Making the decision to experience ayahuasca and all the sacred healing it brings is a big decision for many people. While it will take you on a profound journey of deep personal transformation and spiritual awakening, it can also be pretty scary.
Will you be in a safe place? What do you know about the people leading the ceremonies? Is the location accessible or somewhere very remote. There are a lot of questions people have and they want to make sure that where they go is the right place for them. With its beautiful natural landscape and rich indigenous culture, Colombia is a popular destination.
This post is meant for anyone looking for the best (and most trustworthy) places to experience an ayahuasca retreat in Colombia. We will share some of the top retreat centers we’ve met along with the programs they offer, how long they are, and what you should be budgeting for.
Let’s get started so you can start your journey, unlocking new levels of consciousness, release emotional blockages, and connect with your deeper self.
LaWayra
Welcome to LaWayara, a sanctuary for authentic healing.
LaWayra is dedicated to delivering unparalleled authentic plant medicine experiences, guided by highly skilled Taitas and shamans. They are on a mission to offer exceptional support, care, and accessibility to everyone on their journey of healing and growth.
Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, they understand the challenges people face and the obstacles that can arise on the path to personal and spiritual alignment. That’s why they’ve created a bridge to make your journey as smooth and authentic as possible.
LaWayra offers a range of retreats that focus on health and wellness through plant medicine experiences. They ensure that each participant receives individualized guidance they need from their journey. They pride themselves on cultural authenticity, with Taitas who grow and prepare their own medicine, providing a high-quality healing experience.
Offering intimate group settings that foster a communal atmosphere, their team works hard to ensure safety and security during their ceremonies while providing a natural and peaceful environment that is complemented by their modern amenities. Guests can enjoy visits to traditional markets while accessing ice baths, gyms, and a pool.
LaWara’s retreats can range from anywhere between 4 and days with prices ranging from $500 - $2,000 and are perfect for spiritual seekers, nature lovers, and anyone looking for more comprehensive care.
Ayahuasca Retreat Guacamayo
Introducing Ayahuasca Retreat Guacamayo where you can begin your deep spiritual healing.
Ayahuasca Retreat Guacamayo provides a safe and nurturing environment for participants to have transformative ayahuasca experiences. Located just an hour from Medellin, Colombia, they offer 3-7 day retreats that feature between 2 to 4 ceremonies. Their retreats can help you delve deep into your subconscious, release what no longer serves you, and envision the life you desire.
What sets Ayahuasca Retreat Guacamayo apart is their commitment to intimate group sizes that help foster meaningful connections and conversations. Their groups range from 7 to 15 people to ensure a personalized and supportive atmosphere. Their holistic approach to healing incorporates many different modalities such as holotropic breathwork, ice baths, yoga, and massages.
They primarily offer plant medicine retreats, specifically ayahuasca, but their other services also have their own healing properties. Ice baths help with physical recovery and mental clarity, holotropic breathwork allow participants to enter altered states of consciousness, yoga sessions allow for physical and spiritual growth, and sharing circles that help facilitate emotional bonding and community support.
Ayahuasca Retreat Guacamayo is perfect, whether you're seeking a 1-day or 8-day experience. Their retreat packages can cost up to $1,000 for a life-changing experience in the heart of Colombia.
Ancestral Retreats
Ancestral Retreats is where ancient wisdom meets modern wellness.
At Ancestral Retreats, their mission is to create spaces and events that help people’s souls align with its true purpose through ancient wisdom. They want to raise global consciousness, fostering empathy, compassion, unity, and unconditional love within a supportive community.
They are an international and diverse family that celebrates life and encourages collective growth. Their retreats offer a blend of plant medicine and yoga where participants can immerse themselves in traditional Colombian shamanic ceremonies led by experienced Taitas. Outside of that, participants can engage in daily yoga and meditation sessions while exploring advanced breathwork and manifestation exercises.
