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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.
Why did we choose Ecuador instead of Peru?
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.
Where is Gaia Sagrada?
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!
Why both Ayahuasca and San Pedro Ceremonies?
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.
Modern, Comfortable Facilities
, 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.
Description of Retreats – 12, 6 and 7 day Ayahuasca Retreats
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.
Ayahuasca Ceremonies
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.
San Pedro Ceremonies
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.
Sweat Lodge Ceremony
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!
Each ceremony is different
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!
Prices
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.
Our Retreats Are At-Cost, Non-Profit
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!
Who are Gaia Sagrada’s shamans?
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!
Why Gaia Sagrada Is Highest Rated Ayahuasca Center
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.
Our Shamans
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.
Male and Female Facilitators At Each Ceremony
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
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!
Safe Medicine!
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.
Why Choose Gaia Sagrada?
- At Cost, Low, Non-Profit Prices, good karmic use of your money. This center is not about commercialism or making money and that is why we offer everything AT COST. Things in Peru cost a fifth or sixth of what things cost in Ecuador, so this truly is our rock bottom cost! No one is getting rich at Gaia Sagrada. Even the directors make only Ecuador’s minimum wage, and get housing and food. This is about service to humanity, NO Ayahuasca commercialism here!
- Modern Housing And Facilities. Comfort allows you to focus more on your inner journey. Electric, hot water, modern toilets and hot showers, wifi internet… LUXURIOUS HOT TUBS and SAUNA. No mosquitoes or bugs. Big thick, comfy mattresses in a real bed in a modern room. No other Ayahuasca center has this level of comfort and amenities. Be comfortable while you journey into the universe within!
- Shamans Are Registered, Trained, Skilled, And Evaluated. Shamans are examined by Ecuadorian government agencies for their ability to practice their trade, instead of countries where anyone can call themselves a shaman.
- Ease Of Access for travelers, no vaccines or shots required, Cuenca airport only 45 minutes away.
- There have never been any medical emergencies, but if there was one, a fully equipped modern hospital is only 35 minutes away by car. No walking through bogs, hiking, motorcyles or boats required to reach help if needed. Even a clinic is only 15 minutes away, yet you are in a pristine 55 acre country setting under the stars with no lights or buildings interfering with the view. You would never know you were close to civilization. This makes our center one of the safest to experience these medicine journeys.
- Not Hot Or Humid, pleasant weather all year round. No screeching animals or insects all night long, like in the jungle! Being near Cuenca and being in the Andes Mountains makes Gaia Sagrada’s temperature and climate like an eternal spring. It’s warm T-shirt weather during a sunny day and it’s cool at night. You won’t be dying of sweat and heat (or mosquitos!) at Gaia Sagrada while trying to sleep.
- Medicine Is Safe, Strong, Pure And Unadulterated. NO additives or mixtures that could be dangerous to your health. We only use pure traditional ingredients, only the vine and the leaves for Ayahuasca, and only the Cactus for San Pedro. Nothing else! Period! Our medicine is safer than places where they mix things that shouldn’t be included.
- Sponsored By University Of Metaphysical Sciences, a leader in metaphysics and spiritual teachings, with credibility and tens of thousands of students all over the world.
- Instead of large, overpriced and commercial, we keep ceremonies Small And Intimate so each participant gets individual attention.
- We Offer Both Medicines, Ayahuasca (feminine) and San Pedro (masculine) medicines in order to provide a balanced experience. One without the other is not balanced. Not all centers offer both medicines, and both are so necessary. You will see!
- Our Shamans Stay With You From Beginning To End, never leaving prematurely before the medicines are finished doing their work with you. At a lot of centers the shamans sing for just an hour or so, and then they end the ceremony and leave you on your own just when you are needing their guidance the most. It is not good if the shamans leave when the medicine is at its strongest heights! Our shamans stay with you for every part of your journey, until the medicine is finished doing its work with you. They are with you to guide you every step of the way.
