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La Vida Divine (formerly Ayahuasca In Ecuador)
Are you ready for a one of a kind spiritual and self-healing experience? Nestled in the heart of the lush and verdant Ecuadorian jungle, our Ayahuasca and San Pedro healing and spiritual fulfillment center has a long and proud history of welcoming truth seekers and individuals striving for inner enlightenment from all around the world.
An Authentic Ayahuasca and San Pedro Retreat
While providing essential home comforts such as comfortable lodging and freshly prepared gourmet vegetarian or vegan meals each day, our Ayahuasca and San Pedro retreat is otherwise one of only a handful of authentic treatment centers in the entirety of South America.
This is because while promoting physical wellness through deliciously prepared (and organic) vegetarian food, we also facilitate travel to genuine Ayahuasca and San Pedro ceremony site on the Jurumbaino river surrounded by rainforest. their, our guests are given the opportunity to spend the evening wif an authentic local shaman. The next day, you will tan be escorted back home in order to rest, reflect and prepare for you’re next ceremony. Even better, at all times you will be attended to by one of our very own local guides and translators.
How Ayahuasca Heals
Popularly known around the world as a shamanic gateway to the spirit world, Ayahuasca has traditionally been used for thousands of years as a healing medicine also. Made using two indigenous plants Banisteriopsis caapi & Psychotria viridis, Ayahuasca works by promoting massive mental and physical healing responses in the human body.
While different for everybody, no one is ever not deeply affected by Ayahuasca. In like regard, few if any people ever come away from an Ayahuasca ceremony not feeling more spiritually and vitally restored than they did before arriving.
How San Pedro Heals
A lesser-known but no less effective healing plant is a cactus called San Pedro. Like Ayahuasca, it has been utilized by Shamans for many thousands of years in shamanic healing ceremonies, and there have been numerous reports of its healing power for cancer, diabetes, and paralysis, as well as for emotional and psychological problems such as depression and grief.
The Biblical Saint Peter, whom the plant was named after, is said to be the holder of the keys to Heaven, and so the name represents an opening of a gateway for us to enter into a dimension where we can experience the world as divine.
Participants are said to be ‘set free from matter’ and ‘engage in flight through cosmic regions… transported across time and distance in a rapid and safe fashion’.
One shaman described its effects as “First, a dreamy state… then great visions, a clearing of all the faculties… then detachment, a type of visual force inclusive of the sixth sense, the telepathic state of transmitting oneself across time and matter, like a removal of thoughts to a distant dimension.”
In this way, San Pedro is said to remove our negative beliefs so the positive ones shine through and we can heal ourselves.
Your Stay at our Ayahuasca and San Pedro Retreat
Due to the powerful nature of such ceremonies, our Ayahuasca and San Pedro retreat focus on marrying high-quality rest and relaxation periods wif intense plant medicine experiences. dis is why we provide you wif a superb natural setting, intuitive and support staff and high-quality nutrition throughout your stay. We do, after all, want your stay here wif us to be just as much a once in a lifetime experience as the Ayahuasca and San Pedro experiences themselves.
Are you ready to discover yourself and experience the physically restorative power of Ayahuasca? If so, make sure to reach out to us today to find out more.
Next Special Celebration of Mother Ayahuasca and Father San Pedro Personal Retreat
A celebration of Mother Ayahuasca and Father San Pedro every month from 8th-15th and 18th-24th 2018 in Macas Ecuador. Maximum 7 people
Come to join us for a celebration of Mother Ayahuasca. Eight days or seven days with indigenous Shuar shamans for Ayahuasca and San Pedro ceremonies at the incredibly beautiful and peaceful sacred ceremonial site on a small river peninsula on the Rio Jurumbaino surrounded by rainforest…Great accommodations and outstanding vegan or vegetarian meals included. You may choose to participate for 4 to 8 days. Small Group, Autantic Indigenous Shaman, Private Accommodations and Affordable.
Special price for November 8-15 and 18-24. Mention Ayaadvisors for the discount.
4 Days and 2 ceremonies $595
7 Days and 3 Ceremonies $895
8 Days and 4 Ceremonies $1095
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Recent Reviews
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gpressman
April 20, 2025 at 10:50 pmI had an amazing experience at La Vida Divine.
The retreat space felt very peaceful and was the perfect balance of natural and modern. There’s lots of nature and open space, the animals on the property were friendly and welcoming, and overall it was very relaxing. There’s also internet access, the bed was comfortable, and there are many places to lounge and decompress. I felt empowered to disconnect from my everyday life and connect with myself in the space. I’ve been to several retreat centers and I don’t always feel that.
