Post Jungle Ultra

For a different trail in the Manu Reserve, Gloria, Juan and I headed to Tono to tour the trail used by the Jungle Ultra.  Thanks to the guards in the puente de vigilancia del Tono for sharing their breakfast, stories, and time with Gloria, Juan, and I while discussing the excitement and viewing the route from the Jungle Ultra.  We did not let a “little” rain spoil our hike, but unfortunately it did soil our opportunity to take photos.  In brief, the terrain was amazing and jungle green.  Along the route, we passed through pastures, rice fields, and plantations of yucca.  We were able to view many capuchin monkeys and were even barked at by a Peccary.  We took the path past the giant aguano trees to discover even more rolling greens, the wonder of seed distribution, and its effect on plant diversity.  We hope to head back to Tono soon!

Ayahuasca Ceremony Peru

Check out our newest tour, an Ayahuasca Ceremony in held in a native community in Manu! 

DAY 1: PILLCOPATA – SANTA ROSA DE HUACARIA

We begin our day at 3:30pm with a late lunch at Gallito de las Rocas in Pillcopata, followed by our hike to the native community of Santa Rosa de Huacaria, 700m.  Huacaria is buried deep within the jungle and possesses many treasures of indigenous Amazonian life.  Along the way, we will have the opportunity to view different species of wildlife, especially those in the avian family.  We will arrive in Huacaria for an evening of rest, relaxation, and a light dinner while camping in their ceremonial Tambo. 

Total Travel Time: 2.5 hours hiking

DAY 2: SANTA ROSA DE HUACARIA

This day will be used as a day of meditation and relaxation, designed to increase your spiritual journey during the Ayahuasca ceremony.  River access for swimming is close to the Tambo and is used by the locals for purification before ceremonies.  During this day we will have light snacks and share experiences with the local community members and take a tour of their native community structure.  Mid-afternoon the shaman will do a ceremonial preparation and question & answer session followed by a light mindfulness yoga practice.   At sun down, the traditional ceremony will begin.  During the ceremony, the shaman will guide each individual through a natural self-discovery process through traditional songs and mantras passed on through the tribe from generations before. 

DAY 3: SANTA ROSA DE HUACARIA

This is a day of recuperation.  We begin in the morning with our closing interpretation ceremony with the shaman as he analyzes the visions seen the night before.   We will have a nutritionally balanced breakfast and a cleansing bath before making our way back to the village of Pillcopata.  The rest of this day should be used for relaxation.  Meals will be provided at Gallito de las Rocas.  If evening buses are available, you can travel back to Cusco this evening, otherwise we would be happy to accommodate you at Gallito de las Rocas Lodge.  

Total Travel Time: 30 minutes in car

*Special things to note about this tour.

-         Dietary and lifestyle recommendations are suggested before taking Ayahuasca.  A helpful preparation guide can be found at

-         All meals and snacks prepared during the tour follow the dietary guidelines recommended by the shaman.

This tour requires the use of a shaman.  It is recommended to book this tour as far in advance as possible to confirm availability within his schedule. 

Ayahuasca

This morning I was questioning the spiritual and mental preparations recommended and their viability for an Ayahuasca ceremony.  Then Chris and Brian showed up at the lodge, straight off their Ayahuasca journey, and it looked like they had gotten hit by a truck.  At that moment, I stopped questioning the importance of physical and mental preparation.  

Ayahuasca is derived from Quechua, huasca significant of vine and aya meaning a separate soul or spirit.  For tribes in the Amazon, Ayahuasca created an ideal mix for a spiritually rejuvenating and medicinally cleansing religious journey.  The Ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) is commonly combined with the shrub Chacruna (Psychotria vindis), Sameruca (Psychotria carthaginesis), and the vines Ocayagé, Chalipanga, Chagraponga, or Huambisa to create the Ayahuasca drink that is generally associated with its hallucinogenic affects.  Linked with its ability to reach into the soul, the Ayahuasca vine is actually not the ingredient that contains the hallucinogen, DMT, found in chacruna or ocoyagé, but is still a key ingredient in the consumption process.  In its raw form, human stomach acids de-activate the DMT, but taken with a MAO inhibitor (the Ayahuasca vine) the digestive process is broken down and the DMT is able to enter the body medicinally…  Is anyone else picturing the complexity of how this was invented!?

