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It’s November, and spring is in full swing in the Southern hemisphere of our planet! In the evergreen Peruvian jungle where the Cordillera Escalera ecolodge is located, this is the arrival of the rainy season. Local lakes and rivers are increasing in size, spilling over large areas of the Amazon jungle. From a bird’s eye view or from space, this part of the continent looks like a green heart, riddled with blue and brown «veins» of rivers. At the same time, new tourist routes open.

In the season of rains, the way of life of local residents is changing. Rains bring life-giving moisture that nourishes the soil and all vegetation, but can cause serious problems: mudflows, rivers and lakes overflowing the banks, which may cause serious damage to infrastructure. Therefore, during the rainy period, everyone tries not to plan construction work and stocks up on everything one needs: floods and landslides wash away bridges and form roadblocks, and sometimes lead to the destruction of sections of highways.

Even the usually quiet and calm river Shilkayo (we have already written about it in the news about our mirador) turns into a powerful mountain stream during the rainy season. In the area of the city of Tarapoto, it flows into the Cumbaza River, which carries its waters to the north, where it merges with the bigger Mayo River, and slightly to the east – with the Huallaga River. Going beyond the San Martin region, the Huallaga flows into one of the largest waterways in Peru, the Marañon. The latter, merging with the Ucayali, flowing from the north, forms in the area of the city of Nauta the biggest river in the world – the Amazon. Thus, our rivulet Shilkayo, together with other tributaries originating on the slopes of the Cordillera Escalera mountain range, contributes to the huge stream of the Amazon that flows into the Atlantic Ocean in Brazil.

It`s interesting that the local population has many sayings and signs associated with rains. For example, in some provinces, washing a cat or turtle is considered a surefire way to call rain. You can often hear jokes about this: they say, a neighbor poured water on a cat, now wait for rain. In some provinces, it is believed that there are people who know how to predict rain by observing frogs – the so-called frogmen. And it’s better not to try to predict rain in public, so as not to get yourself such a nickname. 🙂

So, in the Peruvian jungle, the rainy season begins, the earth receives the gifts of moisture from the sky and feeds all living things with them. Along with this, new river tourist routes open: local waterfalls are becoming more full-flowing and noisy, rafting on the Mayo River changes its category to a Class 4! At the Cordillera Escalera ecolodge, staff check roofs, water drains, drainage channels, and take out umbrellas for visitors. After all, the rainy season attracts new guests: as our regular customers rightly say, the Amazon is beautiful at any time of the year!

The Cordillera Escalera ecolodge always provides its visitors with new and interesting ideas. Recently, our team has completed the construction of a new path and arrangement of the viewing deck (mirador in Spanish) on the upper slope, which offers a fabulous view of the nearby valley!

Viewing deck: look from the Cordillera to the whole world

This is nearly the highest point of the site where our ecohotel is located. Previously, it was impossible to get to it because of the very steep slope and almost impassable thickets of the Amazonian jungle. We had to do the difficult work of cleaning the slope from bushes, vines and wild grass in order to build a concrete staircase with railings. But now it provides a comfortable climb to a small deck resting on the back of a huge boulder.

Climbing the path between the trees, you can find several typical species of the Amazonian flora. Among them are huge Ayahuasca vines, and trees with the funny name “Monkey’s Comb”, and Shica shica thorny palms, which we wrote about in one of the previous news. But the most amazing thing awaits at the top!

These are views of the ridge, resembling a staircase leading to the sky. Hence the name of this part of the mountain system – Cordillera Escalera, which is translated from Spanish as the Ladder Ridge. In the distance you can see the city of Tarapoto, hidden among the green slopes, to which the Shilcayo River valley descends from the slopes of the protected area.

Do you know what the attractiveness and amazing energy of viewing desks consists of? In such places, you can “level with the clouds” and fully understand the meaning of the expression “lies at someone`s feet.” Huge spaces allow you to feel the difference between your own size and the scale of something incomparably larger (a valley, a city, a waterfall), which is impossible to grasp with a glance without going upstairs. It was from viewing platforms in the mountains that huge drawings in the Peruvian Nazca desert were discovered. That is, such sites have an amazing quality: they help you to look at the world on a different scale and see something that cannot be seen from below.

