When you picture your ideal Ayahuasca retreat center — how does it look? How does it feel?
No two retreat centers are alike, and no two people are looking for the same thing. The right place isn’t the “best” one — it’s the one that fits you. These are the considerations that make that difference.
Group size
One of the most common topics people reach out to us about. A small group allows for individual attention — before, during and after ceremony. You are not just a number.
More precisely held…
…than a smaller group with fewer hands.
Rule of thumb One facilitator for every 4–5 participants.
Big groups can overwhelm
Especially in the very sensitive states Ayahuasca opens.
But a group still heals
We learn a lot about ourselves through others — and how we relate to them.
Track record
- 1How long has the retreat center been operating?
- 2How many retreats have they held — how many people have they hosted?
- 3How many reviews — across different platforms like Retreat Guru and Reddit?
- 4Any personal recommendations from family, friends or acquaintances?
A retreat center with a strong reputation has a lot to lose if it makes mistakes. In this space, your reputation is everything.
- ★★★★★Often glowing — sometimes too good to be true
- ★★★★★Nuanced
- ★★★★★Honest about the trade-offs
- ★★★★★Specific about what didn’t work
- ★★★★★Often emotional — read with care
2–4 star reviews usually show the highest accuracy. Be aware of artificially manufactured reviews — written in exchange for a coupon in the shop or a free t-shirt.
Emotional safety & support
“I want to be safe” is one of the most common deciding factors when people choose a retreat.
How is the container being held?The facilitators
What is their background and training?
At your lowest
Ayahuasca confronts you with your unresolved topics. How will you be supported then?
The group
How are challenging group dynamics and personalities handled?
Open or closed?
Is it a closed container — or can people come and go?
Micromanaging people — they also need to find the strength within themselves.
Held — while finding your own strength.
Nobody there when the hard moments come.
Values & vibe
There are dozens of amazing retreat centers in Latin America. Every one has its own unique energy — and different people connect with different vibes.
Do you feel seen?
Is there a personal conversation before the retreat — or are they only checking if you have the time and money?
Do they ever say no?
Are people turned down when values don’t overlap — psychonaut curiosity vs. introspection and healing?
“A past participant asked me for a recommendation for the Amazon. He mentioned a center that, to me, is aspirational for what they have built. To him it felt too polished — too many therapists. He wanted a more raw experience.”
Indigenous lineage
Most Ayahuasca retreat centers follow an indigenous lineage. Which one is it? Harmonica works within the Kamsá Biyá tradition of the Putumayo.
- Brazil
Indigenous lineages alongside churches like Santo Daime.
- Peru
Shipibo and mestizo healing traditions.
- Colombia
Yagé ceremonies led by taitas.
A ceremony in Brazil is very different to one in Peru — and to one in Colombia.
Is there reciprocity?
How does the center give back to the indigenous community it works with?
Is the medicine responsibly sourced?
Where do the vine and leaves come from — and how are they harvested?
Location & accommodation
A hammock in the jungle
Deep in nature, few comforts. Right for some — demanding for most.
Simple, authentic — and comfortable
People value privacy, silence, simplicity, authenticity and nature — and they are also used to the comforts of a regular stay.
- Comfortable beds
- Hot water
- Privacy & silence
- Surrounded by nature
Infinity pool luxury
At higher price points, the difference becomes the accommodation. How important is that to you?
Shared or private?
How is shared accommodation set up — and what private options are there?
How far will you travel?
Deep in the Peruvian Amazon — or a more accessible center that suits you better?
How long — and how many ceremonies?
“You need 3 ceremonies”
- One night1 ceremony
Not ideal for first-timers. Good if you already have experience with Ayahuasca.
- Long weekend2 ceremonies
A great way to get started. We call it Discover & Connect.
Best for first-timers - One week4 ceremonies
(3 in some places.) Go deeper into your personal process and profoundly shift.
Best for going deeper - Extended stay10–30 days
For burnout or very deep-seated issues. For most people not ideal — it’s important to return to your life and start applying the lessons.
Best for specific deep cases
Supporting activities
What kind of supporting activities are offered — which are included, and which are not?
- Cold immersions
- Conscious connected breathwork
- Sharing circles
These enrich the retreat experience and help you land what comes up.
