One route of the expedition:
Lima - Pucallpa – Nuevo Ahuaypa 7 days (Ayahuasca ceremony 3 times) -
Pucallpa - Parque Nacional Yanachaga Chemillen – Lago Junin – Huancayo –
Cuzco – Machu Picchu – Puno - Lago Titicaca – Arequipa – Nazca – Ica –
Pisco + Paracas – Lima
Peru amazes with a variety of landscapes, as well as a heritage of
American Indian cultures. The selva of Amazonia, high mountains of Andes,
oceanic coast. It is still possible to feel aroma of the wild nature in
Peru. Peru is the country of sacred Knowledge. Keepers of Knowledge -
healers of the Amazonian selva - Curandero, shamen ayahuascero,
successors of the magic cultures Inca, Mochica, Nazca and the amazonian
selva. Here the Catholic Christianity is fancifully bound with shaman
traditions. It is the Knowledge that involves searching people in these
territories.
Peru is the country of a surprising history. Cultures Chavan, Chimu,
Nazca, Tiahuancayo, Mochica and, certainly, Inca left many riddles -
majestic ruins of Machu Picchu, palaces, pyramids, the mausoleums and
cult constructions of Lambaske valley.
Great Amazon starts in Peru at merge of the rivers Maranjon and Ucayali.
A plenty of very interesting places to the traveler is concentrated in
Peru, many of which are brought in various atlases of modern wonders of
the world. These are Lima on a high coast of Pacific ocean, and Inca
city Machu Picchu forgotten in mountains, and the most high-mountainous
in the world lake Titicaca with space landscapes around, and mysterious
lines Nazca. In Peru it is possible to see live penguins, sea lions and
fur-seals; the bird's markets on islands Baljestos in Pacific ocean, to
admire the colorful picturesque nature of jungle of Amazon accompanied
by the shouts of parrots and monkeys. Here it is possible to catch
piranhas or even to catch a huge amazonian fish pirarucu, or payche.
Cheerful pink dolphins live in Amazonian waters. Presence of a dolphin
at waters of the rivers of Bolivia and Peru on the distance of 2400
kilometers from the sea is one of the most amazing features of this
river system.
The description of the expedition to Peru.
Acquaintance with the capital of Peru. Lima.
Visiting the colonial part of Lima: areas Plaza the Major, Plaza de
Armas (the Area of the Weapon), the Main Cathedral, the Palace of the
President, the Church of Saint Francis with catacombs.
Interested persons can visit a museum of Gold, a museum of inquisition.
There is a set of the American Indian markets with souvenirs which are
brought into the capital from all the areas of Peru. A visit of the
modern districts of Lima with beautiful parks, squares and avenues. A
walk in Miraflores. Miraflores is the most prestigious and fashionable
district of Lima, because of its high houses situated directly at the
ocean, the luxurious hotels, and expensive restaurants. A walk in the
park of Love with a view to the Pacific Ocean, in the bohemian area
Barranko – a favorite place of poets and actors. In Barranko it is
possible to wander along small quiet streets, which lead to the ocean.
Meeting with Sacred Ayahuasca
Flight by the plane through Andes. Acquaintance with the city, mislaid
in Amazonian jungle. Visiting the picturesque lake Jarinokoche.
Travel along the river Ucayali with a picturesque coast of an Amazonian
selva. Accommodation at Shipibos. Participation in a holiday of a
meeting.
Preliminary instructions and ceremony Ayahuasca. The ceremony is chaired
by the shamen of a tribe.
Mastering of the received experience at the ceremony. A walking tour
with a guide through the real Amazonian jungle to a cherished lake in
the depth of selva. Acquaintance with the surprising and beautiful world
of Amazonia. Appearing in selva, you are as if transferred through
millions years to the tropical woods of the Paleozoic period. Here grow
thousand kinds of exotic plants, live hundreds kinds of birds and
animals. The selva of Amazonia is the richest in a variety of forms of
life forest on our planet. It is impossible to compare the sensations
which arise in a person in selva to anything in the world. This forest,
being a natural sauna (I hope you’ve enjoyed your bath), possesses the
strongest cleaning and curative influence (in a combination with
mosquito therapy the effect amplifies repeatedly).
