Take this short quiz to assess your mental and spiritual readiness for a psychedelic retreat.

10 Best Ayahuasca Retreats in Ecuador (Updated 2024)

Name: Behold Retreats
Brand: Behold Retreats
Rating: 5 (10 reviews)

Begin Your Journey

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For deeper insights into what makes up a safe and quality plant medicine retreat, check out the results from our recent plant medicine retreats survey.
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1. If you’d like a holistic understanding of your opportunities to improve your quality of life, take this self-diagnostic.

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2. If this is your first time with Ayahuasca, this short quiz will help you assess your level of mental, emotional, and spiritual readiness for this powerful and sensitive work.

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3. If you’d like to understand more about the nature of psychedelic healing work, human potential, and who and what you really are, watch the video below.

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Like most things in life, there are a broad variety of Ayahuasca retreat options, and a number of factors that effect the safety, quality, and cost of an ayahuasca retreat:

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Safety First: Unfortunately, many small retreat centers are not in a position to make meaningful investments into screening and safety. Even if you're fine, someone else on retreat might not be, which can affect the overall experience. Our recommendation is to choose a retreat provider that does in-depth conversational, medical, and psychological screening to protect your safety and well-being.
Legality: Experienced practitioners who have dedicated their lives to plant medicine typically live in locations where the work is legal, so they don't have to live in a state of uncertainty about their work Our recommendation is to travel to legal locations where you can benefit from legitimate healers who operate above the radar, so you can truly relax on retreat.
Size of the group: It's common for retreats to have 20, 50, even 100 people in ceremony, which can be chaotic to say the least. In such large groups you are less likely to receive a sufficient level of attention from the facilitators. Our recommendation is to choose a retreat with an intimate group, in the range of 8-15 people.
Length of the retreat: Shorter retreats feel rushed, do not support the cultivation of meaningful relationships, and can limit what can be achieved in time available. We recommend you spend at least a week for an ayahuasca retreat to give your mind, body, heart, and soul the attention it deserves.
‍‍Comfort: We recommend you choose a retreat where you are confident that you will be physically comfortable and have your own private bedroom to decompress and integrate, especially if this is your first time. Go for the full jungle mosquito immersion another time, your future self will thank you later.
Alignment: Select a retreat that feels aligned with your values and allows your own subjective experience to unfold naturally. There are many different worldviews out there and having a different worldview pushed on you through the retreat may not be in your highest healing interests. This is also particularly relevant for first-timers.
Holistic approach: Work with an organization that takes a holistic approach to working with plant medicine, and has options to support and guide your mental and emotional evolution alongside a retreat. If a provider implies that "medicine will solve all your problems", proceed with caution.
‍Service: Select a retreat that you believe can meet your individual needs. Are you being treated as a human, or as participant #22 in their fourth retreat this month? Consider whether or not they've taken the time to get to know you and understand you, or it's more of a take it or leave it retreat center.
Booking process: Take the time to speak with the provider before finalizing your booking. If the provider does not have a screening process in place during the booking process anyone could be sitting next to you in ceremony. Some people are not in the right place to work with this powerful plant medicine, and it is the responsibility of the organizers to ensure that only people who can handle ayahuasca are accepted onto the retreat.
Expertise: Find an organization that emphasizes healing, and you believe has the breadth and depth of expertise to guide your transformation. Look for facilitators and healers who have a lightness of being and a sparkle in their eyes. Healing work is all about the transmutation of energy, so you are looking for people who have the energy you aspire to. If they aren't able to keep their energy right, that tells you quite a bit about either where they are at and their capabilities.
Reputation: At a minimum, Google the provider, you may be surprised by what you find. If there's not much information, that is also information. A reputable retreat center will have a professional online presence with testimonials from previous retreat attendees. This is essential for you to see that they are a legitimate organization who you can trust to contain this powerful experience.
Volunteers: Please support ethical plant medicine work by selecting an organization that pay their team. Unfortunately, it is common practice for retreat centers to cycle through young, eager, and worn out volunteers and/or not pay healers fairly. If the people supporting your retreat aren't living their best lives , they're not going to be able to lead you to yours. Don't be shy to ask this question directly when you speak to prospective centers.

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Looking for a little more guidance for one of the most important decisions of your life? Watch this video.

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Ayahuasca is a plant medicine the indigenous people of Peru and Ecuador have used for centuries in shamanic healing that helps individuals find clarity. It has recently become popular among travellers looking to go on spiritual journeys, reconnect with their inner selves, and naturally solve internal conflicts.

