Indigenous people of the Amazon

There are 72 ethnic groups or indigenous communities in Peru. Sixty-five of them live in the Amazonian jungle. The majority were converted to Christianity by Catholic missionaries but they've maintained ancestral customs their art and language, their dances and cuisine.

They have also retained extensive knowledge of the curative powers of plants, herbs and hallucinogenic beverages like Ayahuasca.

The spiritual brew is prepared by a shaman. It was known to the earliest European visitors as a demonic drink but later explorers have sought it out as a drastic cure for a range of addictions. Scientists hope to use indigenous peoples extensive knowledge of the Amazons plant life to develop new medicines for a range of diseases and conditions. Our tour guides offer a visit to indigenous towns and villages in the heart of the jungle.