Intercourse with Indians. It is possible to get fabrics with patterns of
Ayahuasca and other unique national products created by the hands of
Indians. Acquaintance with a life and way of life of Shipibos. It is
possible to participate in traditional celebrating or to take part in
unusual fishing, and also to get unforgettable experience of a floating
by an American Indian canoe.
Returning to Pucallpa. Accommodation in hotel. Continuation of the
acquaintance with the city which is known for its magic traditions.
Visiting of the American Indian market of curative plants. Visiting of
the workshop of the well-known artist of selva – shaman Pablo Amaringo.
Montania, Andes (Sierra Blanca and Sierra Negro). (15 days)
We go by bus to Parque Nacional Yanachaga Chemillen
(7 days in Montania)
Places of strength in Montania (these places are famous with downfalls,
the picturesque nature and … absence of mosquitoes). Rest from
mosquitoes after selva will seem a real paradise on the Earth. Here
other Ayahuasca-curanderos wait for us.
Tingo Maria (height 649m) the district glorified by plants of sort of
Coca and Cannabis - Huanuco (height 1894m)-
Lago Junin
Here are the ceremonies with curanderos which specialize on Saint Pedro.
Hike to the foot of the glaciers of Sierra Blanca.
Visiting Huancayo (height 3260m) and Ayacucho (height 2750m)
Ancient civilization of high-mountainous Andes
Visiting Cuzco
Cuzco is located in the Peruvian Andes and is declared a cultural
property of all mankind by the UNESCO. There is a legend, that Inca
primogenitors had left waters of the lake Titicaca and had founded the
city. Cuzco was the capital of Inca Empire. The name of the city is
translated from the language of Indians – kechua as "the center of the
universe". It really was the main city during the highest blossoming of
the Inca Empire, stretched from Peru up to Chile and Argentina. There is
a cathedral at the main square of Cuzco. It has an 8-ton bell from the
pure gold extracted, by a legend, from Inca treasures, the neighboring
mountains abound in cave temples of the ancient civilizations, and
houses of the old part of the city are constructed from the Incas’
stones.
The routes lead to, for example, Pisac - a citadel of Inca at the top of
the mountain circuit, to the Pyramid of the Moon, in Chincheros, the
typical village of the kechua Indians, arrangingon folklore markets on
Sundays.
The monumental archeological complex Sacsayuaman ("the Predatory bird of
the grey-stone color")is situated the north-west from Cuzco, at the
height of about 3500 m. above the sea level. It consists of three
parallel zigzag walls, the stone "the Inca throne", 21 bastions with
powerful towers; each tower was capable to cover up to a thousand of
soldiers. American Indian fortress Sacsayuaman from which walls opens a
good view to the city Cuzco located in a valley is a vivid example of
Inca building skill.
Many churches (including the cathedral at the main square of Cuzco) are
made on the base of the former American Indian temples, as it was very
solid. Huge granite blocks are processed and ground with such accuracy
that during the construction even of very high buildings cement was not
required. The stones as if magnetized to each other not once maintained
through the strongest earthquakes which destroyed the houses constructed
by Spaniards.
The Incas hydraulic system in temple Tambochay, devoted to water, works
till nowadays and gives crystal-clear water. It is used for local
brewing.
The most beautiful buildings of the city are the cathedral with the bell
Maria Angola (the biggest in South America) which sound has been rung
out for 300 years along the whole 40-kilometer district, and church La
the Company (La Compania) with the altar covered with gold.
Such excursions are possible round the city: the Main Cathedral with the
details from a cedar tree, painting of the school of Cuzco. Coricancha
or the Cathedral of the Sun - one of the powerful places of strength.
Visiting four ruins of Fortalez de Sacsayuaman, Keprcho, the fortresses
of Bunch Pucara and Tambomachay, which are situated outside the city
Cuzco.