- 55 Acres To Hike On, plus miles and miles and miles of country roads to wander in wilderness and small, authentic, indigenous Ecuadorian villages, with the women wearing their normal indigenous clothing, walking sheep, cows and goats. You will never run out of beautiful vistas and places to explore. Here you will get a taste of what the REAL Andes Mountains of Ecuador are like, far from tourist traps.
Transformation with love!
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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sscureman
May 28, 2017 at 8:01 pmWords can not express how much gratitude I have for Christine, Salvador, Amalia, Sophia, Paulina, Jerry, and the staff of Gaia Sagrada. My experience was magical, miraculous, again, no words can describe how amazing it was.
The Shaman/Shamana’s are truly the most beautiful souls you will ever meet, inside and out. So kind, gentle, humble and yet so VERY POWERFUL and FULL of WISDOM. They are all true examples of what being a human should be, they all carry such wisdom and grace. Their work is their passion and I could truly feel how much they love what they do and how much love they have for the universe and man kind. That in itself is worth making the trip to Gaia Sagrada.
The experience I had with the medicine in combination with the wisdom and love of the Shamans was beyond miraculous, again, their are no words in the human vocabulary to describe how incredible it was. I followed my intuition and it led me to Gaia Sagrada and now I know why. The combination of Ayahuasca, San Pedro and the wisdom of the shaman/Shamanas felt like the perfect balance of what I needed. I could truly feel the difference between the powerful healing feminine energy of ayahuasca and the powerful healing masculine energy of San Pedro. Aya gave me back my power and San Pedro showed me how to harness it.
The Sweat lodge was my FAVORITE ceremony, it truly opened me up to the feeling of being one with the universe. It gave me the sense that those who are called to do this medicine are not just called to heal themselves but also called to heal the universe.
Christine REALLY cares about the work done at Gaia Sagrada, she genuinely wants to heal the universe. She truly loves the people who come to the retreat, as well as the people that work for her and with her, she LOVES everyone. I could feel her deep desire to heal the planet, and change the world with the work she does at Gaia Sagrada and I truly believe she is making a huge difference with her wisdom and compassion.
Jerry is the manager and he too works magic, he truly has passion for what he does He is a hard working man who keeps the place running smoothly, and like an Olympian he makes it seem effortless.
The staff is mostly made up of volunteers, and they are all beautiful souls who truly care about what they do and why they are doing it. The food is excellent, the facilities are beautiful, clean and cozy. The setting is absolutely gorgeous, Ecuador is truly magical. I stayed in the dorm and really enjoyed it.
The participants are amazingly courageous people, the best people you will EVER meet! It is inspiring to meet people willing to travel so far to face so many fears. This work is NOT easy, but well WORTH it. I witnessed many people transform tremendously in such a short time period. It is so beautiful to see so many lights turn on with in the human soul. People literally look like different people after they take the medicine. When they smile now it is truly from their soul.
My time at Gaia Sagrada was truly transformative. I will probably come back to edit this review because words are failing me. But I wanted to express my gratitude TO Everyone especially Salvador, Amalia, Sophia, Paulina, Christine, Jerry, And all the fire keepers, Francesco, Chad and especially Nora and Jayson, two VERY talented beautiful souls. Also the Staff and ANYONE who is willing and courageous enough to travel to Ecuador to experience the miracles that Gaia Sagrada provides.
I want to give a special thanks to Paulina for coming to the sweat Lodge Ceremony, her presence really amped up the magic of the day. I was disappointed I wasn’t going to be able to work with her and experience her shamanic healing, so when she showed up It truly felt like a gift from God.
For anyone reading this contemplating taking the medicine, and it is leading you to Gaia Sagrada have faith that there is a beautiful reason for it. Gaia Sagrada is a a life changing experience.
mura_koshka
May 5, 2017 at 8:17 pmGaia Sagrada is a sacred place. I cannot write all of the praise that it deserves.
The staff and the shamans were kind, compassionate, patient, careful, honest, authentic, wise, and skillful. One can act quite silly while under the medicine, and never once was I met with anything other that absolute care and unconditional love and patience. The shamans are out of this world.
