10 Best Ayahuasca Retreats Near Me (Updated 2024)

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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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Now before we share some retreats near you, it's worth asking yourself...

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Why do the discerning typically travel abroad to take part in an Ayahuasca Retreat?

There are the 3 main reasons why people travel to Costa Rica, Mexico, and other beautiful locations for spiritual awakening, self-discovery, and healing after deciding they are ready for their Ayahuasca Retreat.

1. Legality - DMT (the psychoactive component in Ayahuasca) is a Schedule 1 drug, and illegal in the USA. That being said, you don't need to travel all the way to Latin America to experience a sacred ceremony with plant medicine. There are a handful of Ayahuasca retreat centers in the USA that operate under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a legal safeguard giving protection to ceremonies performed for religious purposes. Those who serve medicine under the RFRA are required to do so in alignment with the cosmology and belief systems that govern their permission. Over the past years, a number of USA-based ayahuasca medicine providers have tried to adjust their practices to appeal to a more Western audience and retreat style but unfortunately lost their licenses, as they were deemed to no longer meet the strict religious requirements set out under the RFRA. Others who are currently operating in the USA have legal proceedings ongoing. If a USA-based retreat is a must for you, we strongly suggest you do your own research and due diligence.

2. Cultural Context - The indigenous shamans and healers working under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in the USA are doing important work, and the value of supporting and protecting indigenous wisdom carriers is a priority. At the same time, when a Westerner attends a ceremony that by tradition and by law exists to expand specific religious goals, the resulting cultural differences can sometimes stand in the way of receiving the level of attention, service, and focused healing that Westerners are often looking for. It is worth recognizing that many indigenous traditions live by a cosmology entirely different from those of us from the West, and that these differences can be intensely felt and sometimes even overpowering in ceremony, especially for first-timers. There's no right or wrong, but in our experience, people benefit greatly from working with sacred plant medicine in a context that allows the subjectivity of the experience to unfold in a way that is not in contradiction to their own belief set. These energetic differences can deeply influence the safety and quality of the experience (again, especially for first timers).

3. Anchoring the New You - There's something about the process of jumping on a plane that provides a sort of energetic reset, like we've stepped through a portal. Even without Ayahuasca, there's a sense of newness, freedom, adventure, and of possibilities yet to unfold.

What supports your transformation: A week-long, immersive experience with mother ayahuasca in a beautiful, serene setting connecting to the vibrancy of nature, and some time for rest, reflection, and integration before heading back to the real world. You deserve it! You and this work are too important.

Not so good: Driving to a wellness retreat on Friday, back to work on Monday. Straight back into a context that has "old you" expectations of what should be the "new you" when this work is done well (you are prepared, working with expert facilitators, and give yourself the space and time for a retreat and integration).

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When choosing a quality Ayahuasca Retreat + facilitator, remember, you are putting your consciousness in someone else's hands.

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Take a look at this video from our founder on choosing your best retreat option.

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Welcome to the consciousness revolution.

When you google “Ayahuasca USA Retreat” you may find yourself in a labyrinth of websites that may or may not contain any useful information thanks to the steady increase of ayahuasca tourism.

The ayahuasca plant is not illegal in the United States per se, but its active ingredient D.M.T is considered a Schedule I drug and therefore banned, contributing to the difficulty you might be having finding an ayahuasca center near you.

Luckily, there are centers in the USA and Canada where you can attend an Ayahuasca Retreat or ceremony legally. While these might be less immersive healing retreats than let’s say going for a two-week ayahuasca journey with a Peruvian Shipibo shaman in the Sacred Valley, there is still a great opportunity to work with the sacred medicine with experienced guides near you.

We have journeyed through the labyrinth of information for you and selected 10 of the best quality ayahuasca retreat near you, including options in the US, Canada, and nearby countries such as Mexico and Costa Rica.

If you'd like some help choosing a great retreat experience, check out our new Ayahuasca Guide.

We are also finding that many clients are interested in working with 5-MeO-DMT, also known as the God Molecule, find out more about our Tulum Retreat.

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Best Ayahuasca Retreat Near Me - Top 10 for 2024

“Ayahuasca Retreat near me” is becoming an increasingly popular question as people become aware of the healing power of ayahuasca. Ayahuasca is a powerful psychedelic brew made from plants native to the Amazonian rainforest. It has been used for centuries in spiritual ceremonies and has been known to provide physical and mental healing and insights into the inner workings of the mind.

To get the full understanding of the breakdown of the powerful medicine read the in-depth blog here, otherwise read on....

In 2024, there may be many amazing available ayahuasca retreat near you that offer a variety of experiences and healing opportunities. Here is our well vetted suggestions for your “10 best ayahuasca retreat near me in 2024” question to help you find the perfect retreat for your spiritual journey.

