
The ayahuasca we use is among the best you will find. We proudly serve ayahuasca cooked by Ron Wheelock, the "Gringo Shaman" of Iquitos. After trying the medicine of over 20 different ayahuasqueros, we have found Ron's medicine to be consistently stronger, easier to drink, and offering a 'sweeter' journery than any others. Nobody drinks this medicine and says it was not strong enough. Instead, people frequently state it was the strongest medicine they have ever had, and often request a smaller dose their second or third ceremony. Ron apprenticed with Don Agustin Rivas Vasquez and Don Jose Coral Mori, the teacher of Pablo Amaringo and Eduardo Luna, and has been a practicing ayahuasquero in Iquitos for over 10 years.
Our mission is healing, not profit
We are committed to making healing as accessible as possible to all who need it. Our prices are considerably lower than many other centers and a large part of our income is reinvested in the healing work of the center and in projects with local people to protect and preserve indigenous culture, knowledge of shamanic healing and the medicine plants of the forest. Additionally, we pay our local staff 20-30% higher than prevailing wages for similar work.
Our goal is permaculture and sustainable community living
We operate permaculture-based projects across our grounds with a view to becoming self-sufficient and as low-impact as possible. An example is our use of 'Humanure' composting toilets, which use sawdust from local lumber mills to turn human waste into rich composte used to enrich the soil in our gardens. We are also creating an extensive medicine garden to preserve and document the healing plants of this region, as well as hundreds of flowers as an attractive haven for wildlife. Another longer term project is the planting of rare hardwood trees such as Palo Sangre, Lopuna and Chuchuwasi. Though we will never see these trees mature in our lifetimes, we feel it is important that examples of these majestic giants can be found somewhere near Iquitos. Perhaps others will appreciate their beauty and follow our example on their own land.
We work with integrity
We don't make promises we can't keep. Our commitment is to healing and insight, believing these to be the most important requirements for a balanced and harmonious life and the positive evolution of our planet. We simply offer authentic healing delivered honestly and with integrity in the therapies we provide, the shamans we work with and the environment we create for our guests.
We work responsibly and treat others on a more-than-fair basis
We are guided by the principles of fair trade in all of our dealings with staff, suppliers and the community around us - but go further than this to support local people and projects which conserve the rainforest, its medicines and culture. Because of this and the respectful and positive relationships we have with others they give us the best in return so our guests also benefit. We pay our local staff 20-30% higher than prevailing wages for similar work. The center regularly pays the medical bills of staff and others in the local village when a serious illness arises, and is currently paying school tuition for several of the local children.