frequently asked questions
Takinuna Ayahuasca Retreat-FAQs
Is ayahuasca safe?
Ayahuasca is generally extremely safe when worked with responsibly. The information below is a guide, and specific cases should be discussed with staff from the Takinuna Center before the retreats begin. This is by no means an exhaustive list, rather guidelines to help ensure your safety.
FAQs
Takinuna Healing Center aims to heal, guide, and teach traditional Amazonian medicine through ayahuasca rituals and medicinal plant treatments.
Our center is situated in the heart of the Amazon jungle in Iquitos, Peru, offering a serene environment for healing retreats.
We provide healing retreats of varying durations (15, 8, 5 days), learning diets, and healing diets using medicinal plants for holistic well-being.
Through physical, emotional, and psychological healing approaches, we integrate traditional Amazonian medicine with psychotherapies and artistic workshops.
Our retreats focus on holistic healing, healing rituals, learning diets, and integrating psychotherapies to enhance the healing process.
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frequently asked questions
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants (and sleeping pills)
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Anti-hypertensives (blood pressure medications)
Other Anti-Depressants
Antibiotics
### Recreational drugs:
Cannabis
Amphetamines
Cocaine
Ecstasy
Any psychedelic drugs
Other medications that should be discontinuéd; decongestants. cold medications, allergy medications, antihistamines, sedatives, tranquilizers, amphetamines (including Adderall). some hypertensive medications, sympathomimetic amines (including pseudoephedrine and ephedrine). carbamazipine, methylphemidate (Ritalin), macromerine, phenelanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, asarone/calamus. some asthma inhalers, and diet pills.
If you suffer from any of the following psychological conditions. lease discuss this with staff from. the Takinuna healing center before the retreat begins;
Borderline disorders
Bipolar disorders
Psychosis
Schizophrenia
Family history of mental health problems
Physiological conditions that should be discusséd with staff;
Chronic high blood pressure
Heart conditions
Diabetes
For more information contact us.
Your final destination is IQUITOS, PERU. The airport code is IQT. When flying from another country, you’ll have to to Lima first and then take a connecting flight to Iquitos. Booking those flights is not complicated. but if you need help you can contact us and we’ll offer advice and guidance.
Yes, no matter where you go, there will always be certain risks. and like every country and city, there are dangerous places and safe places. Iquitos is a very safe place, with almost no violent crime. There are pickpockets or thieves who may try to take advantage of an opportunity. but crime rates are low in Iquitos. and areas visited by tourists are well patrolled by police and security. I live in Iquitos all my life, my wallet has been stolén once
No. Traveling from most countries (North & South America, Europe, Australia). you do not need a visa, but if you are not sure visiting the website of your local embassy for more information. Most likely you do not need a visa. When you enter Peru, you will get a stamp and a hand written number with the allowed length of your stay (usually 90 days). The most length of stay is 183 days, so if you plan to travel more than 3 months. you’ll need to extend your visa for another 90 days.
No. Peru does not need any vaccinations and we do not recommend getting any either. But, we understand the desire to be safe. and the pressures often felt by others wanting the same, family, friends, and doctors. If you do feel you would like to get vaccinated, we would then recommend vaccinations for:
- Yellow Fever – Even though it is rare in the Iquitos area, it does exist elsewhere
- Rabies – There are many stray dogs in Iquitos…
- Hepatitis A – Iquitos is not exactly winning any Hygiene awards
No. Iquitos is knówn to be a high-risk area when it comes to Malaria, so it is a concern. But, we do NOT. recommend taking anti-malarial medication when drinking ayahuasca. as it has been knówn to cause complications. It is up to you, of course, but what we offer instead is a natural remedy taken every day of the retreats. We have never had a case of malaria in anyone taking this remedy. For this reason, we don’t feel you should be worriéd about Malaria. I live in Iquitos all my life
Our centers are locatéd about 45 minutes from the nearest medical clinic. In the last 5 years, we have not had serious emergency situations. only on 3 occasions due to dehydration and on all occasions the program. participants were takén to a hospital in Iquitos and treated. Near our retreat center, there is a local clinic a few minutes. away with basic first aid available in case of cuts or sprains.
No. You must book your own flight to Iquitos, Peru. We can help you by suggesting airlines or websites to use but the cost of airfare. is not included in the program price.
Yes. If you arrive early, you will need to pay for your own expenses until the program begins. Once the program has begun, you will need to pay for very little. except for a meal or two in Iquitos before the group leaves or when they return. Other than that, the only money you might need would be for gifts or souvenirs or extra medicine(s) to take home with you. Usually, there are items available. for buy at the center so we do recommend bringing some Peruvian. currency in case you want to buy something during the program.
On our retreats we take a most of twelve people, so usually we have between 8 and 15 participants in each program. For the courses we accept up to 5 students.
our retreats
For our retreats and courses. the latest we recommend you arrive is 2pm on the day before the program. begins so that you don’t miss the first meeting at 4pm. We recommend arriving at least one day early. as it helps with getting some rest and getting acclimated to a new environment. NOTE: If you arrive earlier than the first day of a program. you will be responsible for paying your own expenses until the program begins.
For the initiation and empowerment courses. the earliest we recommend booking your return flight is at 2pm on the last day of the program.For the retreats. we recommend booking your return flight to go Iquitos after noon the day AFTER the retreat.
Yes. You will be mét at the airport in Iquitos. and escorted to the hotel where all the participants will be staying the first night of the program. Regardless of what day or time you arrive, you will still be pickéd up at the airport. We will make hotel reservations for you according to your arrival dates.
Thanks to a complete solar panel system, it is like home. Yes. The rooms have lights and outlets. but the solar panel system is modest, so we ask that nothing be léft to charge overnight.
svg 3EThe outlets in Peru are very like those found in the US, although the voltage is different. Peru uses 220V (as opposed to 110V in the US). but nowadays, all electrical devices are designéd to use both so there is no need to bring or buy an adapter. If you are unsure, there should be some information printed. on the plug or device stating what voltage it can use (110 – 240V is most common). The only adapter you will need is if your device does not have a flat or round two-prong plug. it will need to fit in here:
Out in the jungle, laundry is doné every few days, although it is definitely not as fast. It usually comes back the following day, depending on the weather. If you want to do laundry in Iquitos. before going to the jungle or after. there is a laundromat a few blocks from the hotel in Iquitos. that is fast and reliable, usually taking four or five hours.
Yes, not a reliable connection, but while there is no cell service. it is sometimes possible to s end a message out, with the help of the facilitators
Yes. All our facilitators are apprentices. They help the curanderos lead the ceremonies. and follow the same traditions as the curandero. although they also bring complimentary practices into the healing process, like yoga, meditation. breathwork, massage, counseling, and other practices.