Deciding to take a trip with Pulse Tours was the best decision I have ever made. For me it was obvious to book with PULSE. I had a friend who made a trip with them about 6 months before my own and after hearing about his adventures I knew I had to have this experience for myself.

For me the thought of being a 20 year old single woman traveling alone in Peru was a little scary. After just a few emails back and forth with Pulse I knew there was nothing to fear. I had booked the 14 day Amazon and Machu Picchu expedition and I was excited. With this package airport pick up and drop off is included. I stepped off the plane and there was someone there waiting to take me back to the hostel. Pulse tours does not mess around when it comes to safety and security.

The first night we stayed in the large city of Iquitos before heading out to the jungle the next day. That night we got to meat the group who had just finished a week in the Jungle. When signing up to do aya most people have done their research and realise how difficult the experience can be. Seeing the faces of these people who had just completed 4 or more aya ceremonies was so inspiring and encouraging. The smiles did not leave their faces for one moment and they were literally glowing. I knew that whatever difficulties I might encounter out in the Jungle it would be worth it too come out looking and feeling like that!

The next day we traveled out to the Jungle. We took a peaceful boat ride down the Amazon river. The group was beginging to get to know one another. As we pulled up to the Ayahuasca Adventure Center, I was in complete awe, heaven on earth. A beautiful place surrond by nature. The accommodations here are awesome.

Something that really made a difference for me through out the process of working with the medicine was group share. This is something that I feel was very important through the healing process and something that not all centers offer. During group share everyone in the group meets in the malaoka along with the facilitators and the shamans. The first night arriving into the Jungle we had our first group share. Everyone shared why they came and what they wanted to get out of the experience. The first group share can be a little hard. You are sharing your deepest secrets with people you have only just met. It takes courage and it is very humbling to be apart of. Though, you can choose to share as much or as little as you want. From my experience it was better to share as much as possible, but there is no pressure. After the initial group share there is one after every ceremony (the next morning) where you talk about your ceremony and what you expeirenced. After you share the Shamans help to give you insight on what your visions might mean. They also give you input on your progress and what you still need to work on. This makes a huge difference. After your first ceremony group share becomes very easy. Once you have made it through ayahuasca with a group you are no longer strangers you become family. This makes a huge difference, its nice to have people to talk to and relate to on a journey that can be difficult at times.

The most important part of the whole aya experience is your shamans and facilitators. Pulse tours has the most amazing facilitators and shamans. I was so grateful to be able to work with them, let alone meet them. The facilitators are the people who are looking over you and helping you throughout the aya ceremonies. They do everything from bringing you your bucket, helping you walk, or most importantly giving you words of encouragement during difficult times in the ceremony. The facilitators at pulse are extremely experienced with the medicine and it shows. The experience is truly unreal when you are having a hard time and all the sudden a facilitator is sitting next to you, telling you exactly what you need to hear, at exactly the right moment. This is one of the great mysterys of aya but it really feels like these people are channeling for you. I mean words can not describe how incredible it is! They are very powerful and when they say just a few words to you durring ceremony it can make all the difference in the world. I don?t even know where to start with describing how amazing the Shamans are. They are the most joyful beings and truly selfless. Wiler and Angela are the perfect match, Wiler has a deep strong voice, while Angela has the most angelic voice. They both hold so much power within their Icaros. Wiler (the head shaman) is constantly clearing the space. I don?t know how many times I saw him take the negative energy out of people and purge for them. He is soo amazing. Even though aya can be really scary I felt so safe in his precess. I could go on and on, but you will see for yourself how amazing all of these people are.

Through out the rest of the week we had 4 aya ceremonies and countless adventures. My favorite activity was swimming in the Amazon river. It felt so amazing and cleansing the day after a ceremony. Its the perfect combination between down time and activities. One day I was so tired and fell asleep right before our group left to go see the sloths. I really wanted to see the sloths and the facilitators were more then happy to take me and few other group members back again before the trip was over. At Pulse you can choose what you want. You can lay around in hammocks listening to music, journaling, chatting. Or you can go to monkey island, jungle expeditions, etc. Everyday is a new adventure and you choose what you want to do based on how your feeling.

After leaving the Jungle we headed to the beautiful city of cusco for the second half of the 14 day Amazon and Machu Picchu expedition. During our stay we got to travel to the Mountain House which is located about 200 yards away from an ancient andean spiritual site (The temple of the Moon). Here is where we got to experience San Pedro. We drank in the morning and spent the day lounging around the beautiful mountain house garden. There is one garden for silence and another one where you are alowed to speak. Through out the day the facilitators would come around the garden finding each person and bringing them light snacks…it was so amazing and delicious…. In the afternoon we went for a walk around the Incan temples, learning about them. It was incredible to see these sacred lands on San Pedro. You are so in connection with nature and spirit, it is truly an unforgettable experience. I am so greatful to have had the experience of San Pedro at this location.

The next day, we left for a 4 hour train ride to head to Agus Calientes (Machu Picchu town ). This is no ordinary train ride though. For most of the ride you are traveling along side a beautiful strong rocky river, with snow capped mountains on either side of you, it is absolutely breathtaking. Plus this is a great time to journal about your San Pedro experience.

The rest of the trip was spent exploring this beautiful town. Going for hikes, bathing in hot springs, massages, and of course the magnificent Machu Picchu. I think that photos of Machu Picchu really speak for themselves, so I won?t go on and on about all of the beauty. But I will say that the local guide for this trip knows everything there is to know about this place. He has so much knowledge and loves to answer questions.

All in all this was the trip of a lifetime. I will warn you though that after leaving peru you will miss it! The facilitators and workers here truly treat you like family. You make life long friends. I can?t wait to go back and visit them.