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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Bacwards84
August 3, 2015 at 12:00 amThis was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I cannot express the gratitude that I feel for the existence of the place. I went in knowing that I wanted to address somethings in my life that I didn’t think I had the capacity to deal with on my own. With the help and support of everyone there, I not only was able to deal with the things I wanted to address, but was able to move beyond my specific issue to deal with all the junk in my life that led me to that point. What an unexpectedly wonderful experience. Thank you Gaia!
CarpeDiem
August 3, 2015 at 12:00 amWhen I was looking for an Ayahuasca retreat center, I came across this one, and it sounded great (the hot tubs in particular), but I wasn’t sure if I’d be losing any sense of authenticity by coming here instead of some place in the Amazon jungle in Peru.
After seeing many, many different stories and documentaries about peoples’ various Ayahusca experiences, I realized that bugs are large part of being in the middle of a jungle, and at least for me, I didn’t want that distracting me.
Now, after having been to Gaia Sagrada earlier this year (2015), I can tell you that it is certainly 100% authentic. My life was forever changed for the better there, and for that, I’ll be eternally grateful. The work that Christine, the co-owner of the center, is doing there with the Shamans on her team and an ever-changing staff of the highest caliber of salt-of-the-Earth people is almost beyond words.
SO many people are being transformed there, myself included, and when you’re there for any significant amount of time, the energy in the air is just palpable! The staff are all friendly and helpful (they enjoy what they do and actually want to be there vs. just being at a job), and the shamans are extremely wise but yet kind and down-to-Earth. They welcome you with open arms and treat you as a member of the family.
The first shaman I met was Salvador, in my shamanic cleansing (which is well worth the extra $25 or so), and from the moment I stepped foot in the door, his warm, beaming smile and kind, gentle spirit put my mind at ease.
Being nestled in the Ecuadorian Andes makes for one of the most breathtakingly beautiful backdrops you could ever wish for. It’s the stuff movies are made of! And the view of the night sky will absolutely take your breath away. I tend to forget how many stars are hidden from view when you’re in the city, but when you’re here and you look up and see the universe in front of your eyes, it’s just spellbinding.
In all fairness though, I should point out that this isn’t glamping either. It’s not intended to be a vacation, but rather a soul searching journey that won’t be all rainbows and sunshine. There’s plenty of that too though, believe you me! When your spirit is free of the shackles that are weighing you down, you will feel like dancing, and you’ll probably be smiling so much that your cheeks get sore (seriously!).
When I first arrived, I was torn to shreds inside for reasons too lengthy to get into here, but when I left, not only did I feel genuinely whole again, I also had a whole new perspective on my life. More importantly, it wasn’t just something that was given to me. No one waved a wand and *poof* I was better. It took openness, a suspension of skepticism, much pondering and soul searching, sharing of painful thoughts and experiences with others (which helped us form what I believe are lifelong bonds), and both mentally and physically turbulent work during the ceremonies.
I was truly pushed to my limits at times, but what I got out of it mere words fail to accurately describe.
I never expected that my fellow travelers would play such a HUGE role in my/our recovery either. They and the staff at Gaia Sagrada have become like a second family to me, and I don’t say that lightly. Each and every person there contributed in their own way to my experience, and if there’s one piece of advice I can offer you, it’s to socialize while you’re there, especially if you’re really struggling. Everyone else there will be struggling with their own demons, and I can guarantee you that you will glean from each others’ own perspectives throughout the experience, and everyone will be better off for it.
After the experiences I had, which include seeing my fellow travellers’ lives change right in front of my eyes as I was experiencing my own transformations, I want more of that. I mean that’s just the good stuff that life is made of! I feel like when I was there, I had returned to a place in my soul that just felt so right that I’ve decided to return in just about a month now to participate in the work exchange program there.
The idea that I can meet even more amazing people from all around the world is incentive enough in itself, but to also be able to play some small, supporting role in their own healing and to watch their lives transform as mine did, is enough for me to know that this will be one of the most rewarding chapters of my life.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking to make your own journey, and I welcome you to join us. All you have to do is come with an open mind, be yourself, and be ready to confront your demons. With the boundless love and guidance of the amazing people here, if you put in the effort, you will be successful, and your life will forever be better off for it.
I look forward seeing you there.
Cheers,
Tim G.
P.S. I’ll be at Gaia Sagrada starting mid-September of 2015, so if you’re ready to join us, please feel free to reach out to me and let me know if I can help answer any questions you may have. I’ll be more than happy to share my own experiences, and I’d love to hear your story and get to know you better too.
pbrobert45
August 3, 2015 at 12:00 amGaia Sagrada became a second home almost immediately! It’s an impeccable location to allow oneself to heal, grow, and simply explore.