‍1. Behold Retreats in Costa Rica & Mexico:

Because of the legal grey areas, Behold Retreats doesn't facilitate an Ayahuasca Retreat in the USA, but we do offer some very close-by options. As we mentioned, there are very few places in the USA serving Ayahuasca legally, so if you're willing to take a short flight, Behold Retreats offers a holistic and modern approach to plant medicine refined over serving 1,500+ clients. Our organization curates and facilitates life-changing plant medicine journeys with an emphasis on client goals, preparation, and integration.

Guests of Behold Retreats can also choose between a variety of other entheogens, locations, and options, for example a small group retreat overlooking the jungle in Costa Rica, on the European country side with Psilocybin in Portugal or perhaps a culturally immersive encounter in the golden mountains of Mexico with 5-MeO-DMT (Bufo).

For those who do choose to attend an ayahuasca retreat in the USA, Behold Retreats offers high quality coaching before and after your wellness retreat, and we can point your in the direction of a trusted retreat within the country. Apply for a free consultation with a plant medicine expert to share your individual needs and preferences, and to understand whether (or not) there is a mutual fit.

Group retreat sizes are smaller than most retreat centers - typically no more than 10-12.

Client safety and confidentiality are given the highest importance, and healers, facilitators, therapists, and coaches have decades of experience under their belt.

Find out more information about all of our retreats, or apply now for a free consultation.

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2. Ayahuasca Retreat California

Origen Sagrada

Origen Sagrada is a group of like-minded people providing health, healing and celebration through the power of sacred plant medicine, as well as the guidance from their indigenous Taitas and Elders.

These spiritual leaders and healers, Abuelo Claudion and Abuelita Bernadita, indigenous people from the Muruy tribe of the Native American Amazonas of Colombia, are highly respected in the tribe and have extensive knowledge on many types of medical plants, rites, ayahuasca rituals, and ceremonies.

Their ayahuasca brew is prepared in the Amazon and is pure, consisting of only the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and Chacruna leaves.

3. Ayahuasca Retreat Colorado

Origen Sagrada

Origen Sagrada’s other location in the USA is also facilitated by their spiritual leaders and healers, Abuelo Claudion and Abuelita Bernadita from the Muruy tribe of the Amazonas of Colombia.

Their retreat is 2 nights and includes 2 ayahuasca ceremonies and is a great way for newbies to get acquainted with the spirit of Mother Aya. The work with the Elders and the plant medicine is intensive and remote, located in a private, tranquil, rustic camp near Castle Rock. Ayahuasca ceremony participants can expect their sessions to be held in a private lodge, with shared accommodation.

The wellness retreat will begin with a herbal plant blessing and practical orientation to answer any questions you might have. In between ceremonies, there will be traditional therapies, personal spiritual cleansing and healing ceremonies, and time for reflection and meditation. They will play beautiful live music during the psychedelic ceremony to help you go deeper on your journey.  

4. Ayahuasca Retreat Texas

NOTE: This retreat center was removed due to client feedback

At (retreat center removed), you can be comfortable knowing that they have cultivated a safe space for spiritual growth and healing to occur during their psychedelic medicine circles.  

Your ceremonies will be facilitated by (retreat removed), who has been practicing with shamans and medicine men and women from different indigenous cultures in the Americas, and also teaches at The School of Shamanic Teachings. To train to become an ayahuasca shaman, he apprenticed alongside an Andean shaman and continued his initiation alongside the Q’eros priests of the High Andes in Peru in South America.

Their healing retreats include 2 ayahuasca ceremonies as well as a cacao, rapé and sananga ceremony, with the opportunity to attend a san pedro ceremony.  During the experience they provide a safe environment in nature, and offer eco-environment accommodation, where you will surely get in touch with Mother Nature.

5. Ayahuasca Retreat Florida

Soul Quest Ayahuasca Church

Soul Quest retreat center (or also known as Soul Quest Ayahuasca Church) was founded by medicine man Chris Young, who left the medical industry after seeing the negative consequences of the pharmaceutical industry, and Verena Young, an integration coach who is finishing her PhD, certified in Spiritual Counseling and Addiction Recovery and Psycho-Spiritual Integration Coaching.

Their team consists of traditional medicine men and woman, integration coaches, and doctors.

Accommodation ranges from sleeping in the ceremonial space or camping if you want to stay connected with Mother Earth, to higher-end options in private cabins or lodges. They even have a family cabin for larger groups.

Church members can enjoy a sacred smoke cleanse ceremony around a fire pit, join group integration circles, and participate in a sound meditation to get more out of their ayahuasca journey.

Soul Quest church also has been a leader in providing preparation and integration coaching for the last 10 years, helping you feel fully prepared for your journey into a deep healing experience with mother ayahuasca. Their approach is holistic and includes ways to prepare your body, mind, and soul for the life changing experience, tools to navigate and ground yourself during the journey, and methods to overcome challenges.

After the journey, you can feel supported by their coaches who will help make sense of your insights and lessons, and help you integrate this experience and spiritual awakening into your life in a lasting way.

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So many options!

