Many a spiritual traveler, this one included, has gone to the jungle to partake in Ayahuasca ceremonies. Ayahuasca can transport participants on a journey of epic proportions; it can be a at once painful, delightful, physically exhausting and spiritually exhilarating. Below are some tips to get the best from your Mother Vine journey.
1. Find a reputable shaman and/or retreat.
Imagine tripping your balls off in the middle of the jungle among strangers who speak a different language with no electricity and no running water hours away by canoe from any type of town. That’s scary as hell! And why you need to find a trusted shaman and/or retreat center to guide your experience.
Because of it’s popularity with gringos the Ayahuasca tourism trade is now a big business and it becomes difficult to find reputable people who offer the “experience”. Unfortunately a high percentage of the people offering up the experience in places like Iquitos are not trustworthy. Iquitos is full of shady characters. I’d suggest not hiring anyone who approaches you about Ayahuasca in Iquitos. You will for sure encounter at least 3 people a day offering you all sorts of things. As Nancy Reagan used to say “Just say No!” Ayahuasca is NOT a “drug” experience it is a spiritual experience and should be treated as such. To find a reputable retreat in a safe environment it’s best to talk to fellow travelers or trusted locals and to do your research beforehand. Most retreat centers can be moderately to highly expensive but in all honesty it’s worth it. You’re paying for safety, comfort, and piece of mind — all hugely important for the type of experience you are to be engaging in and the remoteness of the locale you will be doing it in.
One such reputable retreat center that is reasonably priced is La Familia Medecina. I can personally recommend this retreat center as this is where I I had my first Ayahuasca experience. They offer 9 day retreats that include 5 Ayahuasca ceremonies. All is included in the price – the delicious food, the comfortable accommodations in the incredibly beautiful jungle surroundings, and of course the ceremonies. They are indeed a family and when you arrive you will be treated as one of their loving family.
2. Follow the Dieta to a T.
Even though I was backpacking around before my Ayahuasca retreat I still managed to maintain the dieta required before my experience. The dieta removes toxins and negative energies from the body allowing your entire body to receive and be open to the Ayahuasca allowing it to go deeper. In general the dieta is a no salt, white bland food diet – poultry, cucumber, rice, white fish, etc. can be eaten. No pork, no duck, no piranha (!), no alcohol, no drugs (including pot) should be ingested 30 days before or after Ayahuasca. You will have a much more pleasant experience as the Ayahuasca won’t have to work so hard to cleanse harmful toxins the body accumulated through processed and chemically laden food products. From personal experience I can say those at my retreat who were partying in Iquitos the day before the retreat suffered physically from it during ceremony, their vomiting more violent and forth coming. Also many centers suggest a period of abstinence before during and after a retreat.
If your ambition is to do some serious work with the Mother Vine then definitely follow all instructions from your trusted shaman. 
3. Breathe.
While lunching at Karma Cafe in Iquitos the day before leaving for my retreat, this French guy and his two female companions squeezed in next to me on the comfortable couches. This guy had a tremendous presence, he just exuded kindness. We all started chatting, I was excited for the opportunity to practice my French. It turns out he worked extensively with Ayahuasca and led many treats around the world. He didn’t offer me anything other than some advice – and it was the best advice I received. He just said “Breathe” – but he said it in French so it was much more sexy!
When things get a bit too much to bear for you during a ceremony just remember to breathe! It sounds so simple but it is so effective. Many unpleasant or scary revelations may arise during a ceremony and it can be overwhelming to say the least. A quick focus on the breath and some deep inhaling and exhaling can alleviate the stress and negativity quite effectively. Trust me it works!
4. Bring comfortable clothes.
It’s hot and humid in the jungle but there is also a multitude of bugs that will eviscerate you. For that reason loose fitting pants (like some yoga or meditation pants) and loose fitting long sleeve t shirts are best. At most retreats that follow the dieta you won’t be allowed to use a chemical bug repellent (or even soap for that matter) so long sleeves and pants are essential, along with some comfortable socks. Natural repellent can be found in the markets in Iquitos as well as cheap clothing. A brimmed hat and shades and a light bandana to protect your neck are good ideas as well. Also don’t forget the swim trunks – nothing better than jumping in the river during a hot day.
5. Don’t trust a fart.
This was one simple but necessary bit of advice offered to us the night of our first ceremony. To put it bluntly during a ceremony you WILL vomit and you WILL shit your brains out. Unpleasant but true. It’s a given, and nothing to be ashamed of. It’s part of the process; purging all that figurative and literal crap from your system is part of the Ayahuasca Experience. So if you feel a fart coming on know that it’s not a fart and actually it’s a good old fashioned explosive poo bubbling up. And that poo is gonna come out when it wants to and you won’t be able to hold it in. So get to the toilet ASAP.
The people at the centers know this and are there to help you get to the toilet when you need it. You’re going to have to lose your ego though and just let what happens happen. You’ll be better off for it, not to mention cleaner!
Ayahuasca was a life changing experience for me and I know the same is true for the others with whom I shared the experience. I hope you find these tips helpful and if you have any questions feel free to email me at gaygringoguide@gmail.com or just leave a comment!
Gay Gringo Guide 
4 responses to “5 Tips for having a stellar Peruvian Jungle Ayahuasca Experience”
this is awesome thanks!
[…] a recent post about Ayahuasca The Gay Gringo Guide mentioned La Familia Medicina, an Ayahuasca retreat center in the heart of […]
I can confirm on the breathing part. It seems that often when experiencing strong emotions we forget to breathe (or breathe too shallow). And while under the influence of ayahuasca the breathing seems to almost stop sometimes. So when you realize that and take a deep breath, it feels like something opens up and there is more space and clarity.
I would also add that the integration and embodiment of the experience into your daily consciousness is extremely important. Otherwise it may be just a vague memory of a powerful experience…
Is Ayahuasca safe to mix with HIV medication? I can find NOTHING about this online anywhere. I was hoping you may have an answer? Thank you.