Having risen to a height, you begin to feel on a planetary scale: there is a feeling that the world is not so huge as it seems from below. For example, here are some interesting figures showing how far from our viewing deck are some of the world’s capitals. The closest, of course, is Lima – 629 km, further New York – 5 253 km, Madrid – 9 039 km, Paris – 9 728 km, Kyiv – 11 757 km, Moscow – 12 088 km. And if you look to the west, then there: Vladivostok – 15 089 km, Tokyo – 15 107 km, Sydney – 12 287 km.

The guests of the ecohotel Cordillera Escalera have already visited our viewing deck. None of them remained indifferent to the natural splendor of the views of the Amazonian landscapes that open from this point. Many people gladly climbed the mirador several times to meet the sunrise or see the sunset. This is the time of day when the sky gives us its most picturesque and fantastic sketches. And what bright and unforgettable photos are obtained from this place!

Visit us at the Cordillera Escalera ecolodge and discover the world from a different point of view!

In early September lockdown in the Peruvian region San Martin due to the COVID-19 pandemic was undone, and the ecolodge «Cordillera Escalera» began preparing to open. On September 28, we submitted to the region`s Ministry of Health a full package of documents required for the official reception of guests. Our old clients were the first to find out it, many have long dreamed of breaking free into nature after long months of quarantine. The Amazon forest spirits were also delighted with this news. How did we guess this, you ask?

The Amazon satyr Chuyachaki is waiting for you!

Ancient Indian clay statuette of a forest spirit.

Earlier we wrote that sculptures of Amazonian characters drove into the Ayahuasca Museum in our ecolodge. But each piece of art has its own energy and aura. Over the past few months, our new lodgers have settled down and got to know the hotel staff. But then they got a little bored: how long can you stand in the museum if no one comes to visit?

So, as soon as there was talk about the imminent opening of ecolodge for guests, the characters revived. We noticed this by the specific features. Either small things will disappear for a couple of days, and then they will reappear, then someone is indulging in the light, then in the evenings you can hear the faint sounds of a flute. That is Chuyachaki who plays pranks.

The legend about the Chuyachaki tree – Chuyachakicaspi

According to one of the legends about Chuyachaki, he was a man struck by some terrible disease, and no one could help him. Then he left his tribe so as not to infect others, and has gone into the jungle to die. While he was unconscious, the Chuyachakicaspi tree showed how he could be cured with the help of its bark. The man was healed, but did not return to his tribe, and when his time came to leave this world, he merged with the spirit of the tree and became its human component. So Chuyachaki appeared. And the bark of the Chuyachakicaspi tree is still used by Amazonian curanderos to heal deep wounds and stop bleeding.

As in many countries of the world, there are legends about the forest spirit in Peru. Those who had to meet the local satyr describe him as a peasant about a meter and a half in height in a straw hat and old clothes, with pointed ears and a slight limp. The main feature of this creature is that one leg is like that of an ordinary person, and the other is like that of a deer or goat. That is why he received the name Chuyachaki/Chulyachaki (ketch. Chulla Chaqui), which literally translates as unequal leg. He is also known in Peru and Brazil as Shapishiko.

Modern sculpture of Chuyachaki.

From the point of view of mythology, such a feature as unpaired organs, which are usually paired, speaks of the character’s connection with the other world. There are one-armed and one-eyed mythical creatures in many cultures of the world: such are the Irish Fomorians, Scandinavian Jotuns, Greek titans… Russian Baba Yaga with the Bone Leg is a creature from the same series. Cyclops appears to be one-eyed in the legend of Odysseus’s wanderings, and Fomor Balor supposedly can kill people with the look of his only eye, which makes him related to the Ukrainian Viy…

However, unlike similar demons of the other world, Chuyachaki shows his aggression very rare. They say that this spirit of the forest keeps the secrets of the depths of the selva and is benevolent to those who take care of the jungle, but do not let intruders who harm plants and animals. He can take on the appearance of a real person, usually a relative or friend of the one who met him: in order to lead an uninvited visitor further into the thicket of the forest. The only way to recognize Chuyachaki is to look at his legs, because one leg of the animal always remains with him. That is why the Amazonian satyr tries to cover her with his rags.

The Amazonian satyr is mentioned in the Colombian film «Embrace of the Serpent» (2015), when a European tries to explain to an Indian the meaning of a photographic image, and he compares it to the spirit of Chuyachaki.

The locals tell many legends about the wayward forest man: he plays the flute at night, he scares hunters and lumberjacks who have wandered far into the jungle with wood knocks and various mirages. Many Indians remember that during their long journeys into the depths of the jungle, they encountered strange footprints on their way with alternating human and deer footprints.