It is a well established retreat center with great housing, a delicious variety of food dishes, and a lot of chilled places where one can meditate and reflect upon their enriched journeys.
The lovely and stellar people one potentially comes across in this place is indescribable, they just open up new worlds and perceptions. My own group was amazing and insightful upon their 12-day retreat–I learned a lot about them and myself in between several shared moments we had. At Gaia no one is their to judge and everyone is there to be open and vulnerable which brought the best nature in us all!
I cannot say enough about the ridiculously awesome staff and work ex-changers I’ve encounter at Gaia; They correspond great with everyone that comes across the gates of the property. The love, support, and stories they imbue on a daily basis are incomparable to anywhere else.
One can be assured that all ceremonies throughout the retreat are safe, with the rock star shamans providing you with guidance through it all, and the work ex- changers always looking after your level of comfort and well-being.
I found out many unconventional truths and resolutions from things that used to be unfathomable for me. And I can’t say or express enough to thank you all–the lovely people in this small piece of paradise that call it home. Regardless, thank you Christine and Bruce for welcoming me into your marvelous home, I appreciate the time and patience you guys and your staff have given to the people. I’ll definitely be going back in the near future!
Best wishes to all, Robert.
erickbo
August 3, 2015 at 12:00 amWhen i was first was looking for an Ayahuasca retreat i discovered Ayaadvisor and the comments that i read from Gaia were more than inspiring for me. Knowing that Ecuador is the only south american country that regulates the “Shaman” title and understanding that this center obliges the shamans to brew only the purest form of these plant medecines; all of the above made me go for Gaia Sagrada (july 2015).
Life rarely gives you more than you expect. Gaia Sagrada did it for me, big time !
The facilities at Gaia are almost club-med like. You can expect comfort, the beauty & peacefullness of the surroundings and a most wonderFULL community working together in making your stay a most life-evolving one. You rapidly feel like adopting this new home as you choose (or not) to contribute to the workings of this jovial community, getting to collaborate with the work-exchangers and the few members of the regular staff in a very open minded and spontaneously collaborative way, wich makes this stay an inward and outward rooting one.
As for the 5 ceremonies that you go through; Ayahuasca (2) & San Pedro (2) experiences (+1 with both medecines), they are leaded by Christine (the founder & aspiring shamana) and 2 shaman’s (Salvator and Santiago). They bring these experiences to the level that you decide to work at. Their wisdom is very precious since facing Ayahuasca (or San Pedro) is no cup of tea ! The shamans well embodied wisdom ideally dispose you to psychologically and spiritualy take fully advantage of these plant medecines.
I preferred the following peacefullness that Ayahuasca brought me. San Pedro is a more uplifting cactus plant, based on mescaline. I chose not to do the last (San Pedro) ceremony since the Ayahuasca after effect is EXACTLY was i was looking for in my life. I am now rooting it’s virtues in my day to day life after coming back home. Seems for the moment like this brain rewiring experience will make ALL the difference for reinvesting my life in a way that will freshly open doors instead of keeping on closing them like i was previously doing with my life…
More than an experience, Gaia Sagrada & Ayahuasca exactly brought to my life what i needed. I have been working a lot on myself for the past years, but Ayahuasca’s virtues *emotionaly glued* all the work i have been doing (psychotherapy and other types), wich makes ALL the difference in the world when you want to fully reinvest your life, reconciling your emotional blind spots in a way that you have always hoped for, so you can finally be the change you want to see in the world. . .
Preparing for this experience is essential if you want to fully benefit from it. I respected the diet for a month before going there, meditated A LOT on my intentions, and i know (compared to others that did not) that i went further down my “rabbit hole”. I am know benefiting from it, in a durable and rooting way it seem’s, specially relationship wise.
If you want to have a better understanding of the workings of Ayahuasca, absolutely check out this documentary !
Eternally grateFULL, thanks Gaia ! ! X X X X X
wyliamh
August 2, 2015 at 12:00 amThis is a wonderful working retreat.
The People are very friendly and personal.
The accommodations are very good.
The food is abundant and great.
The grounds are beautiful.
The ceremonies are powerful and transformational.
The land is sacred and the shaman’s are genuine and powerful.
It is a great way to improve your spiritual life in the company of other
like minded individuals.
Please go if you want to support yourself and the planet.