Brazil 2025 Love is the Power Preparation Details and Guidelines
Dear immortal, unlimited, multi-dimensional, magnificent, radiant beings of light and love (Tom's words, not mine ;)
Welcome to Love is the Power, Brazil- a 7 day retreat at the Lua Encantada!! We are so happy to have you.
Below are important details to help you prepare for this grand adventure! Please read through the entire page to make sure you're getting all relevant info.
Visa information:
Good news for those of us traveling to the retreat from North America and Australia! Brazil has pushed back the visa requirement date from January to April 2025. This means anyone entering before then will not need to apply for a visa. Woohoo!!
For folks traveling from other countries, please check what the requirements are to enter from your country. When applying for your visa, you can use the hotel address and phone number as your reference:
Street: Rua mané chico s/n, Praia do Rosa
County: Imbituba
State: Santa Catarina
CEP (zip code): 88780-000
Phone number/WhatsApp: +55 (48) 99943-1055
Booking lodging for the optional ayahuasca ceremony and/or extending your stay:
Some people choose to come a few days before or stay a few days after to enjoy their time in Brazil. If you are staying at Pousada Ville Vally, please contact them directly to extend your stay, as we are not responsible for lodging arrangements beyond the days of the retreat. Tell them you are joining the Love is the Power retreat with Tom Compton on March 9th, and they will be able to assist you. The hotel is offering a 10% discount off the original price of the room for participants.
The best way to contact them is via WhatsApp: +55 (48) 99943-1055. You can also find their email/contact on their website here.
If you would like to attend the ayahuasca ceremony, while it is not necessary, we recommend you make arrangements for an extra night's lodging on the 17th. Please do this directly with the hotel, as we will not be responsible for these arrangements.
You don't need to decide now whether or not you'd like to participate in the ceremony. That can happen up until the last day of the retreat. Please plan lodging arrangements accordingly.
Suggested Packing List:
Welcome to Love is the Power, Brazil- a 7 day retreat at the Lua Encantada!! We are so happy to have you.
Below are important details to help you prepare for this grand adventure! Please read through the entire page to make sure you're getting all relevant info.
Visa information:
Good news for those of us traveling to the retreat from North America and Australia! Brazil has pushed back the visa requirement date from January to April 2025. This means anyone entering before then will not need to apply for a visa. Woohoo!!
For folks traveling from other countries, please check what the requirements are to enter from your country. When applying for your visa, you can use the hotel address and phone number as your reference:
Street: Rua mané chico s/n, Praia do Rosa
County: Imbituba
State: Santa Catarina
CEP (zip code): 88780-000
Phone number/WhatsApp: +55 (48) 99943-1055
Booking lodging for the optional ayahuasca ceremony and/or extending your stay:
Some people choose to come a few days before or stay a few days after to enjoy their time in Brazil. If you are staying at Pousada Ville Vally, please contact them directly to extend your stay, as we are not responsible for lodging arrangements beyond the days of the retreat. Tell them you are joining the Love is the Power retreat with Tom Compton on March 9th, and they will be able to assist you. The hotel is offering a 10% discount off the original price of the room for participants.
The best way to contact them is via WhatsApp: +55 (48) 99943-1055. You can also find their email/contact on their website here.
If you would like to attend the ayahuasca ceremony, while it is not necessary, we recommend you make arrangements for an extra night's lodging on the 17th. Please do this directly with the hotel, as we will not be responsible for these arrangements.
You don't need to decide now whether or not you'd like to participate in the ceremony. That can happen up until the last day of the retreat. Please plan lodging arrangements accordingly.
Suggested Packing List:
- Whatever you'd like to have for the beach (flip flops, swim suit, sunscreen, sandals, hat etc)
- Refillable water bottle with lid
- Silent, portable fan: Participants from last year recommend bringing a fan (as it can get quite hot in the Lua if there is a heat wave). If you bring a fan, please make sure it makes almost no sound. If it is too loud, we will ask you to turn it off, as the sound can echo in the Lua and make it hard for participants to hear. We recommend this one if you're in the US, and this one if you're in Europe.
- Bug spray. See the Q&A section below for more info on mosquitoes
- Tennis shoes or comfortable walking shoes that you don't mind getting dirty/muddy. You'll want these for our morning walks. If it's rainy that week, hiking shoes, while totally not necessary, are nice to have. Please check whether reports when packing
- For the ayahuasca ceremony: While it's not necessary, these are things that are nice to have that may make the experience nicer for you: Comfortable blanket to lie on (we will have yoga mats for you as well, or you may be able to use the one from your hotel), comfortable clothing that you can layer as temperature may change throughout the evening, comforting essential oils (noticing a theme here? Basically anything that brings you comfort that won't disturb the participant next to you). Also small shakers or light percussion instruments are fun to have if you'd like to join in on the music! :)
- Power adapters. Brazil uses type C plugs, which look like the blue photo below. This means you will need a power adapter for small appliances like cellphone chargers, electric toothbrushes etc. Below is a video of what a North America to Brazilian power adapter looks like.