Practically the whole city Cuzco is a unique monument.
Machu Picchu
Departure by train in Agaus Colientes and visiting of Machu Picchu - the
legendary forgotten city, and spending a night in Agaus Colientes.
Agaus Colientes is a small, but beautiful town located close to Machu
Picchu. The road leading along the river Urubamba is considered to be
one of the most picturesque in Peru. An excellent view to the snow tops
of majestic mountains and small American Indian villages at the slopes
opens from a car window.
Machu Picchu ("Machu " in cechua means "old", " Picchu " - "mountain")
was found only in 1911. There is a set of assumptions and hypotheses but
still it is not known, when did the city appear and by whom it was it
found. As a matter of fact it is the whole complex of archeological
groups which number has reached 24 (and constantly increases as a result
of new researches) which are scattered around the area of about 33
thousand hectares. The Stone of the Sun - "Intiuatana" which as it is
assumed, played the role of an astronomical observatory, causes the
special interest of visitors. The sacred area, ruins of the temple of
Three windows, ruins of the various constructions, more than hundred
ladders, and the aqueducts punched in stones.
Once the city of Machu Picchu (by one of the versions) was the center of
worship to the Sun where Solar maidens (women - priestesses) lived.
Astronomical supervision was carried out from the temple towers - solar
beams fall into the window of the Solar tower in the day of the winter
solstice. Machu Picchu is located at the unapproachable plateau which is
squeezed in a saddle between two mountain tops - Machu Picchu ("The old
mountain") and Uaina-Picchu ("The young mountain").
The river Urubamba streams below in a deep gorge. The rise to the top of
Uaina-Picchu grasps spirit. An amazing view of the forgotten Inca city
opens from the mountain.
Departure to Puno. Acquaintance with the city.
The road from Cuzco up to Puno is extremely picturesque. Almost deserted
high-mountainous desert in a frame of five-thousands starts after the
pass, - true Altiplano - geographical concept for areas of Peru, Bolivia
and Chile of height from 3600 up to 4000 meters, the western part of the
internal plateau of the Central Andes of the South America begins,
between 16 and 22 ° s. b. A volcanic plateau and hollows with lakes and
saline soils. In northeast steppe, in the West and the south of desert
and semidesert.
The cultivated fields are replaced by pastures of llamas and alpaca
which herds can be observed directly from your window. It is the ground
of Indians aimara.
Puno is famous for a woolen market and colorful festivals.
Trip by a boat to the open spaces of the sacred Lake Titicaca, and
visiting islands Uros and Amantani. Accommodation on the island
Amantani. Spending a night on the island. Lake Titicaca is located at
the border of Bolivia and Peru, at height of 3810 meters, it is the
largest high-mountainous navigable reservoir in the world a - its area
is 8287 sq. km. This ancient lake has kept its ichtio fauna up to now,
more likely ocean, than fresh-water, there are even sharks in the lake.
Tiauanako - the ancient city - port at the coast of the lake, at height
of 3625 m. above sea level and occupies space of 450 thousand sq. m.,
the data of mathematical and astronomical estimations give the date of
the the construction of Tiauanako approximately to 15000 AD. The ruins
of the impressing constructions which are located here have a stone
laying, it is about the same as well as in Machu Picchu. The largest and
most ancient of these constructions is the pyramid Acapana (" the
artificial mountain " in cechua language), of 15 m. height, the length
of one side of the basis is 230 m.
A trip by a motor boat to the Takil Island. Only on the Takile island it
is possible to see the suits which are worn only by the natives. The
most remarkable are Man's suits: the painted belts representing an
annual calendar of agricultural works in patterns, man's hats (for
single - red, for married - red –and- white), different shirts and the
waistcoats made by men of the island. Usually men knit here: each
interested in marriage person must knit himself a small hat called
"groom".
Returning to Puno. Departure to Arequipa. Accommodation in a hotel of
Arequipa. Arequipa is the second capital of Peru, as well as Petersburg
in Russia and Barcelona in Spain.