After comparing internet sites, my notes from the shaman, and word of mouth experiences, I compiled a brief list of Ayahuasca prep recommendations.  Since Ayahuasca is used as a cleanse, preparations begin one to two weeks prior to the ceremony and should be followed another week after the ceremony to maximize benefits.  Recommendations for diets include eliminating red meats (or all meats if you can), processed sugars, pickled, fermented and spicy food, as well as limited salt intake.

In Haucaria, the shaman commences his Ayahuasca ceremonies with a day of cleansing meditations to mentally prepare for the intent of the consumption.  Day of preparations include a total fast or 1-2 light meals both taken before noon.  Light colored clothing is also recommended as dark colors are associated with evil and can be a blockade for the shaman. During the ceremony, the affects appear slowly, different from other hallucinogenics containing DMT, and the hallucinations usually last approximately four hours.  The shaman will lead the meditational activities and healing songs throughout the ceremony calling on Mother Ayahuasca for her healing energies. 

Tomorrow we will have the privilege of attending an Ayahuasca ceremony with our friends in Huacaria.  Let us know if you would like to participate in one of our sustainable Ayahuasca ceremonies too.  Payments go directly to the shaman ensuring that the currency stays within the native community of Huacaria rather to third party vendors.  Help us keep tourism local! 

Summer is Almost Here!

With sustainability in mind, our guides and staff of Gallito de las Rocas look forward to welcoming you, your friends, and family to Manu National Park this 2012 season!  As the wet season dissipates and vegetation is rich, mammals and birds hunt and gather visibly, driving tourism to Manu National Park.  With 20,000 species of plants, 1,000 species of birds, 140 species of amphibians, 160 species of mammals, and 50 species of snakes, SERNAP (Servicio Nacional de Areas Protegidas) has been active assembling programs to ensure limited impact tourism is taught, directed, and accomplished through the parks partners, guides, and guests.  Within this program, a focus has been placed on animal research and monitoring equipped with consequences for broken rules including provisions regarding damage to any animal habitats.  Expediciones Gallito de las Rocas treats our guides are key players to ensure the sustainability factor while the tourists are in the park by fostering well-guided, educated tourists.  

Gearing Up for the Ultra Marathon!

It is an exciting month for those of us in the Manu Region as Beyond the Ultimate, with the help of Dircetur, and Gobierno Regional de Cusco, is setting up for the regions first ever Jungle Ultra.  Commencing on 23 May 2012, countless hands have been involved in the event preparation from cleaning trails, securing river crossings, coordinating press, working with native communities, ensuring participant safety, and much more.  Contracted as a 6-year event, 2012’s Jungle Ultra will set the tone and be used as a guide for years to come. 

Wayquecha – Starting in the Wayquecha research station, 3000m above sea level, the runners will spend their first night in the clouds acclimating themselves to their first climate zone, the cloud forest, while immersing themselves in one of the most bio-diverse stretches of land in the world.

Alto Tono River – During a 2-day descent, the participants wind themselves through the 67km of trails following and crossing the narrow but rapid, Tono River spending the night in the riverbank pueblo of Tono.

Santa Rosa de Huacaria – 40km from Tono, the native community of Santa Rosa de Huacaria demonstrates how Wachiperi and Machiguenka tribes live together in unison in traditional Amazonian fashion.

Queros de Wachiperi, - The participants will celebrate a day of rest with the native community of Queros de Wachiperi.  The celebration will honor the runner’s extreme dedication with traditional ceremonies of healing through the powers of the earth and universe.  Queros is located southeast of Pillcopata, to the left of the Queros River

Pillcopata – May 29^th will be a memorable one for the people of Pillcopata as we welcome the runners, friends, and family to our community.  A commemoration will be held to honor the participants including a formal awards ceremony followed by a celebration featuring food and drink from the local communities.  We look forward to welcoming everyone and participating in this inaugural affair of the Jungle Ultra!

3 DAY TOUR FROM PILLCOPATA

After recent successes, we have decided to officially launch our 3-day tour from Pillcopata!  This is the first tour of its kind to begin and end in Pillcopata giving the tourist more flexibility and freedom!

We had the pleasure of taking our most recent 3-day tour from Pillcopata with Arthur and Guillermo.  We began our first day in Santa Rosa de Huacaria, where the local shaman, Alberto, stepped in as our cultural and spiritual guide for the day.  Opening up his house, we had a traditional beverage called Masato with him as we gathered around to hear a Matsiguenga story of creation.  After a nice swim and lunch with his daughter, Alberto re-joined the group for a walk through his medicinal plant garden, where we received a comprehensive overview of the healing plants of the jungle.  