Ancestral Retreats provides nutritious plant-based meals made from locally grown, organic ingredients. Located by Lake Chivor, their retreat center offers modern accommodations with stunning views and opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, swimming, and kitesurfing. They collaborate with the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University to help advance research around ayahuasca's effects on mental health.
Ancestral Retreats offers 6 to 7-day retreats that cost between €1,000 - €2,000 to deliver transformative experiences that combine ancient shamanic practices with modern wellness techniques.
Ayahuasca Healing Center Colombia
Welcome to Ayahuasca Healing Center Colombia, your sanctuary to begin deep transformation.
Ayahuasca Healing Center Colombia was founded by Doña Martha and has over 50 years of experience with yage (ayahuasca). They offer retreats a few hours outside of Bogota, where they help bridge the gap between old and new, indigenous and modern, mind and heart.
Their ceremonies resonate deeply with people from Western cultures while connecting them to indigenous roots and the cosmos. Their ayahuasca retreats are held twice a month with each retreat including four Ayahuasca ceremonies. They also offer Kambo ceremonies conducted by certified instructors, personalized tarot readings, and sacred rituals for prosperity and love. Participants will enjoy organic, nutritionally balanced meals, airport transportation, and comprehensive support before, during, and after their retreat.
Ayahuasca Healing Center Colombia offers 7 to 8 day retreats that cost between $2,500 - $5,000, providing a life-changing journey for those ready to cleanse, heal, and transform.
Origen Sagrada
Discover the healing power of Origen Sagrada, a sanctuary for sacred plant medicine.
Origen Sagrada is dedicated to sharing the profound healing and spiritual properties of plant medicine. Founded on the principles of respect, reverence, and reciprocity, Origen Sagrada works closely with indigenous communities to honor their sacred traditions and the wisdom gained from their ancestral practices. They are on a mission to give people transformative experiences that deepen the connection between humans, nature, and the divine.
Origen Sagrada offers a variety of plant medicine ceremonies that includes Ayahuasca (Yagé), Ambil, Mambe, and Rapé. All ceremonies are conducted with utmost integrity and authenticity, and are designed to create a safe and inclusive environment for deep inner work. All of their retreats are led by experienced Taitas and Elders who guide participants through spiritual and healing sessions rooted in their ancestral knowledge.
Through their cultivated experiences, Origen Sagrada emphasizes community-driven healing by fostering a supportive network of participants who journey together towards transformation. They integrate holistic healing practices that help participants reconnect with themselves and nature.
Origen Sagrada's retreats are about 3 days long and can cost anywhere between $500 - $1,000. They are perfect for those in search of holistic healing in a peaceful and natural environment.
We met with Danielle and the great team at Origen Sagrada to learn more about them and their journey. Here is an excerpt from our interview:
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"How did Origen Sagrada get started to become what it is today?" “Origen Sagrada kind of got started as an impromptu gathering when I invited people to a retreat, but then ended up forgetting I'd invited them. Despite the logistical challenges, like needing to arrange a ceremony in Tijuana due to visa issues, the event was a beautiful and transformative experience. “At the time, all of this was still pretty new and people in the US were not talking about plant medicine as much. This presented some challenges in the early stages, but for me, it was always about the sense of community and bringing love to people which is why I’ve never hated or hid what we do. “After our first retreat, I decided to host more. Over the past eight years, we've expanded from California to Colorado, hosting 5 retreats a year there at one point. Our goal has always been to create an inclusive space, welcoming people of all backgrounds to experience the healing power of the medicine. Today, we continue this mission with planned retreats in both the U.S. and Colombia.” "How many retreats a year do you offer in the US and Colombia?" “Right now, we are actually moving in Colombia. We typically have a few retreats there each year because we travel a lot. If we were here all the time, I’d want to have a retreat in Colombia every 6 weeks or so, but typically, we do one every 2-3 months. “In 2024, we planned three trips to the US where we would run a lot of different retreats. These can be a lot of work to arrange since we are a pretty big group of people. There are generally 7 of us, which includes the Taita, all my musicians, and