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

Sonnenvolkangehorige
May 22, 2024 at 7:00 pm

We are a couple and went to the retreat, because we got it recommended by friends. We were thinking about doing a retreat like this for our whole travel (6 months), but when we had to make plans for the last weeks, it struck us as something we really wanted to experience before going back home. One of us had a lot of respect/fear for the ceremony, but all of these fears were enormously reduced when we arrived at the retreat. Stephanie had already done a great job in the weeks before the retreat with explaining everything, taking all our questions seriously and answering very quickly. She and Juan welcomed us very warmly and gave us the feeling of safety from second one. They explained a lot about the plant medicines and about the culture of the Tsachila tribe while we were there, including music, herbal sauna, coffee and cacao tasting and a lot more. The vibe of the whole group (we were 5 participants, they really place a lot of value in creating a very personal atmosphere) was very warm, friendly, open and caring. The temazcal (herbal bath) and the cleaning procedures already were very helpful to get into a focused mindset. The ceremonies themselves were experiences we will never forget. The whole vibe is very impressing, you really feel that the shamans have a lot of experience. The icaros in the ceremony hut, the light of the candles – It was a very special spiritual experience, and we felt very safe and cared for throughout the whole process. The whole tribe family really gives you a place in the center of their community, which also helps in trusting the experience and surrender to the impressive works of the plant medicine.
What we both have to highlight are the following points:
1. The communication with Stephanie is very close, she answers very frequently and detailed, also after the ceremony (she encouraged us to contact her, if questions come up as part of the integration process – she specifically said “don’t become strangers”, which felt so good).
2. Especially Juan did an incredible ceremony and his integration talk the next day was unbelievably impressive – We still think about his words, almost three weeks after the retreat.
3. The fact that you support the Tsachila tribe is very important – These plant medicines belong to indigenous people and if we learn from their ancient rituals and knowledge, we should learn it from them directly – And they were very grateful in showing us their culture.
4. One of us was still recovering from a cold and the shamans really gave that a special treatment: Special ointments to rub on the chest, a drink from fermented ginger and mint – Everything from their medicinal garden – Which shows how much they care for your mental and physical health.

We can 100% recommend staying with the Tsachila community. We did two ceremonies in three days, which was enough for us for the start. But we start to get the feeling that we will come back, to understand more, deeper. We are very thankful for the impressive experiences. Also, as a couple, it really strengthened our relationship, and that is something we can say already a few weeks after the retreat.
kon
May 15, 2024 at 12:39 pm

Really intense and interesting experience. I felt welcomed and safe at all times. It was really helpful to have Stefanie around to translate from Spanish to English.
ERIKA R
May 13, 2024 at 10:32 pm

I’ve been at the community for 4 days, with my partner, and we were lucky enough to be part of a small perfect group.
It was an amazing time, they have lots of knowledge and just being there it’s already healing. They live so connected and with such pures values: that was really inspiring and made us trust them 100%.
The plants ceremonies felt safe and they totally know how to hold the space: we’ve learnt a lot and we still are in the process of understanding all that happened. It’s a life experience and I would totally suggest anyone who’s reading or looking for something authentic to go for it, with them.
We miss the community already so much, thank you for welcoming us and for the holding such a sacred space. We hope to see you again soon!
GailP
April 11, 2024 at 10:37 am

I went to Awakenings Retreat hoping for healing of my mind and soul and found so much more. The Ayahuasca Ceremonies were amazing with the sounds of the outdoors around us and the perfect harmony of music the shamans played. I did purge my first time and they took very good care of me. The massages, sauna and baths were an added wonder that I had not anticipated but am so happy for. Also the Coca and mud bath were awesome! I just cannot say enough good about my experience here. The Tsachila people are all I wish I could be an I am very, very thankful that they let me part of their family for the time I was there. It has changed me for the better.
sbh
April 10, 2024 at 5:41 am

My week-long retreat with the Tsachila people was truly transformative. From the moment I arrived, I was embraced as family, and they met me with open hearts, catering to my spiritual, mental, and emotional needs, elevating me to new heights. Their natural medicine and simplistic way of living left a profound impact on me – an experience everyone should have. I departed feeling as though I had gained lifelong friends, and I am already planning my return. This journey was nothing short of life-changing.