We have been hosting ayahuasca retreats since 1996. Our center is based in the midst of the beautiful Atlantic Rainforest along the coast of Bahia in Brazil. We facilitate a safe and comfortable space for you to achieve harmony in your everyday life by aligning your mind, body, and heart with your true self.
Our 9 day and 11 day ayahuasca retreats are designed to give you a balanced experience. We have ayahuasca ceremonies every other night and in between there are activities to integrate your experiences and insights. There is also ample free time to reflect, to enjoy the beauty of the jungle, to visit the gorgeous beaches, and just to relax, let go, and enjoy the pure bliss of the moment.
Calendar and prices on our website
We have extensive experience integrating ayahuasca, psychology, shamanism, self development, modified states of consciousness, and various other modalities. We are present at all times and are dedicated in supporting you with loving care, attention, safety, and respect.The activities include workshops focused on spiritual development. The techniques covered in the workshops can be practiced even after the retreat to continue the journey of personal growth. Some of the topics include inner child integration, life progression, discovering the source of your blockages and the resources to overcome them. Another very important part of the retreat are the Yoga sessions in the morning which greatly enrich the ayahuasca experiences at night.
Spirit Vine & TheVine Center previously known as Ayahuasca-Healing have been created by Silvia Polivoy. She received her license in clinical psychology and had a private practice in Buenos Aires, Argentina for several years until she began to feel the need to make a transition from studying and healing the mind to exploring the worlds of Spirit. This took her away from the busy city streets to the more tranquil life in the jungle, moving to Brazil where in 2004 she co-founded the TheVine Center, a trans-denominational and inter-faith spiritual center located in the state of Bahia.
The nature of our nonprofit center is philosophical, religious, mystical, spiritual, educational, and cultural. All the retreats’ income’ serves to maintain the center grounds, create employment for the local community, and help preserve the jungle, having replanted thousands of native trees over the years to give but one example.
The retreats take place inside of 39 acres of lush preserved area. It is about 7 miles from Itacaré on the coast of Bahia. Our location is only minutes away from beautiful coastal beaches, which back onto the Mata Atlántica, the second largest rainforest in Brazil.
The experience of sacred tea ceremonies can be challenging for some, deeply religious for others, but profound all around. Please note that we have several programs to offer and the plant ceremonies are always optional and not required to partake in during any of our retreats. The plant ceremonies begin in the evening and go through the night. The group dynamic is very important and there will be facilitators to look after participants throughout. There will be plenty of time for group discussions and also time alone to reflect on the experiences elicited by the spirit vine tea for those that wish to partake in the plant ceremonies.
At the retreat center we grow our own ayahuasca vine and chacruna plants organically! We also have an organic garden to source vegetables for the food prepared during the retreat. We have pure spring water for drinking and also coconut water, juices, and a variety of teas.
During all our programs we follow a strict (though delicious) diet. The meals are completely vegan, gluten-free, and nutritionally balanced, prepared by our in-house chef who has specialized in vegan cuisine and has a post-graduation in functional nutrition. They include plenty of fresh vegetables cooked with delicious herbs and spices, luscious fresh tropical fruits, salads, and grains.
A note about sexual abstinence: this varies from culture to culture; some recommending as long as 30-40 days while others as little as one day or none at all like here in Brazil. For energetic purposes we recommend sexual abstinence during the retreat as well as 3 days before it begins and 3 days after the retreat concludes. As well, a drug free and no salt diet with no red meat, pork or heavy alcohol use for the same amount of time is optimal.
We fully expect you have questions about the retreats, programs and the facilities we offer. Please feel free to explore our website or watch our videos and write to us to come to one of our retreats.
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Recent Reviews
Review of Avalon by I want to give a big shoutout to Chris & Maggie – my guardian angels. The folks that saved me. They are, without a shadow of a doubt, the kindest, most selfless and nurturing souls I know, and the beautiful… Read More from dawnsunshine Apr 26, 07:34
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MMhouse
April 7, 2014 at 12:00 amI was just at the March 2014 retreat. It was the most profound experience of my life. Everything I needed to know was answered. Its amazing to experience things that cannot be explained or described! I would recommend anyone who wants a comfortable place start here. Warm showers, fresh linen, great food, WiFi internet, great people, best beaches, and the cleanest filtered ayahuasca!
