San Pedro, known as Wachuma in the “Quechua” Andean language, is a cactus that grows naturally in the high altitude, high rainfall regions of the Andes, mainly in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. The use of San Pedro in a spiritual and healing context is thousands of years old. In Peru, it has so far been traced back to the Chavín culture that lived in the Northern part of the country 3000-4000 years ago. Fortunately, it is an art that has been preserved across the millennia, passed on from generation to generation of shamans, healers and spiritual guides. San Pedro is what South-American shamans (healers) consider a Sacred Plant, otherwise called visionary plant. San Pedro contains a number of psychoactive alkaloids, which make it useful as an entheogen for shamanic ceremonies. It is generally cut into slices and boiled for a long period of time creating a green liquid juice which is consumed during ceremonies.

San Pedro is considered a “medicine” which, in native terms, does more than design a natural or chemical product used to heal the symptoms of a particular physical or mental illness or ailment. “Medicine” means power and refers to the innate balance constantly challenged and therefore sought by each individual’s system. In this sense, the use of “medicine” is the use of natural substances and energies, within a particular spiritual and/or healing context, which work in conjunction with one’s system in order to help it restore its natural balance and, as a consequence, can provide healing on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels of that person. This is part of what Westerners call “holistic medicine”: treatments and practices that encompass all levels of a patient and patient’s life, in order to heal the illness or problem they are facing from its source.

A San Pedro ceremony is a sacred, mystical experience that leaves everyone feeling happy and blessed, if not healed. It facilitates a deeper connection to, and understanding of, ourselves, Mother Earth and the universe that we are part of. It is a once-in-a-life-time opportunity that can be recommended to, and should be experienced, by all. If you are interested in experiencing a San Pedro ceremony, Mystical Andes Tours offers a full-day experience.

San Pedro should not be confused with Ayahuasca, which is derived from the Banisteriopsis plant found in the Amazon rainforest. It is also used for shamanic and religious purposes.

Differences between Ayahuasca and San Pedro include: 

- San Pedro is a plant that grows on the coast or the Andes, Ayahuasca is originally from the rainforest

- Ayahuasca is stronger in its psychoactive side -- it gives visions rather than hallucinations

- Physical cleansing with Ayahuasca is stronger, it usually causes vomiting and diarrhoea during ceremonies

- Ayahuasca effects last 3 to 5 hours, whereas San Pedro lasts 10 to 12, but on a more 'gentle' journey

- San Pedro can be taken day or night, whereas Ayahuasca is recommended to be taken only at night, for there would be too many visual distractions from the journey if taken during the day.

If you are interested in experiencing an Ayahuasca ceremony, Enigma Adventure Tours offers full-night ceremonies.