assistants. “During our trip in April, we did 11 ceremonies in 17 days in California followed by 10 days in Colorado where we did 3 retreats. These retreats are always full because we try to help as many people as possible.” "Do you see a certain type of person or people with certain life experiences that get the most out of your retreats?" “These days, I try to make sure we don’t have more than 24 people at a time because it can be a little much and a lot on us personally. Plus, too many people in a group can be a bit of an overload. “We get a pretty good mix of people at our retreats. I’ve had people as old as 84 come to a retreat, as well as lots of families where moms and dads will bring their adult children. We have also had some 18-year olds come as well, but on average I would say a lot of our participants are in their late 20’s or early 30’s. “We do get a lot of people looking to cure different illnesses but mostly, we get the average person who is looking for a new direction in life. I try to make sure people understand that it’s not just an experience for them to come party for a weekend.” "If you were to give one piece of advice to someone who has never done an ayahuasca or plant medicine ceremony, what would it be?" “It’s really all about the preparation. Being mentally prepared, why you want to go there, and why you want to do this. It’s not an easy experience. A lot of people think it’s gonna be fun, and I mean it can be, but it’s not necessarily meant to be a fun experience. We will have people that are really looking for a new direction in life, or fill something that’s been missing in their lives. “To really get what you need out of the medicine, you really need to be mentally prepared for it. Do a little bit of homework to better understand why you’re coming and what you want to achieve. Ask yourself what you’re giving back to this process. You can’t just show up and expect it to be a magical fix. It really comes down to what you put into it and the type of relationship you develop with the medicine before you come. "You talked about the ayahuasca dieta. What does that mean to you and how do you view this?" “When a lot of people think of the ayahuasca diet, they think “oh, it’s all about what I eat”, but it’s more about how you prepare for the ceremony. Are you focused on this? Are you working through your intentions? Do you think about this everyday? What are you putting into your brain? Are you preparing yourself for this experience? “That is why I really love doing our ceremonies here in Columbia because I think people are a little bit more prepared for and committed to the retreats when it’s something they travel for. Something we’ve discussed before is that maybe we are making things too easy for people by having retreats in the US. Yet, at the same time, many people cannot travel due to health, money, or family responsibilities. “This is something I’ve struggled with for a long time because I know we do our highest and best work in Colombia, so why are we still going to the US? It really comes down to us wanting to help as many people as we can, regardless of their circumstances.” "Does Origen Sagrada have a mission or guiding principle for the work you do?" “Everyone has their own reasons for doing things. I try to stay away from this concept of ‘a mission statement’ because I don’t believe anyone can heal us other than ourselves. I have been to many ceremonies where the organizers or leaders think they have the power to heal people and then it becomes all about ego. I try to stay away from that. “I don’t put requirements on how people come and what they need to come for. If they feel the call to the medicine, that’s between them, the medicine, and God. It’s not up to me to decide whether or not you should come. “My work has always been to present the medicine and create the space in the most traditional way we can. I would say that’s as far as our mission statement would go.” |
mediSinem
Introducing mediSinem, a sanctuary for holistic healing and spiritual growth.
At mediSinem, they create a sacred space for people to reconnect with themselves to unlock their full potential while healing from their unconscious personal history. By using ancestral remedies, artistry, and holistic therapies, they are on a mission to help their participants consciously recreate their future, integrating the many parts of the Self that allow you to touch the divine totality of your Being.
Their retreats are designed to promote profound personal and spiritual growth. Many of their participants have found important answers they’ve been searching through mediSinem’s extraordinary wisdom with plant medicine, opening the door to reconciliation, liberation, and love.
They have a dedicated team who is there to support each person’s journey through many different therapeutic methods. This includes integrative coaching, shadow work, hypnosis meditation, art therapy, energy healing, live native music, and sound baths.
