Ayahuasca Retreats in Portugal: 10 Best in 2023

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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: Speak with the provider before finalizing your booking. If it’s all online, this may be a strong indicator that the provider is not screening and/or carefully on-boarding their guests. This entire experience should be handled with care from start to finish.
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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Are you ready for a transformation?

Ayahuasca is known to instill life-changing insights and unforgettable trips in those who drink it. And it offers you the chance to catch a glimpse of the truth that lives within you by letting go of old, limiting beliefs.

The potent brew’s revelatory effects have been known and revered by Amazonian tribes for many years. Each year, thousands of people buy a plane ticket to Iquitos to embark on their sacred voyage, and numerous religious organizations, including the Brazilian Santo Daime Church, use the potent brew in their rituals.

As Ayahuasca tourism is booming, these types of Latin American adventurous safaris have become well-documented by now. But in Europe, finding a reputable Ayahuasca retreat is not always as easy. Many countries, unfortunately, still deem the brew to be illegal due to its psychoactive effects. This makes running a retreat centre rather cumbersome and a potential legal hazard. Check out our Complete Ayahuasca Retreat Guide for useful information on how to chose a retreat center and more to fully prepare yourself for this journey.

That said, Europe does have its fair share of options for your spiritual retreat, with Portugal and Spain currently being the best choice due to their favorable legislation. In these two mediterranean countries, consuming Ayahuasca is decriminalized. And the fact that they also boast idyllic weather and gorgeous locations, is a (much-appreciated) little bonus.

For more information about ayahuasca retreats in Europe, check out our GUIDE.

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10 Best Ayahuasaca Retreat in Portugal

Do you want to embark on a transformative Ayahuasca journey in Portugal? This list consists of the 10 best and most respectable Ayahuasca retreats the beautiful country has to offer!

1. Behold Retreats (Ayahuasca Retreat in Portugal)

Behold Retreats offers personalized Ayahuasca retreats for all leaders, executives, and aspirational entrepreneurs who are seeking to elevate their consciousness. And besides hosting retreats in tropical places like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, Portugal is one of their locations.

Over the past decades, Behold’s healers and facilitators have garnered invaluable knowledge and expertise through their visionary healing practices. And if you wish to partake in an Ayahuasca retreat in Portugal, you can rely on Tanya Rozenthal’s guidance and support.

Tanya is an expert body-focused coach, psychotherapist, Kundalini yoga teacher, musician, and healer. As a facilitator, she gently uncovers your hidden obstructive patterns and shines a light on deep-rooted traumas and core wounds. With over 15 years of experience, her well-rounded skills range from holding space and offering guidance to providing a much-needed and stable base for transformation, healing, and integration.

To create a supportive environment in which everyone receives the care and guidance they need, the number of participants is limited to 4 to 6 people. And just as with Behold’s dedicated staff members, each participant is thoroughly screened beforehand to ensure a safe and harmonious space.

The retreat itself takes place in the heart of central Portugal, deep in the Serra de Estrela mountains. As the healing sanctuary is surrounded by majestic forests and natural freshwater pools, it not only offers you breathtaking views but also gives you the chance to connect with nature in ways that you have never done before.

While all of Behold’s retreats are entirely unique, they do have some things in common: they are carefully curated based on your individual needs and they have the potential to elicit long-lasting and transformative changes. All retreats include several additional healing modalities, such as integrative breath-work, energy healing, and acupuncture, as well as daily yoga and guided meditation.

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 dutch country side with Psilocybin in the Netherlands or perhaps a culturally immersive encounter in the golden mountains of Mexico with 5-MeO-DMT (Bufo).

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Are you ready to begin your journey?

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2. Behold Private Retreats (Ayahuasca Retreat in Portugal)

Wanting to experience Ayahuasca’s cathartic effects in a private setting is not uncommon. After all, the healing process puts you in a very vulnerable state and it can potentially bring you face to face with forgotten memories and deep-seated fears.

This is why Tanya also offers private Ayahuasca sessions in addition to the group retreats (see above). As with the group sessions, the exclusive private retreat is also located in the beautiful Serra de Estrela mountains, and each ceremony is specifically tailored to your needs and preferences.