Sculpture of Chuyachaki in our ecolodge.

In our Ayahuasca Museum, Chuyachaki has a special place, right at the entrance – as the guardian of the Amazonian secrets. Many will be pleased with this sculpture also because, in addition to a bright and memorable appearance, the author gave his Chuyachaki an impressive penis (like with satyrs of Greek mythology). According to legend, he gives good luck to all women who rub him! 🙂 But be careful! There are rumors that the Amazonian satyr can steal a human child and raise it as his own – then he too will become Chuyachaki.

Satyr with pipes and a pipe case hanging on his penis. Tondo of an Attic red-figure plate, 520-500 BC.

The quarantine lockdown is over, and the ecolodge «Cordillera Escalera» is back on the trail. Our staff will be happy to share with you stories from the life of the Peruvian selva and introduce everyone to the exhibits of the Ayahuasca Museum, including Chuyachaki!

The team of our ecolodge «Cordillera Escalera» always keeps their eyes on the ball in our region and respects local traditions! Although many events this year have been canceled due to quarantine, we have not forgotten the two main dates – the birthdays of the department of San Martin and of the city of Tarapoto. These holidays are closely connected to our ecolodge, because they always give many unforgettable impressions to our guests. So, a little bit of a history!

Double celebration in the City of Palms postponed due to quarantine

Tarapoto streets empty during the quarantine.

September 4 marks the 114th anniversary of the Peruvian government’s decree establishing the Department of San Martín, where the ecolodge «Cordillera Escalera» is situated. And two weeks earlier (August 20), the largest city in the region, Tarapoto, celebrated its 238th birthday.

Coats of arms of the city of Tarapoto and of the region (department) of San Martin.

Now, at a time of general fears due to the coronavirus pandemic and the long months of isolation and holiday bans associated with it, Tarapoto locals are very missing two birthdays, which usually merge into a single celebration with processions, fairs and performances. For two weeks, not a day goes by without a concert by local and invited musical bands. The main place of the celebration is usually the central stadium in Tarapoto. These two weeks, the inhabitants of the region literally live in one breath.

Dancers of the «Madre de las Ponas».

Local traditional dances are an integral part of a double birthday. And how! What a South American holiday can do without fiery rhythms! One of the most famous dances in the region is called «Madre de las Ponas»: it is dedicated to the Mother of all Ponas palms. Its performers dress up in clothes made from natural palm fibers, and place a «mother» palm tree in the center of the dance floor.

Elaeis oleifera palm trees.

The main meaning of the dance is to express gratitude to all the palm trees, because these plants have long been a source of food, clothing and shelter for indigenous peoples. Today, the palm tree can be considered the «breadwinner» of the department of San Martin: according to statistics, 91% of American oil palms (lat. Elaeis oleifera) in all of Peru are grown here. Of course, this brings the region a stable income: not only edible oil is made from this plant, but also a medicinal extract for dandruff and hair loss, as well as livestock feed.

Suri caterpillars on skewers.

The double celebration is famous not only for dancing! During it, there is always a very large selection of snacks, hot dishes and drinks. Many of the local specialties are exotic not only for foreigners, but even for residents of other regions of Peru. It is cooked on the street, serving hot Suri caterpillars baked on skewers, rodent kebabs from Majas rodents (also known as Agouti, grows the size of a rabbit) and the famous Tacacho balls made from mashed green bananas baked in charcoal with pork bacon, paprika, pepper and tomatoes.

Banana puree Tacacho balls with pork.

From drinks, as a rule, they prepare traditional Masato de Yuca – fermented yucca broth, Chicha – black corn compote and a large assortment of alcoholic liqueurs on local sugarcane moonshine.

Two new family bungalows recently built in the ecolodge «Cordillera Escalera» await guests.

Unfortunately, this year the two-week celebration did not take place for known reasons. However, the locals believe that next year they will be able to resume their wonderful tradition! And our ecolodge «Cordillera Escalera» will delight guests with unusual dishes of the Amazonian cuisine, specially prepared for the time of the holidays.

The sculptures of shamans for the photozone in the Ayahuasca Museum, which we talked about earlier, have finally arrived from the Sacred Valley in Tarapoto and settled in our Museum! They look so realistic that our ecolodge`s staff, who comes into the hall for cleaning and decorating the exposition, shudders and tries to say hello :)!

