Jared says, "My wife and I had a wonderful experience at Ayahuasca Costa Rica. It was clean and simple, with a small intimate group, and we always felt safe and well cared for." See more
Sam says, "Words can’t express my experience at Ananda Lodge. I have recently returned from a 3 day women’s medicine retreat. I’ve experienced sound bath, yoga, cacao ceremony, beautiful nourishing shared meals, somatic therapies, mushroom medicine ceremony, integrative support, trauma informed care, love, compassion, connection, and community (to say the LEAST) the profound guidance, releases, and healings I’ve experienced within just 3 days was something that must be experienced and is unexplainable in words." See more
Jill says, "I did an individual session with Soledad and Shakti Healing. I received changa medicine and the whole experience from start to finish was beautiful. I loved how there was a ceremony honoring the medicine and healers." See more
Anuradha says, "Maria supported me with so much love and care throughout my journey. Her presence is gentle yet powerful, she carries such a beautiful, calming energy. The meditations she guided were deeply soothing and grounding, helping me release tension and come back into my body with ease and trust." See more
Zaheer says, "Matt is not only a legit shaman but a real dude who doesn’t pretend to be anyone other than who he really is. He genuinely cares about the people in the ceremony and puts every bit of his Heart and soul into guiding and protecting us." See more
Samantha says, "Harold's dark eyes sparkle as he speaks with you. But before we met he talked with us in Australia and explained thoroughly the whole process of three medicines." See more
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Ask Retreat Centers Questions Directly
Your comfort level is paramount for a safe and fruitful journey. If you feel drawn to a certain retreat, but the listing doesn’t provide all the information you need.
Feel free to inquire with the organizers or facilitators directly. The Contact option is available just under the Booking button on every listing.
Aside from getting the responses you need to put your mind at ease, opening a line of communication with those who will be taking care of you will enhance your intuition into whether you’ll be in good hands.
Another good way to get insight into details not mentioned in the listing is by checking the Review section — those who have already attended are best at pointing out the virtues and flaws.
Having a clear intention before the ceremony can make an incredible difference in how your experience unfolds.
Maintaining psychophysical purity, or some form of dieta can go a long way in warding off unnecessary suffering once you drink.
Make sure that your intentions are not actually your expectations. It’s in your best interest to let go of the illusion of control.
The effects of ayahuasca typically unfold across distinct phases over 4-6 hours, though the full journey can last up to 8 hours for some people. Traditional Amazonian ceremonies usually begin in the evening and continue through the night, with the most intense period occurring 1-2 hours after drinking the medicine. The physical effects often start within 30 minutes, while the visionary phase commonly peaks between hours 2-4. After the main journey subsides, many experience a gentle "landing" period of 1-2 hours where insights continue to emerge. In traditional contexts, integration begins immediately after the ceremony and extends for days or weeks - this is considered an essential part of the medicine's work. Some retreat centers observe that certain participants may feel subtle energetic shifts for several days following a ceremony, though these are typically mild and manageable. Each person's experience with the medicine follows its own timing and rhythm. Traditional healers emphasize that the effects aren't limited to the ceremonial hours - rather, the ceremony opens a door through which healing and understanding continue to flow long after the acute effects have passed.