Thank you to all the participants, it was great meeting you.
Thanks Again Silvia, Andy, and Milly.
Tori
January 29, 2014 at 12:00 amI went to spirit vine 4 times and found the experience very safe and supportive. Silvia the main facilitator was a psychologist in Argentina and learnt with shamans in Peru for her personal healing before she started running her owns retreats. Although she does not do psychotherapy anymore her background in psychotherapy makes a great difference because for me it is very important what happens after the ceremonies, how can we understand and integrate all the visions and messages. The group work is very important and well managed. I went with my husband and young daughter and we found the experience as a family extremely healing and beneficial. The bungalows are rustically luxurious overlooking the lush jungle. The retreat is 5 minutes away from the most beautiful beaches I?ve ever seen in my life. I highly recommend this retreat centre for anyone wanting to spend time in a beautiful place doing some deep work with themselves. Hard work but loved it. It has changed all of our lives for the better!
RIna
January 26, 2014 at 12:00 amBeautiful, nourishing and safe place to have an ayahuasca experience. Stunning location in the jungle in Bahia. I stayed in the dorm and it was very comfortable and clean. Loved the facilities, swimming in the natural pond, the beaches and the wildlife. Being allergic to gluten, it was a relief for me that the diet in the centre is gluten free. I also loved being where the ayahuasca grows. All the workshops we had in conjunction with the ayahuasca ceremonies were very empowering. I felt very supported when having to deal with any challenges like my fear of taking ayahuasca for the first time. Silvia made me feel very safe and this allowed me to let go completely and surrender to the experience. I feel grateful to Silvia and very happy to have chosen to do the ceremonies at her retreat.
will_way
January 21, 2014 at 12:00 amThe experience I had at the Spirit Vine Retreat is one that I will never forget.
It’s only afterwards that I can fully appreciate the discussions and exercises that Sylvia facilitated before and after the ceremonies that helped us get the most from our journeys into that other space that Ayahuasca opens up for us.
There were three ceremonies during my visit, and they were not all easy and wonderful. There was some really difficult cleansing that I went through as well as some beautiful visions, but having Sylvia’s guidance really helped me put everything into context, and clarify my insights about what happened. I still carry the lessons of compassion for others and myself that I learned from Ayahuasca.
Outside, of the ceremonies, take advantage of the gorgeous beaches that are out there, and get your tourist shopping done at Itacare’. Watch out for the mosquitoes and if you love chocolate you absolutely must go to the chocolate shop that’s close to the retreat, ask Sylivia, she’ll know, and get the chocolate cake there! Say hi to the chocolate lady for me 🙂
Davide
January 20, 2014 at 12:00 amIt was an extremely pleasant surprise when I arrived to Spirit Vine because the place was so much nicer than the pictures on the website! There is a gorgeous natural pond which I went swimming every morning. I wasn?t expecting the food to be so good and healthy at the same time. I was very anxious of taking ayahuasca but once I was there the set up gave me such sense of security that I felt very at ease and relaxed. I felt very supported by Silvia and other facilitators and this was vital as it allowed me to surrender into the experience. I had a wonderful time and for sure I will be back!
yGODy
January 19, 2014 at 12:00 amOn life’s journey to find truth and wisdom about the mystery of life, I discovered The Spirit Vine in Bahia, Brazil. I was in a very dark place in my life when I arrived at the retreat and had little hope in humanity, not to mention myself. Silvia’s insight and ability to cut through the BS of ego inflation is refreshing; she cuts right to the heart and opens a path to understanding. Through honesty and openness within the group, you begin to realize we all struggle with inner demons. A lot of these demons manifest in unresolved conflicts, going all the way back to our childhood; suppressed frustrations and hurt that have been a part of our inner dialog and subconscious behavior. The experience is not all rainbows and unicorns, however with an open heart, Sivia’s helping hand, and Mother Earth it’s possible to reconnect with the wonders of the universe and your place within it. You belong here and The Spirit Vine is an oasis to rediscover that very fact.
tanyaclarke82
January 18, 2014 at 12:00 amVisiting Spirit vine was one of the most important experiences of my life and came just at the right time. I am also so happy that a place like it exists!
