A rapid, short and powerful plant medicine – taken as a snuff, prepared and guided here in the Amazon.
Yopo is a psychoactive snuff prepared from the seeds of the Anadenanthera peregrina tree, which contain bufotenin along with smaller amounts of DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. The snuff is traditionally used by Indigenous peoples of the Orinoco basin and surrounding regions of Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil, with archaeological evidence suggesting use going back thousands of years. Yopo is sometimes known as the “wild sister” of Ayahuasca.
The seeds are toasted and ground into a fine powder, mixed with alkaline plant-based extracts, and blown into the nostrils with a tube by an experienced facilitator. The onset is rapid, typically within 5-15 minutes, and the effects relatively short, usually 1-1.5 hrs. Physically, participants often describe a burning sensation in the nose, sinuses or back of the head, watery eyes, heat or sweating, and sometimes nausea or vomiting. We estimate around 50% of our guests vomit at some point during yopo, but it tends to be quick and involves minimal nausea. Psychologically, guests often experience heightened sensory awareness, vivid imagery, and a strong sense of presence or clarity. Some guests also report feeling a sexual energy or theme to the experience. For some, yopo can be just as powerful of a psychedelic experience as ayahuasca.
For guests who haven’t experienced strong ayahuasca ceremonies during their retreat, yopo can provide an alternative route towards the possible profound and transformative experiences that Amazonian plant medicine can provide. As with all of our plant medicines, guests must have passed medical and psychological screening prior to engaging with yopo.