- Sound baths
- Art therapy
- IV therapy
- Massages
- Sauna
Optional extras vary a lot between centers — and so does whether they cost extra.
What is your budget?
An Ayahuasca retreat is probably not the experience where you want to save 100 USD.
Most expensive ≠ best retreat
Look for a place that isAuthentic
Down to earth, true to its tradition.
Strong reputation
Trustworthy team who truly cares and protects your safety.
Fairly priced
Reflecting the work, and the size and qualification of the staff.
Educational material & integration
Preparation material
How good is the preparation material? Does it help you know what to expect — for this tradition, at this place?
Our preparation guide →Integration material
What do you take home to keep working with your insights once the ceremonies are over?
Our integration guide →In conclusion: talk to them, then trust your gut
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Have conversations with various retreat centers.
Ask your questions. Notice how you are answered — and how you feel afterwards. Our safety checklist gives you the questions to ask.
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Trust your gut.
When the facts line up, the right place usually also just feels right.
Why Harmonica might be the Ayahuasca retreat center for you
Held to the same eleven considerations, this is how Harmonica Retreat measures up.
There is no seat number 13
We cap every circle at twelve. It’s one of the things our guests mention most — and love most. (Why it matters: how group size shapes an Ayahuasca retreat.)
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12 people, maximum. Every circle.
Known by name
The team knows your story, your intention and how you’re doing — from the first call to the last circle.
Small shifts get noticed
With fewer people in the maloka, facilitators see when someone needs a hand, a word or simply space.
A circle that bonds
Twelve is enough for a real group to form — and small enough that nobody gets lost in it.
Harmonica has one of the strongest reputations in the industry
Especially for the five years we’ve been operating — and built without inflating a single review.
- No coupons or free gifts in exchange for stars
- Freely written reviews — Google, Reddit, Retreat Guru
- Sceptics welcome — come and see for yourself
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- Y2
- Y3
- Y4
- Y5
Don’t take our word for it
Ten guests, in their own words, on what it felt like to be held at Harmonica.
The whole team was wonderful and I felt very safe, which is so so important especially if you do it for the first time.
I’ve attended ayahuasca retreats before, but this was my favorite one. I felt so secure, seen, and held.
A very safe and open vibe which is absolutely key for experiences like this. You could really feel that all people involved in making this experience really did it out of love.
Most importantly — I felt I was in good hands so I could immerse completely in the experience.
From the first online call with Oliver we felt this was the right place. Safe, reliable, knowledgeable and in the middle of nature.
A great retreat especially for your first time. Very safe & supportive & caring.
Safety measures were meticulously implemented, ensuring the well-being of all participants.
Made us feel safe and comfortable at all times, the girls in the kitchen will make you feel at home.
Oliver, Sergio and the team create a comfortable and safe environment.
Beautiful place, beautiful experience, thanks to the service of all the staff who helped us spend unforgettable days and supported us every second.
Our recipe for the Harmonica vibe
- 3–10years on the medicine pathEvery single person on our team.
- A therapeutic backgroundIntegration support grounded in psychology, with Carolina Forero, PhD.
- A medical doctorIntegral part of the team, not an afterthought: Dr. Kevin Zapata, MD.
Deeply familiar with the indigenous medicine — and with what life in the West looks like, and the challenges that come with it.
Ten generations of taitas
Our ceremonies follow the tradition of the family of Mama Concha — a lineage passed down, taita to taita, for ten generations.
- Colombia
- Alto Putumayo
- Sibundoy Valley
- Kamsá Biyá people
- The family of Mama Concha
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Mama Concha is our teacher and elder. All we do is thanks to her, with her permission. Ceremonies are led by our yagecero Sergio Henao, who has trained within the tradition for more than 16 years.
A location made for Ayahuasca
“I know we’re biased — but I couldn’t think of a better location to drink Ayahuasca.”
Oliver Glozik · Founder
Serene nature
- Bordering a protected natural reserve
- Our own waterfall on the land
- The end of the road — only birdsong after that
Modern amenities
- Beds you’ll actually sleep well in
- Hot showers and wifi when you need it
- A maloka designed and built for ceremony
Accessibility
- An international airport less than 90 minutes away
- Direct flights from the United States
- No jungle boats, no multi-day journeys
Weekend or a full week retreat?
