Gaia Sagrada is a non-profit (rare among retreat centers) keeping prices as low and close to expenses as possible. Even the directors of Gaia earn close to minimum wage in Ecuador each month, as their priority is helping people awaken in a changing world.
Gaia Sagrada is nestled in the Magical Andes Mountains on 55 acres (22 hectares) with hundreds of miles of beautiful country roads and trails to hike. Most centers are in cramped quarters on a small piece of land, but Gaia Sagrada is expansive, open and free. You can see the Milky Way at night with clearer stars in the sky than you’ve ever seen, with fireflies in the fields. In the daytime there are beautiful mountain vistas in every direction and miles and miles of country roads and hikes to take. There is even a waterfall nearby to hike to!
Gaia = Mother Nature, Mother Earth
Sagrada = Sacred
This is a magical journey through consciousness that will change your life forever. Gaia Sagrada is sponsored by University of Metaphysical Sciences and founder is Christine Breese, PhD.
This is a chance to overhaul your system through shamanic healing and realize your full potential. Much healing will take place during these 12, 7 or 6 days in mind, body and spirit during this Ayahuasca retreat and San Pedro retreat.
We chose Ecuador because shamans have to be certified and authorized to practice their trade. It is important to us that everyone has a safe experience with skilled shamans who are approved by the government to practice their trade with integrity, skill and a proper education in this particular healing practice. Ecuador has more regulations for shamans than any other country.
Ecuador was also picked for the ease of entry for visitors (no shots or visas required, only your passport), and also for its gorgeous, magical, and natural settings (very lush and green!).
Ecuadorian people are very friendly and helpful, and we have become quite a part of the Ecuadorian community around us. Your money helps to support them.
Gaia Sagrada is nestled in a small community called Llayzhatan (Yah-zuh-tan) in the Andes Mountains on 55 acres, about 45 minutes outside of the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. We are very near to Jadan (Hah-don) which means “Close to Heaven.” What a perfect place for Gaia Sagrada!
We feel that offering both is very important because one without the other is not a balanced experience. The shamans say Ayahuasca shows you what you need to change or heal, and San Pedro gives you the power to do it.
We offer both Ayahuasca ceremonies and San Pedro ceremonies because the Ayahuasca is considered the feminine aspect of the medicines; San Pedro is the masculine aspect of the medicines. In this era, it is all about balancing the masculine and feminine aspects in each of us to attain true wisdom. These two very different medicines help with that in every individual. The shamans also say that Ayahuasca shows you what to heal and San Pedro gives you the power to make the changes.
, sauna and modern housing with electric, 24/7 hot water, and WiFi make it easier to concentrate on your inner journey, yet stay in touch with the outside world if you wish.
We are practically bug free, (NO mosquitoes!) the air is clean, never too hot or humid, and you can see the milky way at night in the sky with fireflies all around you. During the day is T-shirt weather, with sunny gardens to sit in, and hummingbirds to watch.
12-day Ayahuasca and San Pedro retreats are offered. During these 12-day retreats, 5 ceremonies are offered: 2 Ayahuasca, 2 San Pedro, and 1 mixed with a powerful sweat lodge experience. There is the possibility of 7 ceremonies if you are interested in doing the extra Ayahuasca ceremonies for an extra charge. There is one extra Ayahuasca ceremony in the middle of the retreat and a 2nd extra Ayahuasca ceremony at the end of the retreat and you would stay for an extra day making it a 13 day ceremony.
7-day Ayahuasca and San Pedro retreats entail coming for the first 7 days of a 12-day retreat. This includes 3 ceremonies – 1 Ayahuasca, 1 San Pedro and 1 mixed with the powerful sweat lodge experience. There are no extra ceremonies available for this retreat unless there are openings in the 6 day retreat (which is rare, we are usually completely booked).
6 day Ayahuasca & San Pedro retreats have 3 ceremonies: 2 Ayahuasca and 1 San Pedro with the option of 1 extra Ayahuasca ceremony if you opt for the extra ceremony on the day of your arrival. This gives you the possibility of 4 ceremonies in a 6-7 day span. You can also come a day early and settle in (recommended) so you aren’t getting off the plane and going straight into ceremony, making it a 7 day retreat.
