16 Best Ayahuasca Retreats for 2024
The healing properties of ayahuasca have been revered by the Amazon region for millennia, as ancestral communities used this plant to treat physical ailments and stir up spiritual insights. It’s just been in the last few decades, however, that ayahuasca has grown more acceptable and accessible around the world. Now, there are licensed retreat centers popping up all over the place to help guide these out-of-body experiences and life-changing encounters.
What is ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is a sacred plant medicine that was used by ancient Amazonians and indigenous people groups to accompany their religious practices and inner healing. Today, ayahuasca has become popular within mainstream culture, resulting in a great deal of spiritual tourism and retreats. In essence, ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew that delivers transformative life experiences, like an altered state of consciousness and/or feelings of euphoria. With that said, ayahuasca is not the same as a recreational drug; it’s a powerful plant that deserves our respect and one that should be thoughtfully and thoroughly researched prior to using.
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16 best ayahuasca retreats in the world
1. Best overall ayahuasca retreat: Soltara Healing Center
Soltara Healing Center, originally established in Costa Rica and now expanded to include facilities in Peru, collaborates with indigenous Shipibo healers and a seasoned support team blending Western and traditional medicine expertise. They offer luxurious ayahuasca retreats with a choice of private or shared accommodations, a lavish spa, yoga sessions, and transformative ayahuasca ceremonies. These ceremonies aim to facilitate profound spiritual awakenings, guided by skilled practitioners. By offering guests a deeply immersive voyage toward self-discovery, healing, and personal transformation, Soltara stands out as an excellent choice, whether you're new to ayahuasca or have sat with the medicine dozens of times.
Location(s): Costa Rica and Peru.
Price range: starting at $2,225 for a 5-day retreat
2. Best ayahuasca retreat with intimate group settings: Anam Cara Healing Retreats
Nestled in the tranquil Sacred Valley of Peru, Anam Cara Healing Retreats distinguishes itself from other ayahuasca retreat centers by focusing on individual healing and offering intimate retreats with fewer than 10 participants. What sets them apart is their holistic approach to integration, specifically their extensive 4-month post-ceremony support system. This unique offering assists participants in comprehending the learnings and insights gained during the ceremony and how to apply them to their life moving forward. By providing ongoing guidance and assistance, Anam Cara Healing Retreats ensures that individuals have ample time and resources to fully integrate and benefit from their transformative experiences. And with highly experienced Shipibo Maestros, an on-site psychotherapist, and a somatic experiencing practitioner, their team creates a nurturing environment for an enriching Ayahuasca journey.
Location(s): Peru
Price range: starting at $3,900 for an 8-day retreat
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3. Best ayahuasca retreat in a jungle setting: Spirit Vine
Spirit Vine was co-founded by Silvia Polivoy, a licensed psychologist who’s worked with ayahuasca and altered states of consciousness for going on thirty years. The ceremonies at Spirit Vine merge shamanic techniques with Western methods, for a well-rounded approach that helps guests remove energetic blockages and connect with the spirit realm. The reviews for this retreat rave about its bungalow accommodations and breathtaking views, as well as its spiritual workshops and vegan meal options. But the coolest part about Spirit Vine is that they grow organic ayahuasca right there on the property — it doesn’t get much better than that!
Location(s): Brazil
Price range: starting at $2,250 for a 9-day retreat
4. Best ayahuasca retreat with a focus on deep healing: Hummingbird Healing Center
The Hummingbird Healing Center is situated on 42 acres of tropical forest within the Amazon basin of Peru. Perhaps the defining characteristic of a Hummingbird retreat is how it uses traditional Amazonian shamanism alongside modern lifestyle coaching. This is undoubtedly a powerful combination and one that provides tremendous compassion and support throughout the healing process. Guests are invited to discuss the influence of their belief systems and social conditioning on their subconscious, which directly complements the ayahuasca’s ability to reveal these subconscious beliefs (and release them once and for all).
Location(s): Peru
Price range: starting at $2,200 for a 9-day retreat
Discount just for SiteSee readers: Use the code “SSHHC” to get 7.5% off the entire retreat.
5. Best ayahuasca retreat with trauma-informed specialists: APL Journeys
The team at APL Journeys works with skilled coaches and psychotherapists to pair the traditional approach to ayahuasca ceremonies with a modern understanding of the integration process. Each retreat is led by Amazonian healers who live and study plant medicine in Ecuador and Peru, meaning your experience is orchestrated the same way it would be in the Amazon. In fact, they often work with Maestro Pepe, also known as "The Last Shaman" from the Netflix documentary. On top of that, APL Journeys partners with facilitators who are certified in first aid assistance to guarantee you have the safest journey possible. And since most of their guests are newbies, you'll be in good company if this is your first time using ayahuasca, too!
