One of the best ways to experience San Pedro cactus, also known as wachuma, huachuma, or aguacolla, is in movement (hiking) and in nature.
In this San Pedro cactus day hike, you’ll spend entire day in the Andean páramo, surrounded by nature, and led by a lovely couple, Marcela and Josep, that gently introduce you to the beautiful, glimmering world of San Pedro. At the end of the day, you’ll soak in the exquisite Papallacta hotsprings.
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Location: Starts in Tumbaco, hike near Papallacta
Price: $300 pp (see all prices)
# Participants: 2-15 (min. 4 – see more under “how to reserve?“)
Includes: meals, transportation (Tumbaco-Papallacta-Tumbaco), medicine and accompaniment
Weather: Andes Paramo weather, can be bright a sunny and/or rainy, cold.
General Information about the Wachuma - San Pedro cactus experience near Quito, Ecuador
Note: We do not have set dates for these San Pedro experiences! Let us know your desired dates and we’ll coordinate with the guides, Marcela and Josep.
Included:
– Transportation from Tumbaco (near Quito) to start of hike, about 45 minutes drive away, near Papallacta in the Andean páramo.
– Spanish to English interpretation
– San Pedro medicine and experienced guidance
– Meals
– Unbelievably delicious soak in the thermal baths / hotsprings of Papallacta after the hike
– Overnight accommodation in Tumbaco or Papallacta, depending on chosen plan
Not included:
– Transportation to Tumbaco (where Josep and Marcela reside) or Airport Pick-up or Drop-off (can be organized, however!)
– Snacks (always recommended to bring some!)
– Airfare
– Additional therapeutic offerings like massage
Dates for Wachuma - San Pedro cactus experience (Tumbaco-Papallacta)
As mentioned earlier, we do not have set dates for these San Pedro experiences. Let us know your desired dates and we’ll coordinate with the guides, Marcela and Josep. For the most part, they are available during the week and weekends.
We have offered a few date options below that you can already cheese from:
Retreat guides
What makes this San Pedro cactus experience so special are the guides that lead it: Marcela and Josep. Literally my neighbors in Tumbaco, this wonderful couple have discovered some of the best trails to explore in the highlands where they’ve spotted the elusive Andean Spectacled Bear (see video above). They began these San Pedro excursions for their own enjoyment, as a way to stay connected to nature, each other and to share with friends.
Both have extensive experience with San Pedro medicine and understand what other’s needs, including gentle accompaniment, open mindedness (all people are welcome!), safety and supervision, and of course, music, jokes and stories.
Marcela is Ecuadorian/Colombian, she’s an artist and artisan (clay, leather, natural health products). Having grown up in the Ecuadorian Andes, Marcela is extremely knowledgable in Andean traditions, rituals and music. She began working with San Pedro and other plant medicines over a decade ago for her own well being, participating in annual water dances and assisting in ceremonies.
Make sure you ask her to sing a few (or many) songs during your outing and ask to see her leather and ceramic creations.
Josep is originally from Spain and has lived in Ecuador for 15 years, 11 of those deep in the Amazon rainforest. His knowledge of plants, especially medicinal plants, is vast, as is his knowledge of many traditional Ecuadorian practices from the Amazon.
Josep is extremely knowledgable and talented in farming, permaculture, carpentry and other crafts. He is a wonderfully gentle, authentic and beautiful person that is deeply connected with nature and the medicines of San Pedro and Ayahuasca.
Schedule for San Pedro cactus experience (starts in Tumbaco, Ecuador)
Day 1
8am Meet up at Marcela and Josep’s home in Tumbaco and drive to trailhead, about 45 mins drive away. Please make sure you arrive after breakfast (this breakfast is not included). During drive, you’ll have the chance to ask questions, though specific and/or personal questions about San Pedro will be shared once on the trail.
9:00am Arrive at trailhead, questions and answers. After walking a little to acclimatize, rapé (tobacco snuff / powdered tobacco) will be shared to open the path for the San Pedro medicine, which will be shared after the rapé.
9am-3pm Hike in the Andean páramo with San Pedro medicine. This is not a strenuous hike, there are many stops, however please note that the altitude makes it a challenge!
4pm End near thermal springs / natural hot springs of Papallacta for a delicious soak
5pm Head back to Tumbaco for soup/dinner and rest or stay in Papallacta (depends on your choice in plan and group size)
Day 2
8:00 am Breakfast, sharing and reflections
10:00am Departure
Important considerations for this San Pedro cactus experience / what not to expect
Altitude: During the hike, the starting altitude is 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) above sea level. You should not come on this hike unless you have a acclimatized for a couple of days – don’t come straight from sea level because you will likely get altitude sickness. Make sure you are also well-hydrated in the days before.