Don't feel like spending your time learning about what a Shipibo shaman, Santo Daime, or master plant dieta is?  Don't want to put weeks of research effort to find the right ayahuasca center, whether the practitioners are trustworthy, and whether or not they provide yoga?

There is a better way.

If you're looking for an expertly guided ayahuasca retreat with a small group, share a few details, come have a chat with us and decide whether (or not) we're a good fit to facilitate your transformation. Retreats are facilitated in Costa Rica, Mexico, Portugal, and the Netherlands.

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6. Ayahuasca Retreat Washington

Sacred Therapy

Sacred Therapy retreats host their ceremonies in a modern way, rather than recreating South American or Native American style ceremonies. To join their ceremonies you must be a member of Cosmic Valley Native Americas church, which you can apply to join on their website.

Their North American medicine people are trained with US ayahuasca churches and offer a holistic and yogic approach to their ayahuasca ceremonies. They provide full integration before and after your ceremony and care deeply about each retreat participant’s experience and growth.

Retreats are two nights, hosted in Washington and California,  and they provide accommodation with comfortable bedding and vegan meals. The founder has been leading ceremonies for 5 years and has trained with multiple shamans and yogic teachers in the USA, Mexico, Thailand, and Lebanon, as well as two years learning from the Lakota Tradition.

7. Ayahuasca Retreat New York

The Sanctuary - Shamanic Healing Center

The Sanctuary is a shamanic healing center and branch of Oklevueha Native American Church, an ayahuasca church, located on the land of the Sacred White Dee, a Bee Sanctuary and certified wildlife habitat and holistic sanctuary with 6 acres of wild forest containing over 100+ fruit trees, edible bushes, and medicinal plants such as the coca leaf. You really will get a chance to connect with Mother Earth here.

Come here for a fully immersive shamanic experience, with shamanic healing practices, shamanic breathwork, and even a shamanic school with facilitator programs. They have a variety of retreats at their healing center as well as in Peru near Cusco.

If you’re looking for intensive ayahuasca healing retreats to dive deeper into medicinal plants, healing modalities, and shamanic wisdom this is the place for you. In addition to ayahuasca, they offer a week long tobacco and master plant diet retreat, a shamanic camp, vision quests, shamanic wisdom circles, rebirthing breathwork ceremonies, and more!

To help you integrate your experiences, they also host a regular community connection and healer / integration calls for ayahuasca users to share from the heart and continue to learn and grow together.

8. Ayahuasca Retreat Kentucky

Aya Quest

Aya Quest, also commonly spoken about as Kentucky Ayahuasca, approaches their ceremonies with a holistic attitude, and does not recreate Native American traditional ceremonies or maintain any dogmatic style. They are modern shamans and medicine people who are well trained.

Their founder Steve Hupp, has worked with ayahuasca for 15 years, and trained by a shaman from South America, leading over 1000 healing ceremonies.

Aya Quest offers small group, private and at home ayahuasca ceremony, as well as the option to join their membership club. Their ayahuasca brew is made from scratch and the ingredients, such as the ayahuasca vine, are all individually ordered so you can be assured of what exactly is in the tea, and they are confident that their brew is safe and effective.

9. Ayahuasca Retreat New Mexico

The União do Vegetal (UDV)

This ayahuasca retreat center is under The União do Vegetal (UDV) is a Christian Spiritist religion that originated in Brazil and is recognized for their community and environmental service, and have hosted countless ayahuasca religious ceremonies. União do Vegetal literally means “the union of the plants,” and their followers drink Hoasca, which is the sacred sacrament of plants indigenous to the Brazilian Amazon.

Also considered an ayahuasca church, you can join their spiritual fellowship legally in the USA.

Like Ayahuasca tea, Hoasca contains the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the Chacruna plant leaves (psychotria viridis), which is their sacrament and sacred practice serving to heighten spiritual understanding and perceptions.

The spiritual ceremony emphasizes mental concentration and solemn reflections of their guide Mestre Gabriel and Jesus. They last around four hours and include periods of silent contemplation, rituals, hymns, and religious teachings.

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Good to know! An Ayahuasca church, the Santo Daime Church, founded by Raimundo Irineu Serrawhich, involves ayahuasca consumption (Daime tea) as part of their religious rituals. Sometimes difficult to find, you can try to find locations around the country by searching for Santo Daime USA.

Another Ayahuasca church known as the Peaceful Mountain Way is a Native American Church that specializes in an ayahuasca ritual as a spiritual sacrament.

Why choose these 10 best ayahuasca retreat near me?

If you’re wondering why you should choose from these “10 best ayahuasca retreat near me” options, they have been carefully selected based on their reputation, safety, and the qualifications of the facilitators. 

These retreats provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore the healing potential of ayahuasca under the guidance of experienced professionals. Whether you are looking to overcome personal challenges, deepen your spiritual practice, or simply have a transformative experience, these plant medicine retreats are an excellent choice for anyone seeking the benefits of ayahuasca.

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 plant medicine 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 Portugal

5-MeO-DMT in Portugal

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