Greeting Friends, If you have any additional questions after reviewing the travel and preparation details in the following pages please contact us at:

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1 1 Greeting Friends, We would like to extend a warm welcome in joining us July 5th August 5th for the Indigenous Transformation Retreat in the Amazon Rainforest at the Paititi Institute. We have prepared the following preparation materials for you. After reviewing the details below, please your registration form to info@paititi-institute.org if you have not done so already. A 30% deposit is due upon registration. We will send an invoice and directions on where you can send your contribution once your registration is received. The remaining balance should be brought with you to Peru and paid on your first day. Please bring crisp new bills with you for payment and personal use. Damaged bills are often not excepted here in Peru. If you have any additional questions after reviewing the travel and preparation details in the following pages please contact us at: Info@Paititi-Institute.org US Number: (May - June) Peru Number: If dialing from outside of Peru the country code for Peru is 51 We look forward to your arrival! The Paititi Institute

2 2 Flights Participants are responsible to book their own flights. The best way to travel to Iquitos is via Lima, Peru. It is usually cheapest to fly to Lima and book your flight from Lima to Iquitos separately using a local Peruvian Airline (Peruvian Airlines, LAN or Star Peru). The flight prices to Lima will vary depending on where you are traveling from and the flight from Lima to Iquitos will run around $150 US round trip. Arrival Pickup & Meeting Once you are registered, please communicate to us your arrival and departure dates so that we can coordinate a pick up. If you are coming for the start of the retreat, please plan to arrive for the following meeting time and we will have someone from our institute to meet you. ARRIVAL MEETING TIME on July 4th 7:30 pm pickup at the Iquitos Airport Corresponding with Peruvian Airlines Flight #122 Departing Lima at 5:30 pm & Arriving in Iquitos at 7:10 pm You are not required to take this flight but plan to meet at the Iquitos Airport for the pick up time. Exit the airport baggage area and wait on the curb in front of the airport. The Iquitos airport is small so we will have no problem finding you if you are in this area. Do not pay attention to the various people who will try to convince you to go with them from the airport. Staying in Lima Depending on your flight times, you may have to stay overnight in Lima. There are many options for places to stay in Lima. For those looking for a safe, clean and inexpensive option in a fun bohemian area we suggest: La Quinta del Alison 28 de Julio 281, Barranco, Lima, Peru Hotel_laquintabarranco@speedy.com.pe Tel: , , We have no affiliation with this hotel, but this is where we stay when in Lima. The taxi from the airport to this hotel takes around 30 minutes with no traffic and up to an hour with traffic. The ride should cost around soles and the rooms will be around 50 soles per night at this 3 star hotel. Note: The neighborhood directly around the airport is not very safe. If you decide to stay closer to the airport for convenience, we recommend that you stay in your hotel after dark. Most hotels will arrange transportation to the airport for you.

3 3 Passport and Visas A valid passport is required to enter and depart Peru. Tourists must also provide evidence of return or onward travel. In Peru a tourist visa is not required for citizens of the United States for a stay up to 180 days. The amount of time for the visa needs to be requested at the time of entry at the Peruvian immigration check point. Visit the Embassy of Peru Website: us/en.html for the most current visa information and details on visa requirement for citizens other countries. Peru does not require any immunizations for entry at this time. Most destinations, including Peru, require that you have adequate unused pages in your passport, allowing for necessary stamps upon arrival and departure. It is recommend that you have at least two free pages in the Visas section of your passport before any international travel. For more passport information and resources visit Regarding Vaccinations and Medications There are no required shots for travel in Peru. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention makes some recommendations regarding vaccinations at the following website. It is up to you and your health care provider to determine what are the best steps for you. All participants are responsible for their own health decisions and travel at their own risk. Being in the Amazon Jungle there is a potential for Malaria and Dengue carrying mosquitoes. To date we have had no problems on our land. Should you choose to take a malaria pill please make note that Choroquine is NOT an effective antimalarial drug in Peru and should not be taken to prevent malaria in this region. Taking any pharmaceutical medication will affect the ability of the participants to partake in medicinal plant work. It is important that you report to us any pharmaceuticals you have taken in the 6 weeks prior to your arrival.

