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TRADITIONAL & TRUSTED AYAHUASCA RETREAT SINCE 2014
This is the real work of awakening, rooted in truth and supported by the pillars of safety, intimacy, tradition, and integration.
Hi! We are Matt and Jeanae, founders of New Life Rising. Since 2014, we have dedicated ourselves to building a retreat that honors the traditions of ayahuasca while prioritizing safety every step of the way. From the very beginning, our intention has been to create an experience that feels personal, supportive, and grounded, where each guest is truly seen, held, and cared for.
Ayahuasca is more than a passion to us. It is our life’s purpose.
With extensive training in the Peruvian Mestizo traditions, we guide each ceremony with compassionate presence, integrity, and deep respect for the medicine. Over the years, we have had the privilege of walking alongside thousands of souls on their journeys of healing and transformation. New Life Rising is a reflection of that experience, devotion, and genuine care for this work.
Rooted in a philosophy of quality over quantity, our approach is centered on the pillars of Safety, Intimacy, Tradition, and Integration. From your first point of contact to well after the retreat has ended, we offer the tools, guidance, and support needed to help you fully receive and integrate the lasting benefits of this powerful work.
We would be honored to welcome you.
Whats Included:
- Medical Safety Screening via Phone Call
- Airport transfers
- 12+ Years experience in Retreat Programing
- Private accommodations
- Traditionally guided Ayahuasca Ceremonies led by a husband and wife team with over a decade of experience
- Hatha Yoga Sessions that include guided meditation with a focus on ceremonial intention
- Group Integration/Share Circles
- Nature Excursions
- Nutritious meals and following the ayahuasca diet
- Intimate group setting of 14 participants
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Heath Jenson
Jan 19, 2026Where do I start?
My wife and I were celebrating 30 years of marriage. We wanted to create a new foundation for our next chapter together. After researching many retreats in Peru and Costa Rica my wife and I chose New Life Rising. I personally had some reservations about Matt and Jeanae being westerners but realized that I was prejudging them. After reading their biographies, I felt they respected and honored the shamanic practices of plant medicine. Their continued dedication to plant medicine and education is what convinced us to book our retreat with New Life Rising. We wanted an intimate setting with a small number of participants with a traditional ceremony and we both feel they delivered beyond our expectations.
Matt and Jeanae created a beautiful atmosphere that was warm and inviting. Their combined male and female energies felt well balanced. My wife and I felt very safe and well taken care of by them and the other facilitators (Eliza and Saul). The experience was very powerful and transformative.
I am extremely grateful to Jeanae, Matt and our new family to share this whole experience. I surprised my wife by renewing my vows at the opening of our second ceremony. The Maloka ceremonial space felt sacred. It couldn’t have been more perfect! The ayahuasca ceremony itself was incredibly special. I felt guided throughout the experience through song, music, and dance. Jeanae brought a beautiful feminine energy with her voice and Matt brought an amazing sense of mastery with his masculine energy.
We enjoyed the grounds and they provided wonderful meals. Very loving atmosphere and we enjoyed having their golden retrievers running around. Howler monkeys swinging in the trees and iguanas throughout . This place was rooted in nature and delivered a serene peaceful experience!
No matter where Matt and Jeanae plant their roots, I personally know they provide a safe and life changing plant medicine experience. My wife and I will definitely be doing ayahuasca with them in the future. Absolutely grateful for them and our experience!!! Soooo much love, Thank you 🙏🏾 -
Mason Jansen
Jan 19, 2026HIGHLY RECOMMEND ❤️!!!
My husband and I got back this week from Costa Rica, what an amazing experience! The grounds were beautiful, the family that runs it and the dogs that also run it ☺️, so much love. The home cooked meals were delicious, I never felt hungry, each meal was just right. Our group was perfect. Everyone came from different places, all of us ‘in’ different places yet created a bond so personal. And then Matt and Janae… They create and deliver such an intimate, safe, loving, balanced, authentic experience from start to finish. From traditional feeling ceremonies to casually hanging out, they are INCREDIBLE!!!
For my personal experience also my first experience with ayahuasca, it was great. I was so scared going into it, and i felt instantly Comforted after drinking my first cup. I typically don’t use hallucinogenics with so many people so close, and even with some struggling it still felt so intimate and safe.