The first acquaintance with Arequipa. Travel to the Canon del Colca. The
deepest in the world Colca canyon is near the city of Arequipa, the
second-largest city of the country, here, in caves on the slopes of the
mountains, Inca buried the deceased. The mummies, which are more than
800 years, lay in these burial places, untouched by people.
Certainly, all who visit Arequipa, should see the well-known canyon. In
1984 Canon del Colca was put in the Book of the Guinness Records as the
deepest in the world. Canon del Colca is a whole kilometer deeper than
the Great Canyon in America - the distance from a surface of the river
up to the mountain tops reaches 3 kilometers and 400 meters. You may
meet wild vicuñas (not cultivated relatives of llamas and alpacas) on a
road. It is possible to rise on the pass of 4800 m, to swim in
geothermal springs, to look at a huge canyon and if you are lucky, to
see a condor in flight.
Accommodation in a hotel. After the severe high mountains of Puno we get
into a district with a warm and soft climate. Arequipa is the "white
city". The city is named white because the basic building material is
the white volcanic stone "sillier" which deposit is developed nearby.
All life and history of Arequipa is inextricably related with the
volcanoes: the city is in a hollow between the enormous volcanoes of El
Misti (5822 m) and Chachani (6075 m). El Misti is the most beautiful of
them, the classical form of a cone, which is seen even from the central
square Plasa de Armas. The city cathedral is the most beautiful
construction at the central square of Arequipa. One more sight of the
city is the unique bridge through the river Chile, designed 150 years
ago by the Frenchman Gustavo Eiffel.
In Arequipa you may visit the surprising monastery Santa Cathalina. The
working female monastery (now here live about 20 nuns), is a real town
in the city, enclosed with huge walls and small streets. Constructed in
1580, it was opened for visitors only in 1970 and at once became the
basic sight of Arequipa.
Having left from Arequipa, the bus passes by a deposit silliara, then
for a long time winds in the mountain streamers and rises to the high
mountains. Here, at height of 3900 m, the bus passes through the
national reserve Salinas and Agua Blanca where you may see vicuñas. They
are grazed in wild herds and are cut only once in three years: a scarf
made of vicuna wool can cost 300 USD and higher, it is extremely
valuable and warm wool.
Rising above in mountains, you can see the El Misti volcano. At height
of 4150 m, 4 hours after the departure from Arequipa, - a small stop to
have a meal and to drink tea of the coca leaves which cures the mountain
illness. Then the road goes above and above. The landscape represents
the high-mountainous tundra, sometimes it is snowing, the road crosses a
huge crater of an extinct volcano and gets onto the maximum point of the
route – the pass of 4800 m. which is situated beside a cold small lake.
Only desperate Russian tourists bathe there! An hour of dizzy descent -
and the bus is in Canon del Colca. It is possible to have a snack in the
settlement Chivaj.
In the morning a walk to the canyon. Departure to Arequipa and departure
ito Nasca. Accommodation in a hotel in Nasca.
Visiting of the legendary and mysterious desert Naska, a flight above
the desert by a small plane. Not only the well-known mysterious figures,
but numerous monuments of ancient American Indian cultures of Peru have
survived in the Naska desert - Mochica, the Chan-Chan, the cult and
priestly center Pachacamac.
Visiting the ancient cemetery Chowchilla. Huge figures can be seen only
from the plane. There is still an opportunity to look on some figures
from the viewing towers called "mirador", located on the Pan-American
Highway in the direction to Lima from Naska.
There is one more interesting sight, besides the figures, in Naska – the
cemetery Chowchilla. Here under the scorching sun of the desert lay
mummies, skulls and bones of the notable people and leaders of the late
period of Nasca culture (about 100 AD) in the crypts opened by uakeros
(robbers of burial places). The remains perfectly preserved in the dry
conditions (it rains here for 2 hours once in 2-3 years; there are
places where it doesn’t rain for 15 years).