Take a relaxing stroll through the beautiful trails that surround the property, go for a refreshing swim in one of the freshwater pools, or spend the evening star gazing before going to bed in your luxurious suite, all while enjoying delicious locally grown, vegetarian meals for your plant diet requirements, and preparing yourself for the life-changing journey that lies ahead.

Each ceremony and integration session is done privately with Behold’s experienced team of healers and facilitators who are completely dedicated to fully supporting you every step of the way. During and after each ceremony, you are given plenty of time to reflect and journal. And post-retreat integration guidance is, of course, also included.

Apply for a consultation here to embark on your journey of self-discovery!

3. Bufo Alvarius Retreat Portugal

Apart from Tanya’s transformative Ayahuasca retreats in Portugal, Behold Retreats also offers a private Bufo Alvarius retreat.

Bufo Alvarius (or 5-MeO-DMT) is a DMT-containing sacred toad medicine that shares similar properties with Ayahuasca. DMT is also called the God Molecule, and it is known to engender profoundly healing mystical experiences.

In contrast to Ayahuasca, Bufo ceremonies are much shorter; the sacred toad venom’s mind-altering effects are felt within the first half-minute of smoking it, and the peak is usually around 10-20 minutes later. In addition, Bufo is also less physically demanding than Ayahuasca and does not require weeks of plant dieta or hours of purging.

Despite these differences, however, Bufo’s effects tend to be just as powerful. And experiencing an inspirational breakthrough is more the norm than the exception.

Imagine dissolving the deeply-rooted illusion of your ego in just a matter of seconds. Layers of the self are shed and you are melting into the cosmos. There is no notion of time, space, or boundaries. And there are no thoughts, memories, or worries flashing through your mind. While this may sound daunting, you are simply at peace and are left in the awe-inspiring presence of an all-encompassing oneness and awareness.

The Bufo ceremonies are under the guidance of Behold’s experienced intuitive healer, Oz Kar. Oz Kar is a gifted energy healer and bodyworker who began his spiritual journey over two decades ago. He has worked extensively with the sacred Bufo medicine, and he will gently guide you through your journey with his warm and grounding energy.

Are you ready to change your perspective of yourself and the world around you by granting yourself new life-altering insights?

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4. Sinchi Runa Ayahuasca Retreat Portugal

Sinchi Runa is one of Portugal’s most well-known and revered Ayahuasca retreat centers. Nestled in the rolling hills above the Algarve coast, the center aims to create a safe and sacred space in which profound healing and spiritual understanding can take place.

They offer several 8-day spiritual retreats, and for those who want to immerse themselves even further into their Ayahuasca journey, their 23-day retreat may also be an attractive option. Besides the Ayahuasca ceremonies, this week-long retreat also includes several San Pedro sessions and a full Kambo initiation.

By limiting groups to a maximum of 12 participants, they provide visitors with an authentic, intimate experience. And to encourage an introspective stay, the major part of the retreats happens in silence.

Accommodation consists of a private, spacious bell tent. And each retreat includes several integration exercises and therapeutic activities, as well as a transfer to and from the venue, daily homemade organic meals, and an English/Spanish translator.

Good to know! A Kambo ceremony is a medicinal ritual that makes use of the poison of the giant monkey frog. The traditional cleanse aims to purify the body and treat various health conditions.

5. Behold Retreats Ayahuasca Retreat in Costa Rica

This spiritual retreat combines ancestral wisdom from various cultures worldwide with outdoor activities to help you discover a fresh perspective on yourself and your life. It offers opportunities to make new connections, appreciate nature's beauty, and engage in light outdoor activities.

Our experienced retreat facilitators and medicine guides will ensure your well-being on all levels - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Between each ayahuasca ceremony, you'll have ample time to unwind, introspect, write in your journal, and appreciate the breathtaking panoramic views, spacious rooms, and infinity pool available on the property. Additionally, you can participate in yoga classes, practice meditation, and explore your inner world at your own pace.

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6. Lighthouse Retreats Ayahuasca Retreat Portugal

Disclaimer: This place no longer offers Ayahuasca ceremonies.

