El Mystical Tourism has a misconception sometimes. One could imagine a group of hippies gathered around a Shaman, caught up in a ritual out of a thriller. But do not be fooled.
This journey has been gaining credibility throughout South America, attracting not only adventurers, but scholars as well. And for many, there is no better place to start this trip to Peru, where history and almost spiritual nature are connected in the middle of the Amazon.
At the center of this practice is the ayahuasca, an indigenous herb with an effect similar to that of magic mushrooms. It is a hallucinogen, but instead of distorting the view of reality, it makes it clearer. It is said to have a sense of conscience.
This gives the feeling that the traveler is meeting nature, offering a form of relaxation that is not quite like a day at the spa. This opens the doors for meditation, reflection, mental healing, and all kinds of possibilities.
The practice is not new, its main advocate outside of South America is probably William Burroughs, who wrote about it in his book The Yagé Letters. Here he details his journey to the Amazon rainforest to find the elusive herb, locally known as yagé, which he said was going to be his "final solution."
Regarding Ayahuasca, it should be noted that it has been used by American Indian healers as early as the 1770s, supposedly to find "lost souls and bodies." The name translates to "the vine of souls." A typical walk leads deep into the jungle, where nature lends itself well to calm reflections and meditation.
It is not known if mystical tourism will catch up, or if it will still drive past scientific skeptics and become mainstream. At the moment it is an exotic alternative to the usual route, especially taking advantage of people who want to take the lesser-known path than visiting museums.