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If you’ve done a bit of digging, you’ve probably noticed that attending an Ayahuasca retreat can get pricey. And let’s be honest, this isn’t something we want to get wrong. You’re potentially traveling halfway across the world to put your life in the hands of strangers while opening yourself up in a deeply vulnerable way… and paying a good chunk of money to do so.
But this isn’t a typical vacation. It’s a powerful, potentially life-changing experience. You’re stepping into sacred territory, to be immersed in ancient traditions and work with medicines that can reveal the deepest, truest levels of your being.
With that said, the cost of attending an Ayahuasca retreat varies wildly. Some centers market themselves as high-end, luxury retreats. At others, you’re in raw nature without running water, amenities. Just the medicine and the jungle. Some retreats offer multiple ceremonies, workshops, additional therapies, and support, while others may be more limited.
In this article, I’ll explain the cost of Ayahuasca retreats, what the price tag covers, and how to choose a retreat that aligns with your budget, needs, and spirit.
Average Ayahuasca Retreat Cost
First, we need to draw some lines so I can give you a rough idea of how much an Ayahuasca retreat may cost. When choosing a retreat, some factors influence the pricing. Here are a few things to consider:
- Location: Ayahuasca retreats in countries like Peru or Colombia are generally cheaper than retreats in the US, Europe, or Australia. The high cost of living can bump up the prices significantly, as well as the legal complications that add extra hoops, and the transportation of the medicine.
- Duration: The duration of a retreat heavily influences the prices. Different retreat centers offer different retreat durations, generally ranging from a 2-day weekend retreat to immersive retreats that last for a couple of weeks. While a short retreat can be impactful, generally it’s best to immerse yourself in a longer retreat (or at least participate in multiple ceremonies) to deepen the journey and immerse yourself in the healing process.
- The number of ceremonies: Retreats usually include multiple ceremonies, typically ranging between 2 – 5. Likewise, many retreats also incorporate other medicines into their retreats, such as San Pedro, Mushrooms, or Kambo. A retreat that includes several Ayahuasca ceremonies and potentially other medicine ceremonies will cost more than one that offers a ceremony or two. Working with various medicines during a single retreat can also enhance the experience and add another dimension to it.
- Tier: You can find rustic ceremonies in Latin America, and you can also find high-end luxury retreats around the world. If you’re looking for a modern, beautiful retreat center that caters to all your needs, you will pay a premium.
- Lodging and food: Ayahuasca retreats often offer a variety of lodging, from private rooms to dormitories. Choosing a private room in a modern center will cost more than a mat or hammock in a 10-person hut. Likewise, some retreats offer buffet-style meals three times a day, while others offer very simple meals following the Ayahuasca diet.
- Extras: Many retreats incorporate extracurricular activities such as workshops, integration circles, yoga classes, group meditation, amenities like hot tubs, pools, and offer other activities which can make it a premium retreat, bumping up the price.
- Expertise: Highly trained or well-known healers can generally charge more for their service. Healers who are part of a medicine ancestral line, such as the Shipibo generally charge more. On the other hand, healers who are relatively new, in-training, or less experiences are likely to charge less for their ceremonies.
- Type of retreat: There are different types of Ayahuasca retreats, too. While the conventional type of retreat is a center that offers various
Ayahuasca Retreat Pricing Table
Ayahuasca retreat centers range from budget-friendly local retreats to luxurious Western-style retreat centers that have all the comforts and amenities from back home.
Generally, if you participate in an Ayahuasca retreat in South America, the prices will be much more affordable than if you do so in a Western country. Not to say that all retreats are cheap, though. Because Ayahuasca tourism has blown up in countries like Peru and Colombia, many Westernized retreats have popped up, often mirroring prices in Western cultures.
With that said, just because a retreat center is Western-styled (and run by Westerners), it doesn’t mean it’s any less authentic. These sorts of centers just cater to foreigners and charge a pretty penny because of that. In my experience, Western-style Ayahuasca retreat centers have been very professional, well-organized, and complete with highly trained shamans and facilitators.
Some of my favorite ceremonies have been at Western-style Ayahuasca retreat centers, but there are cheaper alternatives available, especially if you’re in South America.
You can also do individual ceremonies all over South America, which is what I usually opt for when I’m backpacking in South America. Local ceremonies are generally very affordable, usually at about $50 per head, but there are some challenges to doing it this way.
First off, it’s going to be a rustic experience. You’re not going to have nice beds or hot showers (or showers at all). If you don’t speak Spanish, you might struggle finding these sorts of places as they’re often not commercialized or marketed (besides by word of mouth). They’re more like local community spots. With that said, finding a local shaman often leads to a deeply raw and authentic experience where you don’t need to break the bank.