You can see all our retreat dates here.
The Ayahuasca ceremonies take place in our beautiful maloka near the forest with the sounds of nature and the twinkling stars outside. During the Ayahuasca ceremonies we always have a few sober helpers standing by to help light your way to the bathroom, empty your purge bucket, and get you anything you need during the ceremony.
Some centers have people express loudly and be dramatic, but our ceremonies are quiet and inwardly focused, with our expert shamans holding space, using music and Icaros at the proper moments to carry the energy. If someone needs to make noise, we move them to another place outside the maloka so everyone can stay focused on their journey.
The shaman is there for your individual healing as you need it from beginning to end. Between ceremonies you are supported with experienced staff to talk with about your experiences if you need any help.
The San Pedro ceremonies give you a completely different experience. These ceremonies take place during the day and go into the night under our beautiful ceremonial gazebo patio (maloka), on the edge of a beautiful forest with a view overlooking the mountains, completely connected with nature in every way. Some San Pedro ceremonies are done walking through nature on Gaia’s incredibly beautiful land, with beautiful vistas in every direction.
While Ayahuasca takes you to your inner dimensions, San Pedro opens your
and shows you how the dimensions intertwine and overlap with each other.
The sweat lodge ceremony, with both medicines mixed, takes place outdoors in a beautiful field, with the birds chirping all around you.
Connect with the Earth while you go through this deep, cleansing experience, a traditional shamanic offering as part of your healing and awakening. After the sweat lodge we sit under the stars and enjoy time around the fire, connecting with the shamans in a heart felt way with laughter, music and love!
In this ceremony, the San Pedro is given first, then if you want to take the Ayahausca you can later in the ceremony. It is optional, but don’t miss this exquisite experience of both the masculine and the feminine medicines together. It is like having both grandfather and grandmother holding your hand in this journey.
This is often everyone’s favorite ceremony, as it brings everything together, the male and female aspects of the medicines, and a balance to the experience. Places that tell you not to mix the medicines are usually ones that don’t offer one or the other, but we have found that this is the most healing experience of them all and there are always good results!
In total, there are five ceremonies in a 12 day retreat with the option of 2 extras if you choose to partake, and the 6 and 7 day ceremonies have 3 ceremonies each with extra ceremonies (6 day only) if you would like to partake as well.
Each one is a different kind of ceremony with different shamans so you can experience all the ways that shamans work with these traditions. There are many ways to experience shamanic ceremonies and we offer them all!
12-Day, 6 Day and 7 Day Ayahuasca & San Pedro Retreats include everything – steam room,
, wifi, food, several workshops and meetings, yoga, meditation and all the ceremonies with a day of rest between each ceremony. It is very important, not to rush through the medicines. You can see our Retreat Prices here.
Be careful with retreats that offer back to back ceremonies each day or squeeze too many into a retreat. It is important to process the changes happening for you, and get plenty of rest so you aren’t tired for the next ceremony. Better to spend a couple extra days in retreat than to rush through the medicines.
12 (or 13) Day Retreats: This retreat includes 5 ceremonies with the possibility of an extra ceremony in the middle of the retreat and even another for the possibility of 7 ceremonies if you stay for a total of 13 days.
7-Day Retreat: Come for the first 7 days of a 12 day retreat. There are limited spaces for the 7 day retreat option, as it is mostly filled by those who want to stay for the full 12 days. We encourage you to go for the 12 day retreat though because you will find that 7 days is not enough! If all you have is 7 days though, we are here to accommodate your needs.
6 (or 7) Day Retreat: Come for the second half of the 12 day retreat, last 6 days, everything included. Possibility of extra Ayahuasca ceremony on day of arrival, first day.
Gaia Sagrada is a non profit retreat center, rare among Ayahuasca retreats. We are not in this for money, we are in it for the awakening of humanity! Our expenses cost 5 – 6 times more in Ecuador than Peru, and yet our prices are even more affordable than most places in Peru. We operate at the edge of expenses because we care about everyone of all income levels to have the opportunity to have this experience. Even the directors make only minimum wage, which is unheard of. This is a labor of love!