A shaman without cushma is like a cobbler without shoes

Look after your cushma, when it’s spick and span

While our sculptures were travelling through all of Peru from south to north, we were searching for authentic outfits for them. This search led us to the region of the Peruvian Amazon – Ucayali, located at the mouth of the river of the same name. There are many settlements of the Shipibo-Сonibo and Ashaninka indigenous peoples. They are the main keepers of the culture of Amazonian shamanism and still preserve the ancient ways of making clothes and jewelry.

The traditional dress of local residents has long been cushma (Ship. coshma) – a tunic made of a single cotton piece. This is a very practical and loose fitting garment, that allows you to withstand the heat. Cushma is widespread among such Indian peoples of the Peruvian Amazon as Ashaninka, who speak the languages of the Arawak family. Representatives of the Shipibo peoples living next to these tribes also use cushma, although they belong to the language family Pano. It is important to know that cushma is not just clothing: its main function is to protect not so much from possible physical influences as from possible energy attacks. 🙂

In ancient times, among the Ashaninka people, both men and women wore cushma. The male version has a V-shaped neckline, while the female version usually has a semicircular neckline. By the colors and characteristic patterns of this garment, one can determine which tribe its owner belongs to. Usually a man had two cushmas in his wardrobe – for work (short one) and for sleep and holidays (long one). According to tradition, such clothes could be presented as a gift or exchanged as a sign of appreciation and good relations.

The cloth for cushma is made by hand, after which decorative elements are embroidered or painted with natural dyes (there was practically no embroidery before, but drawing was widely practiced). Therefore, making a good cushma is a laborious and lengthy process (up to 3-6 months). The cotton cloth, from which this practical dress is made, deserves special attention.

Tradition that lasts through millenia

The first Spaniards to arrive in what is now Peru found that many local tribes cultivated cotton and weaved clothing from it. Later, in the course of research and archaeological excavations in the coastal areas of Peru and Ecuador, scientists found out that the tradition of making clothes from cotton goes back at least 4,500 years in South America. Archaeological excavations of ancient settlements such as Huaca Prieta and Ancon (2500 BC) have found the remains of capsules and cotton clothes with intermediate domestication characteristics. Between 2500 and 1800 BC. the characteristics of domesticated cotton have changed significantly. Fiber performance has improved, a variety of different fiber colors have emerged.

Quality cotton products have been discovered during archaeological excavations in cities of ancient pre-Columbian cultures, such as Mochica (1st century AD), Paracas (700 BC) and Caral (3000 BC). The craftsmen of the Paracas culture achieved special skill in weaving, whose works have survived to this day and have retained almost their original colors. Some scholars date the earliest finds of cotton products in the Guitarrero Cave in the Peruvian department of Ancash to 8000 BC. Usually cotton was grown by the peoples, living in the upper reaches of the rivers, and they exchanged products made from it with the inhabitants of coastal villages for fish.

High-quality Pima cotton

The Peruvian cotton is also known as Barbados cotton (Latin Gossypium barbadense). Over time, thanks to European colonists, it spread to many countries around the world. In some regions of Peru, multicolored cotton is still grown in cream, light brown, dark brown, reddish brown and lilac shades. In 2008, the Peruvian parliament passed a law declaring colored cotton to be the ethnic, genetic and cultural heritage of the nation.

The Gossypium barbadense has yellow flowers and black seeds and unusually long, silky fibers. This plant requires a lot of sun and high humidity – these are the conditions that the rainforests of the Amazon provide. This cotton is also known as Pima, after an Indian tribe that helped American farmers cultivate it in the Arizona desert in the 1900s. Today, Pima cotton is cultivated not only in Peru and the southwestern United States, but also in Egypt and Israel.

Pima is superior in quality to other species of cotton, as it has good absorbent properties (quickly absorbs water), great strength and softness. However, due to the increased moisture absorption, stains are more easily formed on it. This type of cotton, which has a relatively high price, is used mainly for children’s clothing, underwear and high-quality bedding.

Eco-friendly and energetic clothing

Unfortunately, in recent years the Peruvian tradition of using natural cotton colored with natural dyes to create cushma is gradually disappearing. Increasingly, Indians are using industrially manufactured fabrics and dyes. However, even now in the Amazon you can find small cotton plantations, which are planted by local residents for making clothes “the old fashioned way”, when cotton is picked and spun by hand.