And a shout out to my amazing husband who read a 30th wedding vowel renewal right before our second ceremony, started it off with such love in the miloko ❤️🥰. -
laura nicolescu
Jan 19, 2026My life is forever changed because of New Life Rising, and that’s heavily thanks to Matt and Janae. I have so much respect for their work and could not imagine going through this experience with any other shamans. I had extended my stay after the retreat ended for my integration and each time I shared with someone that I went to New Life Rising for my aya experience, relief and joy would always be the response.
The people on my retreat were amazing. They each showed up with so much openness and vulnerability, making my time there feel like I was surrounded by people I had known my whole life. I came alone as a 29 year old female and felt incredibly safe and cared for. Everything was done with love, from the home-cooked meals to the yoga sessions and share circles.
I loved every conversation and moment spent with Matt and Janae. If life ever brings me back to ayahuasca, it will be with New Life Rising. They set a new pace for my life filled with so much love, gratitude, and magic ❤️ -
T. Jackson Keenan
Jan 14, 2026️This was a very positive experience and also one of the hardest things I have done. I am grateful to have had Matt and Jeanae as our guides. They provided an atmosphere that was both safe and inviting.
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Noemie Thibault
Dec 24, 2025️A huge thank you to Janae and Matt for their profoundly human welcome and their perfectly balanced presence. You guided us with such kindness through one of the most transformative and enriching experiences of my life.
We were a group of 12 people—a perfect, intimate, and safe size that I couldn't have imagined any other way. Everything was thoughtfully planned: the safety, the comfort of the mini-cabins, the soothing beauty of the gardens, the professional massages, the outings to the beach… not to mention the absolutely exceptional food.
Every detail contributed to creating a space of trust, gentleness, and grounding, allowing us to fully let go and experience the three ceremonies with openness and serenity. These days will remain etched in my memory as a rare, aligned, and profoundly transformative experience. Plus, our group was fantastic.
A huge thank you to Travis and Eliza!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this invaluable support!
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Mishay
July 28, 2017 at 1:19 amI live in Japan and decided to make a trip out to Costa Rica to try ayahuasca. Mainly out of curiosity, and some personal-development issues I wanted to work on.
This was my first ayahuasca experience.
Everything I read beforehand pointed to the importance of putting yourself in a great environment (especially the first time) and with a shaman or guide that you can trust.
I was super happy with the experience at New Life. I can personally vouch for both Matt and Jeanea who run it — they are wonderful people and have a beautiful, secluded retreat. You’re surrounded with a small group of like-minded people so it’s intimate, but you don’t have to socialize the whole time and can enjoy a lot of quiet/personal space. Also, there is a badass swimming pool and some of the best cooking I have ever had.
Honestly, I would pay to stay at their place even if they didn’t have ayahuasca — it’s that good.
A little bit more about the actual trip:
Taking ayahuasca isn’t some tourist attraction like seeing the Eiffel Tower or visiting the petting zoo— this is the real deal. It isn’t even like a fun mushroom trip. It’s a lot more difficult than that, but it can be very eye-opening.
I definitely recommend having an “intention” or point of focus for each ceremony is so you can maintain a sense of purpose.
Ayahuasca will transport your mind to a whole different dimension, make you think you’re a tree frog, and kill your ego 1000 times over. It will crush you and bring you back to life.
Really, it will put you through the gauntlet, but it’s well worth it.
I’m excited to see how my life unravels over the next few months after my experience, and I can’t wait to make another trip out in a year from now! 🙂
durtfoot
November 25, 2016 at 11:08 pmI am extremely grateful for the experience that I had during my 7 day retreat at New Life. This was my first experience with ayahuasca. After spending 3 years exposed to combat in the Middle East I had been struggling with depression and PTSD for years afterwards, seeking counseling and really trying to pull myself back on my feet. I was desperate and stumbled upon New Life and something about it just felt right. Within 24 hours of having the idea to even try ayahuasca I made the reservations with New Life, and now believe it was the best decision I ever made. I received healing here like I could never have dreamed of, and feel like a huge burden has been lifted off of my chest. I will absolutely return once I put into daily practice the personal lessons that I received while I was there. What an experience for the soul! Jeanae and Matt are truly doing something special here. And Randy the cook is doing special things everyday too. The environment is so peaceful, and allows you to truly relax. They are really great hosts, and Matt is legendary during the ceremonies. The view is wonderful, and looking at the stars after ceremony was certainly one of my personal highlights of the week. These guys really built a paradise and are the kind of people that just make you feel at home when you’re there. I can’t brag about it enough, if you’re thinking of going I really recommend this place and didn’t hear a single complaint from anyone the entire time I was there so it’s not just my opinion.
jdykhuis
October 17, 2016 at 11:20 amWhat an experience!