Location(s): Peru and Spain
Price range: starting at $2,373 for a 7-day retreat
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6. Best ayahuasca retreat customized to suit your needs: Ayawakening
Situated along the vibrant coastlines of São Paulo, Brazil, Ayawakening is a unique retreat center focused on personalization, integrating traditional plant medicine with wellness, meditation, and modern science to sustain positive change. Their customized retreats and ceremonies are designed based on your budget, flexibility, and intentions. Choose from authentic, beautiful Yawanawá group ceremonies to private retreats in a luxury eco-resort & spa, complete with pickup service in São Paulo.
Location(s): Brazil
Price range: starting at $225 for the Group Ceremony; starting at $730 per person for Private Ceremonies (min. of 2 participants); Personalized offers for Private Retreats including Hotel & Spa. Discounts available for larger groups.
7. Best ayahuasca retreat in Europe: Avalon
Avalon, located in both Barcelona and Ibiza, Spain, is among Europe's top ayahuasca retreats. During an Avalon ayahuasca retreat, you can expect a holistic integration program that incorporates various healing modalities, including yoga, holotropic breathwork, ecstatic dance, healing massage, and plant medicine. The retreat offers ayahuasca and bufo alvarius ceremonies as well as purifying rituals like Kambó, all within a secure and nurturing environment. The experienced staff at Avalon comprises therapists, chefs, doctors, and shamans who have either been trained in or belong to ancestral traditions of tribes from Colombia, Peru, and Brazil, making it an ideal place to experience the healing powers of ayahuasca.
Location(s): Spain
Price range: starting at €1,950 for a 4-day retreat
8. Best ayahuasca retreat with a focus on safety: Etnikas
Etnikas is located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, just one hour from Cusco and two hours from Machu Picchu. Year after year, Entikas is rated as one of the best Peruvian ayahuasca retreats, due to its four decades of experience and its remarkable healers who hail from both the Andes Mountains and the Amazon. The calming environment at Etnikas makes this an excellent choice for anyone who’ll be having their first interaction with ayahuasca. They’ve even taken additional safety measures, like having a general practitioner, psychologist, and shaman on-site to ensure each guest is cared for physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Location(s): Peru
Price range: starting at $625 for a 3-day retreat
9. Best ayahuasca retreat with a focus on integration: Vine of the Soul
Nestled in the sunny Algarve region of Portugal, Vine of the Soul Retreats offers a holistic experience that harmonizes ancient wisdom with contemporary understanding. Their focus lies in providing comprehensive integration support following ayahuasca ceremonies. With intimate group sizes and a high ratio of facilitators from multidisciplinary backgrounds like psychology, physiotherapy, and hypnotherapy, they guide participants through a transformative journey. Their approach addresses past traumas and limiting beliefs while bridging mystical experiences with spirituality, modern psychology, and science. The retreat center provides a nurturing environment with nutritious meals, integration packages, and enriching activities such as yoga, art workshops, and breathwork.
Location(s): Portugal
Price range: Starting at €780 for a weekend with 2 ceremonies
10. Best ayahuasca retreat located on the beach: Vikara
The Vikara retreat center has really set itself apart, in that it’s located right on the beach in Olon, making it a special place to drink ayahuasca and connect to the spirit of the ocean. The ayahuasca retreats at Vikara also involve different therapies like family constellation, sound healing, and breathwork. Guests have nothing but positive things to say about the way Vikara helps you connect with the spirit of the universe and the wisdom within — thus bringing greater peace, love, and clarity to your life.
Location(s): Ecuador
Price range: starting at $2,590 for a 9-day retreat
Discount just for SiteSee readers: Use the code “be present” for $50 off when you sign up.
11. Best affordable ayahuasca retreat: Gaia Sagrada
In Greek mythology, Gaia was known as the goddess of Earth and the mother of all life; Sagrada, on the other hand, is a Spanish word meaning sacred. Gaia Sagrada, then, is all about communing with Mother Nature and living harmoniously on Earth (which is a sacred being). The ayahuasca retreats at Gaia Sagrada are led by authentic Ecuadorian shamans who guide participants through an unforgettable healing experience. Visitors can not only take advantage of amenities like the WiFi, sauna, and hot showers, but they can also spend time in the fresh mountain air while exploring the nearby gardens and natural forests.
Location(s): Ecuador
Price range: starting at $1,050 for a 6-day retreat
12. Best eco lodge with ayahuasca retreat: Arkana Spiritual Center
The Arkana Spiritual Center has two locations in different regions of Peru — one that’s in the heart of the Amazon, and the other in the Sacred Valley. As their website states, Arakana’s shamans and healers ‘work from their heart with genuine intentions and offer the most profound devotion to your healing process.’ In fact, this retreat works with the most authentic healers in the area, who are committed to repairing deep wounds while preserving the indigenous cultures of the Peruvian Amazon. If you make the trip to Arkana Spiritual Center, you can expect to get in touch with your truth and open the path to a meaningful (and more fulfilled) life.