In any case, these days traditional cushma is no longer used daily and has become more of an attribute of holidays and ceremonies. On the other hand, garments created from natural cotton from the Peruvian Amazon in accordance with all historical traditions are very popular among adherents of eco-goods and are sold all over the world through specialized online stores.

We acquired a true cushma for the sculpture of the photozone in the Ayahuasca Museum from a famous shaman from the Maya clan. According to the locals, the shaman’s outfit, which has gone through more than one ceremony, is charged with the energy of its owner. Therefore, our Museum`s photozone will also provide this energy!

Staff of the ecololodge Cordillera Escalera has planted Tarapotus palms, also known as “potbellied palms”. The largest city of the San Martin Province – Tarapoto, owes its name to these trees, as well as its unofficial nickname – “the City of Palms”. The surrounding jungle is also home to many other interesting trees and shrubs, which guests of our ecolodge can explore in details. However, first things first.

“Pot-bellied Tarapotus palms” exist!
The city of Tarapoto was founded in 1782 by the Spanish bishop with the complicated name Baltazar Martínez Jiménez de Compagnon on the lands of the ancient indigenous peoples Pocras and Chancas. They differed in language and customs from the Quechua tribe, were at enmity with the Inca empire, and therefore fled from them to the Amazon selva. Lamas became the main Indian city of what is now the Province of San Martin, near which a satellite settlement arose in the valleys of the Cumbasa and Shilcayo rivers. It gave rise to the modern Tarapoto. In ancient times, on this place there was the Suchiche lagoon (drained later by Spanish colonists), along the banks of which Tarapotus palms grew in abundance. The natives used them extensively to make bows and arrows, spears, canoes and in the building of houses.

Rare palm trees are planted in the ecolodge Cordillera Escalera

According to one of the legends, the first Spanish conquistadors who arrived in this region stopped on the banks of the Suchiche, taking advantage of the hospitality of the local tribes. From the latter, the Spaniards learned the name of this unusual palm tree, strange for Europeans – Tarapotus. Nowadays, it is known under other names (Lat. Icartea Ventricosa Martins or Huacrapona Barriguda). Now on the site of the once beautiful lagoon, a cozy city park has been laid out, but, unfortunately, the palm trees are almost gone.

With great difficulty, but we found and planted several Tarapotus seedlings in our ecolodge Cordillera Escalera. Now all our guests have the opportunity to admire this mysterious plant. When you look at an adult palm tree, it`s clear where the funny nickname came from – the pot-bellied palm tree. In the upper part of the trunk (up to 25 m in height and 35 cm in diameter) there is a slight thickening that really resembles a belly. It seems that the plant have swallowed the watermelon, and it got stuck in the middle of the trunk))).

Why is it dangerous for men to eat Aguahe?
Not only pot-bellied palms are known around Tarapoto. On the territory of our ecolodge, there are other types of palm trees, some of which are a kind of legends of the Amazon. Say, Aguaje (Lat. Mauritia flexuosa L.), also known as Buriti or Morichi. Their fruits are renowned for nutritional and healing properties due to their high content of vitamins A and C. This fruit is so popular among the local population that in the city of Pucallpa they even built a central cathedral in the shape of an Aguaje fruit. But it is mostly eaten by women. Why? Aguaje fruit contains many female hormones – phytoestrogens, and if a man eats it, then it will enhance the curve of his body, like as at Eve’s daughters)).

Another striking representative of the botanical family Arecaceae, as they call the family of palm trees, is the Cashapona (Lat. Socratea exorrhiza), popularly known as Pona. The roots of this palm tree resemble tubular stilts in shape: one tree can have up to 30 such roots, forming a cone in the form of a skirt up to three meters high. They grow fast enough, due to which the plant begins to move – that is why the locals call the Cashapona a walking palm tree. By the way, a male aphrodisiac is made from its roots.))

Shica shica plants (Lat. Aiphanes horrida), of which there are more than twenty specimens in our ecolodge, are a favorite delicacy of Amazonian children and adults. Shica shica is easy to recognize by its round trunk, dotted with thin and long thorns up to 30 cm long. The fruits of this palm are very sweet, and the seeds taste like nuts. Nothing to be surprised that in 2018 at the ExpoAmazonia exhibition, chocolate with Shica shica fruits, made by a manufacturer from the San Martin Province, received the main prize in the category “Best Innovative Product”. In addition, Shica shica seeds, characterized by a regular rounded shape and similar to miniature coconuts, are used to make souvenirs.

