How Much Does an Ayahuasca Retreat Cost? A Transparent Breakdown

The single most-Googled question in this entire industry. Pricing is the proxy by which most people decide between retreats — and the conversations on online forums about 'cheap' vs 'expensive' retreats are some of the most polarized in the entire plant medicine world. Here is the honest economics, from inside the operation.

The four price tiers

Tier 1: under $500 (avoid)

These retreats almost always exist in Peru, occasionally Colombia. They typically advertise on backpacker forums and Facebook groups. Often they are 2 to 4 night experiences with one or two ceremonies. They almost universally have: no medical screening, no personal facilitators, no integration support, untrained or unverified shamans (sometimes the shaman is the same person who collected your money on WhatsApp), shared sleeping quarters, no aftercare.

We have met people who had wonderful experiences at $300 retreats and people who had medically dangerous experiences. The risk is real and the savings are not worth it.

Tier 2: $700 to $1,500 (the value range)

Where most legitimate small-to-medium retreats sit. Includes: 5 to 8 days, 2 to 3 ceremonies, vetted indigenous or apprenticed shaman, basic medical screening, group lodging or simple private rooms, three meals a day prepared on site, group integration support afterward. This is where our group retreats live: $1,690 for the 7-day San Pedro retreat, $1,950 for the 8-day Ayahuasca. (Smaller, more intimate journeys — a one-on-one or a circle of fewer than six — are custom-tailored, with pricing shaped around length and configuration.)

What the money buys: the food (a kitchen feeding 12 people three meals a day for a week is not free), lodging (cabins, beds, linens, hot water, electricity, the maloka itself which costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to build properly), the shamans (Taitas with thirty-plus years of training travel, are paid for their lineage and their time), the support team (4 to 6 facilitators across the week), the medicine (Ayahuasca brew is labor-intensive to make properly, San Pedro requires 24-hour cooks), and the post-retreat integration (group video calls, individual follow-up, a network of integration therapists).

Tier 3: $2,500 to $5,000 (luxury / clinical)

These retreats add: private rooms with attached bathroom, small group sizes (4 to 6 instead of 10 to 12), spa-style amenities, occasionally on-site MD or psychiatrist, often more days, sometimes daily one-on-one therapy sessions. Companies like Behold Retreats, Soltara, Rythmia operate in this band. The work itself is not necessarily better — but the comfort, privacy, and hand-holding around the work is significantly higher. Worth it for some people. Excessive for others.

Tier 4: $7,500+ (concierge / VIP)

Private retreats, one-on-one with a shaman, often single-occupancy luxury accommodations, sometimes flown in. Not common; not necessary for most people. We offer this format on request.

What is usually included

• Lodging at the retreat center
• All meals during the retreat (typically light, plant-forward, prep-diet-aligned)
• All ceremonies (typically 2 to 3 for an 8-day retreat)
• Other ceremonies often included: temazcal, Kambo, sananga, fire ceremony
• Pre-retreat intake / medical screening
• Post-retreat group integration call (1 to 2 weeks after)

What is usually NOT included

• Flights to Quito (or your gateway city)
• Airport transfers to/from the retreat (sometimes included for premium tiers)
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Side trips before/after the retreat
• One-on-one therapy beyond the included group call
• Tips for facilitators (typical $20–$100 per participant)
• Tips for the Taita (typical $50–$200 per participant — this is direct compensation to the shaman, separate from his retreat fee)

True total cost from North America

For our standard 8-day Ayahuasca group retreat at $1,950, a participant flying from the US East Coast typically spends:

• Retreat fee: $1,950
• Flight (NYC ↔ Quito, booked 2 months out): $450–$700
• Pre-retreat hotel in Quito (1–2 nights): $80–$200
• Airport transfers: $40 (or included if you ask)
• Travel insurance: $40–$70
• Tips: $100–$200
• Optional post-retreat 1-on-1 integration sessions: $80–$150 per session
• Buffer for incidentals, food during travel, souvenirs: $100–$200

Realistic total: $2,800 to $3,400 for the full experience. Cheaper than most weeklong yoga retreats in Costa Rica. More transformative.

Hidden costs we have seen at other retreats

• Charging extra for additional ceremonies you only learn about on arrival
• Mandatory 'donation' to the shaman not included in the listed price
• $200/hour 'integration coaching' the day after the retreat — when you most want support and least want to negotiate
• Required pre-retreat 'preparation course' that costs $300–$500
• Required medical screening from their preferred provider at $150
• Booking fees, cancellation fees, currency-conversion surprises

We list everything upfront. The price you see is the price you pay. Any optional additional services (extra one-on-one bodywork sessions, extended stays, private follow-up calls) are listed clearly with prices and only charged if you choose them.

What we charge and why

• Ayahuasca · 8 days · $1,950 — full group retreat including 2 ceremonies, Kambo prep, closing temazcal, all meals, lodging at Teos Center
• San Pedro / Aguacolla · 7 days · $1,690 — full group retreat including 2 ceremonies, all meals, lodging
• Sacred Mushrooms · 4 days · $865 — shorter format, 1 ceremony, all meals, lodging
• Private one-on-one, couples, or small-group circles under 6 people — custom-tailored pricing, same team and medicines, more intimate container

Group prices have moved up modestly to reflect the rising cost of running this work in Ecuador, but our small-group and private offerings let people who want a more personal container build something exactly for them. We list everything we charge upfront — there are no surprises on the ground.

What you should ask before paying anywhere

1. Who specifically is leading the ceremony — name, lineage, years of practice?
2. Who is in the country during the retreat — local team or fly-in?
3. What is the medical screening process? (If there isn't one, walk away.)
4. How many participants per ceremony? (Above 14 is too many for most settings.)
5. What integration support exists after the retreat?
6. What is the cancellation / illness policy?
7. Is the retreat center owned or rented?
8. Are tips for the shaman expected, and how much?

Any retreat that won't answer these questions clearly is not the retreat for you.

◦ the right price is the one that lets the right people do the right work ◦