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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Trina Allen
July 21, 2026 at 5:46 amFrom a young child through to adulthood, I never felt like I truly fit in anywhere.
I always connected more easily with children, animals, and nature than with other people.
Over the years, I became a chameleon, constantly trying to become the person I thought others wanted or expected me to be.
I kept repeating the same patterns throughout my life. It felt like I was the female lead in Groundhog Day—reliving the same cycles in my relationships, both romantic and family, my personal choices, my career decisions, and the protective walls I kept so high that no one could truly reach me.
While researching ayahuasca retreats, I came across Spirit Vine, and it deeply resonated with me for so many reasons. After speaking and exchanging emails with Silvia Polivoy, the retreat leader at Spirit Vine, I knew it was the right time to take the leap and experience a retreat.
It changed my life.
I feel more alive and more connected—to myself, to others, and to nature—than ever before.
One gentle suggestion: be prepared to do the inner work and remain open to the process. At times, it can be emotionally challenging, but it is absolutely worth it.
I would also recommend following the dietary guidelines before arriving. If it’s within your budget, I would highly encourage you to experience both the optional massages and Watsu (water therapy on the pond of the Center).
The massages helped me relax and become more open before the ceremonies. Watsu the following day of the ayahuasca ceremony was incredibly cleansing, soothing both my body and my mind.
Silvia has a remarkable gift for helping you open up to yourself, so be prepared to be vulnerable—not only with yourself but also around others who are on their own unique journeys.
Renata was equally supportive. Together, they made an incredible team, providing warmth, compassion, and gentle guidance throughout the retreat.
I felt completely safe, supported, and protected the entire time I was there.
For me, the lagoon became a special place where I floated peacefully every day. I also discovered a newfound love for hammocks.
This is your adventure. I encourage you to take the leap and open yourself to Mama Gaia.
I attended in January, and I’m already looking forward to returning.
My WebSite
July 20, 2026 at 5:04 pmMy experience at Spirit Vine Ayahuasca Retreat in Bahia, Brazil, has truly been life-changing. I arrived as a heavy smoker, hoping to find some clarity, but I never imagined that after just my very first ayahuasca ceremony I would completely quit smoking. It wasn’t something I forced-it simply happened. It felt as if years of addiction had been gently lifted away.
The care, wisdom, and presence of Silvia Polivoy, Ph.D., are beyond words. She creates a space where you feel completely safe, supported, and understood throughout the entire journey. Renata was equally wonderful-kind, compassionate, and always there whenever support was needed.
Everything about Spirit Vine reflects love and attention to detail. The accommodations were beautiful, peaceful, and comfortable, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the experience. The food was absolutely delicious, healthy, and prepared with such care that it became part of the healing process itself.
What makes Spirit Vine truly extraordinary is the energy of the place. Surrounded by the breathtaking nature of Bahia, you naturally begin to reconnect with yourself. It is a magical sanctuary where the body, mind, and soul are given the opportunity to heal. Every day I felt more grounded, more present, and more alive.
I left Spirit Vine with far more than I expected. I left with freedom from smoking, a renewed sense of purpose, and deep gratitude for everyone who made this experience possible.
Thank you, Silvia, Renata, and the entire Spirit Vine team, for creating such a sacred and transformative place. This experience will stay with me for the rest of my life, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking genuine healing and personal transformation.
KEI-DI
liliana carli
July 19, 2026 at 8:12 amAnother retreat at The Vine and the same feeling, which I could sum up like this: Total gratitude!!! To Nature, which gifts us these “bridges,” opening these doors to greater understanding, to greater awareness through the wisdom lent to us by the Master Plants! Thanks to Silvia Polivoy for her impeccable guidance; the workshops we held before and after the ceremonies are fundamental, as they allow us to prepare and better integrate this experience, which takes us so deeply within that we understand the world around us much more fully and profoundly. Empathy, respect, the certainty of Unity, of connection, of clarity, in this “sanctuary of Nature” that is The Vine, are renewed and expanded once again within me, marveling at Life and its most loving mystery. It is the kind of experience that transforms us for the better and forever. Infinite thanks ❤️
Michael Tuschhoff
July 6, 2026 at 7:20 pm10 out of 10 recommend. Silvia and her staff did a phenomenal job at meeting me where I was at in life. From wonderful amenities to amazing plant based food, the stay truly helped my soul reset.
Silvia’s great knowledge and guidance was amazing. The confidence and wisdom she instilled in me is present to this day.
Will definitely return again!!
Elisaveta
May 3, 2026 at 4:30 amIf I think about a place that feels like a fairy tale and absolute safety, I would always say:
“It began again there.”
I am so grateful for my decision to be brave enough to visit this safe place and to truly listen to myself. It was my first time in Brazil and my very first retreat, and I can say with all my heart:
I would choose this journey again, and again, and again.
& In this experience, nothing was missing. It was more the feeling of wanting to open my arms even wider because the sense of wonder was so big.
During my time here, I was able to deeply cleanse myself, and for the first time in my life,
I experienced what it truly means to heal with others. Not only within myself, but in shared presence – through exchange, respect, and openness. I felt that everyone is welcome as you are and from where you are!
The space Silvia has created with so much care and authenticity made it effortless for me to fully surrender and eventually let go of the feeling of control. She is an incredibly wonderful leader – warm, yet highly professional.
And I felt that everyone was treated with equal respect. I truly found a home in peace during my time there – a home within myself.
What feels most sacred to me is this: I am leaving with miracles in my heart that I still carry with me every day.
I can now see my intentions – for my career, my future, and everything else with much more clearly. I am taking more from this retreat than I ever expected.
No words and no feeling could ever fully describe the love I carry for this place.
Thank you, Spirit Vine, for this first experience – and for all the ones that are yet to come.
I recommend it with all my soul.
Enjoy