Embarking on your first ayahuasca journey requires careful consideration. With hundreds of retreat centers worldwide offering vastly different approaches—from traditional jungle malocas to luxury medical facilities—finding the right match for your needs can feel overwhelming. This comprehensive guide compares seven leading retreat centers, helping first-time participants make an informed decision for their transformative experience in 2025.
Before diving into specific retreats, consider these key factors that differentiate ayahuasca centers:
Locations: Sacred Valley & Amazon (Peru), plus Mexico
Price Range: $2,520–$4,500 for 7 days
Group Size: 18–25 guests maximum
Ceremonies: 4 ayahuasca + optional Bufo/San Pedro
Arkana International stands out as the premier choice for first-time participants, masterfully balancing authentic Shipibo tradition with modern safety standards. Operating for nearly a decade with over 1,000 five-star reviews, they've refined their approach to support newcomers through profound transformation.
Two distinct Peru locations offer different energies: the Amazon center accommodates up to 25 guests in jungle luxury complete with pools and yoga shalas, while the intimate Sacred Valley location near Machu Picchu hosts maximum 18 guests with mountain ceremony spaces and cultural excursions.
Both locations feature Maestra Justina, carrying 45+ years of experience from the highest-ranking Meraya Shipibo lineage. Her presence, alongside a team of indigenous healers, ensures authentic traditional healing while Western-trained facilitators provide integration support.
What distinguishes Arkana is their 8P Integration Method—a lifetime support framework including WhatsApp communities, weekly check-ins, and ongoing facilitator access. This proves invaluable for first-timers processing intense experiences long after returning home.
Medical screening involves phone consultations and mandatory 3-week preparation diets. High facilitator-to-guest ratios ensure individual attention, with personalized healing songs (arkanas) recorded for each participant to continue their healing journey.
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: First-timers seeking authentic tradition with modern safety, comprehensive support, and choice of jungle or mountain settings.
Location: Limongema village, Pucallpa (Peru)
Price: $1,500 per week
Group Size: Maximum 8 guests
Ceremonies: 4 ayahuasca ceremonies weekly
This family-owned Shipibo center offers the most authentic cultural immersion at an accessible price point. Led by Maestro Wiler Noriega Rodriguez with 22 years of experience and 50+ plant dietas, guests become part of his extended family rather than tourists passing through.
Located in a traditional Shipibo village requiring a 2-hour boat journey from Pucallpa, the center removes you completely from tourist infrastructure. Fresh ayahuasca is brewed on-site (unlike many operations using pre-made brews), with ceremonies following strict traditional protocols.
Instead of Western yoga or breathwork, participants engage with authentic Shipibo life—learning about plant teachers, participating in village activities, and receiving individual consultations with Wiler throughout their stay.
Starting at just $1,500 weekly for four ceremonies, this represents exceptional value for genuine traditional healing. Accommodations are basic but clean—think mosquito nets and cold showers—emphasizing authentic experience over luxury amenities.
Safety protocols include 24/7 security, CPR-trained staff, and hospital access within 60 minutes. Their 40+ year collective experience shows in consistently positive reviews praising life-changing experiences despite rustic conditions.
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: Budget-conscious seekers prioritizing authenticity over comfort, wanting deep cultural immersion.
Location: Andalusia, Spain (also Peru/Ecuador)
Price: €1,700–€2,200 for 6-7 days
Group Size: 12–20 guests
Ceremonies: 3 ayahuasca ceremonies
APL Journeys brilliantly bridges authentic Peruvian shamanism with European accessibility. After 5+ years facilitating over 1,000 ceremonies for 2,000+ participants, they've created a model serving those unable or unwilling to travel to South America.
Their experienced shamans include Maestro Pepe (featured in Netflix's "The Last Shaman") and other Shipibo/Mestizo curanderos with decades of jungle training. Ceremonies maintain strict traditional protocols while accommodations offer European luxury—historic mansions with pools, saunas, and ocean views nearby.
Operating in Spain's legal gray area where personal use is decriminalized, they emphasize safety with comprehensive 120-question medical screening and Red Cross-certified facilitators. Hospitals are just 20 minutes away—a comfort for nervous first-timers.
Their integration program particularly excels: pre-retreat online courses prepare participants mentally and spiritually, trauma-informed Western facilitators support during ceremonies, and the Nectara platform provides ongoing community connection. With 235 reviews averaging 5.0 stars, they've mastered making Westerners comfortable while maintaining ceremonial authenticity.
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: Europeans or those preferring Western comfort with authentic ceremonies, avoiding long-haul travel to South America.
Locations: Costa Rica, Portugal, Mexico
Price: $3,000–$8,400 for 7 days
Group Size: 7–11 guests maximum
Ceremonies: 3-4 ceremonies depending on program
Named "Best Transformational Retreat" by Condé Nast Traveller, Behold Retreats targets affluent professionals seeking maximum support through their journey. Their unique rental model partners with premium retreat centers, ensuring consistently high standards across locations.
Groups limited to 7-11 participants receive extraordinary attention. Their 7-week program includes three weeks of preparation with professional coaches, the retreat week itself, and three weeks of integration support. Medical doctors and licensed psychotherapists oversee the industry's most comprehensive screening process.
Accommodations feature private en-suite rooms at venues like Costa Rica's "Resonance," complete with saltwater pools, farm-to-table dining, and spa treatments. Beyond ceremonies, comprehensive wellness programs include daily yoga, meditation, and therapeutic bodywork.