Already experienced? We also hold a one-night ceremony every second month. See upcoming dates →
Retreat activities shouldn’t feel like your work calendar…
We fill the program with purpose — and deliberately leave room for you.
- Practice
- Space for yourself
- Sharing circle
- Rest, nature, journaling
- Ceremony
Illustrative day — the exact program varies by retreat.
Activities that support the medicine
Each one is there to help you open up, process and land.
Group dynamics, held with care
We actively manage how the group moves together.
Tools you take home
Healing practices like breathwork and cold exposure that you can keep using in daily life.
The best value for your dollar
Not the cheapest — but the most of what matters for a powerful and safe experience, per dollar spent.
Comparable retreats are typically 50–100% more expensive. Relative scale, not exact prices.
With global inflation, we will (unfortunately) need to keep raising our prices over time. Yet we work hard to keep Harmonica accessible.
What an Ayahuasca retreat costs, and why →A library you can keep coming back to
Long before you arrive and long after you leave, you’re never left guessing. It’s one of the most extensive educational platforms in the industry — and it’s open to you.
- 80+Blog articles
- 40+YouTube videos
- Preparation course
- Integration course
- Monthly integration calls
A center that invests this much in education is a center that wants you prepared — not just booked.
Is Harmonica a natural fit for you?
There’s only one way to find out. Talk to us — ask the hard questions, notice how it feels, and decide from there. No pressure, ever.
- Max 12 people per circle
- Kamsá Biyá · 10 generations of taitas
- Team on the medicine path 3–10 years
- Medical doctor & therapeutic background
- Nature reserve · waterfall · maloka
- <90 min from an international airport
- Best value for what’s included
Frequently asked questions: choosing an Ayahuasca retreat center
How do I choose the right Ayahuasca retreat center?
Start with what fits you, not what looks best online. Compare group size, track record, emotional safety, values and vibe, lineage, location, length, supporting activities, budget and integration support. Then have conversations with a few centers, notice how you’re answered, and trust your gut. Our safety checklist gives you the questions to ask.
What is a good group size for an Ayahuasca retreat?
The ratio matters more than the number. As a rule of thumb, look for one facilitator for every 4–5 participants. Then ask yourself how many people would be too many for you. Harmonica caps every retreat at 12. Read more on why group size matters.
How do I know if Ayahuasca retreat reviews are genuine?
Read reviews across several platforms, such as Google, Retreat Guru and Reddit. 2–4 star reviews usually show the highest accuracy, because they are specific about the trade-offs. Be wary of reviews written in exchange for a coupon or a free t-shirt. See the criteria we use to compare retreats.
How many Ayahuasca ceremonies do I need?
“You need 3 ceremonies” is a rule that recirculates online and usually applies to Peruvian traditions. A long weekend with 2 ceremonies is a great way to get started, a week with 4 lets you go deeper, and 10–30 days is only for specific deep cases. More in how many ceremonies you need.
How much should I spend on an Ayahuasca retreat?
The most expensive retreat isn’t necessarily the best. Look for a place that is authentic, within your budget and fairly priced for the work and the size and qualification of its staff. Here’s a breakdown of what an Ayahuasca retreat costs.
Which Ayahuasca tradition does Harmonica follow?
The Kamsá Biyá yagé tradition of the Sibundoy Valley in Alto Putumayo, Colombia, through the family of Mama Concha, our teacher and elder. Ceremonies are led by our yagecero Sergio Henao. Learn more about Putumayo, the home of yagé.
Where is Harmonica and how do I get there?
In the mountains of Girardota, Colombia, at the last house on the road, next to a natural reserve. It’s about 1.5 hours from Medellín’s international airport, which has direct flights from the US, and no jungle boats or multi-day journeys. See our location.
Is there medical screening at Harmonica?
Yes, every time. You share your medical history and medications, and our physician, Dr. Kevin Zapata, MD, reviews them. If it isn’t safe for you to drink right now, we tell you and explain why. Read who should not drink Ayahuasca.
Still have a question?
Ask us on a free call →