The site is beautiful and comfortable. The hot tubs in the rain with a backdrop of forest is my particular favorite. The delicious breakfasts. The comfortable facilities and reliable internet. Beautiful hikes. Wise dogs (who 100% help out during the ceremonies).
The ceremonies and beautiful, the icaros are beautiful.
this retreat is really a treat. I have been recommending it to EVERYONE since I went. If it calls to you, DO IT! You will not regret.
jimmygle
April 25, 2017 at 12:51 pmLearned how to love myself here. Looking forward to going back next month to learn more about myself. Life changing.
JamesF
April 18, 2017 at 12:08 pmThe medicine and support network to improve quality of life.
I attended this retreat twice: once a little over two years ago, and again in April 2017. Although it was terrific the first time I attended, it is now really at the next level under the new General Manager Jerry Rabas, with enhanced supplemental activities and support. All the below details refer specifically to the April 2017 retreat.
The ceremonies alone were enough to have a huge impact on my life, but when you throw in the opportunities to take group/private meditation and yoga classes, get massages, go on group hikes, attend a shamanic cleansing ceremony, and receive exceptional social support, the retreat was a truly transformative experience.
There are two equally vital components of this retreat that I think would be unlikely to both be matched at other retreats:
1) The Medicine (Ayahuasca; San Pedro): Ayahuasca seems to be the more well known of these two medicines, but after doing 4 Ayahuasca and 5 San Pedro ceremonies, it has without question actually been the San Pedro that has had the bigger impact on my quality of life. San Pedro does not seem to be offered at many retreats, and I don’t think I’d consider attending a retreat that did not have at least 1 San Pedro ceremony.
2) The Support Network: I would be very surprised if the support network at Gaia Sagrada is matched at any other retreat. I interacted with 4 shamans and found them all to be incredibly supportive, loving, engaged, and knowledgeable (and one is even a psychologist). On top of that, Christine and Jerry provided valuable wisdom and encouragement throughout the whole retreat. There are now 20 work interns at Gaia Sagrada with varying degrees of experience with the medicine, and I was totally blown away by their helpful insights and kindness. Finally, I found my fellow students in the retreat to all be incredibly inspirational and supportive.
The most significant differences I have noticed since returning to my daily life has been an increased sense of a) inner peace and ease in a human body, and b) security and confidence in myself.
A few particularly key takeaways from the most recent retreat that really got ingrained in me at a deep level during the ceremonies and will guide me moving forward include:
a) Being more authentic and willing to be vulnerable
b) Being present in the moment and having faith in the journey (resisting life less)
c) Letting go of my ego. Not be so judgemental of others
Some key changes to my daily life that I have implemented immediately upon return from the most recent retreat include:
a) Practicing two new meditation techniques daily
b) Starting a daily stretching routine to work on my flexibility (previously a huge weakness for me)
c) Committing to attend 1 social group event each week to connect with new people and expand my social network.
d) Implementing changes to my diet including eating more fruits and vegetables and reducing meat consumption.
I would highly recommend attending a retreat at Gaia Sagrada, and do not know of anything else out there that has a greater potential for improving well being and reducing suffering.
Finhead
April 18, 2017 at 12:30 amI attended Gaia Sagrada for the March 18 – 29 retreat with my girlfriend. We specifically chose here after much online research as it appeared to be the safest most reputable place to have our first ever ayahuasca ceremonies. With great facilities, English speaking shamans, lovely location, female shamans, sweat lodge and San Pedro ceremonies included this is indeed a fantastic choice for anyone seeking advancement mentally and spiritually, especially those on their first foray into these plant medicines. Christine runs the retreat with the best intentions and with all her love and desire to create a safe open non-judgemental environment in which to further her clients’ spiritual and physical well-being. With Jerry, Nora, Jayson, Jana and so many other beautiful people helping her she has created a splendid place to get into the work. The ceremonies are very well run with lovely music and often female energy, while some really cool dogs offer much-needed relief and support to those who need it most. The food is great with plenty of choices. Everyone who attends can be assured they will be looked after properly, with friendly assistants and helpers within reach at all times. Well worth considering!