Our shamans are true Ecuadorian shamans, so you are getting the real thing! Our shamans bridge both the Ancient and Modern worlds so they understand the issues you are coming to heal or understand. Scroll below to see pictures of our shamans and meet your guides on your inner journeys with the medicine!
People who have been to other Ayahuasca centers tell us all the time that Gaia Sagrada is the best place out of all the centers they have been to and that Gaia Sagrada sets the standard for what an Ayahuasca retreat center should be, even outshining the famous and super well known ones.
Our shamans are around before and after ceremonies for people to talk to, spend time with people outside the ceremonies, and our shamans stay with the people from the beginning to the end of the ceremony.
At most centers the shaman sings for a little while and then disappears, never to be seen again until the next ceremony. If you see them around you are supposed to not talk to them or bother them. Our shamans are approachable and happy to talk with you.
Our shamans spend time with everyone and give individual attention to each person not only during the ceremonies but also between the ceremonies. You can actually talk with them at breakfast or sit by the fire and enjoy their company! This is one of the things that makes our center unique.

Mauricio has been in documentaries of South American Shamanism. He is guide with power plants for 30 years, plays many instruments, plays shamanic music for events, and makes wind instruments and stringed instruments. He composes Andean and shamanic music. He is very famous for his music! He is a descendant of the Diaguita ethnic group from northern Chile.
Mauricio is an elder, which is very unusual and lucky to have as your guide in these Ayahuasca ceremonies. He is very skilled, well respected and well known in Ecuador for his work. You will be so blessed with a real, authentic and safe Ayahuasca ceremony guided by a true master Shaman!

Veronica’s motivation is serving others in their existential search in relationship with nature, and personal balance. She runs sweat lodge and creates a beautiful, transformative and authentic experience, carrying the traditions of the native people. She is a spiritual energizer who carries the sacred pipe (Chanupa), blessed by the elders of the Sacred Fire of Itzhachilatlan.
She is a Medicine Woman, Sun Dancer, Star Dancer, and has completed the vision quests. She is an Andean Agricultural student of University of Hatun Yachak Wasi, as well. She is also a biorhythm trainer.

Namur descends from a family of Shuar tribe shamans, a native culture of the Ecuadorian Amazon. He is a born shamans, so to speak! He experienced and connected for the first time with the medicine of Natem (Ayahuasca) when he was only 5 years old. The shamans of his community have shared with him their knowledge, wisdom, songs and prayers throughout all his life and he took part in many ancient rituals.
An elder Shuar shaman passed down to Namur the Uwishin practices. He has also received the instructions and teachings of the ancestral practices of other native cultures.

Christine holds space in ceremony with a combination of strength, gentleness and kindness that is quite rare. She touches the hearts of those she works with in her ceremonies. She is a shaman who has a way of calming any person who needs it and can help each person take their power back from the places they lost it.

Born and raised in La Amazonia (Ecuador), Santiago’s first memories are of the medicine, the ancestors, and his first limpia (shamanic cleansing) when he was 7 years old from his mom (Alicia). His Mother was his first and most important teacher. She taught him how to do limpias with the Sacred Plants such as: Tobacco, Santa Maria, Aji and many others. Another Master from his village was Don Juanito, who works with medicine plants doing limpias of all sorts and healing bones.
We have both a male and a female facilitators at each ceremony. This keeps everything safe and in balance.
Women are truly safe at Gaia Sagrada, particularly given that the founder of Gaia Sagrada is a woman.
You will love every single one of our shamans. Feel free to look on our shaman bio page for their history and photos.
We spent years looking for just the right shamans to offer ceremonies here. We bring the best of the best to you here in Ecuador!
Whenever there are problems with Ayahuasca or any other shamanic medicine ceremonies, it’s because the shamans mix something into the medicine that shouldn’t be there. Sometimes shamans mix in Datura (Toe), Nicotine, or other ingredients to make the experience more intense.
However, ingredients mixed in is not true Ayahuasca and can become a nightmarish experience rather than a healing experience. When people have a terrible experience with Ayahuasca, it is usually because ingredients are mixed into Ayahuasca that shouldn’t be there (or the person is taking pharmaceutical or recreational drugs that should not be mixed with Ayahuasca.) Gaia Sagrada’s medicine is absolutely pure.