The ceremony space being in the forest, with the sounds of the river was perfect.
The ceremonies themselves were intense and powerful. I was able to let go in a way I don’t always get and find deep healing and transformation. I’ve sat in other traditions before and both was excited to experience something new, and fearful of change. I felt very held and cared for, and safe. I felt both that it was hands off enough to have my process, which matched my deepest and most impactful, and having my needs met when I needed help. Taita has a beautiful, gentle, gathering energy, and I am grateful to have met him and experienced him.
I came in with my own beliefs, constructs, and experiences that were different than the traditions practiced at La Vida Divine, and was met with curiosity and appreciation. I felt like that even in spaces where I questioned or asked for things that were new or broke from their normal practices. I see that as a great sign of maturity and experience.
I could write an entirely separate review on the hosts and facilitators, Jhocelyn, and Gaddy. They are amazing people, facilitators, and friends. One thing that made the retreat so special was how closely we lived for the week. They each had their own unique energy and I feel blessed to know them. In ceremony and out they exceeded expectations, and helped me in my mission to be the best version of myself. One word that feels ever present from my experience is “family.”
I attended during an extended trip where I did retreats in 3 different countries and 3 different traditions, and my time in Ecuador was the most impactful.
Thank you Jhocelyn and Gaddy, thank you Taita. I am in deep gratitude for our time together, and deep awe for what you’ve built and are building. I look forward to our next meeting.
Rece
March 19, 2025 at 11:55 pmLove. Healing. Alignment. Service. Music. Prayer. Community. Nature. Respect. Tears. Laughs. Joy. Safe space. Respite. Container. Knowledge. Everlasting. Pure. Indigenous. Spiritual. Medicine!!
This is me blurting out all the words that flood my mind when I reflect on my experience at La Vida Divine.
Jhoselyn and Gaddy have created a sanctuary for deep healing. Their profound reverence for the plant medicine and the Indigenous traditions that have graciously shared it is woven into every aspect of the experience. Their service to the community and to nature is both inspirational and aspirational.
Every detail was intentionally designed—the ceremonies, the music, the land infused with healing plants and flowers, and the shared meals that became moments of connection. Jhoselyn and Gaddy sat with us, creating space for conversation, reflection, and wisdom, making everyone feel welcome and supported.
The shaman, Taita Tsen Tsek, carried a powerful fatherly energy, offering a presence of strength and comfort. Other sacred keepers—including the devoted cooking and cleaning staff, the temazcal guides, a skilled masseuse, and the warm and friendly driver, Marcelo—nurtured an atmosphere of deep care and intention. The children of the community performed a beautiful tribal dance, a moment that felt like a bridge between the past, the present, and the healing unfolding before us. Even the spiritually balanced cats and dogs, radiating love and protection on the land around the home, contributed to the sanctuary that is La Vida Divine.
The Choza, where the Ayahuasca ceremonies took place, was a sanctuary in itself. Warmed by the fire, soothed by the flowing river, and held in the presence of the ancestors, it provided everything needed for a deeply immersive and safe ceremonial experience. Every detail was considered—the music and singing that carried us through the night, the comfort of mattresses and warm blankets, the convenience of nearby bathrooms with gentle guidance to and from, and the care taken to support every step of the journey.
As for the medicine itself, words barely do it justice. It was the most beautiful, most profound experience of my life—one for which I am eternally grateful.
La Vida Divine transcended "retreat" and became an experience of ancestral connection and conscious expansion. Thankfully, the community Jhoselyn and Gaddy have built extends far beyond an eight-day stay, offering continued support and connection for those who have walked this path.
If you are seeking a sacred space that feels like home, is deeply personal, and is led with hearts and souls in humble service to the medicine, the sacred elements, the ancestors, and the spirit of healing—a place so profound, you’ll have a hard time tearing yourself away when it’s time to go—La Vida Divine is it.
Ooh, look—more words popping up:
Validation. Acceptance. Gratitude. Shifts. Soul satisfaction.
