Come with me to the Amazon rainforest
Open from September 20 to end of November · Acre, Brazil
How does it work?
The village is open to us from September 20 through the end of November. You choose which week works for you, and how long you want to stay.
You make your own way to Cruzeiro do Sul or Rio Branco, in Brazil. From there, we take over: hotel, driver, and boat to get you all the way to the village.
Once you arrive, the community welcomes you. You sleep in a hammock with a mosquito net, in a sheltered hut. It's simple, close to the forest, and that's part of the journey.
Who receives you
You're received by Wiyahu and Txivani, a couple who travel across Brazil and the world to raise awareness for the Amazon, the medicines, and the Yawanawá cause. They coordinate your stay.
I've worked closely with them for years, and I know them to be the ideal guides for the ceremonies and medicines we'll share together.
What's included
All your meals are prepared on site. On the medicine and ceremony side, you have:
- 2 Ayahuasca ceremonies
- 3 Kapū applications
- 1 plant bath
- Temazcal
- Rapé circles
And then there's the whole life of the village: forest walks, fishing, hunting, stories from the elders, craftwork.
Going further
If you want to go deeper, individual healing sessions and specific dietas are arranged case by case. We'll sort that out together once you're there, or beforehand if you already know what you're drawn to.
Where you'll sleep
In hammocks with mosquito nets, inside sheltered huts. It's a simple setup, close to the forest, and that's part of the journey.
What you will need
Don't worry about arriving with everything. A lot of this can be bought locally in Cruzeiro do Sul or Rio Branco before we take the boat, and I can point you to the right places.
- Hammock with mosquito net, or a small tent
- A camping or beach chair for the ceremonies
- Soap
- Cash (always useful for handicrafts)
- Rubber boots or hiking boots, it's the rainy season at this time of year
- Flip-flops
- Light long-sleeve shirts
- Light trousers
- A blanket, it gets cold at night
- A thermal water bottle
- Insect repellent (I have a natural one, tested and approved on my own trips)
- Basic medication: fever reducer, antihistamine, and whatever else you feel you need
- A small suitcase, transport charges extra for large bags
- A roll of toilet paper
Health
Vaccine
The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory.
Malaria
There hasn't been a case in the Yawanawá villages themselves in decades. That said, the Amazon region as a whole is considered a risk area, so it's up to you whether you want to take preventive treatment. I strongly encourage it if you're planning to travel more widely around Brazil.
Mosquitoes
A course of vitamin B1 (thiamine) taken in the weeks before you leave is a traditional trick some people use to keep them away.
Health questionnaire
Once your spot is confirmed with payment, I'll send you a health questionnaire. It needs to be completed before you're cleared to take part in the ceremonies and the various medicines.
Individual interview
I do a one-on-one interview with each person before confirming their participation.
Price
Understanding the cost
Fuel runs about 10 R$ a litre in Acre. Just getting you there and back, the transport can quickly come to around $500, and that's before anything reaches the community. From there, the contribution goes to all the villages working to host you: cooking, preparing plant baths, running ceremonies, and more.
The price also covers my presence alongside you throughout the stay, to translate, to interpret, and to make sure you understand what's happening. I'm there so you're well supported, so your questions and any concerns always get passed on, and so you can really absorb the knowledge of the people around you.
It's a significant budget. But once you're there, you realise how much the whole community lives from this, and why it's worth it. This isn't a retreat with three facilitators. It's three villages hosting you, with very powerful elder Pajés.
The community hosting you
