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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Olivier
December 26, 2014 at 12:00 amAs it was my first ayahuasca retreat, I wanted to make sure I was in a “safe” environment. And I am so glad I’ve followed my instinct : I felt really comfortable and supported along the way. To make a long story short, SpiritVine has been the ideal place for my ayahuasca journeys.
And it has really been life changing.
I have also to mention that Silvia is really super knowledgeable and helpful, she is so humorous as well.
Definetely an excellent place to go…
Dan
November 2, 2014 at 12:00 amI’ve attended the 8-day retreat at Spirit Vine in October 2014, looking for a safe, supportive and instructive environment for my first Ayahuasca experience – and I was not disappointed.
Silvia is an experienced guide, with background not only in the use of Ayahuasca but also in Psychoanalysis and various philosophies of mind. This has enables her to create a program of self-exploration in which consumption of Ayauhasca is but a part, with complementing activities before and after ceremonies. Such activities seem to me essential in order to deal wisely with the experience of Ayahuasca as it occurs, and in order to fully understand it in hindsight. Otherwise, instead of being enlightening, the experience might be merely entertaining, frightening or confusing, or with only vague insights that eventually fade away without a lasting impact.
Yet Silvia is only a facilitator; the main teacher at Spirit Vine is first and foremost the Ayahuasca itself. This is not trivial: at other places you might find yourself at the mercy of the Shaman, with relatively little control or understanding of the situation.
The accommodation is quite luxurious; the surrounding is beautiful and inspiring.
I believe all of this is a recipe for a responsible and enlightening Ayahuasca experience, and indeed my stay at Spirit Vine seems to have had an enormously positive effect on me and my life. It was the most amazing thing I’ve done – the strangest, the most exciting, the most difficult and the most rewarding. I’ve learned a lot, and have realized how much more I have to explore. And I have little doubt that I’m a better person than I was – more helpful and less detrimental to living beings around me, less constrained by imaginary bounds and petty concerns, more in accord with the values I hold to be true, with more faith in myself and in the ultimate benevolence of the cosmos.
Thank you Silvia and Michael and the maids, and thank you my fellow participants.
Love,
Dan
Jesus_Christ
August 30, 2014 at 12:00 amI’ve completed the 9 day retreat at The Spirit Vine in July 2014, and if you seek the power of Aya, then this one here offers you the perfect setting for it.
The place is of a beauty that is hard to believe – only visionary people can pull something like that. Service and cleanliness is flawless, the food served is pure bliss, and partly grown on the property in organic culture. Showers are fed with natural fresh spring water that lacks the Chlorine that is usually applied to the water in Brazil. The tropical garden is home to hummingbirds, lizards, and flowers. So far for the setting.
As for the guidance/facilitation –
do you know the feeling when watching a professional at work who is at the very height of his/her talent, and has mastered his/her art or craftsmanship to a degree that leaves you speechless? Well, watching Silvia at work had this effect on me, and it gave me goosebumps. This lady is the most ambitious and powerful healer I have witnessed to date.
Let me finish by stating that even without the ceremonies this place would be a five star retreat reco for the price you pay. The relaxation and cleansing effect this holiday has to your body and mind with its healthy diet, the surroundings, atmosphere and activities is worth every dime spent here.
Should you be among the lucky ones who have decided to book this retreat –
my thoughts are with you, and I am already happy for you.
This place has become a second home in only one stay.
Enjoy & Peace.
TScheck
August 26, 2014 at 12:00 amWhat an amazing experience at SpiritVine and could not imagine a more beautiful environment. Silvia has a deep understanding on Aya and is able to give each member of the group her personal wisdom which really helped all of us process the Aya experience. For me the combination of mother Aya, Silvia and the set and setting which makes SpiritVine a sacred place for healing, growth and deep relaxation. Plus there are stunning beaches just minutes away! Thanks again to Silvia, Michael, Bianca(Dog), Oscar(Monkey).
Gregor
August 24, 2014 at 12:00 amI participated in an (8) day retreat at The Vine Center in August 2014.
Silvia Polivoy the creator / facilitator / sitter / and owner of The Vine Center has meticulously designed the perfect environment, physical landscape, accommodations, meals, and physic counseling for the ultimate self guided Ayahuasca Journey.
The Spirit Vine Facility is modeled to congruently mesh with your visions, and compliments the awe inspiring beauty of The indiigenous Atlantic Rain Forest, while incorporating a human friendly habitat where you unavoidably experience a oneness with nature and yourself.
The Bungalows are designed for an indoor / outdoor existence with the comforts of home.
And, a healthy mind, body, and lifestyle is imminent after spending (8) days gorging on natural fruits, vegetables, and gourmet creations for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Everything is fine tuned so you have the ultimate Ayahuasca Journey in their amazing aborigine south pacific / amazonian temple which blends into the local flora as if it had been there for decades.
Itacare and the surrounding area is slice of Paradise Found!!!!!
I guarantee that the individuals you meet during your Spirit Vine Retreat will grow roots in you, and the memories of their words, stories, and personalities will play a major role in your experience there and moving forward.
Everyone is special and Everyone has the opportunity to design their own Ayahuasca Journey. And, as a music fanatic for 45 + years I was blown away by Silvia’s selection and orchestration of music during the Spirit Vine Ceremonies. It will take you places you have never been before, leave you wanting to return frequently, and leave you with serious doubts about leaving.
If you want to better understand yourself, have an interest in learning “why on earth am I on earth”, or want to share a beautiful experience with a friend, I strongly encourage you to commit to a Spirit Vine Retreat.
I am planning to return in December 2014, and lI look forward to welcoming you into my extended tribe.
Gregory Kourtz