My wife and I recently flew to Costa Rica to participate in a five day retreat with Matt & Jeana at New Life Ayahuasca and we are already planning our return visits. Make no mistake – ayahuasca itself is an intense, sometimes painful, often beautiful and overall very healing experience. We were first timers and felt like since it was also our honeymoon we would probably be most comfortable with a few nice amenities like flushing toilets and private bedrooms. New Life Ayahuasca exceeded out expectations a hundred-fold.
We were picked up by a driver at the airport with our other retreat compadres. It was great to see Costa Rica for the first time without worrying about driving or navigating! The drive was about an hour and a half and we had the opportunity to stop on the way at an American friendly grocery store for any snacks or last minute provisions we needed. We arrived at the retreat center and Matt & Jeanae were so welcoming. We ate a gorgeous fresh dinner and had the evening to get to know one another and explore the grounds.
The home is beautiful – each guest has a private room with a private bathroom. It is decorated adorably and feels like home instantly. There is plenty of common space indoors and out for socializing and the rooms are spacious enough to be a nice place to go and reflect or nap as the days roll by. Meals are provided and they are delicious, fresh and in line with the Ayahuasca Dieta you are encouraged to begin about a week before arriving!
You can enjoy the large pool, the hot tub, the daily yoga and meditation, hiking the 20 acre property or get a massage. It was a very luxurious place to do some really hard work!
The ceremony evenings have a more serious feel to them – some nervous energy lingers all around. Matt & Jeanae are so available and kind and patient and knowledgeable with all the participants. It is easy to get the reassurance you may need before partaking in the Ayahuasca journey. They have this great ability to make you feel safe even when facing the unknown.
The flower ceremony/intention setting is such a beautiful way to collect yourself and prepare for the night’s experience. It is important to surrender yourself to the journey – physically, emotionally and spiritually.
The ceremony itself is AMAZING! Matt’s gong ability is awesome and when he is singing you are transported by the sound of his voice. The experience is very intense but so healing and educational. Jeanae stays in the room and quietly and lovingly watches over everyone as the night goes on. It feels great to know she is there.
We can’t wait to come back!
mfiorini
September 10, 2016 at 1:33 pmI had been researching ayahuasca retreats for over a year and finally pulled the trigger and chose New Life. I was not disappointed at all. The property itself was bountiful. It gave me the chance to escape the everyday grind that is society, and truly relax and reconnect with nature. Matt and Jeanae are excellent hosts. They truly believe in what they do and put their hearts into it which shows. One of the reasons I chose New Life was because they limit the ceremonies to just six people. I believe for my first time this was the best. It allowed the group to connect more and allowed Matt and Jeanae more personized attention if needed. The ceremonies themselves I can’t put into words. Nothing I had read really prepared me for my own experiences. Matt led each one with music and icaros and Jeanie was in a support role throughout going around making sure everyone was ok. I left each ceremony gaining new insight into my life, and maybe not exact answers I was looking for, but the ayahuasca I feel has given me a different perception on life that I can see helping me even a week after I left. I look forward to going back to New Life next year and being able to learn even more.
Gailb
August 25, 2016 at 5:32 amI did a lot of research before choosing a centre to work in and found nothing like New Life. It’s a special place. It’s beautiful and nourishing on every level. The food was amazing and things like that really matter. I wanted to find a place I felt held both medically safe and ceremonially held. They take both aspects really seriously. You need space and a place to be, with folks who are mindful and on hand if needed, without feeling crowded out. All of these subtleties are beautifully done. The hosts Matt and Jeanae were supported by a doctor (for my iboga journey) and a chef Derek, for the Aya week with Vicky providing Kambo and reiki. An amazing team with experience, dedication and humility. I had very high hopes for my retreat and they were surpassed. My gratitude is hard to express.