4 4 What to Bring In July the temperature in the Amazon Rainforest averages from a 90 F to around 68 F. This time of year is the dry season but we can still see periods of heavy rain. In general bring light weigh and comfortable clothing which you don t mind getting dirty. It is best to wear light weigh long pants, socks and long sleeves at night for comfort against mosquitoes. While walking in the jungle we also recommend rubber boots which we will have available. If you forget something, most things can be purchased in Iquitos, but it is next to impossible to find any natural soap or toothpaste here so be sure to bring enough. Include the following items on your packing list: Passport Flash light with extra batteries (head lamps are recommended) Light weight long pants Light weight long sleeve shirts Shorts Tank tops and/or tshirts Comfortable Yoga cloths Comfortable walking shoes Plastic flip-flops Journal and/or notebook Water bottle Small first-aid kit Towel or travel towel Bathing Suit Biodegradable soap (we recommend Dr Bronners) Rain coat/pants or poncho Hat Crisp new bills (It is difficult to change money that is ripped, folded and worn looking) Other recommended items: Yoga mat (we will have some available) Small day pack or waist pack Camera and battery charger Gifts It is possible that we will make a visit to some local tribes during your visit. Many local tribes love to trade crafts for cloths, watches, and various other goods.

5 5 About the Accommodations The Paititi Institute is located on 100 acres off the grid in the Amazon Rainforest about 61.5 km from the Iquitos Airport. While in the process of planning and installing solar panels, at this time we run a generator periodically in order to fill water into our storage tank and charge electronic devices. In the evenings we use candles and lanterns for light and all cooking is done over a traditional fire tullpa. Sleeping Arrangements: Some guest will stay in our Dieta huts and some will stay in our lodge. All guests will be provided their own mattress, mosquito net and bedding. You will not need a heavy sleeping bag in the jungle. Water: There is running water for showers and a deep artesian well on the property with drinking water. Food: We will serve vegan meals through out the course with the addition of fish. Regarding Laundry: There will be supplies available to hand wash your laundry and periodically we will have a local woman available to wash cloths for participants. Regarding Bathrooms: We use composting toilets as part of the Permaculture program. Regarding Internet: The nearest internet service is in the city of Iquitos or the village of Nauta. We recommend that you do as much as you can to set yourself up in a way where you will not need to use the phone or the internet while you are in retreat. If necessary, we can help arrange a trip to either Iquitos or Nauta. Recommended Reading The following books will support your process in the transformation retreat and we recommend reading as much as possible prior to your arrival - during the retreat it is advised not to have any reading material for a full immersion experience. All book by Carlos Castaneda - start with book one and read them in order All books by Paulo Coelho The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga, by C. G. Jung Stories of the Tibetan Masters (Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, Milarepa, Gampopa, Karmapa) The Cosmic Serpent, by Jeremy Narby The Way Things Are, by Lama Ole Nydahl

6 6 Indigenous Ceremony Overview: The ceremonies associated with many sacred plants have been known for thousands of years to reconnect people with Mother Nature, heal from all ailments and clear all confusions, doubts and obscurations of consciousness. We encourage our participants to connect with Nature inside out and this is a very beneficial way to tap into the source of life in the universe as we know it. For more background on the sacred shamanic traditions of Peru you can download and listen to a lecture given by Roman Hanis titled Knowledge of the Amazon at: Ceremony Diet Preparation: In preparation for ceremonies there is a specific diet that must be maintained 3 days prior to the ceremony. During the retreat we will facilitate this diet and will only be serving the appropriate foods. IMPORTANT INFO REGARDING MEDICATIONS: Many pharmaceuticals are contraindicated with the Amazonian plant medicines and must be avoided 3 days to 6 weeks prior depending on the drug and the duration of use. Every situation is unique and it is IMPORTANT that you contact us as soon as possible so that we can research your specific situation. We do not recommend that anyone quit medications without the guidance of their doctor.