On the second day, we stopped at a Coca Plantation on the way to Atalaya, where I was able to grab some nat geographic worthy photos of their resident rehab 2-toed sloth.  We spent the afternoon at Lake Machu Huasi with tanagers, oropendolas, caciques, hoatzins, wattled jacanas, pale-eyed blackbirds, brown capuchin monkeys, and squirrel monkeys.  Back at Casa Felipe, I gorged on Felipe’s grapefruit tree taking in the fluttering butterflies while I embarrassed myself trying to show off my Gloria-esque skills eating a grapefruit like a local.  Gloria and Oracio lead my first night hike where we met a green vine snake and common squirrel monkeys graced us with their animated calls.

Our final day began with an exhilarating trip to a parrot clay lick where the chatty parrots kept our heads spinning as they darted from one side of the river to the other.  On the way back to the lodge we were able to see a rare Roseate Spoonbill hunting for fish along the riverbank.  Taking advantage of the trail system at Casa Felipe, we hiked to the Ceiba Tree, where we were able to put an image with the Matsiguenga legends we had heard a couple days before. 

Thanks to Arthur, Guillermo, Gloria, Oracio, Ellie, Alberto, and Amy! Come back and see us again soon!

3 DAY TOUR FROM PILCOPATA

Cusco to Pilcopata: Passengers will arrive by public bus or van from Cusco to the village of Pilcopata.  There are two public busses charging s/.30, departing from Control de San Jeronimo in Cusco.  Apu Kañaqwai has night busses departing Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings at 5pm.  Gallito de las Rocas operates a day bus departing at 4:30am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Stareck operates vans that depart around 10am daily for s/.40.  These vans depart Control de San Jeronimo when they are full. 

Apu Kañaqwai

084-779303

Cusco to Pilcopata: Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday – 5pm

Pilcopata to Cusco: Monday and Friday – 5pm

Gallito de Las Rocas

084-859508

Cusco to Pilcopata: Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 4:30am

Pilcopata to Cusco: Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 6pm

DAY 1: PILCOPATA, HUACARIA, VILLA CARMEN

We begin our day at 5:30am with breakfast at the lodge, followed by our hike to the native community of Santa Rosa de Huacaria, 700m.  Huacaria is buried deep within the jungle and possesses many treasures of indigenous Amazonian life.  Our trip to Huacaria will allow us to share experiences with our native guide, view their schooling system, swim in the river, walk a nearby trail with a local medicinal plant specialist, and with their permission, visit their Tambo (location where Machigenka and Huachipari ceremonial rituals are performed).   After having lunch with a member of the community, our car will pick us up as we head to Villa Carmen, a nature reserve near to Pilcopata with an extensive trail system and animal rehabilitation.  From Villa Carmen, we will walk back to our lodge in Pilcopata, 840m, where we will have double sleeping accommodations with a private bathroom. 

Total Travel Time: 4.5 hours hiking, 40 minutes in van

DAY 2: ATALAYA, MACHU HUASI

From Pilcopata we embark on our journey to Lake Machu Huasi, 485m, first in car, stopping at a local coca plantation, followed by a motorized canoe journey down the rapid Madre de Dios River.  From the river’s edge, we will see the first signs of our trail to Lake Machu Huasi.  We disembark our motorized canoe and hike down the 20-minute trail to Lake Machu Huasi, where we will be able to observe wildlife from our locally handcrafted bolsa raft.  Around the lake is a trail system with several lookout towers for our best chance to view the largest rodent in the world, the Capybara.  After spending the afternoon at the lake, we will go to our lodge via boat.  After dinner at the lodge, there will be an optional night walk to view the frogs, spiders, snakes, and nocturnal monkeys of the jungle.

Total Travel Time: 1 hour in van, 3 hours hiking, 2 hours in boat

DAY 3: MACHU HUASI, PILCOPATA

We begin our day at 4:30am with a short boat ride to Parrot Clay Lick, where parrots and other birds eat from the salty clay to aid in their digestion process. From the lick, we head back to the lodge, where a hot breakfast will be awaiting us.  After breakfast we will hike approximately 2.5 hours as we trace our way through the forest to view the infamous Ceiba tree, the tree of life.  After the hike, we pack up our backpacks and head to our canoe where we will enjoy our picnic lunch from the river before catching our van back to Pilcopata. 

Total Travel Time: 1 hour in van, 1 hour in boat, 2.5 hours hike