We had a small, brilliant and diverse group, chosen personally by Silvia and the team, who all bonded very intimately and brought such different elements to the table. We all shared our experiences openly and with Silvia’s background in psychology we discussed many things in a safe and intimate environment. Its was a very bonding and beautiful experience and not at all invasive. Many of us are still in touch now. I am grateful for the opportunity to really use the plant and my own intuition to awaken me spiritually and embark me on a journey that has led to greater happiness and trust in myself.
Needless to say the food, accommodation and the setting is divine, and I was super comfortable which is important when delving into some deep personal stuff! I particularly enjoyed the final ceremony being done outside with nature, trees and sky, but the whole process is a very personal one and in my view there is no other place I would have this wonderful experience than at SPIRIT VINE- Thanks guys x
Premdhara
January 18, 2014 at 12:00 amComing at home….
Aya experience and Spirit Vine Center for me means to come at home. Thanks to Ayahuasca every time I can contact my true essence, my inner master, my higerself and everything has a sense in my life. During the retreats I am in my hearth space and less and less in my mind space, where we usually are in ordinary daily life. All the understandings, insights, sharings is the baggage I bring back with me when I come back to Italy and will help me forever in my life.
About Spirit vine center, actually I cannot immagine to be in another place where to do the Aya experience. This place is simply magic!! Nature so present with is amazing beauty, silence, fruits, water and waterfalls, ocean, beautiful beaches, amazing flowers and much much more that everyone should experience once in his life. All conforts and very good food and healthy diet, very very important for a good experience with the plant.
Silvia is the perfect facilitator, the sister, the mother, the friend, the psycologist but all that with incredible respect of your own space, of the retreat rules and keeping a safe space and place for everyone in the group. Never invading, you know that she is there if you need her. I love her vision: she always says… Here the Master is the Plant, not me. But often when I needed her help, she became a master for me too, for my relations, for my life. Thank you SIlvia, we will be always grateful to Spirit Vine, Love, Prem and Lila
tiina
January 18, 2014 at 12:00 amSpirit Vine retreat was a beautiful and deep experience in many ways and levels. Place is absolutely magical and calming – it’s easy to let go, be in the present moment, recognize and remove obstacles that diminish your true potential and essence to manifest.
Silvia knows plenty of tools to help people to balance and decode their mental programming and to be more aware of the ego structure. That’s also key factor to develop consciousness in the long run. Absolutely recommend Spirit Vine to everyone who is open minded and hearted to get to know her/his higher self better. So for you reading this, follow your curiosity and be ready for an multidimensional adventure.
Now I am more openly and honestly me. Feeling good and happy about that! And in my point of view it’s much more important to be a happy person than to argue who knows the truth best. We will never know the truth, but we can definitely feel it – be it. When connecting to your inner truth and guidance, there’s no point to suffer or be a victim anymore. Life is a gift and we are meant to enjoy it fully!
I’m really grateful to Silvia for the great and important work she does to help people to heal themselves and remember that we are much more than flesh and blood. Silvia is definitely a pioneer of consciousness development!
spiritvine
January 15, 2014 at 12:00 am?…Sometimes in life you need to do things that you?re not entirely comfortable with. The things that stretch your comfort zones and remind you of your vulnerabilities. I felt like this when I arrived at SpiritVine. I was nervous, with a heart full of confusion and desperate to reawaken from the spiritual slumber that had somehow crept upon me.
The minute I arrived, I knew I was in the right place. Silvia, the group, the glorious jungle, they all reminded me how beautiful the external world is, once you get to understand – and appreciate – the limitless one inside yourself. I have grown more in one week than I thought possible; I am still growing…?