– Planning Your Visit to Caya Shobo –
Flights to Iquitos
To arrive at Caya Shobo you first need to come to Iquitos either by boat or plane. Iquitos is a city surrounded by the Amazon, Nanay and Itaya rivers and is unreachable by land.
Our recommendations for airlines that fly to Iquitos from Lima are, in order of preference:
- Latam Airlines, which has the most reliable schedule and most comfortable planes but is typically the priciest option
- Star Peru which is a little less reliable and is a bit tight on room, but generally has better prices
- Peru’s new budget airlines Sky Airline and Viva Air offer very low prices with basic planes. Note that standard prices don’t include checked baggage or seat allocation.
Direct flights to Iquitos are also available from Panama City with Copa Airlines, although these are less regularly scheduled than flights from Lima.
Flights to Lima
To get to Lima, we recommend searching on the major flight search sites in your area, and then compare prices directly with airlines. (Where prices are similar we recommend purchasing from the airline as it is often easier and cheaper to make itinerary changes.)
Some search engines we recommend as having good prices and options:
Note: Please ensure that your departure flight from Lima is at least 2 hours later than your scheduled arrival into Lima from Iquitos, or longer if you are flying StarPeru.
Hotels in Lima and Iquitos
Most international flights arrive into Lima late at night, so you may prefer to stay one night in Lima before heading up to Iquitos. If you’re just planning to get some sleep before flying to Iquitos we recommend staying in a hotel close to the airport (see some suggestions below). If you have a few days to stay in Lima we recommend staying in the safe, touristy area of Miraflores or the more bohemian Barranco District. We recommend looking on hotels.com or bookings.com for a hotel that suits your budget and taste.
In Iquitos city:
- Casa Morey
- Victoria Regia
- Nativa Apartments
Close to Lima Airport:
- SM Hotel
- LimaQ Hotel
- B&B Cusing Wasi
In Miraflores, Lima:
- Hotel Andesmar
- Casa Suyay
- Casa Andina
AirBnb.com also has lists a lot of properties in these areas, and can be a good option especially when you are travelling in a group.
NOTE: In general in Peru, be sure to check that your hotel room matches your booking choice, and if not, ask to be relocated to another room.
Taxis in Peru
In general, we recommend arranging an airport pickup with your hotel before you travel, which is usually not expensive and saves you the hassle of arranging ground transport when you arrive in Lima. Or you can catch an authorized taxi from the airport. Taxi Green is popular – they are just outside customs before the airport exit door in Lima.
In Iquitos it is very convenient and affordable to get around in 3-wheeled moto-taxis that are easy to hire outside the airport or anywhere in the town of Iquitos. A ride to Iquitos from the airport will cost around 50 soles. In general in Peru we recommend you confirm the price of the taxi trip either before or as soon as you get in the car.
Caya Shobo is also able to send a driver to collect you from your hotel or airport. Please see our book now page for up to date price information. We strongly recommend this service as our drivers are familiar with the location of the center and can be trusted to keep you and your belongings safe. Please be sure to let us know your hotel address or flight arrival details if you would like this service.
Before You Leave Home
Medical Information:
Please make sure that you have sent us your completed medical information form. And, please update us if you have any new information regarding medications you have taken recently or new physical or mental health issues.
Money:
Please pay your full account for your stay at Caya Shobo by credit card using our online booking, or please enquire about paying by Bitcoin or International Bank Transfer.
If you wish to bring cash with you for additional purchases (such as massages, artisanry, plant perfumes, mapacho tobacco, etc), please be sure to bring pristine USD bills from your bank – the slightest tear or mark will cause your bills to be rejected by most Peruvian retailers and banks.
You can withdraw additional USD and Peruvian Soles from ATM machines in Lima or Iquitos. It is good to have some Soles to pay for taxis, restaurants and other small items.
We recommend notifying your bank and credit card company that you will be travelling in Peru, and also find out what is your daily cash withdrawal limit.
Vaccinations:
At this time vaccinations are optional. There is some risk of Malaria in the Iquitos/Loreto area. If you choose to take anti-Malarial pills we recommend Malarone (Atovaquone and Proguanil) or Larium (Mefloquine). Please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more Health Information for travelling to Peru.
Dietary Preparation:
For information about required dietary restrictions and suggested changes to your daily activities, go to Prepare for Ceremony and Plant Dieta at Caya Shobo.
What To Pack
- Clothes for the rainforest: Choose for protection from mosquitos, especially during the months of November through to April – long sleeve, light weight shirts and pants made of light, breathable fabric. Mosquitos can bite through tight-fitting clothing, so it is best to have a light-weight baggy over-layer. Shorts or skirts are fine for the hotter times of the day when the bugs are not so bad, or in the cooler months of April to September.
- Shoes: that cover your feet are a good idea (like basic sneakers). Although most of the time you will probably prefer a sturdy pair of flip-flops or river sandles. Bring long light-weight socks for wearing during ceremony.
- Rain protection: a light-weight rain jacket or rain poncho is essential.
