Retreat Center vs Local Ceremony - How to Choose Your Path

The Choice Most People Face

You’ve decided you’re ready for ayahuasca ceremony. Now you’re faced with a bewildering array of options:

• Retreat centers in Peru (or Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica…)
• Local ceremonies in your city or region
• Underground urban ceremony (friend-of-a-friend, warehouse, private home)
• Religious organizations (Santo Daime, UDV churches)
• Solo work with a private facilitator

There’s no universally “best” option. Each has significant tradeoffs.

This guide will help you make an informed choice based on your specific needs, resources, and risk tolerance.

Retreat Centers: The Full Immersion

What They Are

Dedicated facilities in countries where ayahuasca is legal, offering multi-day programs:

• Usually 7-14 days minimum
• Multiple ceremonies (typically 3-4)
• Accommodation and meals included
• Set in nature (jungle, mountains, coast)
• Structured integration programming
• Professional staff and facilitators

Common locations: Peru (Iquitos, Pucallpa, Sacred Valley), Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Brazil

Pros: Why People Choose Retreats

1. Legal and above-ground

• Ayahuasca is legal in Peru, Ecuador, and certain other countries
• No legal risk to participants
• Facilitators can work openly
• Facilities can invest in infrastructure

2. Full immersion environment

• No responsibilities or distractions
• Complete removal from your normal life
• Nature setting supports the work
• Dedicated integration time between ceremonies
• Can fully surrender to the process

3. Infrastructure and safety

• Medical staff on-site (at good centers)
• Proper screening and intake processes
• Purpose-built ceremonial space
• Comfortable accommodations
• Emergency protocols

4. Multiple ceremonies

• Deeper work over multiple sessions
• First ceremony opens, subsequent ones deepen
• Time to integrate between

5. Community and integration support

• Share experience with others on the same journey
• Integration circles and processing time
• Post-retreat integration resources
• Built-in community

6. Traditional context (in some cases)

• Working with indigenous or mestizo curanderos
• Learning in cultural context
• Traditional icaros and ceremony structure
• Authentic lineage (when done right)

Cons: Significant Tradeoffs

1. Cost

• $1,500 - $5,000+ for week-long retreat
• Plus flights (often $500-1,500)
• Plus time off work
• Not accessible to many people

2. Time commitment

• 7-14 days minimum
• Plus travel time
• Many people can’t take this much time off
• Challenging for parents, caregivers, hourly workers

3. Travel and logistics

• International travel requirements
• Physical toll of long flights
• Altitude adjustment (Sacred Valley)
• Potential travel complications
• Being far from home if problems arise

4. Variable quality and safety

• Industry is largely unregulated
• Many “retreat centers” are actually just houses
• Some are tourist traps run by gringos with minimal training
• Sexual abuse, coercion, and exploitation have occurred
• Hard to verify credentials from abroad

5. Cultural tourism concerns

• Some centers are extractive/appropriative
• Can perpetuate colonialist dynamics
• “Spiritual tourism” can harm local communities
• Not all “traditional” centers are actually traditional

6. Intensity

• Multiple ceremonies in short time is A LOT
• May be too much for first-timers
• Limited escape if you want to leave
• Can be destabilizing

7. Food and comfort

• Jungle conditions (heat, insects, basic facilities)
• Restricted diet throughout stay
• Shared accommodations (sometimes)
• Physical discomfort can compound emotional difficulty

Cost Breakdown: What You’re Actually Paying For

$2,000 average retreat:

• Accommodation (7-10 nights): $400-600
• 3-4 ceremonies with facilitator: $600-900
• All meals (dieta-compliant): $200-300
• Integration programming: $200-400
• Transportation, logistics, overhead: $200-300

More expensive retreats ($3,500-5,000):

• Better facilities (private rooms, modern amenities)
• More experienced facilitators
• Medical staff on-site
• Smaller group size (better attention)
• Longer program (more integration time)

Budget retreats ($1,000-1,500):

• Basic accommodation
• Larger groups
• Less integration support
• May cut corners on safety
• Not always bad, but requires more vetting

When Retreats Make Sense

Consider a retreat if:

• You can afford it without financial stress
• You have the time to commit fully
• You want complete immersion
• You’re ready for multiple ceremonies
• You want professional infrastructure
• Legal status is important to you
• You have no local options you trust
• You’re drawn to working in traditional context

First-timer consideration: Retreats can be great for first-timers IF you choose carefully and are prepared for intensity.