Location(s): Peru
Price range: starting at $1,920 for a 7-day retreat
13. Best deep immersion ayahuasca retreat: Sinchi Runa
With more than 25 years of in-depth, experiential work with ayahuasca, it’s safe to say Sinchi Runa operates at an expert level. This facility specializes in both short and long-term treatments, deep immersion processes, and intensive retreats. The healers at Sinchi Runa combine the wisdom of firsthand experience with teachings from Ayurvedic healing, astrology, lectures, and various spiritual practices (i.e. meditation and hatha yoga). And the best part is, all of their services are customized to meet the needs of each person — in other words, guests are on a one-of-a-kind journey that’ll help them achieve genuine, sustained healing.
Location(s): Portugal
Price range: starting at $1,974 for an 8-day retreat
14. Best ayahuasca retreat with a focus on community: Casa Del Sol
Casa Del Sol is a holistic sanctuary that offers a variety of healing modalities to awaken your spirit and enhance your ayahuasca journey. The mission of Casa Del Sol is to ‘foster a healing relationship with divine creation,’ which is achieved through spiritual communion and practical experience with plant medicine. In addition to the sweat lodge and integration sharing circles, Casa Del Sol provides opportunities for meditation, breathwork, yin yoga, and therapeutic art workshops. And if that wasn’t enough, guests can also relax between ceremonies with the help of chiropractic therapy, lymphatic drainage, energetic healing, and more.
Location(s): Ecuador
Price range: starting at $1,700 for an 11-day retreat
15. Best luxury ayahuasca retreat: Rythmia
Rythmia is a medically-licensed and all-inclusive ayahuasca retreat located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Their team of naturopathic healers, health specialists, and spiritual teachers work in tandem with one another to create interesting and integrative programs for their guests. At its core, Rythmia’s mission is to provide the ‘best healing practices anywhere for a complete mind, body, and spirit renewal for each and every person.’ Highlights of Rythmia’s retreats include the private surroundings, gracious staff, motivational talks, and delicious vegan cuisine. Without a doubt, a visit to Rythmia is a step towards your optimal health and total well-being.
Location(s): Costa Rica
Price range: starting at $299 per night for accommodations
16. Best long-standing ayahuasca retreat: Temple of the Way of the Light
Located in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, The Temple of the Way of Light is a traditional plant-medicine shamanic healing center that works with both female and male Shipibo healers. The foundation of the Temple’s work is facilitating profound healing in a safe, compassionate, and supportive setting. Within their ayahuasca retreats, they focus on shadow work and soul integration through deep healing on all levels: physical, emotional, psychological, energetic, and spiritual.
Locations(s): Peru
Price range: starting at $3,300 USD for a 12-day retreat
Wrapping up
These carefully curated experiences combine the wisdom of indigenous traditions with the comforts of modern facilities, ensuring a transformative and safe environment. Whether you seek inner healing, spiritual awakening, or simply a profound connection with nature, these retreats offer a gateway to a profound and life-changing experience. Once you’re ready to embark on your journey, don’t forget to check out our guide on what to bring on your ayahuasca retreat so you’re well prepared for the experience.
Common FAQs about ayahuasca
Is ayahuasca illegal in the U.S.?
While the ayahuasca plant is legal in the United States, its active ingredient (DMT) is considered a Schedule I substance — making ayahuasca illegal in accordance with federal law. A handful of ayahuasca retreats in the U.S. have bypassed this legislation by establishing themselves as an ‘independent Native American church.’ These retreats have submitted petitions for religious exemptions to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as a way to invoke their right to the free exercise of religion (so they can ingest ayahuasca ‘legally’ during their ceremonies).
Where can I do ayahuasca in California?
Ayahuasca ceremonies in the U.S. exist on a spectrum from allowed to outlawed. Along that spectrum lies the churches of Santo Daime, which are a blend of Catholicism, native Amazonian rainforest rituals, and Afro-Caribbean animism. Branches of Santo Daime in Oregon, California, Massachusetts, and Washington have explicit permission to use ayahuasca within their religious services. Nevertheless, using ayahuasca in California still runs the risk of violating specific laws and regulations, so it’s extremely important to do your research (such as checking out this list of recommended ayahuasca books) prior to participating.
How much does ayahuasca cost?
The cost of attending an ayahuasca retreat varies depending on where you’re traveling to, the level of your accommodations, as well as the length of your stay (ranging from a few days to a few weeks’ time). Some ayahuasca retreats can run as little as $500 to $600, while others cost several thousand dollars for more upscale lodging, amenities, and services provided.
What are the benefits of doing ayahuasca?
Current research shows that ayahuasca can protect and restore certain parts of the brain, increase the capacity for mindfulness, improve the regulation of emotions, and reduce stress and depression almost immediately. In addition, studies also indicate that ayahuasca may benefit those with PTSD, as it paves the way to retrieve and reprogram repressed memories.