Ayahuasca is a potent psychedelic that shamans and plant healers have been using for hundreds of years. They blend the plants into an intoxicating tea and guide groups on their soulful travels. Ayahuasca retreats enable travellers to experience the nature around them in a way they've never been able to feel without the sacred plant.

Master shamans from the Sacred Valley in Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica and various regions throughout the Amazon basin lead small groups of participants on healing retreats. They guide retreat participants through their ayahuasca experience in safe, comfortable surroundings at ayahuasca retreats around the world.

Typically a retreat center will have a specialized ayahuasca shaman or facilitator with many years of training and experience who leads the ceremony. It is recommended to read many ayahuasca retreat reviews before choosing your destination, and to contact the ayahuasca retreat center for referrals.

Behold Retreats facilitates ayahuasca retreats worldwide, including an Ecuador retreat in the Amazon jungle. These life-changing intensive ayahuasca healing retreats begin by preparing individuals for their extraordinary experience.

The treks to these sacred places in Ecuador are incomparable to other pilgrimages. Travellers can choose group gatherings or seek private ceremonies with friends and family or one-on-one encounters with the spiritual healers.

Each route to enlightenment through the blessed banisteriopsis caapi vine in Ecuador helps participants reach new plains of understanding within themselves. The plant encourages individuals to let go of past troubles and embrace peace through a psychedelic journey inward.

Ayahuasca retreats can resemble the structure of a yoga retreat, with daily classes, meditation, breathwork, sharing circles, vegan food, and lots of time for nature in between your medicine ceremonies,

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For more information on how to chose your ayahuasca retreat check out our COMPLETE GUIDE.

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Often you might see Ayahuasca retreats combined with a san pedro retreat in South America, as the two medicines can be ingested in the same week. San pedro is said to help ground and anchor the insights of mother ayahuasca into a tangible reality.

If you are interested in experiencing san pedro, we suggest that you choose a retreat center that has a specialized san pedro shaman / guide who has trained with Huancheros. For example, Behold Retreats International and Kawsay Ayahuasca retreat in Peru have experienced staff that have beeb trained by Shipibo healers and huancheros so you know that both your ayahuasca and san pedro journey will be facilitated with expertise.

For more information on San Pedro check out our COMPLETE SAN PEDRO GUIDE.

Finally, it is important to find out if a retreat center supports your preparation and integration process and to what extent. It is common for people to attend countless retreats because they do not know how to properly prepare their body, minds, and spirits for their journey, and then fail to integrate the learnings into their daily life.

Below is a list of Ecuador ayahuasca retreats. With travel restrictions still in place in some countries, it's essential to check with the location before making arrangements. We strive to provide the most accurate information available about each shaman-guided excursion. However, circumstances can change. Always contact each site to confirm.

1. Behold Retreats Ayahuasca Retreat Ecuador

Behold Retreats help connect travellers and spiritual leaders for ayahuasca tourism and journeys in Ecuador. We personalize the plant-based retreats to meet participant's needs and assist them in meeting the individual goals of their mind and body healing quest.

Behold Retreats are located throughout the country, including in the Amazon jungle provinces, along the coastal regions west of the Andean Range, in the highlands with excellent views of the snow-capped peaks, and on the famed Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Although ayahuasca retreats are illegal in many countries and U.S. states, Behold groups and private excursions in Ecuador are within the religious laws of the nation in South America. Both ayahuasca and San Pedro are protected.

The country screens shamans for knowledge and proven training. Shamanic organizations with experience and skills that respect the sacred plant and guide participants safely on their spiritual journeys are within their rights to practice healing ceremonies.

Behold ayahuasca retreats include different opportunities, such as guided meditation, yoga, nature hikes, and personal time with the shamans for additional inner reflection. All locations go through thorough reviews to ensure the safety and quality of each individual journey.

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2. Private Ayahuasca Ecuador Retreat

The opportunity to go on a private ayahuasca retreat in Ecuador may sound daunting, but Behold Retreats makes it easy. You can customize your trip by choosing the spiritual guide. They will be with you throughout this life-changing experience and also choose where in the world you want to take part in one of these sacred journeys for personal growth. In addition, the Ecuador retreats are sanctioned by the government and safe.

