Last Updated: December 2025
⚡ KEY TAKEAWAYS
If you're searching for ayahuasca retreats in the US, understand that federal illegality, unregulated operators, and lack of authentic Shipibo lineage create significant risks. Peru remains the safest, legal, and most authentic option for this sacred medicine.
The desire for transformation is beautiful. The courage to seek healing is admirable. But before you book a ceremony in Florida, Kentucky, or Arizona, we invite you to understand what we've witnessed over 10+ years guiding thousands through sacred plant medicine journeys.
As stewards of traditional Shipibo healing at Arkana, we share this guide not to frighten you—but to empower you with information that could save your life.
No. Ayahuasca is federally illegal in the United States.
DMT, the active compound, is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance—the same category as heroin. Penalties include:
Colorado decriminalized ayahuasca in November 2022. Several cities (Oakland, Santa Cruz, San Francisco) have local measures. However, federal law supersedes state law.
This means any ayahuasca retreat in the USA operates in legal grey territory—and participants face potential federal prosecution.
Some US operators claim protection under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), citing the 2006 Supreme Court ruling for União do Vegetal.
Reality check: These exemptions are extraordinarily narrow—applying only to established churches with documented historical practice. The DEA hasn't approved a new religious exemption in over a decade.
The bottom line: When operators must hide from authorities, they also hide from accountability. No regulatory oversight means no safety guarantees.
In 2024, a Florida jury ordered Soul Quest Ayahuasca Church to pay $15 million in a wrongful death lawsuit.
What happened: Brandon Begley died in 2018 during a weekend retreat after consuming ayahuasca and kambo (frog secretion). The cause was hyponatremia—a dangerous sodium drop that proper medical screening would have flagged.
This case reveals systemic problems with US-based plant medicine operations:
Soul Quest is not isolated. Reports from various US retreat centers document allegations of sexual misconduct, cult-like atmospheres, and minimally-trained facilitators placed in authority over vulnerable participants.
Data from the Global Ayahuasca Survey (10,800+ participants) and US poison control centers reveals:
Critical risk: MAO inhibitors in ayahuasca interact dangerously with SSRIs, blood pressure medications, and tyramine-rich foods—potentially causing fatal serotonin syndrome. Many US operators lack medical training to screen for these risks.
Traditional Shipibo healers spend 10-20 years mastering the art of ayahuasca:
Learn more about what an authentic ayahuasca journey entails.
The US problem: Many domestic operators create personal recipes with 5+ non-traditional ingredients, import brews of unknown origin, or learn from weekend workshops rather than decades of apprenticeship.
This isn't just about "authenticity"—it's about safety. Variable brew strength and unknown additives directly contribute to adverse outcomes. See what guests say about working with authentic Shipibo maestros.
At Arkana, we offer authentic ayahuasca experiences at two sacred locations in Peru. Each carries its own medicine, its own teachings, its own perfect timing for different souls.
Peru
1–3 Week Programs • Year-Round
Peru
1–3 Week Programs • Year-Round
Peru provides what no ayahuasca retreat near you in America can legally or authentically offer:
Understand ceremony etiquette and proper preparation before your journey.
Review transparent retreat pricing to understand what quality costs.
Avoid any ayahuasca operation that:
Is ayahuasca legal anywhere in the US?
Ayahuasca remains federally illegal as DMT is Schedule I. Colorado decriminalized it in 2022, but federal law supersedes state law. Some churches claim RFRA religious exemptions, but these are narrow and rarely approved by the DEA.
How much do ayahuasca retreats cost in the US?
US retreats typically charge $650-$1,000 for weekend ceremonies, $1,200-$2,500 for week-long programs. However, lower prices often indicate safety shortcuts. Quality Peruvian retreats range from $2,500-$10,700 with comprehensive support.
What happened at Soul Quest Florida?
In 2024, Soul Quest Ayahuasca Church was ordered to pay $15 million after Brandon Begley died during a 2018 retreat. He developed hyponatremia (dangerous sodium drop) after taking ayahuasca and kambo—a condition proper medical screening would have flagged.
Why is Peru considered safer for ayahuasca?
Peru offers full legal protection (ayahuasca recognized as cultural heritage since 2008), authentic Shipibo lineage with centuries of practice, properly prepared medicine, and transparent safety infrastructure including medical screening and emergency protocols.
What medications are dangerous with ayahuasca?
SSRIs, MAOIs, blood pressure medications, and certain other drugs can cause fatal serotonin syndrome when combined with ayahuasca. Any legitimate retreat requires detailed medication disclosure and may require you to taper off certain drugs weeks before ceremony.
We understand the longing that leads to searching for ayahuasca retreats in the US. Your desire for transformation is beautiful—and it deserves a setting that truly honors both the sacred nature of this medicine and your safety.
For over a decade, Arkana has guided thousands through ceremonies in Peru's Amazon rainforest and Sacred Valley with Master Shipibo shamans carrying authentic lineage. We've built this on centuries of traditional practice—not weekend workshops.
Ready to explore whether this path is right for you? Reach out to our team for honest guidance—not a sales pitch.
Your healing matters. Where you seek it matters equally.
