10 Best Ayahuasca Retreats In Peru 2023 (Updated)

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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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1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. ‍‍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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. ‍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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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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Psychedelics & Ayahuasca

The world is changing.  Are you?

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After nearly 6 decades of prohibition, psychedelics are coming back in a big way, with institutions such as the Imperial College in London, Johns Hopkins University, and Harvard studying, the antidepressant effects of psychedelics such as psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and the trauma healing power of Ayahuasca. These studies have shown the potential of psychedelics to help with a variety of mental health concerns such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, addiction, depression, and recurrent negative behaviors.

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What is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a South American ancestral medicine from the Amazon, revered as one of the most precious gifts from Mother Earth. The healing that can be found during a plant medicine ceremony on one of the many Peru ayahuasca retreats available can be positively life-changing, and as the psychedelic movement grows in popularity, the range of options available when it comes to choosing a retreat can make the process a bit overwhelming. This abundance of options can lead to "analysis paralysis", causing us to either give up, or choose a retreat impulsively. Choosing a place to have your experience may be one the most important decisions you'll ever make, and it's important to choose your retreat with diligence and care.  

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Thinking of choosing one of these Peru ayahuasca retreats?

Before committing to a retreat, we highly recommend you do your research and come well prepared.

Ayahuasca is not a party drug. It is an incredibly strong psychedelic substance with hallucinogenic properties that will send you on an all-night journey into the depths of your consciousness.

Disclaimer! It is important that those on prescription medications are monitored by doctors or similar professionals before any ayahuasca ingestion, for safety purposes. There are many drugs and medications that are contraindicated with ayahuasca and can be very dangerous. Always seek medical advice before undertaking any healing modality.

Ayahuasca, which contains the powerful psychedelic DMT the “spirit molecule”s),was first formulated by Iindigenous South Americans of the Amazon basin, and is now used in many parts of the world along with other psychedelics such as San Pedro and Peyote. This psychedelic brew is made by brewing leaves from the Chacruna plant (psychotria viridis) and banisteriopsis caapi vine, and is used in Indigenous communities for ceremonies led by a shamanic guide. 

Ayahuasca is legally used in Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Brazil, where ayahuasca shamanism finds its roots.

In the USA, and most of the world, ayahuasca is not legal, although there have been religious exceptions to use ayahuasca as a sacred sacrament in Brazilian ayahuasca churches such as Santo Daime.

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Peru Ayahuasca Retreats

Andean shamans typically guide the ayahuasca sessions in spiritual retreats in sacred places in Peru.

Cusco (Cuzco) is a town in the Sacred Valley of the Andes Mountains, South America, and is a popular destination for ayahuasca tourists seeking a more spiritual travel experience in Peru, well known for ayahuasca ceremonies and retreats.

But buyer beware! 

As ayahuasca has gained much popularity in the West, ayahuasca tourism is booming and there are many people taking advantage of this business opportunity without your safety and well-being in mind, claiming to be an 'ayahuasca shaman' with no proper experience.

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If you're ready for a big shift in your life, want to be guided by experts, you're coachable, and you're committed to doing the necessary mental and emotional work, apply for a free consultation here.

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COVID-19 Update: As Peru has been heavily impacted by COVID-19, many are travelling instead to Costa Rica and Mexico.

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Top 10 Ayahuasca Peru Retreats in or near Peru:

1. Behold Retreats Ayahuasca Retreat Costa Rica

While not in Peru itself, Behold Retreats hosts world-class ayahuasca retreats in nearby Costa Rica. Behold Retreats will facilitate a bespoke healing ayahuasca journey for you, tailoring to your personal needs and preferences.

Behold also works with 5-Meo-DMT (Bufo) in Mexico and Portugal, and Psilocybin (magic mushrooms) in the Netherlands.

Their expert staff will help you determine if you would like to have traditional ayahuasca ceremonies led by an indigenous shaman or Shipibo maestro, or if you would rather experience a modern,  Western approach. Additionally, you will be able to request various healing modalities, such as yoga, breathwork, meditation, energy work, a flower bath and body work, as well as a special plant diet based on your needs. 

With a core group of high-quality healers and facilitators, all of whom have been leading ayahuasca ceremonies for decades, and world-class medical protocols and screening processes adopted from expert advisors and research institutions, you are sure to be in the best hands possible.

What makes Behold Retreats stand out further is their one-of-a-kind, 7-week Ayahuasca retreat program designed to elevate your consciousness. The program entails 3 weeks of remote coaching before your ceremony and 3 weeks post-retreat for integration, and will help you to release lower-level emotions and energy blockages, free yourself from limiting beliefs, enhance your meta-cognition and mindfulness, and embody your future self. Apply for a consultation here.

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2.  Private Ayahuasca Retreat Costa Rica

If you’re looking to have the ultimate spiritual healing journey, you might want to consider attending a private ayahuasca retreat. The deepest and most profound healing can be achieved working one on one with a healer. 

You can find an ayahuasca shaman or facilitators who are experts in not only ayahuasca medicine, but also the master plant dieta to enrich your experience further, or even combine it with a yoga retreat. 

