Deciding to embark on a healing journey with ayahuasca is no small endeavor on its own. Amidst the uncertainty that comes with not knowing what to expect and the excitement about what’s to come, there is often a lot of anxiety about choosing the right ayahuasca retreat for one’s healing experience.

With something as sacred and as challenging to go through as ayahuasca, making a decision about which retreat to book is probably the single most important decision one will make on this journey.

A search for ‘ayahuasca retreat’ on Google will result in over half a million results abounding with numerous retreat programs offering ayahuasca ceremonies in different countries and in different styles. Ayahuasca indeed facilitates transformative experiences. Its effects are profound and life-altering. Ayahuasca is traditionally used by native South American tribes and people as a healing medicine. Yet the rapid rise of ayahuasca tourism has led masses of tourists to seek enlightenment, internal cleansing, and answers to life’s burning questions. Unfortunately, this has led some to abuse the medicine, promote its use in dangerous circumstances and take advantage of the sacredness in the name of profit.

It comes as no surprise, then, that choosing the right center becomes hard and confusing, especially in the cases where there is no referral from a close friend or a family member.

 

Here’s a couple of simple steps you can take to choose the right ayahuasca center for you:

1. Ask Around
If you feel comfortable, reach out to your personal and professional network via social media or otherwise. Ask them if they personally (or someone they know) have gone to an ayahuasca retreat that they would recommend. This way you can also obtain information that you often won’t find on retreat centers’ websites (e.g. information about the atmosphere, the profile of volunteers, the energy of shamans).

2. Do Your Own Research
While searching on Google is not the be all and end all when it comes to this type of research, it’s still a good way to look at many different centers and sift through the information displayed on their websites.

Here’s a couple more things you can do in addition to reading the website content:

• Check the photos on the retreat website (and on Google and Tripadvisor if the center has a profile there);
• Check their social media profiles;
• Read reviews online;
• Watch video testimonials on Youtube;
• Message or email the center for more information;
• Read the retreat center’s blog.

3. Get Clear On Your Priorities
While one retreat center might have worked for one person, it does not necessarily mean that it will work for you. This is why it’s very important that you get clear on your priorities for your experience.

 

Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine your priorities:

• Why are you looking to work with ayahuasca? What are you intentions and what would you like to see your life change after working with the Medicine?
• Where are you looking to go regarding a setting and environment-wise (e.g. jungle or the mountains)?
• Are you looking to go to a place that is aligned with a specific Amazonian tradition (e.g. the Shipibo tradition) or would you be okay with going to a place that is a little more “new-age”?
• What group size would you prefer?
• Do you have price or time constraints?
• What level of comfort would you prefer (e.g. very basic, luxurious, or somewhere in the middle)?
• What about the additional activities offered (e.g. yoga or meditation)?
• Can the center cater to your dietary preferences (within the ayahuasca diet)?
• How does the center spend the money? Do they have a non-profit or reciprocity programs in their local area?

Answering these questions will help you narrow down your choices.

 

4. Take Care of The Basics
While there are different approaches to running ayahuasca centers and holding ayahuasca ceremonies and while everyone has different preferences (e.g. in group size), there are some basic elements that you should pay attention to:

 

It is recommended to work with Ayahuasca:

• In a place where it is legal (ex. South America);
• With authentic and properly trained shamans with decades of experience;
• Where someone can understand you (e.g. at least one English speaking staff member or volunteer – or someone speaking your native tongue);
• At a Center that provides a responsible and safe environment and container;
• With facilitators who are not taking ayahuasca during the ceremony that can assist you when you need;
• At a Center that requires a medical background check (physical and mental) to make sure you will be safe taking the Ayahuasca;
• Where the Center provides a pure brew of medicine with no additional plants that could harm a participant (e.g Toé)
• Where Ayahausca Integration Circles are held to help guests process and understand their ayahausca experiences more deeply.

While it’s certainly possible to just turn up to somewhere like Iquitos and drink with various shamans on your own without booking anything in advance and have it ‘cheaper’, this option carries multiple risks (the legitimacy of the shamans, the quality of the brew, safety, and more).

The safest option is to take part in a group retreat where you are taken care of every step of the way. It’s important to take this decision seriously. Take you time with your research as this will be one of the most powerful experiences of your entire life!

 

 

Nimea Kaya is an Aayahuasca Healing Center located near Pucallpa, Peru. We offer 9-day healing and transformative ayahuasca retreats (4 ceremonies included). With over 10 years of experience, we have created a unique program that implements authentic and traditional Shipibo shamanic healing while integrating additional holistic healing modalities for deeper transformation. Find more information here.

At the Nimea Kaya Healing Center, a psychologist shares how her experience with Ayahuasca helped her revolutionize her concept of self and find the self love she was seeking in her life.