They also offer many ayahuasca retreats in Colombia focused around the plant medicine and meditation. These retreats emphasize the importance of integrating silence and sound. Their unique approach includes music therapy that uses crystal bells, flutes, drums, and mantras to enhance a participant’s introspection and meditation. Ancestral remedies and nature immersion also help deepen your connection with the environment and your soul.
MediSinem offers transformational retreats that are approximately 4 days long and cost between €500 - €1,000 to explore deeper levels of spiritual connection and self-realization.
Wanay Retreats
Discover Wanay Retreats where your journey of spiritual awakening and healing awaits.
Wanay Retreats is a sanctuary for those seeking profound spiritual growth and holistic healing through the ancient wisdom of traditional indigenous practices. They were founded with the mission to reconnect individuals with their true selves and the natural world, offering transformative experiences in the heart of the Amazon in Colombia.
Their retreats are primarily focused on plant medicine, ayahuasca in particular, where they provide a broad range of healing spiritual practices. Their traditional ayahuasca ceremonies are led by expert shamans and they also provide other plant medicine ceremonies which includes as Kambo sessions for detoxification, Bufo Alvarius ceremonies, Yopo ceremonies, psilocybin sessions, and therapeutic plant purges and baths for natural detoxification.
Along with all of these powerful ceremonies, Wanay Retreats offers Kundalini Yoga sessions that awaken spiritual energy, massage therapy, and nature excursions to local waterfalls and rivers. Their integration circles provide a supportive space for participants to share and process experiences, ensuring a completely holistic approach to healing.
Cultural integration is a big part of their retreats and participants will engage with the local Inga community through art workshops and traditional rituals that use Rapè, Mambe, and Ambil. All programs are personalized to cater to everyone’s individual needs, guests can enjoy delicious meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients, and all accommodations are built for comfort in a beautiful natural setting.
Wanay Retreats offers retreats up to 15 days that cost up to $1,000. They offer a unique opportunity to undergo a journey of self-discovery, transformation, and deep inner healing in the heart of the Columbian Amazon.
Ayahuasca House
Ayahuasca House is your sanctuary for deep healing and personal transformation.
Ayahuasca House is a retreat center that uses ayahuasca to guide their participants through profound personal and spiritual transformations. Their mission is to create a safe and nurturing environment where participants can explore the depths of their consciousness for long-lasting personal growth.
Their retreats are designed to offer a complete holistic healing experience with each ayahuasca ceremony being carefully guided by experienced facilitators. Their goal is to ensure a deep and meaningful journey into the self, complementing these ceremonies with professional psychotherapy to help guests navigate their mental and emotional landscapes.
The well-being of their guests is prioritized at all times to foster a deeper understanding and integration of their experiences. Healthy and organic meals are prepared to support the healing process and their retreats are enhanced with music therapy sessions to create a very soothing and transformative atmosphere.
To ensure everyone gets the attention they need in an intimate setting, Ayahuasca House limits group sizes to a maximum of 12 participants, allowing for more personalized guidance and a supportive community experience. Their retreats are ideal for people in search of radical personal growth along with those in need of emotional and spiritual healing.
Ayahuasca House offers 4-day retreats that cost between $1,000 - $1,500 to give their guests a very comprehensive and immersive experience, designed to foster deep healing and lasting transformation.
Final Thoughts: Best Places to Experience an Ayahuasca Retreat in Columbia
When it comes to choosing the right ayahuasca retreat in Colombia for you, it’s not just about choosing the location. You want to make sure you find the right retreat center that will allow you to freely embark on a transformative journey that will reshape your life.
Each of the retreat centers we’ve shared are deeply rooted in the ancient wisdom and traditions of indigenous culture to offer truly unique experiences. Whether you are seeking spiritual awakening, emotional healing, or a profound connection with nature, these retreat centers will be a perfect sanctuary for your journey.
Now, as you prepare your mind, body, and soul for this sacred practice with sacred medicine, remember that your openness and readiness for a transformational experience is the most important thing. May your path be illuminated with wisdom, love, and inner peace.
Safe travels on your journey to self-discovery and healing!