We recommend enlisting guidance from a company such as Behold Retreats for your ayahuasca session, who curates private retreats with top-quality facilitators, healers, coaches and therapists to assist you in elevating your consciousness.

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3. Gaia Tree Center Ayahuasca Retreat Peru

Gaia Tree Center is a trusted Ayahuasca center located near the city of Iquitos in Peru, offering traditional shamanic healing with plant medicine during immersive retreats with native shaman. At the same time they are supported by Western therapeutics and Eastern psycho-spiritual modalities with a focus on integration.  

Their retreats include either a 7 or 10 day journey with special meditations, an optional Kambo ceremony, and guided jungle excursions. For your benefits, they keep their ceremonies with ayahuasca limited to a maximum of 12 people.  Their healing retreats are led by several indigenous Shipibo healer, with a reputation as masters of Ayahuasca. Enjoy the beautiful ritual of Icaro (medicine song) and dive deep into your journey.

If you’re up for an adventure, they have a 3-week journey that will take you deep into the jungle and to the heights of the Andes mountains in Peru. Get ready for a spiritual awakening and deep healing with this sacred plant medicine, as this ayahuasca retreat program will help you experience a deeper connection with the native land and shamanic traditions of Peru. 

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4.  Kawsay Ayahuasca Retreat Peru  

This spiritual healing retreat works with both Ayahuasca and San Pedro, guided by authentic shamans with over 100 years of extensive shamanic healing knowledge. You will receive personal shamanic treatments during  your ayahuasca ceremony as well as two healing plant baths to remove heavy energies and a Pulsario treatment. 

Their ayahuasca brew is unique as they include the heart-opening medical plant Bobinsana. Their program is a 15 day journey, one you only find at intensive ayahuasca healing retreats, and is designed for you to go into deep healing. 

Your room will overlook the jungle, and you will have the opportunity to visit the Belen Market, Monkey Island, the village of the Yagua Indians, the Lupuna tree, take a boat trip to the Amazon river, and visit local Peruvian jungle villages. 

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So many options!

If you're looking for a holistic, modern approach to plant medicine with world-class guidance and facilitation, and you're ready to do the mental and emotional work required to get the benefits, apply for a free consultation here.

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5. Pachamama Temple Ayahuasca Retreat Peru

At this Traditional Ayahuasca Healing Center, located in Pucallpa, Peru,  you will be lead by an experienced team who work with the traditional plants of the Amazon Rainforest to bring healing and happiness, on either a 7 or 12 day ayahuasca retreat. 

In the Pachamama Temple, they run their ayahuasca ceremonies in a slightly unconventional way, as the maestros have the freedom to conduct the ceremonies and adjust their Icaros according to the needs of the group or individual. In addition to the Shaman, there are facilitators trained in psychotherapy to help guide you during your healing ceremony and during integration circles. 

Their ayahuasca brew is made the traditional way, from only the Ayahuasca vine and the Chacruna plant. While the attraction of the deep jungle nature is not fully present at this retreat center, you will have the opportunity to explore Pucallpa and surrounding villages and to learn about the Shipibo culture through classes on arts, crafts, language, and history. 

6. Flower of Life Ayahuasca Retreat Peru

Located in the Amazon Rainforest, in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, you will find this ayahuasca retreat center right on the river. Their ceremonies are led by Shipibo Maestros with over 30 years of experience, and include a San Pedro ceremony.  They also work with a Kokáma curandero (native healer) and tabaquero who will provide plant remedies as needed and do work helping clear people with the Master plant Tobacco. 

You will spend 8 days in their Ecolodge in either a cottage with a private bathroom or shared dormitory style accommodation. Your retreat will include 4 ayahuasca ceremonies, daily floral baths, 1 steam bath with medicinal plants, and boat ride and swim with pink dolphins. 

They are also very focused on dietary health, with green juices and superfoods provided, catering to vegan and vegetarian diets. A portion of their earnings help support native communities of Peru, including the Shipibo and Kokama communities, and projects in the Amazon Jungle. 

7. Nimea Kaya Ayahuasca Retreat Peru 

This retreat center is located on 25 acres of land in the lowland jungles of the Amazon, about an hour flight away from the city of Lima, Peru, offering 8-9 day ayahuasca retreats guided by Shipibo Healers, known as Curanderos. 

Their ayahuasca tea is made on-site with no admixtures, just the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and chacruna leaves, and guests even have the opportunity to to assist in the brewing process, and to drink the medicine they helped to brew.

Their ceremony space is situated in the midst of beautiful native plants and trees to help you connect with Mother Earth, with maximum of 16 retreat participants. With your safety in mind, they always have a minimum of five staff members in addition to the Shipibo healers during ceremonies. 

After every ceremony you will have a chance to share your experience with other guests during their integration circles as well as one on one support from staff members. Accommodations range from shared tambos, to private suites with balconies or patio decks for those looking for more intimate spaces. 