Single Ceremony (Western)
| One-night group ceremony generally includes lodging, maybe some light food like fruit and tea. | 1 night – $200 – $350 | Local South American cultures such as Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, and Brazil |
Single Ceremony (Local)
| One-night group ceremony generally includes lodging, maybe some light food like fruit and tea. | 1 night – $200 – $350 | Local South American cultures such as Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, and Brazil |
Budget Retreat
| Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Mexico | 3 days on average – $300 – $800 | Rustic setup, 1–2 ceremonies, basic accommodation, some food provided, limited screening and instruction. |
Mid-range retreat
| Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico | 5–10 days – $1,500 – $2,500 | 3 – 5 ceremonies, better accommodation, food included. Instruction and support offered. Often, workshops and extra services are available. |
High-end retreat
| Costa Rica, U.S., Europe | 7–12 days – $3500 – $5000+ | Luxury setting, Western staff, and comforts. In-depth instruction, briefing, and support network. Trauma-informed care, often with a therapist or psychologist onsite, extensive integration work, private rooms, often buffet-style meals, Workshops, and extra offerings available or included |
What to Look Out For
While types of retreats and ceremonies vary wildly, there are some things you want to keep in mind when looking for an Ayahuasca retreat.
First off, warmth is a big one. Considering that Ayahuasca helps us return to purity, if the people or shamans working at the center seem cold, egocentric, or rude, this is a big red flag. The center should have an ambiance of warmth that reflects in everyone there. Don’t underestimate how important it is to be surrounded by genuinely kind and supportive people when working with these sacred medicines.
Some retreats are overhyped and overly commercialized. If this is the case, it can take away from the authenticity and cost a lot more than it should. You don’t need to pay $5000+ for a good Ayahuasca retreat. You can… but you can find amazing retreats that offer all the same things for much less. I’ve seen retreat centers charge as much as $10,000, which is crazy to me. You could participate in 200 local Ayahuasca ceremonies for that price.
You want to make sure you find a good, reputable spot that honors the ancient traditions and has trained healers who are in it for service, not money. I’ve heard plenty of horror stories of people jumping the gun and going to rustic, exorbitant centers for thousands of dollars that should have cost them hundreds.
When it comes to pricing, just because an Ayahuasca retreat is more expensive does not mean it’s better. Some of my most profound Ayahuasca ceremonies cost me $50, with a small group of individuals in the remote wilderness, just me and the healer.
Is an Ayahuasca Retreat Worth It?
It depends. An Ayahuasca retreat can definitely be worth it, but in my opinion, the focus should be on the medicine and facilitators rather than the retreat itself. You don’t need a fancy retreat center to have a life-changing experience with the medicine.
In my experiences participating in dozens of ceremonies, I never regret spending the money on Ayahuasca because I gain so much value out of the ceremonies, and believe that they truly enrich my life. The experience itself, plus healing trauma, gaining clarity, and potentially having some breakthroughs, is a worthwhile return on investment in my eyes.
With that said, not every experience with Ayahuasca will be profound or life-changing. Sometimes, nothing happens at all. It’s not a fault with the medicine or facilitators, but people react differently to the medicine. With that said,
How to Choose the Right Ayahuasca Retreat
If you’re new to the plant medicine world, I suggest paying a bit extra to go to a retreat that’s oriented towards foreigners. The structure, instruction, and support are invaluable assets when you’re starting on this journey, and slowly become less important the more experienced you become with the medicine.
In this case, paying up to $3000 for a 7 – 10 day retreat is a good price mark to aim for. In my opinion, it’s worth traveling to South America to experience it, to feel more connected to the homeland of Ayahuasca, and to be immersed in the culture. In this case, I recommend Gaia Sagrada in Ecuador. I have returned multiple times and spent 5 months volunteering there. This is a fantastic retreat center that ticks all the boxes.
Otherwise, if you have some time constraints and are looking for somewhere in Europe that is close to home, APL Shamanic Journeys is a great choice, considering it’s catered to foreigners, has authentic Shapibo shamans, and hits a good price range for what you get.
Otherwise, if you’re a real adventurous soul, you can probably get away with finding a local ceremony in Latin America without the glamor. Magia Verde in the Ecuadorian Jungle is one of the gems where you can take Ayahuasca for $50 a head. With that said, I only recommend it for people who are experienced with the medicine, considering it’s informal, on-demand, and lacks any sort of support structure, true shaman, or integration.
It’s best not to assess just affordability, but alignment. You want to find a community or center that resonates with you. Working with Ayahuasca is a deeply personal experience, and it’s important to do some research and make sure that you pick a place that you align with.
Yes, participating in an Ayahuasca retreat can be expensive, but it doesn’t need to be. If you’re happy roughing it out in South America, doing a little networking and fumbling through the language barrier, Ayahuasca ceremonies can be inexpensive.
If you want the whole experience and prefer to spend a little more for comfort, good amenities, and a great support structure, then you may pay a bit. But money spent on deep inner work is rarely wasted when done consciously.