Frequently Asked Questions
-
1. People with prior experience who wish to go deeper
Our work is particularly suited for those who already have experience with Ayahuasca or other altered states of consciousness and feel that the next step is not more intensity, but depth, integration, and understanding.
Many participants come to us because they sense that lasting change does not come from repeated breakthroughs, but from time, context, and careful integration.
2. People without prior experience who value safety and personal guidance
Our retreats can also be suitable for people with no prior experience with Ayahuasca, provided they approach the work with care and respect.
This is especially the case for those who place a high value on safety, small group settings, clear structures, and personal guidance, rather than on intensity or spectacle.
-
1. People seeking intensity, quick fixes, or external solutions
Our work is not designed for people who are primarily looking for psychedelic peak experiences, extreme intensity, or boundary-pushing states.
It is also not suited for those seeking quick fixes, shortcuts, or healing promises from the outside, or for those who are unwilling to take responsibility for their own inner process.
We work with Ayahuasca as a tool for insight, responsibility, and integration — not as entertainment, spectacle, or a substitute for personal work.
2. People with medical or psychological conditions incompatible with Ayahuasca
Our retreats are not suitable for people with certain medical or psychological conditions, or for those taking medications that are not compatible with Ayahuasca.
For this reason, all participants are required to carefully review and follow our Preparation and Safety Guidelines, which outline relevant contraindications and necessary precautions in detail.
If there is uncertainty about suitability, we encourage prospective participants to reach out before applying.
-
You are very welcome to come alone — most guests do, and it can make it easier to focus fully on your own process.
If you come with a partner or friend, just know that it can sometimes be a distraction, as you may find yourself caring for each other instead of going deep into your own work.
Regarding relationships: Ayahuasca can bring people closer — or show what no longer fits. Either way, we are here to hold space for what wants to unfold.
-
The process starts as soon as you send us your application form — or let us know in any other way that you’d like to join.
If we haven’t met yet, we will start with a screening call. This gives us a chance to get to know each other a little and see whether working with us is a good match for you.
If so, you’ll receive the payment information. Once your downpayment is made, your retreat spot is secured.
If you’ve sat with us before, we usually send you the details and payment instructions right away.
-
Yes.
Preparation and integration are an essential part of our work and not an add-on.
Before the retreat, all participants go through a preparation process that helps clarify intentions, address practical questions, and ensure safety and readiness.
Integration continues during the retreat itself through personal guidance and shared reflection, and it does not end when the ceremonies are over. We see integration as an ongoing process that unfolds over time, supporting the translation of insights into everyday life.
-
A ceremony night is followed by a yoga class, a late brunch, and an integration circle. The rest of the day is yours with plenty of time to rest, walk, swim, or receive a massage. The deliberate absence of activities is part of the healing work.
-
After the retreat, participants are encouraged to take time for rest, reflection, and integration.
The experiences made during the retreat often continue to unfold in the weeks and months that follow. We therefore place emphasis on integration support and clear guidance on how to stay grounded and oriented once participants return to their daily lives.
Our aim is not to create dependence on the retreat setting, but to support sustainable integration beyond it.
-
Our retreats are held in English. If you need translation support we can arrange translation. We don’t always recommend it though — it can change the depth and flow of the process.
-
Nosara, Costa Rica: 5-8 participants
Sayulita, Mexico: 8-12 participants
Private retreat Uvita: 1-4 participants
Private group retreat: 5-12 participants -
In a group retreat, you share the experience with a small circle of people. The synergy that arises can bring unexpected layers — you don’t just learn from your own journey, but also from the reflections and breakthroughs of others. This creates more space for insights and surprising developments that might not come up alone.
At the same time, being part of a group can sometimes feel safer, because you can hold back a little and stay in the background when you need to.
A private retreat, by contrast, is time-flexible and deeply intimate by nature. It’s shaped entirely around your personal needs, with all of our attention focused on you (or your tiny group). This allows more room for individual guidance, privacy, and honest reflection — and often a brighter light on what truly wants to be seen and healed.
-
Your retreat price includes everything you need to feel cared for: round-trip transportation from and to the airport, comfortable accommodation, light, nourishing offerings from the organic farm-to-table gourmet kitchen, all ceremonies and plant medicine treatments, integration sessions, daily yoga classes, a personal preparation session before you arrive, and a group integration session afterwards — so you feel fully supported from beginning to end.