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8. Ayahuasca Foundation Ayahuasca Retreat Peru 

 If you’re looking for a more luxury ayahuasca retreat experience, this place is for you. Located in the heart of 120,000 acres of pristine rainforest in the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve, on the bank of the Nanay river, you will find this ayahuasca retreat center and research center.  Accommodations include comfortable private rooms with full electricity and ensuite bathrooms, personal fans, river-view balcony and hammock deck, as well as a massage room, yoga studio, and activity rooms. 

Programs are either 8 days, 2, 3, or 4 weeks long, and are facilitated by bi-lingual apprentices who can offer complimentary treatments such as yoga, mediation, breathwork, massage, and counseling. The ceremonies are intimate, with a maximum of 12 participants, and lead by Shipibo Curanderos who are also experts in master plant dietas. 

Additional healing treatments include plant baths, vapor baths, smoke baths, inhalants, purgatives, the plant dieta, and internal or topical medicinal plant treatments with sacred medicine such as the coca leaf . There are also many recreational options for explorers, such as hiking, swimming, fishing, and ethno-botanical walks. 

9. Caya Shobo Ayahuasca Retreat Peru

Caya Shoco offers intensive ayahuasca healing retreats in accordance with the traditional Shipibo healing method at their beautiful Amazon rainforest sanctuary near Iquitos, Peru. 

This special ayahuasca diet retreat is hosted by the founders Miguel and Becky, and attended by Shipibo maestros as well as other experienced facilitators from the Caya Shobo community. In addition to the 8 ayahuasca ceremonies you will attend on this retreat, you will also have a personally prescribed plant dieta treatment. 

The Shipibo Tribal Council has officially endorsed this retreat center for the authenticity and expertise of their master Onayna healers (maestra Onanya, maestro Onanya) and for the quality of their in-house ayahuasca brew. You can rest assured that you will be in good hands, not only with the maestros but with their team of western facilitators who carry extensive knowledge of Amazonian shamanic plant medicine.

Retreats are limited to a maximum of 20 participants and accommodation consists of personal tamobos or shared double rooms. Integration support is available during the retreat, as well as after, to help you harness the continuous healing benefits of the sacred plants. 

Unique to this retreat center, they offer a sacred plant medicine for women healing retreat, guided by Shipibo Maestras and female facilitators, creating a space for powerful transformation through women supporting women. 

10. Blue Morpho Ayahuasca Retreat Peru

The Blue Morpho Jungle Lodge is located near the Itaya River in the Peruvian Amazon, surrounded by lush, vibrant rainforest on 180 acres of private reserve. Their staff have been guiding plant medicine and healing ceremonies for over 45 years with Mother ayahuasca.. 

This private and personalized experience is guided by one of the most powerful healers in the Ucayali River region. As a Master shaman, Alberto has led over 5000 scared plant ceremonies, and specialise in ayahuasca, sanango, and amazonian trees. 

The modern lodge has a massive network of hiking trails, isolated meditation bungalows, beautiful gardens, a large deck and swimming pool, private lake and lake house, ceremonial house, library, private guest bungalows and villas. 

Common areas with wifi give space for recreation, discussions, art, yoga, and relaxation, and you will be treated to meals prepared by specially trained chefs. You will also have the chance to experience san pedro, sanango, and the ayahuasca plant dieta. 

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Want to know the right questions to ask to help you select a great retreat? Check out our free guide here.

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Machu Picchu Ayahuasca

If you are looking to combine ayahuasca ceremony with a tour of Machu Pichu, there are some retreat centers who might offer a guided tour or trek through part of the Inca trail such as Arkana Spiritual Center.

Immerse yourself in a mystical tour through sacred sites of the Inca, including the mountain Huayna Picchu and explore the towns of Ollantaytambo, Aguas Caliente, Pisac, Iquitos, Urubamba, and Puerto Maldonado. Get to know the indigenous people and culture of the region while you're on this incredible pilgrimage.

Good to know! Many people experience altitude sickness while climbing the Inca Trail or visiting Machu Picchu because of the high altitude. You may even feel the effects when arriving at Cusco. It is recommended to spend a few days resting in Cusco to get acclimatized before trekking or going on an intensive ayahuasca retreat. Coca leaves are also known to help with relieving symptoms of altitude sickness.

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Ayahuasca Lima

You can also find Ayahuasca retreats in the country's capital,Lima. Although we don't recommend combining an evening out in the Barranco district enjoying spicy food and a pisco sour with ayahuasca consumption - in fact that would be possibly quite dangerous.

If you are hoping to stay near Lima, or a commercial city, you may be able to find indigenous groups in the nearby jungle city Tarapoto for your ayahuasca ceremony. The cloud forest provides a bit more space for quiet contemplation and meditation outside the big city.

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Still need some help choosing a retreat?

We would be honored to guide you in choosing the best ayahuasca retreat for your needs. Whether you decide to undergo your shamanic retreat with us, or with another leading retreat center such as soltara healing center or gaia sagrada, we are here for a consultation to help you on your way. 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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5-MeO-DMT in Tepoztlan, Mexico

Ayahuasca in Costa Rica

Psilocybin in the Netherlands

5-MeO-DMT in Portugal‍