The Pyramid Project

The Pyramid's Shamanic Tour -

Preparation 

“Thinking about your visit"
Frequently Asked Questions

    What do I need to bring?

    Because Iquitos is located in The Amazon Basin the climate is usually warm with high humidity.  As far as clothing is concerned, we would recommend you bring mostly light-weight, quick drying clothing of a light color (white clothing is ideal because it reflects the sunlight best).  Being the jungle, there are plenty of biting insects such as mosquitoes so you will want to have some long pants and long sleeved shirts on hand for long treks outdoors.  Remember to bring something you feel comfortable swimming in and a towel to dry off with for there will be more than one opportunity to go swimming in the river, streams or public pools.  It rains quite frequently here so you will want to have a light rain jacket or poncho to put on when necessary.  We would also recommend bringing a hat, bandana or the like so that you can keep the sun off of your head.  High-top cross training sneakers are ideal for walking in the jungle but any athletic shoes will work sufficiently.  Perhaps you will also want to bring a pair of sandals or flip-flops for less strenuous walking

     Everybody has there favourite hygienic articles that they like to use so please use your best judgment.  We would recommend having an extra roll of toilet paper on hand because almost all public bathrooms are devoid of it because it always gets stolen

    If you like to use sunscreen or insect repellent you definitely will want to bring some for there is plenty of sunshine and many different kinds of mosquitoes and other biting insects.  Personally speaking, we do not advocate the application of chemicals on our bodies and will be more than happy to help anyone else find a natural solution to repelling insects 

    If your the kind of person who likes to take pictures or use binoculars make sure to bring some zip-lock bags or something comparable to protect them from humidity and rain

    A flashlight or a head lamp will come in handy as well

     How is the climate?

    Generally the weather in and around Iquitos is hot and humid with cool evenings and nights year round.  Below is a chart to be more specific

What language is spoken? 

Spanish is spoken throughout Peru. The locals in the jungle speak Spanish with the addition of some indigenous words.  English/Spanish translation is provided by all our Tour Guides as a standard, other languages can be arranged  

Should I bring money?  Do I have access to my bank account?  What is the exchange rate?

All of your expenses are included in the price of the tour.  However, there are free times when you may wish to shop for souvenirs, get about by taxi or eat at a particular restaurant.  Generally speaking most things are cheaper in Iquitos than in most western countries.  There are standard Visa and Mastercard cash machines in Iquitos and you’ll have the opportunity to make withdrawals when in town.  Dollars can be exchanged for Soles easily but it is advisable to avoid exchanging money using street vendors

It is approximately three Soles for one Dollar as of this writing.  If you want to know exactly what the exchange rate is you can check www.xe.com

Are there any airport taxes or other charges I should know about?

Most people will be flying into Lima and taking a plane from there to Iquitos.  Before you get onto the plane departing for Iquitos you will have to pay a $6 tax and when you leave Iquitos and go back to Lima there is another $6 tax.  When you depart from Lima to your home country you will have to pay $28 tax

As soon as you land in Lima you will be asked to fill out an Andean Immigration Card.  Once you do, put it in a safe place because you will need to hand it back in when you leave.  If you loose it you will have to pay a fine

Do I need to take medication so that I won't contract Malaria?

Malaria can be contracted in Iquitos and at the Jungle Camps.  Consult with your physician about different medications and proper precautionary action

Do I need any vaccinations before coming to Peru?

Consult your physician about needed travel vaccinations before departure
   

Are there poisonous snakes? 

Yes, there are a variety of species of venomous and non-venomous snakes.  Snakebites are rare but have occurred in the past.  In case of a snakebite, there is a hospital in Iquitos with personnel trained in snakebite care 

What is an Ayahuasca ceremony like?

Every ceremony you attend will have small differences and you will be given specific instructions for each place.  Generally the ceremonies take place in darkness with no talking and after drinking a cup of prepared Ayahuasca you will experience physical, as well as emotional sensations which will set in somewhere between 20 minutes to an hour.  Sometime after ingestion of the medicine the Shaman will begin to sing his Icaros or magical songs and will continue to do so for most of the ceremony.  With that said, each ceremony tends to be unique from an internal point of view.  You might want to have an extra blanket with you because a lot of times the body undergoes temperature change