We use only the vine and the leaves for Ayahuasca. Nothing else!
For the San Pedro medicine, only the cactus. Nothing else!
Our shamans are under contract to make only the purest medicine with nothing else in it that could cause harm to anyone. Our medicine is the safest possible medicine that can be made, strong and pure.
You are supported in your Ayahuasca healing journey with love and kindness. You will have a true adventure in consciousness during these days of Ayahuasca ceremonies and San Pedro ceremonies.
This is a life-changing event – a healing retreat that will change how you see yourself and life. You will see the evidence of this in our more than 600+ reviews.
Be ready to meet yourself at levels you never thought possible! Meet the master within you and explore the universe that you are.
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rjs123
December 15, 2021 at 12:43 pmI got what I didn’t even know I was looking for. Gaia is so beautiful, the volunteers are so kind and helpful, the facilities are great, and the ceremonies are life changing!
This is not for the faint of heart of those not looking to give themselves fully to the experience. The ceremonies are long, but so so transformative. The shamans are fascinating and share their rituals with Westerners while maintaining the tradition.
I went in with such specific intentions, but through the medicine ceremonies and my interactions with the wonderful people and staff I left with so much more than I came for. I feel so at peace and will cherish this experience forever.
jude
December 14, 2021 at 9:45 pmI recently did a two month residency at Gaia and it was the best decision of my life. The place is magical. First off, most importantly: no bugs. Or at least very few. Since it’s in the mountains it’s a lot cooler and far fewer bugs/spiders/etc. than any place in the jungle. The weather’s very pleasant, mostly between 60-80 degrees all day and at night a light jacket will be fine. It does rain most days in the rainy season but it’s a very light rain. I arrived on a Wednesday, a couple days before the majority of people started to arrive, which was a great idea, allowed me to get a feel for the place, which is huge. Once you arrive in Cuenca, which is a beautiful Colonial city in the Andes Mountains, you take a taxi to the retreat which is about an hour away from the city in the mountains. The drive is amazing and you can always go on nearby hikes. I highly recommend going to the waterfall. The place itself is a series of buildings on a mountainside, the main common area and then different residential buildings and the ceremony malokas and meeting hall spread out over a many-acre area.
When I first arrived there were 12 people there, volunteers and staff, and as the guests started arriving, we had a total of about 50 people, plus three dogs, very adorable and well-behaved dogs who make excellent guardians against any possible canine intruders during ceremony. All these would become dear friends over they course of the retreat. You can’t help but get close with how the place is set up and the schedule of ceremonies, family meetings and different workshops. There’s one main common building and one dining area where everyone generally hangs out. Oh and the hot tub, that’s another popular one. But if you want to be alone there’s acres and acres of land to walk and plenty of hiking trails and a few ponds. The common building has a music room stocked with instruments you can play as well as a full library. There’s a common kitchen in this area but you’ll never need it when you can instead get Carol’s delicious vegetarian meals three times a day (just wait till burger night.) Then there’s the ceremonies themselves. First it starts with a limpia or cleansing from Antai. With various rituals he pulls the evil spirits out of you and cleanses you. I didn’t really believe in the whole spirit stuff but I definitely felt much lighter after the cleansing and people commented. The Aya ceremony came first led by the shamans Namur and Santi and Namur’s wife Marlene. It takes place in an open maloka with a fire in the middle and everyone around in a circle. The shamans play music throughout the night which, while on the medicine, acts to transport you through visions and messages. Santi, if you ever see this, we’re waiting for the album. I’ve been to Aya ceremonies with two different groups before coming to Gaia, one with a real shaman from the Amazon, and one led by a well-meaning but in-over-her-head American lady and this was definitely the real thing, real shamans who know what they’re doing. I was amazed to hear what Namur did to earn his shaman title: sit in a room alone for an entire year. If you can do that without going mad you get to be a shaman in his tribe. I don’t know what the other shaman’s initiations were, they’re all from different Amazonian tribes, but something similarly grueling I’m sure. You can tell right away that these guys have power. I won’t get into the actual medicine, that’s unique for everyone, but the whole ceremony around it was amazing and there were a lot of stories of life changing experiences in the sharing circles the next day after ceremony.