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Q&A Section:
I have limited mobility. Do you have any specific recommendations?
Some parts of Rosa can be quite hilly. There is a slightly steep hill on the walk up to the hotel. For the morning walk, there may be some paths that are slightly rocky. These walks are optional for those who don't feel comfortable walking on this path. We will also be providing chairs in the back of the Lua for those who prefer not to sit on a back-jack on the floor. Please reach out if you have preferences for seating, and or if there is something we can do to support you.
Will there be coffee at the Lua?
Yes, there will be an unlimited supply of coffee throughout the retreat, along with other beverages and light snacks.
What about cell phone/internet service?
You will need to have internet access on your phone for communication purposes, Uber, maps etc. Make sure to set up some type of international plan with your phone carrier before you arrive, or you can set up an E-sim, which you can do from the comfort of your home and provides you with internet service but no local calls, which works great for most people. This is the one I use: https://www.simoptions.com/
Should I exchange money or just bring a credit card?
95% of places in Rosa and Garopaba take credit cards, even small stands and independent street vendors. Cash is not preferred and not necessary. However, we have noticed that some card readers don't read certain cards very well for some reason, so if you have the option to bring more than one credit/debit card, that is likely to come in handy.
Cash: That being said, it's probably still a good idea to have a little bit of cash on you just in case. In this case, we recommend that you get cash directly from one of ATM's at the airport in Brazil, before you arrive in Rosa. The ATM exchange rate is usually very fair, and it's easier to do this at the airport than in Rosa. Once in Rosa, it's a bit of a walk to get to the nearest ATM.
How to get around town:
Rosa is a walkable town, so you won't need transportation, and we will provide daily transportation to and from the Lua Encantada. However, please know that while it is easy to get an Uber from the the airport in Florianopolis to your hotel, Ubers are pretty much non-existent once you arrive in Rosa. We will share with you the phone number of a few local drivers once you arrive if you do need a ride somewhere.
Is Brazil safe?
Garopaba and Rosa are charming beach towns where the locals are warm and friendly. While we can't speak for the bigger cities in Brazil, we feel incredibly safe here (safer than in the U.S.!) and have never had any issues.
Anything I should know about the ayahuasca ceremony?
A note from the shaman: There are certain pre-existing physical and mental health conditions in which Ayahuasca should not be used, such as in cases of cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory diseases, severe hypertension, severe mental disorders (e.g., psychosis, schizophrenia, mood and personality disorders) epilepsy, acute infectious diseases, liver diseases (e.g. Hepatitis, Cirrhosis).
Ayahuasca also should not be consumed if you are taking certain medications, such as antipsychotics and mood stabilizers (e.g. lithium, valproic acid, carbamazepine, etc.), Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI’s) and medication which have an effect on the serotonin system, including Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) (i.e. antidepressants such as Wellbutrin, Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, etc).
For your safety, those who fall under any of these categories will not be allowed to attend the ceremony.
Also, while some recommend certain dietary restrictions before the ceremony, the Huni Kuin family do not have any recommended dietary guidelines.
What will the weather be like?
The weather in March is generally warm and pleasant, though the weather in Garopaba can change drastically from week to week. Sometimes there are unexpected heat waves and other times it can rain for days. Please check the weather a few days before your arrival to get the latest updates. We will send you a list of things to pack after you've registered to help you prepare for various weather conditions.
I don't speak Portuguese. Will that be an issue?
Nope. People in Garopaba typically don't speak English and travelers manage to get along just fine (it's part of the adventure!). Having a translation app can help, but you'll be pleasantly surprised to find how easy it is to get around with limited Portuguese.
Are vaccines required to enter the country?
No vaccines are required to enter the country. Last year, most folks did not get vaccinations, and also many did, for their own peace of mind. Whether or not you get vaccinated is totally up to you and we encourage you to make a decision that will allow you to feel comfortable on your travels.
What will the food be like?
Breakfast will be served at the hotel with various egg, fruit, yogurt and tapioca options. We will be serving a vegetarian lunch at the Lua consisting of rice, pasta, beans, veggies, nuts, juice etc. For dinner, there are plenty of restaurants around town that serve local and ethnic fare. There are also small markets in Rosa that sell a limited selection of fruits and vegetables and the basics. If there are creature comforts you enjoy having, we recommend you bring them so you're comfortable during your travels.
Are there a lot of mosquitos?
While there are mosquitos that come out around dusk, and more so when it rains, overall our insect friends here are quite friendly and benign. That being said, everyone is different. When we asked participants from last year what they thought, many people said they didn't notice any mosquitos while others who were more sensitive reported being bitten a lot. Either way, we recommend you bring mosquito repellant just in case, especially if you're sensitive to bug bites. You can also purchase some here at the local shops.
For questions and support, email Eva at [email protected] or WhatsApp at 1.626.377.7885. I am currently located in Taipei, Taiwan time zone, so I may respond to you at odd hours :)