Palm is a symbol not only of peace
There are about 2400 species of the Arecaceae family, mainly in countries with tropical and subtropical climate. In Peru alone, there are about 450 species. The word “palm” itself comes from the Latin palma, which means “human palm” (apparently due to the shape of the leaves). In Spanish, a distinction is made between palmera and palma. Palmera is a palm tree, but palmа is mentioned when talking about a palm branch.

In many traditional beliefs and cultures over the world, the palm branch is a symbol of victory, peace and eternal life. This idea originates in the history of the ancient civilizations of the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The palm tree was a sacred plant in ancient Mesopotamia and it was considered a symbol of immortality in ancient Egypt, its branches were awarded to the winners of battles and sports games in ancient Greece and ancient Rome.

In modern monotheistic religions with common roots such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam, the palm branch is also one of the main symbols. For example, in Christianity, it is associated with the Palm Sunday, when the solemn entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem is celebrated. As is known from the Gospels, the townspeople greeted Christ with palm branches. Jews also use them in the celebration of Sukkot – in memory of the wanderings of their ancestors in the Sinai desert. Muslims believe that date palms should grow in paradise. Today we can see the image of a palm tree on the coats of arms and coins of many countries of the world.

In the Amazon jungle, palm thickets are one of the most important economic and cultural values for the local population. People use all parts of plants for some purposes. The natives build the roof and walls of houses from palm leaves, weave baskets and fibers from them. The petiole is used to make building parts, mats and arrows for hunting. From the trunks of some types of palm trees, material for walls, floors and doors is made, and starch is also obtained. From palm fruits they produce oil, souvenirs and even dessert. And finally, we should mention that the roots of some types of palm trees are used in traditional medicine recipes.

Ecolodge Cordillera Escalera invites everyone to visit! Here you can have a great rest in middle of Amazon jungle and also learn a lot about the flora of our planet. There are special routes in our Chacruna Nature and Recreation Park, along which our staff accompany the guests of ecolodge. If you come to visit us, make your reservation in advance, as the number of rooms in the ecolodge is limited. Waiting for you!

Works continue on the decoration of our Ayahuasca Museum: an exciting project has begun to create two main sculptures for the composition “Shamans by the Fire”. This art installation is conceived as a photozone. This is a special space under a realistic canopy, where a bonfire burns, on which shamans brew their famous magic potion. Each visitor to the Museum can participate in the process for a while, “entering the composition” and receiving spectacular photos as a keepsake.

In reality, preparing a drink from the Teacher Plants (Sp. Plantas Maestras) takes more than a day and includes: collecting the leaves of the Chacruna bush (Lat. Psychotria viridis) and pieces of Ayahuasca vine (Lat. Banisteriopsis caapi), crushing the woody parts of the vine, laying the plants in layers in the cauldron, after which water is added and a fire is made. Only experienced shamans (Sp. Maestros), following a special diet, or initated apprentices of shamans can participate in the preparation. In fact, this is a ritual, not only a preparing of a drink.

Shamans engaged in this sacred action must keep the fire going, drive away evil spirits from the fire with the help of sacred shamanic songs (Sp. Ikaros), fumigating the space around with the smoke of mapacho tobacco. Constantly taking samples from the future healing potion, shamans are obliged to feel their own energy of the drink, as well as to share their strength and energy with it.

This magical potion has been used for centuries by local healers (Sp. curanderos) to treat both physical and mental ailments, to communicate with the nature spirits and to discover special abilities in initiated people.

Let’s return to our sculptures… It`s always interesting to observe the birth of artistic images, when forms and details are gradually formed in the hands of the master from various materials, facial expressions and characters of heroes appear. So, we decided to “spy” the process of creating sculptures for our photozones, especially since we have been searching for the authors for a long time and very carefully! 🙂

As a result of our searches, the making of the sculptures was entrusted to the talented master Edilberto Merida, who belongs to the famous Peruvian family of Merida`s artists. Our author was educated as a sculptor. He is a part of the team that in 2004 conceived the project of the wonderful family Inkariy Museum located near the city of Calca in the Sacred Valley, not far from Cusco. It`s dedicated to the main pre-Columbian cultures of Peru. Edilberto is currently in charge of Inkariy Museum management, working with his team.

