5-Day Journey, 2 Ayahuasca Ceremonies, Kambo & Herbal Bath with the Huni Kuin Tribe at Libélula Center

Location icon
Location icon Libélula Retreat Center, Libélula Healing Center, Esperanza, Esperanza, Turrubares, CR, 11605
Users icon
Up to 12 in group
Date
May 27 - 31, 2026

Retreat Highlights

  • The Sanctuary Return is a short yet powerful retreat held in the rainforest mountains of Costa Rica at Libélula Retreat Center. This 5-day journey offers the opportunity to work deeply with sacred Amazonian medicines — Ayahuasca and Kambo — alongside traditional cleansing practices such as herbal bathing, all within a safe, grounded, and professionally held environment.
  • It is designed for those who feel called to meaningful inner work while being supported in a structured and intentional container.
  • The Experience
  • Our ceremonies are guided by Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá) medicine carriers (Txanãs / Pajés) from the Yuba Nawa village, held within a living Indigenous tradition rooted in prayer, song, and respect.
  • The Yuba Nawa lineage carries a unique transmission, with strong feminine guidance passed down through their grandmother (Maje), offering a balanced and heart-centered ceremonial space.
  • In this tradition, the medicines are approached as intelligent, relational forces that respond to humility, intention, and respect.
  • A phrase often heard in ceremony:
  • Eskawata Kayaway, Kayaway Kiki
  • “Constant transformation through love.”
  • Ayahuasca Ceremonies
  • Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian plant medicine used for healing, insight, and deep reconnection.
  • Each ceremony includes opening circle and intention setting, a night ceremony with ícaros (sacred songs), trauma-aware support throughout, and optional participation with no pressure or expectation.
  • Experiences vary from emotional release and clarity to deep introspection. All experiences are welcomed and supported.
  • Kambo Ceremony
  • Kambo is a traditional Amazonian cleansing ritual used to support physical, emotional, and energetic detoxification.
  • This ceremony offers deep physical and energetic cleansing, increased clarity and vitality, and a strengthened connection to the body. All participants are guided carefully, with safety and individual pacing prioritized.
  • Herbal Bath (Plant Limpia)
  • A traditional herbal bath is offered as a gentle yet powerful cleansing practice. This ritual supports energetic clearing and grounding, nervous system regulation, and integration between ceremonies.
  • Preparation & Safety
  • Participation requires medical screening, awareness of contraindications (medications and conditions), and commitment to preparation guidelines.
  • We do not promise specific outcomes. This work supports personal insight and transformation through responsibility and integration.
  • Integration & Aftercare
  • Integration is an essential part of the journey. This includes time for rest, reflection, and sharing, gentle pacing with no pressure for intensity, and encouragement to integrate insights gradually.
  • Optional Add-ons
  • Massage and bodywork
  • Red light therapy

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

A 5-day immersive retreat in the Costa Rican rainforest, guided by Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá) medicine carriers from the Yuba Nawa lineage. This journey offers a safe, supportive space for deep inner work through sacred Amazonian traditions.

Includes:
• 2 Ayahuasca Ceremonies
• 1 Kambo Ceremony
• Traditional Herbal Bath
• Integration support & opening circle
• Organic meals & accommodation

Designed for meaningful transformation, this experience emphasizes safety, presence, and gentle integration — allowing insight, release, and reconnection to unfold naturally.

Schedule

Each day is intentionally designed to support a balance of depth, rest and integration.

A typical day may include:

• Gentle mornings with meditation, yoga and breathwork
• Nourishing breakfast

• Integration practices, journaling or workshops
• Optional 1:1 sessions or bodywork

• Time to rest, reflect or explore nature
• Waterfalls, river time or natural pool

• Fresh, locally sourced lunch

• Afternoon preparation for ceremony

• Evening or daytime ceremonies
• Light dinner or post-ceremony nourishment

The rhythm is spacious and supportive — allowing your process to unfold naturally, without pressure.
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon Libélula Retreat Center, Location icon Libélula Retreat Center, Libélula Healing Center, Esperanza, Esperanza, Turrubares, CR, 11605

Directions

*The Above Map Is Not Accurate!*

We are a 45 minute drive into the mountains from the seaside town of Jaco. If you head for Bijagual there are two routes - the route near the Tarcoles bridge is well paved whereas the Jaco road just outside Jaco is quicker but you will need a 4x4 vehicle.

Once in Bijagual if you take a left from the Tarcoles road or go forward from the Jaco road past the shops & ferretaria we are a further 4 miles along the mountain range just outside Esperanza. Don't head for Macaw lodge - we are the other left turning.

Please contact Jesse on +447376124981 if you need further guidance.

From Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO), Costa Rica's main airport hub Libélula is just a 2 1/2 hour shuttle trip to either the center or Playa Hermosa

If we are collecting you from Playa Hermosa the journey is 45 - 60 mins up the mountain to the village of Bijagual.
From there the center is 4 miles further into the mountain range near the small village of Esperanza.