The $3,000-$8,400 pricing reflects unmatched support levels. Behold specifically designs for nervous first-timers, with most guests being ayahuasca beginners. The combination of tiny groups, medical oversight, luxury comfort, and lifetime community access provides maximum support for transformative experiences.
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: Those prioritizing maximum comfort, safety, and support over cost, especially nervous first-timers with means.
Location: 90 minutes from Iquitos, Peru
Price: $1,500–$3,800 (7-28 days)
Group Size: Up to 25 guests
Ceremonies: 4 weekly
This 100% Shipibo-owned center represents authentic indigenous healing at its finest. Led by Maestro Ricardo Amaringo with 44+ years of experience (trained under legendary Guillermo Arevalo), Nihue Rao maintains pure traditional practices while thoughtfully accommodating Western guests.
Located along the Nanay River, the center features 25 private rooms with modern bathrooms plus 11 isolation tambos for serious practitioners undertaking master plant dietas. This balance allows comfort-seekers and hardcore practitioners to coexist harmoniously.
Multiple family shamans work each ceremony, providing personalized icaros and individual attention despite larger group sizes. The center emphasizes master plant dietas for stays over 11 days, creating deeper healing relationships with plant teachers beyond ayahuasca alone.
International facilitators provide 24/7 translation in English, Spanish, and French, bridging cultural gaps while maintaining authentic practice. Recent reviews consistently highlight excellent safety protocols balanced with genuine tradition, though one review raised concerns about crisis management.
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: Those seeking authentic indigenous healing with basic modern comforts at reasonable prices.
Location: Near Pucallpa, Peru
Price: $950 for 7 days
Group Size: 15–20 guests
Ceremonies: 3-4 weekly
Built around beloved matriarch "Mama Rosa," this Shipibo family center offers intimate healing where multiple generations of shamans work from their homeland rather than tourist areas. The genuine family dynamic creates a uniquely warm, supportive environment.
Beyond standard ceremonies, Pachamama emphasizes cultural education. Programs include Shipibo language lessons, traditional embroidery workshops, art classes, and participation in medicine preparation. Guests aren't just receiving healing—they're learning about and contributing to Shipibo culture preservation.
At just $950 weekly, this represents extraordinary value. The newly opened jungle location offers even deeper immersion with special 2024-2025 pricing. Accommodations are basic but comfortable, with an authentic "staying with family" feeling that many find deeply healing.
Strong safety protocols include nurse-supervised screening and 24/7 support. Consistent 4.96-star ratings praise the loving environment, though one concerning review mentioned facilitator training issues. The combination of low prices, cultural richness, and family atmosphere makes it ideal for budget-conscious seekers wanting authentic connection.
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: Budget travelers seeking authentic cultural immersion and family-style healing environment.
Location: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Price: $4,900–$8,400 for 7 days
Group Size: 50–100 guests
Ceremonies: 4 ceremonies with varying medicines
Rythmia represents the opposite end of the spectrum: a medically-licensed luxury resort processing 50-100 guests weekly through their "miracle-making" program. With 24/7 doctors, nurses, and helicopter evacuation capability, it offers unprecedented medical safety for plant medicine work.
Their signature 7-day program features four ceremonies using different preparations nightly, including Colombian Yagé for an intense Thursday journey. Beyond ceremonies, the all-inclusive experience encompasses celebrity-led classes, farm-to-table dining, spa treatments, and their proprietary "Answer Is You" transformation curriculum.
Board members include Jack Canfield and Michael Beckwith, lending mainstream credibility. The medical licensing allows acceptance of guests with conditions other centers reject, making plant medicine accessible to those with complex health needs.
However, ceremony sizes of 60-100 people fundamentally change the experience. Critics describe a "healing factory" atmosphere where traditional icaros are replaced by Spotify playlists and individual attention becomes impossible. Despite 2,500+ positive reviews, concerns about authenticity and commercialization persist.
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: Those requiring maximum medical oversight and luxury amenities, willing to sacrifice intimacy and tradition for safety and comfort.
Arkana International offers the ideal balance—authentic tradition with modern safety, comprehensive support, and choice of settings. Their lifetime integration support and proven track record with beginners make them the standout choice.
Ayahuasca Spirit Centre ($1,500) or Pachamama Temple ($950) provide authentic experiences at accessible prices. Choose based on preference for intimate family settings versus cultural immersion programs.
APL Journeys eliminates transcontinental travel while maintaining authentic practice. Their Spain location and excellent integration support justify the premium pricing for European residents.
Behold Retreats provides unmatched luxury and professional support. Their tiny groups and 7-week program suit those needing maximum hand-holding through the process.
Nihue Rao offers 100% indigenous ownership with modern touches. Their master plant dieta programs provide deep traditional healing for serious practitioners.
Rythmia remains the only option for complex medical conditions requiring constant monitoring. Their scale and commercialization are trade-offs for unprecedented medical safety.
Your first ayahuasca experience will be profound regardless of setting, but choosing the right container significantly impacts your journey. Consider your priorities carefully:
Remember that preparation, realistic expectations, and commitment to integration work determine success more than the center itself. The medicine will meet you wherever you are—these centers simply provide different vessels for that sacred encounter.
Choose based on what will make you feel safest and most supported. Trust your intuition, do your research, and prepare thoroughly. Your transformation awaits in whichever setting resonates most deeply with your heart.
Our retreats introduce you to various ancestral healing modalities, each offering a unique pathway to self-exploration that addresses emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. When used in ceremonial settings, these powerful medicines create a safe, transformative experience that is both profound and deeply personal.
Peru
1–3 Week Programs • Year-Round
Peru
1–3 Week Programs • Year-Round