Local Ceremonies: In Your Community

What They Are

Ceremonies held in your city or region:

• Usually single evening ceremonies
• Held in homes, rented spaces, or private land
• Facilitators from various backgrounds
• May be semi-underground depending on local laws
• Usually smaller groups (5-20 people)

Pros: Why People Choose Local

1. Cost

• $75-300 per ceremony typically
• No travel or accommodation costs
• Pay per ceremony (not full retreat)
• More accessible financially

2. Flexibility

• Attend when you’re ready
• No extended time commitment
• Can return home to familiar environment
• Can space ceremonies weeks or months apart
• Work at your own pace

3. Familiar environment

• Sleep in your own bed after
• Support system nearby if needed
• Less culture shock
• Easier to integrate into daily life
• Can maintain work/family responsibilities

4. Relationship over time

• Build relationship with facilitator
• Consistent community
• Support between ceremonies
• Integration in your actual life

5. May be more diverse/accessible

• Various facilitators and traditions available
• Can try different approaches
• Often more sliding scale/donation-based options
• Community-oriented rather than commercial

Cons: Real Risks and Limitations

1. Legal risk

• Ayahuasca is illegal in most of US (except religious exemption contexts)
• Participants and facilitators risk prosecution
• Varies by state and local enforcement
• Risk is relatively low but real
• Creates need for secrecy/underground nature

2. Variable quality and safety

• No regulation or oversight
• Anyone can call themselves a facilitator
• Harder to verify training and credentials
• May have minimal safety protocols
• No medical support on-site
• Some are held in unsuitable locations

3. Less integration support

• Usually just the ceremony night
• Limited pre/post ceremony time
• Integration is on you to figure out
• May not have community unless you seek it

4. Interrupted immersion

• Return to daily life immediately
• Distractions and responsibilities
• May not be able to fully surrender
• Can be jarring to reintegrate so quickly

5. Trust and safety concerns

• Underground nature requires trusting strangers
• Sexual abuse and boundary violations happen
• Harder to report or seek accountability
• Referrals are often informal

Cost: What You’re Paying For

$150 average ceremony:

• Facilitator’s time and expertise: $80-100
• Medicine preparation and materials: $20-30
• Space rental: $20-40
• Integration materials/support: $10-20

Higher end ($250-300):

• More experienced facilitator
• Smaller group size
• Better location/facilities
• Integration session included
• Sliding scale subsidizes others

Lower end ($75-150):

• Larger groups
• Donation-based
• Facilitator may be less experienced
• Basic setting

Free/donation-only ceremonies:

• Often community-oriented
• Medicine as service, not business
• Can be beautiful
• Can also be sketchy - vet carefully

When Local Makes Sense

Consider local ceremony if:

• You can’t afford or commit to retreat
• You have local options with good referrals
• You prefer working at your own pace
• You want to integrate in your actual life
• You need flexibility for work/family
• You’re experienced and know what you need
• You have good integration support separate from ceremony

First-timer consideration: Can work well if you find a very good facilitator with proper support, but requires more vetting on your part.

Peru vs. Domestic: Direct Comparison

Why People Go to Peru

The draw:

• Legal and traditional context
• Access to lineage holders
• Jungle setting
• Cultural learning
• Full immersion
• “Real” ayahuasca experience
• Pilgrimage/transformation journey

The reality:

• Peru has many amazing centers AND many predatory ones
• Legal ≠ safe or ethical
• Traditional ≠ automatically better for Western participants
• Jungle retreat ≠ instant enlightenment
• Tourist industry has created problems

Why People Choose Domestic

The draw:

• Accessible and affordable
• Integration in real life context
• Build lasting facilitator relationship
• No travel stress
• Familiar support system nearby

The reality:

• Finding good facilitators requires work
• Legal risk (though usually low)
• Less infrastructure and support
• May feel less “special” (which can actually be healthy)

What Experience Has Shown

Many have tried both approaches. Here’s what has been learned:

First ceremonies: Peru retreats offer transformative immersion. The setting can hold participants through difficulty they couldn’t have faced alone at home. The cultural context teaches respect.

Ongoing work: Local facilitators enable work in actual life contexts, which has been more integrative for many. Attending when ready, without significant financial strain, supports sustainable practice.

Neither is better. They serve different purposes.