Accommodation

Stay immersed in nature, without compromising comfort. Our jungle accommodation is designed to offer a balance of simplicity, beauty and rest. Built using sustainably sourced materials by local craftsmen, each space opens out into the surrounding forest — allowing you to fully connect with the land. With our mountain location, temperatures remain fresh and comfortable, creating the perfect environment for deep rest and integration. This is a space to slow down, reconnect, and feel held by nature.

concession

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
Yoga Shala, lodgings, maloca, pool, guest hub & cuisine area

Meals

Menu

Menu Types

Nourishing, plant-based meals made with organic, locally sourced ingredients — many grown on the land. Designed to support your body through ceremony and integration.

What's Included

  • • 2 Ayahuasca Ceremonies
  • • 1 Kambo Ceremony
  • • Traditional Herbal Bath
  • • Opening circle & intention setting
  • • Integration support
  • • Organic meals
  • • Accommodation

What's Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Airbnb or hotel fares
  • Additional taxi fares
  • Insurance (highly recomended)

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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A place that truly holds you
My time at Libélula Retreat Center was deeply meaningful and truly transformative. From the moment I arrived, I met a genuine warmth and kindness that made me feel welcome.
The facilitators held the space with integrity and wisdom so that I felt safe to open up and go deeper.

There was a quiet, powerful transformation that unfolded—supported by the loving atmosphere and the surrounding nature, which felt like an essential part of the journey.

It’s rare to find a place where you feel so held, both by the people and the environment. Libélula is truly a special sanctuary for anyone seeking connection, peace, and authenticity.

5.0
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A Beautiful and Thoughtfully Designed Retreat Space
The setting is absolutely beautiful — शांत, well-maintained, and clearly designed with intention. You can feel that it’s been created to support rest, reflection, and a deeper connection with nature. The surroundings are peaceful, and the overall energy of the place makes it very easy to switch off from day-to-day distractions.

The facilities are thoughtfully put together, with comfortable accommodation and well-kept communal areas that lend themselves well to group experiences. Everything feels aligned with what you’d hope for from a retreat environment.

What stood out most was the atmosphere, there’s a genuine sense of calm and care in how the space is held. It feels like a place where people can really reset and recharge.

I’d definitely recommend Libélula Retreat Center as a venue for anyone considering hosting or attending a retreat.

5.0
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Just WOW!!
What an experience! From the moment you set foot on the land you know this is place where magic can happen. From the structure of the retreat to the food, and the space that was held, great deal of attention was paid to every last detail in order to maximise the not only the experience but to also maximise the outcomes. One of the best retreats I have been to

5.0
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Exactly what this kind of work should be
Im forever grateful that I recently attended a retreat at Libélula. It was my first time working with medicines, and they made sure I could experience as much as I felt comfortable with. Everything was thoughtfully planned in a way that supported my whole journey.

The support from all the team was very special. I had a challenging start, but there was always someone available to talk. Before the ceremonies I recieved a very insightful one-to-one which really helped with my intentions. During and after the ceremonies, they also offer support and treatments. Once I moved through the initial difficulty, things started to shift and the healing followed.

You can tell a lot of care and experience has gone into creating the space. Nothing felt random—it was all intentional. The team clearly know what they’re doing and carry it in a calm, grounded way.

The ceremonies are held by indigenous practitioners, whose music is something else. They play and sing throughout the night, and it adds a powerful layer to the whole experience that really stays with you.

The setting is beautiful—one of the most special places I’ve been. It’s fully surrounded by nature but still comfortable. Being so remote, there’s no light pollution, and the stars are the best I’ve ever seen. The food was great, and I appreciated how long the ceremonies were—nothing felt rushed.

I left feeling more creative than I have in years. It felt like something opened up, and I was able to process what felt like years of therapy in a much deeper way.

It feels like I came across something quite rare for a first experience, and I’m really grateful for it ♥️

5.0
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Reconnect, Heal, and Awaken”
My experience here was truly unforgettable. This place feels like a paradise on Earth. The people work from the heart—their intention is genuinely to help and to heal, with unconditional love. You can feel the authenticity in everything they do.

There’s also a strong connection to nature and tradition, with many of the plants and herbs coming from the Amazon rainforest. The people here are incredibly kind, compassionate, and welcoming.

The atmosphere is peaceful, calming, and deeply enjoyable—completely immersed in nature. There is a beautiful waterfall on the property that feels very special and unique; when we visited, we had it all to ourselves, which made it even more magical.

The surroundings are stunning, and the food is prepared with so much care, cleanliness, and love. Everything about this place is designed to support a full reset—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

If you’re looking for a place to reconnect, heal, and recharge, this is truly something special.

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