Lighthouse Retreats is located in the heart of Portugal’s majestic Douro Valley. The sacred valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and as it is located just 50km east of Porto, it is easily reachable by car or train.

The property’s beautiful location makes it a perfect place to relax, recharge, and do some inner reflection. They offer both private and group retreats, and English and Dutch are the main languages.

Due to personal and legal reasons, the center no longer offers Ayahuasca ceremonies, and now solely works with the San Pedro (or Huachuma) medicine. A San Pedro ceremony tends to engender a deep introspective journey, and the consciousness-expanding cactus has a long history of use as a traditional medicine.

The main reason why Lighthouse Retreats chooses to focus on San Pedro is because the visionary plant is gifted in abundance by nature, which in turn means that it can be grown and harvested ethically and globally.

7. Love Heal Forgive Ayahuasca Retreat Portugal

Disclaimer: The website’s ‘upcoming retreats’ section hasn’t been updated in some time, so contact them to see when the next retreat will take place.

Love Heal Forgive offers Ayahuasca and San Pedro ceremonies in a lush valley in the south of Portugal. A short drive from Faro airport, the beautifully secluded retreat center offers an idyllic place to do the medicinal work while connecting with nature.

Besides the Ayahuasca or San Pedro ceremony, retreats also include a variety of yoga, meditation, breathwork, dance, nature walks, arts and crafts, as well as ancestral healing and tarot.

To facilitate the processing of the teachings and insights that have been granted, each ceremony is followed by a group integration in a non-judgemental space. And throughout the entire four-day retreat, guests stay in solar-powered cabins and dine on delicious vegan food.

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8. Om-Mij Ayahuasca Retreat in Portugal

Om-Mij holds group and individual ceremonies in a therapeutic, non-dogmatic setting. Their Ayahuasca retrear in Portugal take place in a peaceful and trust-inspiring environment. And throughout your stay, you are supported by experienced, loving guides who aim to equip you with the necessary tools to find your path to truth, healing, and liberation.

Along with their restorative Ayahuasca ceremonies, the stay also includes other mind-expanding activities, such as creativity workshops, daily meditation, and mindful yoga retreats.

While most of Om-Mij’s Ayahuasca ceremonies are held in the Netherlands and Spain, they also occasionally offer special wellness retreats in Portugal’s beautiful Algarve region. Check out their website to find out more about their upcoming events!

9. Saskia Schreiber’s Sacred Plant Medicine Retreat in Portugal

Disclaimer: The website’s ‘upcoming retreats’ section hasn’t been updated in some time. Contact them to see when the next retreat will take place.

This beautiful ayahuasca retreat in Portugal offers a variety of sacred cleansing rituals to help purify the body and mind.

The sanctuary is located in the midst of the forest, offering you the perfect surroundings to deepen your connection to mother nature and all of her elements.

The sacred plant medicine ceremonies are guided by Brown Koroskenyi and Pamela Lyness -- two masterful and well-respected Shamanic Healers who run their own Peruvian Ayahuasca retreat center.

During your stay, creative Dance Therapist, Saskia Schreiber, will also lead three Movement Sessions with the aim of helping you ground, reconnect, and integrate aspects of yourself.

To facilitate a profound connection, additional cleansing medicines and modalities are offered, such as therapeutic flower baths, integration sharing circles, and one-to-one spiritual counseling sessions.

10. The Medicine Tribe Ayahuasca Retreat in Portugal

The Medicine Tribe facilitates healing retreats at a beautiful location in the North of Portugal. They intend to help you rediscover the love in and for yourself, and their team of experienced and well-trained facilitators and supervisors are dedicated to providing a safe space for each participant.

The Medicine Tribe works with various medicinal plants, including Ayahuasca, San Pedro, and Psilocybin. And to further enhance the effects of these therapeutic plant medicines, they complement them with several additional healing modalities, such as breath- and bodywork, hypnotherapy, sound healing, reiki, and Kambo.

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Still need some help choosing an Ayahuasca 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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Read further...

5-MeO-DMT in Tepoztlan, Mexico

Ayahuasca in Costa Rica

Psilocybin in the Netherlands

5-MeO-DMT in Portugal‍