Departure to Ica and accommodation in a hotel. A breakfast in a hotel
or a restaurant. Survey of the city, visiting a museum. Departure to a
famous resort Uakachina. Rest at the resort. Ica is the main center of
winemaking in Peru. The international wine festival with cockfights,
competitions of beauty, fairs and dances takes place every year in the
beginning of March in Ica. The small resort Uakachina is well-known for
the huge sandy dunes (one of the highest on the Earth). Here you can
practice an unusual kind of sports: sandy surfing, having hired a
special sandy board for driving from dunes. Besides it is possible to be
expiated in a beautiful lake.
Pisco. Accommodation in a hotel at the central square. A breakfast,
departure to the port of Parakasa. Costa (the coast of the Pacific
Ocean) is attractively sandy dunes and bewitching kinds of the ocean.
Travel to the Baljestskie islands. Islands Baljestskie isa rookery for
thousands of sea lions, a place for hundreds bird's markets, the kinds
of birds are different: cormorants, sea-gulls, albatrosses, frigates.
Here it is possible to see even penguins.
Trip by a motor boat starts with the island Waliestas where a well-known
" Candelabrum " is situated - the mysterious figure which was cut out of
firm sandstone. The figure is visible only from the sea. The time of its
creation, authorship, and the purposes of the unknown artists are still
not clear. Some people suppose that it was created by the people of the
same culture of those who made the Nasca figures - the image of the
sacred cactus San Pedro is still used in shaman rituals. After the
"Candelabrum" the boat goes half an hour up to the islands. The real
Pacific war between Peru and Chile burst in the 19th century because of
them, and, especially, because of the extremely valuable in those days
bird's droppings guano which were used as fertilizer. The boat
approaches rather close to the rookeries of the sea lions which show
real circus numbers. Baljestskie Islands is the surprising natural
reserve known for colonies of coastal birds guano, pickers, sarsilio,
and also disappearing kinds of Peruvian Goombolt penguins.
After returning to the port – a trip to a reserve Parakas. The peninsula
Parakas is combined from the pressed sand of different colors - from
yellow up to red and brown. On a sunny day the colors really amaze. Here
it is possible to see the flights of the pink flamingos wandering along
the coastal lagoons. It is possible to look at so-called "Cathedral" - a
rock from the sandstone, processed by a surf and erosion so, that it
reminds a monumental cathedral of the huge size. After trip to the
peninsula and visiting the interesting study of local lore museum
devoted to a history to the ancient culture Paracas, it is the best way
to be directed to a small bay with restaurants and a beach. It is
possible to be expiated to the Pacific Ocean.
Returning to Pisco.
Pisco is the birthplace of the well-known Peruvian drink - pisco which
now is made in Chile as well. The drink is made of grapes, of 40
degrees. It slightly reminds cha-cha. It is seldom drunk in the pure
kind. Usually Peruvians and visitors prefer a cocktail on a basis of
pisco - «pisco sour ». It consists of pisco, lime juice, chipped ice,
and egg fiber. Everuthing is shaken up together in a mixer and moved in
an ice glass with foam. The spirit and taste of «pisco sour »
essentially depends on the institution where you are offered it.
Departure to Lima. Continuation of the acquaintance with the city. It is
possible to make a travel to the port Kajjal or to visit the fishing
area Chorrios. It is possible to be expiated in the Pacific Ocean, and
also to visit an archeological museum and a museum of inquisition.
It is necessary to take with you:
-
An Anti-mosquito grid (it is possible to buy at place),
-
Enough repellents for your body and clothes, as a last resort – a
cyanogens-hydrogen acid or curare (poisons can be bought at a place):)
-
Also it is good to take a cream from sunburn with the factor 15 - 20.
-
Sneakers/tour boots, which close shin foot (there are a lot of snakes
and huge ants in jungle), breathing, and also any light sandals /
moccasins. Better the footwear "Columbia". The footwear is recommended
to be bought before the trip.
-
Guidebook Lonely Planet (in English) and a map of Peru «Insight
Travel Map»
-
A mug, a boiler at will.