-
If you feel deeply that joining a retreat now is what you want, but your current cash flow doesn’t allow it, we’re always open to finding a sustainable solution. Find more information here.
About The Retreats:
-
Ayahuasca is not officially regulated under Costa Rican law — there is no specific law that bans its use, nor is there an official system to license or approve it. In recent years, local health authorities have issued occasional warnings and reminders to practice responsibly.
We take this seriously. We work within this legal grey area with great care and awareness. Every guest goes through a thorough screening process, and we ask you to follow our clear guidelines — for your safety and peace of mind.
-
Ayahuasca has to be used with care and respect — and it’s not suitable for everyone. Certain mental health conditions (like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder), specific medications (such as antidepressants or MAO inhibitors), and some physical conditions (like serious heart, liver, and kidney problems) can make drinking Ayahuasca unsafe.
This is why every guest goes through a screening process with us.
Please read our Preparation & Safety Guidelines to understand what you need to know in advance — and reach out if you have any questions.
For a deeper perspective on how safety also depends on integration, personal context, and aftercare, see our article: Why Psychedelics Are Not Dangerous – Until They Are.
-
Typically it needs 30 to 60 minutes to fully take effect. The active ingredients in Ayahuasca are usually processed and cleared from your body within about 24 hours. The effects, however, continue to unfold on an emotional and energetic level for months, sometimes years as you continue to integrate and grow.
-
No. DMT is naturally present in the human body in small amounts and is not part of standard drug tests for work, sports, or legal purposes. It is highly unlikely that Ayahuasca use would show up in any routine screening.
-
No — quite the opposite. Ayahuasca is not addictive. Its effects often help reveal the roots of our addictive patterns and heal the underlying conflicts. In that sense, it works in an anti-addictive way.
One sign of this is the way dosage works: Substances that create dependency usually require you to increase the dose over time to feel the same effect. With Ayahuasca, it’s often the other way around — the deeper you go, the less you may need to reach the same depth.
-
There is no strict limit — you can drink Ayahuasca as often as you feel called. Unlike many other substances, it does not create dependency or harmful side effects in that sense.
Sometimes, though, it makes sense to pause for a while and let what you’ve learned settle into your daily life. The real value of these journeys is not in collecting more experiences but in embodying the insights — so they can truly unfold beyond the ceremony.
-
No — menstruation is not an obstacle for working with Ayahuasca. Many women find that their cycle can actually deepen their process, as the body’s natural cleansing aligns with the medicine’s purifying qualities.
The first day of your cycle may make you feel more sensitive than usual. We usually recommend no Kambo on that day and keeping your Ayahuasca dose moderate and gentle. Above all, please listen to your body’s needs and rest as much as you can. If you have any questions, we are here to support you in feeling safe and comfortable.
About Ayahuasca:
About us:
-
All ceremonies are personally led by us.
We do not outsource ceremonial leadership, and we do not work with external facilitators or rotating teams.
The ceremonial space, the preparation, and the integration are held by the same two people throughout the retreat.
This continuity is an essential part of how we work.
-
Our work is grounded in a long period of personal training, lived experience, and direct apprenticeship — shaped by sustained commitment, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility toward the work itself.
For a broader context of our path and background, please refer to our About Us page.
-
No, we are not a couple. We are very close friends and long-time partners in this work. Our deep attunement allows us to hold space together as if we were one — while each of us stays fully present as ourselves.
Still looking for an answer?
Feel free to send us a quick message on WhatsApp — we’re (almost) always happy to help.
About Trust & Responsability:
-
There is no universal checklist for choosing the right guide, shaman, or facilitator.
This decision is deeply personal and cannot be made based on titles, certifications, or appearances alone.
Beyond external factors such as training or tradition, what matters most is trust.
A sense of safety, personal resonance, and inner alignment with the person holding the space are essential. Ayahuasca work touches vulnerable and unprotected layers, and the relationship to the person guiding the process plays a central role.
Rather than asking whether someone is “qualified enough,” it can be more helpful to notice whether your system feels supported in their presence — whether you trust their steadiness, maturity, and capacity to remain present without needing to control or impress.
Ultimately, this is a decision that needs to be supported from within.
If there is no clear inner yes, it is worth taking more time.