Awakenings Ayahuasca Retreat

Name: Awakenings Ayahuasca Retreat
Rating: 5

Santo Domingo Ecuador

5.0 (130 reviews)

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Awakenings Ayahuasca Retreat

A Sacred Journey with Indigenous Roots

Only Retreat Certified by Ecuador’s Ministry of Health | 100% Indigenous-Owned & Operated.

Why Choose Awakenings?

• The only retreat in Ecuador certified by the Ministry of Health

• Located on sacred Tsáchila ancestral land

• 100% Indigenous-owned and operated by the Tsáchila tribe

• Medicine is prepared on-site and you are invited to participate in the process

• Small groups & personalized retreats — you choose your dates

• Your money helps local indigenous and some of the money supports the local elementary school as well; supporting many minorities in need.

Medicine and Ceremony

At Awakenings, we work with authentic ancestral medicines and offer the opportunity to participate in the preparation of Ayahuasca and San Pedro; allowing you to deposit your energy and intentions from the very beginning.

Our healing team includes:

• 4 experienced male Tsáchila shamans

• 1 female Tsáchila shaman (available upon request)

These are four generations of wisdom, born into the sacred path of medicine.

What Makes Us Different

• We live on the land, unlike other retreats that rent properties or hire outside shamans

• We run year-round with flexible dates

• No large groups — we keep it personal and safe

• Confidential integration support before and after ceremonies

• Wi-Fi available, but we encourage you to disconnect and reconnect with Mother Nature

Our Most Popular Package: 8 Days / 7 Nights – $1600 however you can do shorter or longer stays. Every journey is personalized for your needs on your time.

Includes:

• 3 Ayahuasca ceremonies

• 1 San Pedro ceremony

• 1 Kambo, 1 Sananga, and Rapé

• Private accommodations & meals

• Massage, Temazcal, reiki, sound healing

• Cultural immersions, waterfall hike, 1

Massage, preparation of cacao and more.

Additional: Cacao Ceremony, Bufo, Mushrooms, Xanga and Cannabis ceremonies available upon request.

Transport from Quito and laundry service available upon request but are not included on the packages.

Learn More About the Medicines

What is Ayahuasca?

“Ayahuasca” is the Quechua word for both the vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and the sacred tea made from it, traditionally combined with Chacruna leaves. It contains harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine. Used by Amazonian tribes for centuries, it opens portals to emotional and spiritual healing. Our vine grows on the property, and we prepare the medicine in the traditional way.

What is San Pedro?

San Pedro (Trichocereus pachanoi) is a sacred cactus native to the Andes of Ecuador. It carries masculine energy and helps us open our hearts and expand our connection with all life. We also grow this cactus on the land, and ceremonies are done with great reverence.

What is Kambo?

Kambo is a powerful healing ritual that uses the secretion of the giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor). Applied through small burns on the skin, Kambo detoxifies the body, boosts the immune system, and clears emotional blocks. It’s used for deep physical and energetic purification.

Your Healing Begins Here

We don’t just host retreats; we offer a path to rebirth, in harmony with Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the ancestral spirits of our land. You will not be asked to share in vulnerable settings, and everything is done with respect and care.

You are not here to escape. You are here to remember who you truly are.

USA: +1 (646) 300-9646

Ecuador / WhatsApp: +593 98 044 0627

Website: awakeningsayahuasca.com

We look forward to walking this sacred journey with you.

You are the medicine. Welcome home.

Reviews (130)

5.0 out of 5

Overall 5.0

Phillip
September 11, 2024 at 8:49 pm

I spent 6 days at Awakenings and it was the most peaceful, enjoyable time I’ve had on a vacation in decades. I went alone and during my stay I was the only “tourist” there. I experienced two Ayahuasca ceremonies and explored deep truths about myself and powerful healing through Ayahuasca, meditation and my integration discussions with Manuel, Juan and Stefany. I also tried Kambo. What I experienced basically cleansed and unblocked my body for the first time in my life (I’m 58) and showed me that I have a spirit and POWER. Outside of the metaphysical, everyone there was wonderful. Stefany, Tiwinza, Jonathan, Fernanda, Gabrielle, Nuri, everybody, just made my stay perfect. Reiki, Massage, Sauna, a beautiful pool, beautiful and peaceful compound, amazing food, learning about plants and animals of the rainforest… I stayed “off grid” for 99% of my stay but having consistent fast wi-fi was great for when I needed it to communicate and for airline check-in etc. Needless to say, I plan on going back. Maybe I’ll make it an annual thing, even though there appear to be so many other interesting options out there. From my time there though I feel like they know me and there’s a bond we now share as I continue to explore and grow in my new (very new) spiritual life. Thank you to everyone at Awakenings!
foottej
September 9, 2024 at 9:47 pm

I spent two nights at Awakenings during a larger trip to Ecuador; one night I participated in the Ayahuasca ceremony, and the next day the San Pedro ceremony. Throughout my stay, I was well looked after by everyone, both during and outside the ceremonies. Tigui taught me a lot, from the history of the Tsachila to the workings of Ayahuasca and San Pedro to information about the natural flora and fauna in the area (the trees, birds, frogs, and plants all lent a tropical feel to the area–the setting was reminiscent of Hawaii).