Jinny C
March 15, 2025 at 3:40 pmIf you are looking for an authentic, down to earth, loving, accepting, and genuine retreat to experience plant medicine look to further. This place hands down has changed my life. The medicine in itself is so healing (when done in the right way with the right people), but the retreat owners- Joselyn and Gaddy- have created an extra special, loving, accepting- home that cultivated profound healing far beyond anything I could have ever imagined. They are the most genuine and really people I have ever met, and have surrounded themselves with like minded individuals who also create a supportive environment in each ceremony. The respect that they have shown for the land, for nature, for its gifts – is so refreshing and infectious. I left the retreat a new person and feel so supported by the community they have cultivated to the continue healing and integration. Thank you Joselyn and Gaddy, from the bottom of my heart- and I can’t wait to see you both again in the future.
cbonhomme
March 7, 2025 at 11:21 pmI accompanied my partner to La Vida Divine to support her on her ayahuasca journey. I did not know exactly what to expect but I was entirely open-minded and ready to support my partner in any way I could.
I must say that even though I did not participate in the ceremony. Gaddy and Jhoselyn were the most amazing hosts and are true gems. They offer a healing space that is open, comfortable, welcoming, warm and without judgement. We were taken care of from the moment we arrived until we said our goodbyes. Even as a non-participant I joined in on other activities (tamezcal, morning movement, meditation, medicine making, and massage). I had plenty of time to relax, and self-reflect on my own while my partner joined the ceremony. I even had the opportunity to meet TsenTsek and visit the choza where ceremonies take place.
The view outside our window, surrounding nature, two cats, and two dogs was an added plus. One of the cats kept me company all night while my partner was at the choza. I knew my partner was safe and in good hands. Jhoselyn and Gaddy have a wealth of experience and information and show up as their authentic selves. What a wonderful space they have created.
Even though currently I have not felt the call to do ayahuasca myself I do see myself and my partner going back this space in the future. It’s wonderful that they have post-ceremony check-ins and meetups so you will never feel aimless and alone when you return home. Their door is always open participant or not. I thank the universe for this calming space.
smensah1
July 14, 2024 at 4:52 amI am grateful, full to the brim. My journey with Jhoselyn and Gaddy was absolutely transformational, divinely timed and exactly what I needed to usher me into the next chapter of my life and healing journey. As a Black queer woman and a survivor of intimate partner violence, I experienced a cocoon of safety that supported me in surrendering, transmuting and releasing shame and blocks to abundance, joy and pleasure that I wasn’t even fully conscious of operating in my life and therefore wasn’t even a part of my conscious intentions for the trip. My soul recognized and deeply appreciated the depth of intentionality around purpose, safety and agency that went into every single moment Jhoselyn and Gaddy curated, facilitated and held for me and my fellow retreat participants. I had made a very conscious choice to participate in an Ayahuasca journey and was clear on my intentions and how this would support me in the healing journey I had embarked on 16 months prior to my trip to La Vida Divine Institute. However, there were parts of me that were still scared. When I got there, they were honest about what I could expect and I felt extreme reverence and respect for the plant medicine and what it could offer me. And I was surprised by the fact that alongside this, there were parts of me that were scared. I realized that in all the time that I was preparing for this journey, I was looking forward for the transformation it would facilitate and hadn’t really dwelled on the actual discomfort or out of body / deeper in body experience I’d encounter. In their own ways that were remarkably complimentary and spoke to their respective strengths, Jhoselyn and Gaddy reassured me, continued to hold space for me, validated and honored my feelings, and took every measure to ensure that I could experience and access safety within myself, the plant medicine, the environment and with my fellow participants before, during and after ceremony. The connections I made with myself, Mama Aya, my retreat people and Jhoselyn and Gaddy have forever changed my life. Even though I’ve been very intentional about my healing and the life I’ve been choosing to create for myself after leaving an abusive relationship, I thought that I would have to wait years to feel this free, this present, this joyful and this abundant. My journey at La Vida Divine Institute taught me that all that I have come to realize, accept and believe that I am worthy and deserving of, I get to have and experience now and in the present. Also, I wasn’t expecting this, but my own spirituality and my connection to the Divine deepened during this trip and I left with a deep knowing that all things are working for my good and that the abundance that is meant for me is already present and closer to manifesting than I think. This level of clarity has allowed me to walk around with the confidence that I get to keep and create my peace no matter. It has also strengthened my resolve during a unique time of transition in my life that requires acceptance of Divine Timing, but also belief in my power, at the same time. The song “Grateful” by St. Finnikin beautifully captures just how alive and grateful to be alive, as a survivor, as a descendant of my ancestors, as a human with a unique purpose, I felt at La Vida Divine Insitute and continue to feel to this day. Thank you so much for what you have given me!!! When I have followed the guidance I have received and receive the calling, there is literally no other place on planet Earth I’d every want to journey with except for La Vida Divine Institute!!