We have reviewed more than 100 photographs of prominent representatives of Amazonian tribes practicing Ayahuasca ceremonies. As a result we selected as a basis the images of two shamans from the city of Pucallpa of the Yarinacocha District in the Peru`s region Ucayali. All the paraphernalia (outfits, hats, jewelry, tools, etc.) of the future photozone were selected in accordance with the tradition of the Shipibo-Conibo tribes, to which our “prototypes” belong.

To begin with, a spatial model was made and the poses of the sculptures were fixed. After it, living people were selected, similar in their physical characteristics to the heroes of the composition. Then the making casts from the body parts of the selected models followed, which served as the basis for the molds for casting elements of sculptures from a special material.

Today the master has made the following blanks for the shamans` sculptures – see the photo.

There is still a lot of work ahead, but we hope that by the end of July our sculptures will “come to life” and will immediately arrive at their “residence” in the photozone of the Ayahuasca Museum.

All interested visitors will have the possibility to see this and other exhibits of our Ayahuasca Museum in the fall of 2020. Follow our news, but for now, just come to relax in the comfortable ecolodge Cordillera Escalera and enjoy communication with the nature of the Amazonian selva in the adjacent Chacruna Park of Nature and Recreation.

Guests of the Cordillera Escalera ecolodge have a unique opportunity to get in the thick of the Amazonian selva, which begins literally across the road. The Chaсruna Nature and Recreation Park is a piece of wild South American nature, where everything is provided for a comfortable and safe viewing, in the company of experienced guides.

The park is located in front of the entrance to the ecolodge Cordillera Escalera. To get into it, guests have just to cross the public road. This is an area of 3 hectares of Amazonian selva almost untouched by people, where a huge number of interesting South American trees and shrubs grow. Moreover, many of them are the so-called Plants Teachers (Spanish Plantas Maestras), that is, they serve in the local culture for the spiritualistic connection between the world of people and the world of plants, as in the famous epic film Avatar.

We do all our best to make the stay of guests in our ecolodge as comfortable and safe as possible, as well as interesting and informative. Therefore, now we are equipping the Chaсruna Nature and Recreation Park, where, without violating the existing biocenosis, we create all conditions for observing plants in their natural habitat – with paths, information signs, recreation areas, etc.

There is a safe descent to the local Shilcayo River, which descends from the mountain range in the Cordillera Escalera Nature Reserve. Park staff always maintains cleanliness on the banks of the river. Visitors can come to a small beach, where natural fonts are formed with huge river boulders. The foliage of trees, adjacent to the river, forms a green canopy that protects the beach from direct sunlight.

In addition, above the descent to the river there are a barbecue area with a brazier made in Native American style from river stones, and a table with comfortable benches made of a local tree. (The mentioned tree fell 4 months ago during a hurricane in the park, so we did not harm nature in any way). Not far from this site in a bamboo grove, huge bamboo trunks, swinging by the wind, collide with each other and create an unusual sound background, giving the jungle special mystery.

The first hiking trails have already been laid, along which the guests of the ecolodge will be driven by experienced guides, “armed” with machetes. In the near future (by the end of August 2020), a reception building will appear at the entrance to the park zone, where leisure equipment will be available for our guests: sunbeds, towels, barbecue items, etc.

At last, some words about the park. Among other plants, the magic trees of shortleaf fig, also known as giant bearded fig (lat. Ficus citrifolia) and wild fig Ficus Glabrata (lat. Ficus insipida), bushes of angel’s tears, also called snowy angel’s trumpet (lat. Brugmansia suaveolens) and bobinsanas (lat. Calliandra angustifolia) are of interest. Here you can also find succulent bushes of the Master Plant – chacruna (lat. Psychotria viridis). This is a perennial shrub from the bedstraw family (lat. Rubiaceae), which also includes a coffee tree. It has several possible uses. For example, members of the Matsiguenga tribe, who lives in southeastern Peru, use extract from chacruna leaves as a remedy for headaches by burying it in their eyes.

In the park there are also many cocoa and mocambo trees (lat. Theobroma bicolor), as well as several coffee trees. According to local traditions, coffee is ground and brewed in pans, and locals prefer to drink it not at all strong. Though cocoa and coffee are known all over the world, mocambo (not to be confused with the Mexican rum) for many people remains an exotic tropical fruit, although it is the closest one to cocoa. In the highly developed pre-Columbian Aztec civilization, white chocolate was made from the beans of this plant, but the Spanish conquerors were not able to appreciate its taste and benefits.