- Mosquito repellant: we recommend bringing a good quality mosquito repellant cream or spray as they are not easy to find in Iquitos. Picaridin based repellants are less toxic but generally more effective then DEET. You can also bring a natural blend of essential oils such as Tea Tree, Citronella, Geranium, etc. Bring enough for putting both on your skin and maybe also on the outside of your clothes. Avoid Permethrin which is highly toxic.
- Mosquito bite treatment: We recommend Peppermint Essential Oil as the best natural treatment for mosquito bites. A more sharp, pungent smelling oil is more effective than a gentle peppermint oil.
- Zip lock bags: are a great item to have with you in the jungle, to keep anything perishable, or to put wet stuff into until you can get some washing done (which is available at the centre). Bring a few each of various sizes: Also if you are bringing a laptop or other electronic equipment, we recommend keeping it in a zip lock bag with a few moisture remover satchels (like found in vitamin pill jars), or a few rice grains to help absorb any moisture.
- A small flash light: preferably with different power settings, so you can use a softer setting for getting around during ceremony, and a stronger setting while walking around outside at night.
- A small quick drying towel: there are towels at the centre, but it’s nice to have an extra.
- Toiletries & other supplies:
- Hand sanitizer – for your journey. We will provide regulator approved hand sanitizer for use during your stay at Caya Shobo.
- Soap, shampoo & conditioner – preferably natural, sulfate-free, environmentally friendly
- Natural deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc
- Ear plugs & eye mask
- Cleansing wipes, tissues
- A small 1st aid kit – polysporin, a few bandaids in case of small cuts, a small pair of scissors and tweezers. Tylenol/Paracetamol
- Sunglasses – cheap ones, so you’re not disappointed if they get lost or broken
- A small sewing kit – with needle and thread
- BIC lighter or similar
- What not to bring: Makeup. Jewelry. Alpha-hydroxy skin products (mosquitos love them). Very valuable things.
Get In Touch
If you have other questions about preparing for your journey, please send us a message. Or if you prefer to talk, please let us know the best way to reach you and some suitable times to connect.
Write to us
team@cayashobo.com
Call us
+51 917 327 657
Come visit
Comunidad Varillal
14km Iquitos-Nauta Hwy
Loreto, Peru
Rafael was born into a family of Ayahuasca Curanderos in the Shipibo village of Santa Rosa de Dinamarca, 5 hours journey by riverboat to the south of Pucallpa. Growing up immersed in the world of Ayahuasca, he observed his parents and the men and women of his extended family always working in healing ceremonies and guiding plant dietas. At the age of 18, his curiosity to learn more about this path inspired him to open his first plant dieta, and he has since been learning and dieting with different master plants over the past 15 years.
Meeting Walter you immediately recognize his natural warmth and humility as a person, as well as his impressive capability as an experienced Onánya Maestro healer. His beautiful, lower toned voice and variety of melodic Icaros can transport you to a place of peace and reconciliation with your life’s experiences and your healing path. Walter is always solid in the middle of the storm.
Maestra Maricela is a highly experienced Shipiba Onánya curandera and Raomi herbalist. Born in the Alto Ucayali river village of Roya, south of Pucallpa, her father Nicolas Vardales is a well known Shipibo medicine man with a strong famileal lineage of medicine knowledge. At age 13, in receiving treatment for some serious health issues of her own, Maricela began to learn about the healing properties of Amazonian medicine plants. She continued dieting with different master plants until she started working with Ayahuasca in her early 30’s.
Immersed in the medicine world her entire life, Maestra Lucinda is the eldest daughter of renowned Shipibo Onánya Maestro Pascual Mahua Ochavano, born in the Shipibo village of Paoyhan or ‘Water of the Pearls’ located on the banks of the beautiful Ucayali river, north of Pucallpa. When she was a tiny infant of 4 months old her father opened her first learning dieta to bring her the advanced knowledge of the Noya Rao “Tree of light” of her ancestors.
Orlando also belongs to the famous family Mahua. His great-grandfather Manuel Mahua was renowned as one of the most powerful Onánya shaman in the entire history of the Shipibo tribe. Manuel’s daughter Manuela, grandmother to Orlando, is also a well – known living Onánya Maestra. Manuela brought up Orlando from early childhood and opened his first medicine plant dieta at age 7. 
Fernando Levi, also born in the village of Paoyhan, is the grandson of Pascual Mahua, and, like his father, his grandfather and many generations before him, Fernando has inherited the Shipibo name “Sani Piko” which means “The Great Medicine Men.” This legacy of ancestral knowledge and the discipline Fernando has brought to developing its power within himself is clearly evident in his Icaros, in his medicine and also in his extensive knowledge of master plant dieta for healing and learning.
Francisco (or Pancho) has been working with the Shipibo medicine path since his early 40’s, and is now in his late 60s.
As a teenager, Pablo felt the call of the medicine, but without access to knowledgeable teachers in his own family or community, he pursued his own learning path with Ayahuasca in the way of the ancient Shipibo Maestro Onánya – by entering the jungle alone and following the call of the plants in isolation dieta.