5 Best Ayahuasca Retreats In Switzerland (Updated 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: 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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Ayahuasca, also known as yagé, is a psychoactive brew made from the stem of the Ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and the leaves of the Chacruna plant (Psychotria viridis). This traditional Amazonian medicine has been used for centuries by indigenous tribes in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil for healing, divination and spiritual exploration.

In recent years, ayahuasca has become increasingly popular among Westerners seeking alternative therapies for mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and trauma. Ayahuasca retreats have popped up in various countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.

Switzerland is one of the latest countries to offer ayahuasca retreats. While the use of ayahuasca is not currently legal in Switzerland, there are a number of underground retreats offering the experience. These retreats are often located in remote areas, typically involve several days of ceremonies led by experienced ayahuasca shamans. These retreats are not legal. For this reason, we will not be discussing these retreats here.

Ayahuasca can be a powerful experience, so it's important to be prepared mentally and emotionally before undertaking a retreat. If you have any underlying mental health conditions, be sure to speak with your doctor before making the decision to participate in an ayahuasca ceremony.

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1. Behold Retreats. Costa Rica, Mexico, Portugal‍

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Behold ayahuasca retreats are the best ayahuasca retreat that cater to small groups with an individual touch. With decades of experience, their shaman team focuses on helping participants to get in touch with Mother Earth. It's an ideal blend of luxury and traditional. The ayahuasca ceremony aims for that powerful spritual awakening and healing experience. Nestled in nature, their Costa Rica ayahuasca retreat is idyllic. Participants won't want to leave this healing and spiritual retreat.

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2. APL Journeys. Mexico and Spain.

APL Journeys ayahuasca retreats are the best ayahuasca retreat for participants new to the ayahuasca ceremony. Red Cross certified and made famous by Netflix documentary 'The Last Shaman', this is one of everyone's favorite ayahuasca retreats. Their expert Ecuadorian shaman is the gatekeeper of this sacred plant medicine. The 3 day ayahuasca ceremony makes participants immersed. APL Journeys ayahuasca retreats have life coaches and psychotherapists. The integration of traditional and western puts participants in safe hands. Its a powerful healing experience at this spiritual retreat.

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3. Sinchi Runa. Portugal.

Sinchi Runa ayahuasca retreats are the best ayahuasca retreat for those looking for a longer healing experience. This ayahuasca retreat does have both long and short term stay options. Participants delve deep into the spiritual experience during an extended stay here and truly get in touch with this healing plant. With 25 years of experience, their shaman team knows all the ins and outs of the ayahuasca ceremony. A broad mix of spiritual practices is also on offer here, including Ayurvedic and yoga classes. There is something for everyone. It's a customized approach at this ayahuasca retreat with options for looking at trauma healing.

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4. Soltara Healing Center. Costa Rica and Peru.

Solar Healing Center ayahuasca retreats is the best ayahuasca retreat center for those looking for a community vibe. This ayahuasca retreat center has options for both private and shared accommodation. Participants feel part of the community here, embarking on an ayahuasca journey together, conducting the ayahuasca ceremony in groups. Located next to the renowned Gulf of Nicoya, the healing energy here is spectacular. Next to the Amazon rainforest this ayahuasca retreat center offers many healing modalities including getting in touch with nature. The blend of native Shipibo healers and western staff give participants confidence and authenticity in this truly spiritual retreat.

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5. Gaia Sagrada. Ecuador.

Gaia Sagrada ayahuasca retreats have the best ayahuasca retreat center for participants wanting to become immersed in the healing power of nature. Gaia Sagrada means Mother Earth and harmony with nature is available here. This ayahuasca retreat center truly reveres the ayahuasca plant and sacred plant medicine. It's a spritual retreat for a spiritual experience. The 3 day ayahuasca ceremony immerses participants in the healing power of the spiritual realm. The glorious mountain regions, the fantastic power of the pristine forest, the warm and welcoming community. This retreat takes guests back to their roots. Mother Earth truly welcomes participants to connect at this spiritually connected retreat.