In the future, much more is to be done in the park. We are going to clear the lake to breed Amazonian paiche fish (lat. Arapaima), which is one of the symbols of wealth among local residents. A botanical path will also be laid for visitors to get acquainted with the properties and characteristics of representatives of the Amazonian flora, and, possibly, of the fauna too (if we get lucky).

Follow our news and come to visit the Peruvian selva in the Chaсruna Nature and Recreation Park!

We are about to finish some building and organization of the first «Ayahuaska Museum» in Peru which is situated in our Cordillera Escalera Lodge hotel. Our ecolodge team has been working for about one year and a half developing the concept of the museum, collecting the materials and artifacts, consulting details with shamans and experts that investigate about history and the present situation of this great Amazon culture of healing.

There is a building that was specially planned for the museum exhibition. Its walls were decorated with traditional paintings of a local painter from Tarapoto Frank Machuca. Inside the building there is an exhibition hall with the total área of 140 square meters, where you may find some information about Ayahuaska ceremonies, its history and legends, about Master Plants and its effect on a person medically and philosophicaly speaking. You may also read the testimonies of our contemporaries that have their own experience in healing ceremony participation. As well there will be other interesting materials related to the Amazon Nature.

Visitors will be able to see the main attributes of ritual on the shelves, showcases and instalations, also they can discover the purpose of certain objects, investigate various documentary materials, and receive answers to many questions that often arise in people who are just starting to get acquainted with the Ayahuaska tradition.

The core of the exposition is based on private collection exhibits and artifacts purchased from local residents, there are photo zones, a mini library, and in the future, we plan the installation of special information terminals for interactive study of the material. Information on the stands is presented in two languages — English and Spanish, while on special media full dubbing into Russian will be available, and in the future also into German.

We are sure that the exposition of the Ayahuaska Museum exhibition will allow visitors to create their own idea of this ancient tradition and culture, and it will also be an interesting addition to any tourist route when visiting Tarapoto and its surroundings.

The museum is functionally divided into the exhibition part and the bar area; fans are installed inside as well as mosquito nets, which is the key to a comfortable tour))!

In fact, it is possible to organize various kinds of workshops and lectures for groups of up to 30 people in the exhibition hall, in addition to the exposition. There are furniture (tables, chairs) and equipment for presentations, you can even perform concerts (there is a small stage))!

The bar that is at the entrance of the Museum is a cozy space where, in addition to coffee and tea with sweets and desserts, you can try with Amazonian cocktails made with various liqueurs from unique local plants; these unusual drinks will certainly improve your mood and tone and make your trip to Peru unforgettable))!

There will be a souvenir shop at the bar where you can buy a traditional «folk souvenir», books and brochures related to the concept of the museum and the history of the ritual, gathering herbs and teas, ethnic accessories, etc.

The Nature and Recreation Park «Chakruna» will also be available for our Museum visitors, the organization of which is currently in full swing (as far as this lockdown allows it)).

The beautiful name «Chakruna» comes from the term of the plant with the same name (Latin — Psychotria viridis), the Park itself is a spectacular jungle in an area of 3 hectares, located directly on the banks of the picturesque Chilcayo River, the entrance to the Park is 50 meters from the Museum.

Our eco-lodge guests and Museum visitors will have a unique opportunity to look into the virgin jungle, swim in the fast current river, have their barbecue party on a specially equipped venue and many other things. The work on the project began in March 2020, there is still a lot to do, such as to organize space and construction, but now it’s clear that the future Chakruna Park will become a point of attraction not only for tourists, but also for local residents who are happy to escape from the city noise, it will be a special place where Nature will give you real opportunity to rest.

Follow our news!

Our exhibition «Ayahuaska museum» will gladly accept any donation or will buy at a reasonable price any material related to the concept of the Project.

In case you have any ideas or offers please contact on the following number +51-921878599.

Registration for participation from April 26 to May 15.

During this week in our Lodge, you will get to know with the oldest shaman of Amazonian, take part in 3 Ayahuasca ceremonies and look behind the curtain of your consciousness. Nothing is so close to nature as staying away from civilization and a plant-based diet.

Spring has come to the Amazon!

Viewing deck: look from the Cordillera to the whole world

The Amazon satyr Chuyachaki is waiting for you!

The legend about the Chuyachaki tree – Chuyachakicaspi

Double celebration in the City of Palms postponed due to quarantine

A shaman without cushma is like a cobbler without shoes