Simplicity and Serenity
The Mishana Community
The Mishana Community, nestled along the bank of the Nanay River since 1925, is a collection of eighteen families totaling just over a hundred people. Spanning five generations, they have lived deep within the jungle, now part of the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve. Though some leave in search of opportunity in Iquitos, those who remain prefer the simplicity of the rainforest to the rush and noise of city life, where smog and stress cloud the air.
Life here moves at a different rhythm, slow and quiet, yet far from easy. Each day begins with tasks that sustain the community, drawing water from the well, fishing, or walking to tend their chacras, small plots of cultivated land that yield most of their food. With no electricity and few modern conveniences, the Mishanas rely on their own hands, tools, and deep connection to the land. Children, too, grow up with responsibilities, learning early how to live in harmony with the jungle.
Rainforest Communal Culture
During Ayahuasca Foundation retreats, the Mishanas offer their gifts: fresh fish from the river, plantains, yucca, fruits, and medicinal plants from their gardens, as well as artisan crafts to bring home as reminders of the special moments spent in the rainforest. Most of the staff are members of the community, and a portion of each participant’s payment goes to support the community. To experience and meet the Mishana community is to glimpse a life most only dream of, free from the demands of modern society, living in sync with nature’s pulse.
Photos of the Mishana Community
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