General Travel Precautions

The two most common illnesses to be encountered when traveling to Peru are traveler's diarrhea and altitude sickness. It is a good idea to visit a travel clinic to get medication for both before traveling to either the mountains or the amazon. If you are only going to the amazon, altitude sickness medication is not necessary. Note: for those who plan on taking the optional trip to the village of Chawaytiri (13,500 ft), it is recommended that you arrive in Cusco a day early or begin taking altitude sickness medication the day before arriving in Cusco and for a couple days while at altitude. The latter method has worked very well for our passengers thus far.

Most illness comes as a result of drinking the water or eating food prepared with tap water - our digestive systems just aren't used to it.  Please only drink and brush your teeth with bottled water and avoid eating raw food (unless you peel it yourself) and food from street vendors.  All the foods in the Hotels and at Wakani Lodge are very safe. 

The following vaccinations are also recommended for the jungle portion of the trip:

• hepatitis A
• hepatitis B
• rabies
• typhoid
• yellow fever
• tetanus - booster dose as needed

If you visit a travel clinic for these vaccinations, you will receive a yellow vaccinations card that you should keep with your Passport in case of any medical emergencies.

Specific Precautions for Participating in Ayahuasca Ceremony

Ayahuasca is a very powerful and transformative plant medicine. If you will be participating in these ceremonies, the following precautions are to be followed:

• antidepressants such as Prozac, Effexor, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, etc. can have very serious adverse effects when taken in combination with Ayahuasca. If you are taking any antidepressants, please consult with your physician about suspending use of such medications before considering ceremony with Ayahuasca.
• Sedatives, cold medications, asthma inhalers, tranquilizers, and any other legal or non-legal drug can potentially have adverse effects when combined with Ayahuasca. Please tell the tour director about any medications or drugs you are taking as you book your trip if you are planning on participating in the sacred Ayahuasca ceremonies. All such information will be kept strictly confidential.
• Alcohol is fundamentally incompatible with the spiritual nature of this sacred ceremony, so please plan on abstaining from alcohol for at least two days before Ayahuasca ceremony.
• Passengers with a history of chronic high blood pressure, psychiatric instability or a diagnosed mental disorder should not participate in Ayahuasca ceremony
• Please discuss any other dietary or medical considerations with the tour director when you book your trip