5 Day Vegetarian / Vegan Culinary Retreat in the Amazon of Peru

Cooking, preparing homemade meals is an important self-care practice as food nourishes us on all levels.  Cooking is a creative activity that is good for the soul.  Cooking and eating brings people together.Johanne is thrilled to share her passion and knowledge of plant based food preparation, yoga and holistic health in a retreat setting. During this retreat, you will prepare and eat delightful plant-based food, learn, explore, rest, improve your health, and so much more. Come discover new recipes, your talent as a cook, a special place and new people, as well as information that can inspire you to live a healthier and richer life.If you love cooking and want fresh ideas for vegetarian options, or if you want to learn to cook, or maybe you are a foodie, or a health enthusiast, then you will love this culinary adventure! Held at the stunning Tambo Ilusion Retreat Center, this retreat will give you the chance to get a real taste of vegetarian cooking with this perfectly blended 6-day retreat.If you already follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, you might become savvier and will come away with tasty recipes, as the possibilities of vegetarian dishes are endless. There's so much you can do with fruits, vegetables, legumes (beans, lentils and peas), whole grains, sea vegetables (seaweeds) nuts, and seeds, which are all part of a balanced vegetarian diet. Come learn to transform these ingredients in delightful dining experiences that are sure to excite your palate and engage your senses.You will accompany Johanne on an outing to the local market in the early morning once. The market experience is one that should not be missed while traveling. You will visit a food market so you can be part of the local scene and get a feel of the local culture. You shall get to explore regional cuisine and witness the variety of produce offered. You'll see the locals, including what they eat, how they dress, how they relate to each other, etc. This little adventure will enrich your travel experience as you practice your language skills, take a few pictures, and maybe buy a few souvenirs.Following her guests' advice, Johanne has created a cookbook from her recipes that are most popular among her guests. You will receive this cookbook (in PDF format) by partaking in this fun cooking vacation. It will be a souvenir to cherish and relish! Your hosts, Johanne and Armando, a Canadian/Peruvian couple are happy to greet you in their little paradise and share some of their passions for nature and self-care practices.  Your retreat leader, Johanne is a Hatha yoga instructor, vegetarian cook and wellness coach.  She treasures creating connections with her guests through fulfilling conversations and sharing some of her passions for holistic health (nutrition, home made food, yoga, Reiki, equine therapy...).This retreat is offered all year round (except for March, August and October). This retreat is hosted for one to two participants to ensure an intimate experience for all.Before arrival, you will be asked what foods you love, what foods you dislike, if you have any food allergies or intolerances, and if you want to focus on lacto-ovo vegetarian recipes (no meat, no fish, no animal tissue products), vegan recipes (which consist of only plant-derived foods, no animal products at all, i.e. no eggs, milk, cheese, nor honey) or raw recipes. The recipes and menus are then further customized to honor such requests.Imagine five glorious days spent in a beautiful natural reserve, eating well, spending half the day in the kitchen learning the how-tos of vegetarian, vegan, and raw food preparation including raw desserts! Did you ever consider that cooking is meditation in disguise? Although completely submerged in nature once on the property, Tambo Ilusión Retreat Center is conveniently located 15 minutes from the local airport and from the center of town (Tarapoto).  It is easy to get here, but you won't want to leave once the retreat ends!  ReviewI had a great and relaxing time at Tambo Ilusion. Johanne and Armando are both giving people that helped me with everything I needed/wanted. Tambo Ilusion provided me with a much needed escape from society, the internet, and social media. I enjoyed doing the trip on my own for some solitude and time for self reflection, but can also imagine this being a great place to go with loved ones. I'm not sure if I would do the culinary immersion with others, as the kitchen is a bit small for several people. I spent the mornings learning healthy and delicious meals that I have already made in the 3 days I have been home! I even had the opportunity to explore the local markets to buy some of the ingredients. Between cooking, gentle yoga, and swimming and the lagoon I had a lot of fun and left feeling restored. Tambo Ilusion provides an amazing experience for a great value. There is also an opportunity to do ayahuasca for a night if you ask in advance. Rebecca T., USA