In Their Own Words

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We are deeply touched by the kind words guests share after their stay. Here's what some participants had to say:

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"Tambo Illusion was a birthday present for my wife. Perfect for what I was looking for. Unique experience of vegetarian cooking and yoga/meditation. I could not find this combination of retreat anywhere in North America.

Johanne is an excellent cook. A fountain of information regarding healthy lifestyle, vegetarian cooking and yoga. All meals were so tasty, and so many great smoothies. Daily cooking sessions were chock full of cooking tips and very enjoyable. We left the retreat knowing that we could use what we had learned and continue to expand our cooking repertoire using Johanne’s cookbook that was provided to us.

Daily yoga/meditation sessions were excellent. Yoga studio had a perfect view of the jungle setting and awesome sounds of the jungle in the background. Joanne tailored the sessions specifically to address our needs (e.g., lower back pain, shoulder and side pain). It is very obvious that she has significant experience as a yoga instructor. We left each session feeling more grounded and relaxed.

Cosy cabins for relaxing and sleeping. Very well equipped with everything you need. Intimate settings for cooking and dining. Wonderful lagoon to beat the heat. Mosquitos were not an issue for us.

Our Tambo experience exceeded my expectations. Johanne and Armando are the perfect hosts. I would highly recommend Tambo Ilusion for anyone looking for an amazing vegetarian cooking and yoga experience."​

— Dave D.

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"Kudos to Johanne for creating a stunning experience.

Whether you are looking for an escape from your grind, a place to reset or a venue to enhance your yoga / vegan / vegetarian skills, Tambo Illusion should be the top of your list.

I don't usually write reviews - I can't be bothered, usually the experience is mediocre (restaurants, vacations etc) but Johanne and her team excelled. So feel free to read on for the specifics.

Venue - gorgeous 34 acre private conservation area, lovingly cared for by Johanne and her husband, Armando.
I landed in Lima airport from NYC and after a short 1.5 hr flight arrived in the bustling Tarapoto. Met by Johanne's Motortaxi driver, zero hassle - recognized me right away! Zipped through Tarapoto to the bumpy road leading to Tambo. Once through the private entrance the well manicured tropical paradise brought a sense of calm. Total 180 degrees from the hustle of Tarapoto.

Timing / Weather - I chose to visit in February and was concerned because the weather app on my phone kept on predicting massive thunderstorms and torrential rain all day every day. Lesson #1 when it comes to Tarapoto, don't believe your weather app! 90% of my stay was in brilliant sunshine. I'm not saying Tarapoto doesn't have its rainy season, but outside of that, take your app with a grain of salt.

Accommodation - During covid Johanne and Armando decided to upgrade the accommodation at Tambo. I loved the two bed, ensuite chalet, complete with an enclosed hammock area. Ok no AC but if that holds you back you need to examine your priorities!
The beds have full mosquito nets - which worked perfectly. While I did bring deet I did not need it - the natural product worked great. Did I get bitten - yep but rarely (must be the calm yogic breathing :)

Food - When searching for a yoga retreat I was drawn to the fact that Johanne offered a combination yoga / vegetarian experience. I had zero expectations of the quality of the cuisine - I'm not a vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan or whatever other options there are and rarely choose the vegetarian option. Loved everything (except one fruit that I can't recall and don't think I'll be searching out!). I've even made many of the recipes on my return to NYC.
Each morning I was woken up with a refreshing lemon drink, brought to my chalet.

The morning was spent preparing and eating breakfast and lunch - not sure I can do justice to the amount of knowledge and great conversation during these cooking sessions. I lost count of the number of smoothies, healthy teas, tips, tricks and insights that Johanne was able to impart.

Over the years Johanne has created (and is continuing to add to) her cooking book. To be fair it is more than a cooking book, it is a 400 page guide to a healthy lifestyle. With tips on spices, shopping, super foods and much more. After the retreat Johanne emailed the pdf of her book to me, complete with personalized photos from the trip - thank you Johanne!

Yoga - I've been practicing yoga on and off for the past 30 years and have come across some mediocre teachers and some great ones. Johanne has a great style and oozes experience - I believe she favors Ayurveda yoga and I looked forward to our daily practice.
It would be remise of me to skip over the fabulous yoga studio - a wooden, thatched Yurt in the center of the conservation reserve. If you are unable to relax and reset in this venue then I'd say there's no hope for you :)

And the bad... I should have brought a couple of friends, swam longer in the lagoon, learnt to speak Spanish, eaten more.

So if you are looking for a place to relax, reset, a guru to help you grow, expand your knowledge, experience a different culture ... I'd strongly recommend Tambo Ilusion.

Health and Happiness, Graham"​

— Graham P. 

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"I wanted to take some time to disconnect from my work/family/daily life, to be able to connect with myself surrounded by nature. Tambo Ilusion gave me this possibility and much more. The multiple amazing conversations that I shared with Johanne, her knowledge about vegetarian/vegan meals, yoga, reiki, etc were so fullfiling.

I would definitely recommend Tambo Ilusion to my friends and people I love."​

— Dalis C.