So the way the retreat is set up is an Aya ceremony the first night, day two is off so everyone can absorb the last night’s ceremony and you’re free to do whatever you want, then a San Pedro ceremony during the daytime on day 3, followed by another off day. Then the cycle repeats except there’s a sweat lodge at the end of the retreat. During the off time between ceremonies there’s always different guided meditations and workshops such as improv, dance, yoga, and a few more including my favorite: the icaros workshop. You can drop into any of those, go on hikes, or just hang around on one of the many hammocks.
So that’s the Aya ceremonies but the real magic of Gaia comes with the San Pedro ceremonies with Christine. The way she runs her ceremonies with everyone sharing their stories and their advice, both for themselves and others, it really feels like the San Pedro ceremonies are where you process the Aya ceremonies.
Then you have the sweat lodge. You either love it or you hate it. If you can stay in for the whole ceremony it’s a great feeling of accomplishment and a lot of people had their most powerful experiences in there. A lot of people also just couldn’t handle it or were having bad medicine experiences and had to leave. But overall I was definitely glad I tried it, at least once, I don’t know if I would do it again but once was a great experience.
So to wrap up, Gaia has: no bugs, a beautiful mountain setting with amazing weather, great shamans, workshops, and dogs! Definitely gonna be going back and would recommend it to anyone who wants to try Aya.
VictoriaH
December 14, 2021 at 2:22 pmIt’s hard to put into words the experience I had at Gaia. But for those who want to heal with Ayahuasca and San Pedro and is looking for safe, beautiful, cozy, professional, divine retreat centre, Gaia is where you need to go. I didn’t want to leave and I’m already planning on being back next year.
Safety was the biggest thing for me looking for a retreat and I couldn’t have ended up at a better place. I had some pretty intense healing ceremonies with the plant medicines and the shamans and volunteers were always so professional and caring, always looking after me and everyone else and helping in the best way possible. They are so in tune with everyone and everything that’s happening it’s absolutely incredible. Even going through hell I felt so safe in their care. The love I felt for everyone at this place is beyond.
The grounds are so beautiful and peaceful, there’s always a cosy fire to gather around at night, the food is amazing and offered in plenty. There’s always the option of hanging with the group or lots of space to just enjoy time by yourself.
Simply just being at Gaia without medicine would be healing. This place is magic. If you read this far, then you need look no further, Gaia is calling you <3
Lshankz
December 13, 2021 at 5:46 pmThere is some strong energetic healing going on at this place. Many of us used the word “magical”. Not in the cheesy kind of way, but the kind of magic you spend your whole life searching for. You get in touch with your soul at Gaia Sagrada.
The best way I can describe this place is it chooses you. If you’re meant to come here, it will happen. If you are chosen and life works out where you are able to come, your life will be changed forever.
Ayahuasca taught me a lot about myself but it was the San Pedro that changed me. All of the shamans were brilliant and Christine has the most unique, beautiful soul. I fell in love with absolutely every single person I met there and my spiritual partner and I intend to put this place on the map.
Not only are you doing some deep healing but you are surrounded by love. Everyone there is full of love yes, but the cows and the dogs and the trees and the fresh air. I have never felt so in touch with Mother Earth. Not to mention, you are being fed real soul food by Carol the chef! It’s delicious seriously!
I’m so grateful for Christine and her words of wisdom and for creating the safest space. I’m grateful for the volunteers and shamans. I’m grateful for those who came and healed along side of me. Thank you Gaia Sagrada for everything.
AlexBernabel
December 9, 2021 at 7:31 pmI attended the first retreat since the start of the pandemic in October 2021 (12 days) and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Firstly, Gaia Sagrada has created such a positive and harmonious environment, that it really helped me open up to the healing, even before any medicine was taken. Everyone was so helpful and supportive of my healing journey. I met so many other like-minded individuals that have become like family. The daily activities were curated in a way to go hand in hand with the medicine.
This was my first time with plant medicine and through this experience I learned so much about myself, and I believe ayahuasca is still doing its magic on me till this day.
If you’ve been feeling the call towards ayahuasca, I highly recommend Gaia Sagrada. The 12 day retreat really offers a well-rounded experience….Oh and if you’re wondering, the food was amazing. I cannot wait to go back for another retreat.