The ceremonies themselves were magical and felt authentic. The use of drums, flutes, and voice induced a trance-like state during the Ayahuasca ceremony (and during the cleansing beforehand), and the ability to participate in the making of the San Pedro medicine helped me to feel that much more connected to the ceremony. Both ceremonies left me a bit queasy (which is to be expected), but not to the point of vomiting. And more importantly, both ceremonies left me feeling internally fortified. For instance, after the Ayahuasca ceremony suddenly addiction as a concept made no sense–it seemed very beatable. And since the San Pedro ceremony, I’ve felt stronger in advocating for things I want (in a way that’s firm but not, you know, overbearing). I was the only guest at Awakenings for the time I was there, making the stay especially relaxing–I spent a great deal of time under breezy trees in a hammock, thinking of how to integrate the emotional changes that the ceremonies had brought about in me into my real life. Real life seems to offer precious few chances for that kind of relaxation and deep thought, and I’m incredibly grateful that Awakenings exists to foster that sort of environment and the healing that can come with it.

All in all it was a great stay. The people were lovely, the food was delicious, the setting was idyllic, and the medicine is strong. I highly recommend it!
Nene
August 20, 2024 at 4:53 pm

My experience was amazing and even then that is an understatement! I felt safe as a female solo traveler and Stephanie helped me a lot during my stay as I know very little Spanish she helped translate and told me stories and lots of history surrounding the land. She is great to talk with as well.
The Tsachila tribe has a beautiful and strong history and I will definitely be back. The Shamans were amazing and connected.
They welcome you with open arms and I personally have such a close net family back home, so being with the Tsachila tribe was like a home away from home. A family. I will never forget and I will return!
tyler
August 7, 2024 at 2:00 am

I stayed at Awakenings for a long time, I wanted to find somewhere authentic, spiritual, safe and as natural as possible, words can’t describe how happy I am that I chose this place.

From the first introduction with Stephanie, her support and interest in my reasons to attend along with her timely response and accommodation set the standard for my trip.

I was picked up directly from my hotel in Quito and driven to the retreat which is about 30-60 minutes away from Santo Domingo city, as soon as I arrived I was taken back by the natural life. The beds were comfy with mosquito nets provided and cabins gave you your own space.

The retreat is run and managed by an indigenous family, each Shaman and family member contributed their own specialties and characters, it felt like a perfect balance of personalities and skills you want to be surrounded by in this environment. The family is kind, considerate and deeply knowledgable about the medicine and healing processes, learning about the Tsachilla and medicine history was so interesting and made you feel even more connected to it. I truly felt they had an intuitive understanding of individual needs, knowing when to push, when to hold back, when to provide more support and when to give you space.

The retreat offers a flexible structure that caters to those seeking an authentic and immersive experience. You get to partake in medicine preparation which helps alleviate concerns of unnatural additives which is very common in other retreats. The land itself is breathtaking, with hundreds of tree species and vibrant life all around.

I did Kambo twice, Ayahausca every couple/few days, San Pedro 5+ times, Mushrooms twice, Rapé, Tamazcal a few times, Cacao ceremonies and each one did not disappoint, each experience was powerful and deeply healing.

I felt safe at all times. I felt free. The experience has profoundly changed my life, and I truly worked through a lot of problems. I am eternally grateful to Stephanie, Juan, Tigui, Fernanda, Janina, Manuel, Nury, Danna, Mathias, Caleb, and the two beautiful dogs. I formed a really special relationship with many people here, including the children but I also watched people come and go and saw lots of different personalities find this place incredible regardless of their interest in forming personal relationships.

Thank you so much for everything, I will be forever grateful for you all allowing me to be part of your family and will 100% be returning. A review cannot do this place justice, it’s something you have to experience for yourself and if you have that calling I can assure you Awakenings will not disappoint.

A big added bonus was making friends along the way. If you can, I’d highly recommend going for 10+ days, that is how you will get the most out of it and fully integrate.
kime01919
July 29, 2024 at 5:21 pm

28 (M)

I discovered Awakening Ayahuasca Retreats through the internet and reviews like this one.

First and foremost, before choosing this retreat I had already done a lot of research and talked to other retreats. After talking to Stephanie over the phone I immediately knew this was the retreat for me.

Let me discuss some of the things that were important to me that Awakening Ayahuasca had that others did NOT.

1. Timely and polite customer service. Stephanie made time quickly for me over the phone and answered every question I had very diligently.

2. Ease of access to the retreat. When one gets to Quito, they will send a safe and very affordable driver to come and pick you up.

3. A secure and safe location to do the medicine under supervision. The retreat is located outside of Santo Domingo, Ecuador. The location is safe, quiet and promotes a very spiritual environment to connect with yourself and the medicine. There are shamans as well as medical personnel close by.

4. Authentic and clean medicine. You as the participant make and prepare your own medicine. You know exactly what you are putting into your body.

5. Authentic experience. Everything from the food, living situation as well as the Shamans add to the already deep and powerful experience you’ll have.

6. Small groups. I attended the retreat with 3 other individuals. There were no more than 4 of us total which allowed for a great vibe between the people as well as having space to be in your own world while partaking in the medicine.

Overall would recommend this retreat to anyone who wishes to seek deeper into themselves and unlock their inner-light.

-K