Are you looking for a spiritual experience that will help you rediscover your true self? Behold Retreats can provide an immersive one-on-one healing journey with master healers. This service includes ayahuasca ceremonies, raṕe rituals, yoga sessions, and more, depending on what is needed. Additionally, you may also schedule other shamanic retreats to explore the use of psychedelic substances like psilocybin mushrooms or San Pedro if desired.

Working with an organization like Behold Retreats ensures you have the best experience. For example, if any details need ironing out before departure day arrives, it's often not a problem. They'll work closely with shamans and local guides so that everyone involved is fully prepared when their special day comes around.

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3. Feather Crown

Located in the province of Pastaza, Ecuador, deep in the Amazonian mountain jungle, the Sacred River Healing Center is a serene and therapeutic space for spiritual cleansing with ayahuasca. Founded in 2008, the center sits on a 23-hectare private nature reserve that borders two other preserves, the state university's biological preserve, and the Llangantes National Park.

Feather Crown offers 5-day, 10-day, and 13-day ayahuasca retreats in Ecuador. The ceremonies take place in the Sacred River healing center. It's a round ceremonial temple with a tiled floor.

The ayahuasca brew is prepared traditionally with two plants, ayahuasca vine and the leaf of Diplopterys Cabrerana vine or Psychotria Viridis. The addition of the leaf takes the experience to a whole new level. Guests that participate in the ceremony report powerful healing and spiritual guidance.

Each stay at the spiritual journey includes accommodations and meals. Comfort is a vital part of each retreat. Feather Crown offers bamboo cabins. Guests can stay in a single cabin or for private events or partners. Additionally, huts with two beds are available. Beds come with orthopedic mattresses and personal mosquito nets.

The facility has all modern plumbing, including hot water showers, electric lights, and sockets. Additionally, the Sacred River healing center offers free Wi-Fi. Feather Crown believes in complete privacy. Upon arrival in the small town of Santa Clara, locals won't know the purpose of your trip.

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4. Ayahuasca in Ecuador

The Mother Aya Retreat center in Ecuador offers spiritual healing in a safe, secure, and sacred space that helps participants expand their consciousness and promotes self-transformation. All ayahuasca experiences are facilitated by shamans, guides, translators, and trained medical professionals. Savio, the shaman, is a traditional Uwishin Ayumpum physician with over 15 years of experience practicing plant medicine in ayahuasca Ecuador retreats.

The ayahuasca retreat center provides private excursions and journeys with small groups. The intimacy improves the value of your psychedelic travels. The Mother Aya Retreat ceremony site runs along the Jurumbaino River and is surrounded by the rainforest. All guests have the option to spend personal time with the master shaman to gain insight into their ayahuasca journey.

Indigenous Shuar shamans perform overnight ceremonies. For longer retreats, guests have off-days to take advantage of their natural surroundings. Visit the sacred Shuar waterfall La Yantsa, the Upano River, and the Tayo Cave. Additionally, visitors can check out the majestic Sangay volcano.

Each session includes the essential comforts of home, such as comfortable accommodations, beautiful surroundings, and freshly prepared vegan or vegetarian meals.

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5. Suchipakari Amazon Lodge & Spa

Suchipakari Amazon Lodge & Spa brings together comfort and healing in a gorgeous location deep in the jungles of Ecuador for their shamanic retreat. The retreat offers ayahuasca sacred ceremonies and energy spiritual cleanings. Each session begins with an orientation about herbal medicine and the various steps involved in the psychedelic retreat.

Every morning following the nightly ayahuasca ceremony, participants take part in integration discussions with the shaman. Groups can participate in complementary activities such as trekking through the maze of trails in the jungle, canoeing down the rivers, and visiting the various indigenous communities along the banks. Additional options include tubing, kayaking, and bird watching.

All retreats come with full accommodations, English translation, and delicious meals. The Suchipakari Amazon Lodge & Spa has a full restaurant that offers freshly brewed teas, exotic juices, and recently harvested fruits and vegetables. All ingredients come from and help support local indigenous communities. The sleeping quarters include standard rooms, suites, and deluxe suites.

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6. Vikara

Vikara plant medicine ayahuasca retreats in Ecuador offer a nine-day transformative retreat. The spiritual ceremonies take place every month. They feature several other activities, including the chance to swim in the cleansing ocean, learning to surf, and horseback riding. In addition, guests work on breathwork and movement to support the sacred plant ceremony.