Religious Organizations: Third Option

Santo Daime and UDV Churches

Legal in US under religious exemption:

• Supreme Court protected (UDV)
• Structured church services
• Specific doctrine and practices
• Regular meetings (often monthly)
• Community membership

Pros:

• Legal protection
• Consistent community
• Established practices
• Free or low-cost
• Ongoing support structure

Cons:

• Must align with specific religious framework (often Christian-influenced)
• Less flexible ceremony structure
• You’re joining a religion, not just attending ceremony
• May not resonate if you’re not religiously inclined
• Can be culturally specific (Portuguese language, Brazilian culture)

This is a real option worth considering if the religious framework resonates with you.

Red Flags Wherever You Go

Warning signs that apply to retreats AND local ceremonies:

Facilitator Red Flags

• Won’t discuss their training or lineage
• Makes grandiose claims (“heal anything”, “guaranteed enlightenment”)
• Sexually inappropriate behavior or comments
• Creates dependency or guru dynamics
• No clear safety protocols or screening
• Defensive when asked questions
• Pushes you to drink more when you’re uncertain
• No integration support

Facility/Setting Red Flags

• No medical screening
• Ignores medication interactions
• Unsanitary conditions
• No emergency plan
• Inappropriate setting (too public, too chaotic)
• Alcohol or other drugs present
• Poor boundaries or supervision

See our Red Flags Guide for comprehensive list.

How to Decide: A Framework

Step 1: Know Your Constraints

Money: What can you actually afford without stress?

Time: Can you take a week+ off, or do you need single-night flexibility?

Legal: How much legal risk are you willing to accept?

Support: Do you have integration support at home?

Step 2: Know Your Needs

First time or experienced?

• First-timers often benefit from retreat structure
• Experienced people may prefer local flexibility

Trauma history?

• Complex trauma may need professional support (retreat with medical staff)
• Or may need familiar environment (local)

Stability?

• If your life is stable, either works
• If you’re in crisis, retreat’s removal from life may be helpful OR may be destabilizing

Step 3: Trust Your Gut

Where are you drawn?

Your intuition about this is valid. If retreat calls to you and you can make it work, go. If local feels right, go there.

But also: If everywhere feels wrong or you’re forcing it, maybe you’re not ready yet.

Making It Work: Financial Reality

Retreat on a Budget

• Look for work-exchange opportunities
• Consider less expensive locations (Ecuador vs. high-end Peru)
• Travel in off-season
• Share accommodations
• Book far in advance for flight deals

But don’t sacrifice safety for cost.

Making Local Work

• Ask about sliding scale
• Look for community ceremonies (donation-based)
• Start with one ceremony, not committing to multiple
• Build integration support separately (therapy, groups)

If You Can’t Afford Either Right Now

That’s okay. This might not be your time.

• Focus on therapy and integration practices
• Save up for when you’re ready
• Trust timing
• Don’t go into debt for ceremony

Final Decision Framework

Choose RETREAT if:

• You can afford it comfortably
• You have time for full immersion
• You want multiple ceremonies close together
• You need complete removal from daily life
• Legal status matters to you
• You want professional infrastructure

Choose LOCAL if:

• Budget or time is limited
• You want to work at your own pace
• You prefer integration in your real life
• You have good local options with referrals
• You want ongoing facilitator relationship
• Legal risk is acceptable to you

Choose RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION if:

• The spiritual framework resonates
• You want community and structure
• Legal protection matters
• You’re open to joining a practice long-term

Choose WAIT if:

• Nothing feels right
• You can’t afford what feels safe
• You’re not ready for the intensity
• You haven’t done enough preparation

Questions to Ask (Any Option)

1. Training and experience: Where trained? How long working with medicine?
2. Safety protocols: Medical screening? Emergency plan?
3. Group size: How many people?
4. Integration support: What’s included? What’s available after?
5. References: Can you speak to past participants?
6. Your specific needs: How do they work with [your particular concerns]?

Good facilitators and centers welcome these questions.

Final Thoughts

Both retreat and local ceremony can be profound. Both can be harmful. The setting matters less than the facilitator’s skill and integrity.

Do your vetting. Trust your gut. Start where you can access safely.

The medicine will meet you wherever you are.

Resources

• Choosing a Facilitator - Detailed vetting guide
• Red Flags to Watch For - Safety red flags
• First Timer’s Guide - If this is your first time
• Before Ceremony - Complete preparation

---

There is no perfect choice. There’s the choice that’s right for you, right now.