-
The first-aid set (spirit, iodine and so forth. It is possible to buy
it in Peru)
-
A small lamp (it is possible to buy at place)
-
A hammock (it is possible to buy at place)
-
To make x-copies of passports and other documents. It is also
competent to place the scanned image of a turn of the passport and air
tickets in a letter box or on a server accessible through the Internet.
-
To issue the insurance for all time of stay.
-
Inoculations are welcomed.
-
The Spanish phrase book of a pocket format
-
It is better not to overload yourself with clothes. Everything can be
bought at the place: qualitative clothes from alpaca wool, T-shirts and
shirts with national patterns, etc.
-
All valuable things (the camera, the chamber, documents and so forth)
should be packed into water-proof packages. So that even in a case of
the hit of your backpack in water, they won’t get wet.
-
It is recommended to hang up small, but qualitative locks on the
backpacks
-
For gifts take coins, cards, badges, beads.
-
Swimming trunks, bathing suits
It is possible to look for the information here www.andeantravelweb.com
< http: //
www.andeantravelweb.com >
CURRENCY. Money: Since July, 1991 official currency - new salt. In the
majority of the places dollars (but usually it is not favorable to pay
off with dollars) are also accepted. Visa and MasterCard are accepted in
many shops and hotels.
It is necessary to take a visiting card of the hotel. If you are lost,
there will be where to return and what to show the taxi driver.
Tip. At restaurants about 10 % as in the majority of the countries It is
unessential to give the tip to the taxi drivers, simply the contractual
sum or the counter (the sum should be stipulated beforehand in order to
prevent misunderstanding).
When you arrive in Lima it is necessary to fill in a coming card which
the frontier guard puts a stamp on with the date of entrance and which
must be kept before the departure of the country. At the airport you
should change some money. It is cheaper to pay off the local money with
taxi drivers.
Time: There is no transition to summertime.
Climate: the Season of rains from December till March. Here these are
summer months. Lima and other cities of the coast are in a zone of
moderate temperature, there are a lot of sunny days, rare rains. Summer
is a season of rains, solar morning, rainy midday and cold nights in the
high mountains. It is damp and hot in selva the whole year.
Electricity: 220 Volt, 60 hertz, except for Arequipa, where it is 220
volt and 50 hertz.
Other Expeditions
Expeditions to Nepal
Nepal. Trekking
Trekking -is a word designating the pedestrian campaign to the mountains
with stops in settlements or in tent camps. Parmod - our Nepalese friend
can organize an excellent trekking. You can write him a letter (in
English) and he will necessarily organize an unforgettable travel with
the lowest prices for you.
Expeditions to India
Our expeditions to India (and not only to India) are not the regular
tours for amateurs of the serial rest. The present travel is not only a
bar in a hotel, boring excursions with guides who automatically rap out
million times learnt text, and considering their household problems.
The present travel is a meeting with Spirit of the people to which
ground you are sent, with Spirit of the Nature of these places. Moreover
it is a meeting with the Ancient Wisdom embodied in creations of great
masters. This touch to sacred Knowledge which changes our life, makes us
more pure and happier.
But one business is to tell a set of beautiful grandiloquent words about
the "culture" and "spirituality", and the other business is really to
realize the secret dreams. And it, except for the internal mood of the
traveler, depends in many respects on the competent organization of the
expedition.
Victoria Dmitrieva is the head of the expeditions of our Club of
Mystical Travel to India. She is the person who not only has stayed in
India for more than ten years, but the person who also thoroughly knows
the culture and the religious beliefs of the Indians. Victoria Dmitrieva
is the teacher of yoga, the author of a set of publications, the
translator of magnificent books about Kashmir Shivaism and Tantrum, the
expert of the ancient sacred language of India - Sanskrit.
You can find out in more detail about the nearest expeditions, having
written us: urbanboo@mail.ru
Flight
from Lima by the plane through Andes. Acquaintance with the
city, mislaid in Amazonian jungle. Visiting the picturesque lake
Yarinocoche.