Each nine-day event includes three ayahuasca ceremonies, one San Pedro ceremony, and a Temazcal or Sweat Lodge ceremony.Complementary exercises involve mindful yoga practices, guided meditation, and personal time with the group's facilitators. In-between ceremonies, shamans and healers open integration and sharing circles to enhance experiences.

All packages come with accommodations and nutritional, high-vibration meals to help replenish the mind, body, and spirit following the psychedelic experience. Sleeping quarters include upscale beachfront cabins with comfortable, king-sized beds and private bathrooms. Optional activities are available to take the spiritual journey to another level for a truly amazing encounter. These include Shamballa energy healing, Thai massage, sound healing therapy, and private yoga sessions.

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7. Alma Healing Center

The Alma Healing Center provides monthly ayahuasca retreats that offer unbelievable spiritual experiences in Ecuador. These psychedelic journeys promote self-exploration through sacred plants. Each excursion is guided by healers and master shamans with years of experience overseeing the healing powers of the ayahuasca tea.

The ayahuasca center sits on 123 acres in the Amazon rainforest near the province of Pastaza in Ecuador. The area consists of nine indigenous Kichwa families. All sacred plant medicine ceremonies are guided by Taita Alejandro Ayuru, the center's certified practitioner of natural healing methods. Members of the local indigenous communities often join the ceremonies for free. The nine families have unlimited access to the property.

The Alma Healing Center offers four-day, three-night retreats that include accommodations and meals. Additionally, the area consists of two rivers, breathtaking waterfalls and provides many trails to explore during the excursion. Guests stay in locally constructed buildings that are basic and include insect netting. All food is vegetarian. Meals include breakfast and lunch. Dinner is not available because of the plant journeys.

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8. Chakapita Sacred Journeys

Chakapita Sacred Journeys offers sacred journeys in the jungles of Ecuador. The center is located in the Andes Mountains and offers amazing views of a few expansive rivers in the area.

The shaman-led adventures are available in 4, 7, 9, and 12-day sessions. The ayahuasca retreats are open on the first and 16th of each month and include all accommodation and food.

Each psychedelic trip includes ayahuasca ceremonies, a San Pedro ceremony, a Wilka ceremony, a tobacco ceremony, and energetic cleansing. Additionally, all guests can experience one-on-one consultations with the shaman to add more clarity to their journey. Individuals preparing for the trip will be asked to follow a strict ayahuasca diet before traveling.

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9. Gaia Sagrada

Gaia Sagrada retreat center is an ayahuasca retreat in Ecuador founded by Christine Breeze, who's also the primary facilitator at the center. It offers monthly spiritual journeys for people from around the world. The Gaia Sagrada ayahuasca retreat center is available in six, seven, and twelve-day sessions. Each trip includes one or two ayahuasca ceremonies, one or two San Pedro ceremonies, and one sweat lodge ceremony. Participants can also purchase additional rituals and extend their stay. Gaia Sagrada offers a rare opportunity to spend several days and weeks at the center and escape the typical case of the modern world.

The ayahuasca retreat has two Ecuadorian shamans and San Pedro Shamans. All sessions include accommodations, meals, and use of hot tubs, saunas, Wi-Fi, and community center use. Sleeping arrangements include private rooms, shared rooms, dormitory-style rooms, and single bedroom apartments.

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10. Casa del Sol

Situated in the heart of Vilcabamba, Ecuador, the ancient sacred plant journey is an unforgettable experience.

Santiago is a world-renowned master shaman that facilitates the ayahuasca healing retreat at Casa del Sol. The spiritual guide has over 17 years of experience helping guests achieve self-growth and reflection through the ayahuasca vine. Santiago has been working with sacred plant medicine since 1993. In addition, he's been planning and guiding groups through the powerful rituals since 2003. He provides a buffer between participants and their journey, protecting and supervising their spiritual journey.

The events are available in 4-day, 8-day, and 12-day adventures. The days are filled with the ayahuasca ceremony, live music with ancient songs, dancing, and traditional rituals. Other activities at the ayahuasca and San Pedro retreats include mountain treks, yoga classes, sweat lodge ceremonies, energetic womb river cleansing, and personal sharing workshops. The ayahuasca center's journeys are limited to 12 participants.

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Still need some help choosing a retreat?

We would be honored to guide you in choosing the best retreat for your needs. Behold Retreats coordinates expertly guided retreats with Ayahuasca, Psilocybin, and 5-MeO-DMT (Bufo Alvarius) with highly experienced facilitators. Reach out to us to set up a complimentary discovery call and we can point you in the right direction.

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