Physical condition: Though these hikes are not difficult, they are quite long (around 5 hours) and you will likely run out of breath because of the altitude. Participants should be in good health and enjoy hiking and being in nature. Individuals that are significantly overweight or in bad physical shape should reconsider joining.
Weather: The páramos is a unique ecosystem that only exists in South America. Since it is high altitude, a slight change in clouds and wind can drastically change the weather. When the clouds move out of the way, it can get very sunny and hot quite suddenly. If clouds start moving in, there may be constant moisture and drizzle in the air, as well as heavy rain. It won’t snow, but there is the possibility it gets very wet! Or it might a a perfectly sunny day with blue skies, you just never know 🙂
Length of hike: San Pedro medicine lasts a long time, that is simply the nature of the medicine. That’s why we set aside an entire day to hike in nature, followed by thermal baths.
Packing list: closely review the packing list! Real hiking shoes are required for this hike. In bad weather, you do not want to deal with wet socks!
This is a very authentic space and group. Expect simplicity, honesty and a home environment where everything is done with loving intention.
How to reserve a spot for the San pedro cactus experience?
To reserve, you will need to:
- Fill out a questionnaire so we know more about your health and medications. This is for your own safety.
- 50% deposit + fees. Payment options include Paypal, EU bank transfer, Zelle, Western Union, or cash (no fees!)
- We do not accept minors, you must be over 18+
- The deposit is only reimbursed if the retreat is cancelled on our part.
- A minimum of 2 participants is required to carry out the retreat.
Retreat Photos
Location - Tumbaco to Papallacta to Tumbaco
This excursion begins in Tumbaco, about 30 minutes from the center of Quito, where Josep and Marcela live. You will meet them there to drive up to the trailhead (beginning of the hike) together, 45 minutes from Tumbaco and close to Papallacta.
The route is pictured above, note that the trailhead begins before Papallacta and ends in Papallacta.
Depending on the schedule you choose, you may return to Tumbaco at the end of the same day or you may stay in Papallacta for the night, returning the next morning.
What to Pack for San Pedro hike
For the hike:
- Warm and comfortable clothing, consider wearing layers (lycra under pants), if you tend to get cold. Or pack just in case.
- Warm socks
- Rainproof jacket
- Hiking boots (not shoes), trails can get muddy
- Bring a change of clothes for after the thermal baths, your original clothing might feel too wet/cold
- Water bottle
- Hat (when it’s sunny, the sun can burn!), also helps if wind is cold
- Sunglasses (especially with San Pedro medicine, you might appreciate having shades)
For the thermal baths:
- Bathing suit
- Travel towel
Other general items:
- Flip flops or sandals to walk to/from thermal baths
- Toothbrush and toothpaste, other toiletries
- Fruit or snacks
If you are traveling light and don’t have one or more of the above items, let us know and we will do our best to find something you can use.
Frequently Asked Questions about this San Pedro cactus experience
Is this the same a San Pedro ceremony?
The simplest answer is: No, this experience would not be considered a San Pedro ceremony, at least not a “regular” or “traditional” one.
The spiritual answer is: Yes, any experience involving San Pedro medicine in nature where the medicine is treated with respect and recognition of its spirit, is a ceremony. Drinking this medicine then spending the next 7 hours in heart-opening communion with nature and friends is what ceremonies are meant to do – to help us connect with the divine.
So what is a traditional San Pedro ceremony?
This is a tricky question because it depends on where you’re drinking San Pedro and the various schools of thoughts and traditions that exist.
Generally speaking, there are two types of more traditional San Pedro ceremonies practiced in the Ecuadorian Andes, both are generally nocturnal.
1. The first type of ceremony is carried out similar to Peyote ceremonies of the north called a Four Tobacco Ceremony during which a large fire is kept going all night and rounds of singing take place between each Tobacco (prayer) and is accompanied by a water drum and shaker.
2. The second type of ceremony is less structured and involves sharing more Andean songs with the hand drum (not the water drum) and shaker (as well as other instruments), jokes, stories, lots of laughter and the cosmic theater that this medicine incites.
Both of the previous two ceremonies begin late in the evening and close at dawn with the final prayers. The San Pedro medicine will continue working and active until later that morning or afternoon (depending on how much you drank!)
3. There is also the San Pedro and temazcal ceremony, a 5 hour ceremony (the medicine continues strong afterwards, as is typical!) in a four-door temazcal ceremony.
Why there are these differences between San Pedro ceremonies involves a lot of history – it’s fascinating for sure but too much to include here!
What is the difference between San Pedro, wachuma, huachuma and aguacolla?
There is no difference, they are all the same plant (Trichocereus/Echinopsis pachanoi), however the name wachuma or huachuma is more commonly used in Peru, while San Pedro is more commonly used in Ecuador. Other names include hahuacollay, pachanoi, achuma, andachuma and of course aguacolla (ahuacoya or awacoya).
