The Reunion Experience | An Ayahuasca Journey

I am almost left speechless about my experience here at reunion. But I will try to articulate as best I can and put into words how life changing my expietence was, how amazing the shaamans are, the facilitators and all of the contributors on site.

From the moment I entered and touch down in Costa Rica I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be doing exactly what I was supposed to do. From the first day of being at reunion I felt welcomed and safe. Given you are in the most vulnerable you’ll be in, it was absolutely reassuring on everyone there that we were all going to be ok and I felt it. From the education behind what we were doing, how/why we were doing it all the way through every single ceremony, sharing circle, to even having access to each member of the team outside of the time we were required to all be together it was only a text/call/walkie talkie push button away.

Like I mentioned - although I was in my most vulnerable and emotionally naked state one could be, I never felt so safe to share my deepest thoughts, inner most struggles as well as my deepest emotions with those around me helping me through each ceremony and sharing circle.

Each morning and night , the owner Brad and the facilitators all came to sit and have breakfast and dinner with us for the most part. We all sat and shared our experiences of our journey as well as a lot of what we were all personally going through. These interactions were genuine at their essence but seemed to be also so well thought out because it all seemed part of the experience as they sat and got to know us all at the deepest level which was crucial in my opinion when it came time for ceremonies and opening up.

The shamans were the sweetest, most genuine, most loving, caring and well educated souls I have ever met. It was like if you took a neuroscientist, a psychologist,
God, momma ayauscha, spirit guide and put them all into one… oh wait, that is actually who they are at their essences. The amount of knowledge, experience and their ability to connect with each of us was truly incredible. You can tell this is exactly what they were put on this earth to do. I couldn’t be more grateful for them. They changed my life in more ways than one in a matter of a week. The amount of gratitude and love I have for these two beautiful souls , I feel forever indebted to them because of what they did for me, although they would say “ I did it myself”. But it’s true, what they did for me is unexplainable. And I am forever grateful for them. The gentleness, love, compassion and empathy they both have is unlike anything I have ever experienced from another human being.

Sheldon and Alia are literal saints sent from god and momma aya above. Their knowledge, experience and voices are pure love, compassion, empathy and care as well. Without them helping me through each ceremony I don’t think I’d have been able to make it through at times. Their experience and knowledge behind what they do is straight from the heart and that’s an understatement.

I can go on and on and on forever but I will never sit in another ceremony anywhere else other than at reunion and as long as they have this crew running the show.

The contributors, the rooms, the food, the scenery is impecable and it was the best most life changing experience of my life.

Thank you to the Shamans, the facilitators , Brad, and all the contributors for orchestrating the most organic, loving, caring, most amazing experience of my
Life. I love you all.

My husband and I recently experienced the Cultivating Pride and Authenticity Week at Reunion. First of all, as a gay man I cannot think of a safer space to sit with the medicine particularly for us experiencing it for the first time. The team there is amazing and you can absolutely feel the love and openness they bring to the table. The sharing circles following ceremony nights were an amazing way to connect with the amazing group of men with whom we shared our journey. It was absolutely transformational for both my husband and me. He was dealing with childhood trauma and I experienced a nearly constant sense of anxiousness in my life rarely truly living in the experience. We both have felt a major shift in our thinking and emotions for the better. The process of integrating this into our lives is an exciting opportunity. We are approaching this next phase as if our lives were fresh and free of the pains and burdens we felt sometimes on a conscious level but even more so on an unconscious level. Our thanks to Brad, Alex, Patricia, Bala, Alia, Sheldon and everyone who works to make this such an amazing life changing journey.

I came to the Cultivating Pride retreat hoping to continue my years long work to down regulate my nervous system after years in a high stress career combined with multiple life changes including divesting my business and ending a 20 year relationship, all of which had led to a decade of level 3 burnout. I also hoped to find community, shared experience, and understanding of being a gay man navigating a hyper masculine career path, and the unique challenges that created for me.
After two years of weekly therapy, introspection, daily yoga and meditation practices, I thought I had come a long way to pulling myself out of my hyper stress mode. It is only after this week long retreat that I realized how far I still needed to go, and how amazingly quickly the ayahuasca ceremonies allowed me to accomplish my goals in so little time. The medicine truly worked its magic, and for the first time I remember what calm is. What being at peace with myself is.
Being with a group of gay men allowed me to be fully honest in the integration sessions and talk about things I did not even feel comfortable to discuss with my therapist. The loving support made us all feel like family, and the attentive support of the entire Reunion team made me feel safe and cared for the entire time. The location on Playa Pan de Azucar was magnificent and helped us all bond with many evening swims in the ocean.
I cannot more highly recommend this retreat for gay men, and Reunion’s services in general. The campus is gorgeous. The accommodations so comfortable. The medical staff kind and attentive. The food absolutely delicious with omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan options. I only wish I had taken this retreat years ago.

From Breakdown to Breakthrough: My Transformational Journey with Mother Ayahuasca at REUNION

Testimony

I received the call to sit with Mother Ayahuasca in December 2024, after collapsing once again under the weight of parental overload and the suffocating grind of survival within the system. Just the thought of embarking on this journey to Reunion gave me the strength to keep moving toward my goal. I offered myself this precious gift for my birthday in October 2025.

I arrived in Reunion exhausted and in tears, and I left completely transformed—with a deep inner calm that is truly priceless.

The support and care provided by Reunion far exceeded my expectations. The sound of the waves, the connection with the ocean, the nourishing food, the teachings I received, the beautiful group we formed and the heartfelt exchanges we shared, along with the support of my roommate PAM —all of it touched me deeply.

I returned home profoundly moved by this invaluable experience, with inner peace and a new path to follow. I’m already counting the days until I can embrace another opportunity to return.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the beautiful souls who crossed my path.

Elizabeth — Ayahuasca retreat, October 2025.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” — Anaïs Nin

I have been to many plant medicine retreats over the past 7 years, and this has been the best and most transformative retreat I have ever been to. I wish I had found this place earlier (though they have been operating for just 2 years now).

Their intake process is more extensive than other centres, which ensures the best guest dynamics and that your needs are well attended to. Reunion holds week-long retreats once a month (except for special events a couple of times a year), which provide time and opportunity for guests to properly integrate with the guidance of their therapeutic staff after the retreat.
Their excellent staff-to-guest ratio ensures the guests are comfortable, safe, and have all their needs satisfied.

The location is also so beautiful and private. It is literally steps to the beach, and the lushly landscaped 30+ acre property offers many places to walk, relax, reflect, and process, in the middle of a tropical paradise.

Reunion is a not-for-profit organization, which means a lot to me, as the plant medicine and wellness tourism industry has been flooded by so many retreat centres that do not share the same ethical intentions and instead value profits over human healing. The local staff are all well-treated and respected there, and they were so nice and friendly, which made my stay even more enjoyable.

My experience has been so positive and transformative that I am returning in January to continue my journey. If you are looking for deep soul-searching and healing, I highly recommend Reunion!